Tennis for Two similar games & best alternatives

Tennis for Two - tennis-for-two_1.avif
Tennis for Two - tennis-for-two_2.avif
Tennis for Two - tennis-for-two_3.avif
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Tennis for Two - tennis-for-two_6.avif

Tennis for Two

Donner Model 30 • 1958

Should you play it?

Tennis for Two is often credited to be the world's first video game.

What works

  • Historical significance as one of the first video games
  • Simple yet engaging competitive gameplay
  • Innovative use of analog computing and oscilloscope display
  • Encourages social interaction through multiplayer
  • Demonstrates early physics simulation in games

Things to keep in mind

  • Very limited graphics and sound
  • No scoring or formal progression system
  • No narrative or fantasy elements
  • Requires physical setup not accessible to most
  • No cooperative or creative gameplay features

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

Less dominating

Games that feels like Tennis for Two but with less domination over others

More social

Games that feels like Tennis for Two but with more teamwork and cooperation

More expressive

Games that feels like Tennis for Two but with more self-expression and customization

More status-driven

Games that feels like Tennis for Two but with more focus on status and recognition

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to compare these games

Compare nearby games

Each card is a nearby game on the similarity map, compared with Tennis for Two. Swipe sideways to move between games. Titles already listed in What to play next are left out.

  • Cover and title: open that game’s page.
  • What works / keep in mind: the same highlights as the desktop comparison panel.
  • Bars: the main motivational differences versus this game.
How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Swipe to compare nearby games with Tennis for Two. These titles are not in What to play next.

Tennis for Two: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fantasy, Story, Violence, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Domination, Fellowship. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Progression.

Last update: 02/09/2026