This game is like Doom, except you play tennis in hell

What do the demons in hell do when they’re not tormenting souls and capering through brimstone? Scholars and theologians have debated this question for centuries. Free game The Hell of a Racket offers one theory for intellectuals to peruse — demons compete over which sport is best, .

Developer Helltown Racketeers describe its game with the following description: “Play as a fallen angel seeking redemption by punishing satanic worshipers who don’t play the holiest of sports….tennis!” Instead of skulls impaled on pikes, there are football helmets. It is littered by various sporting apparels, hotdog courts and fallen athlete equipment. My trip to the arena is sponsored by corporations that have set up shop in Satan’s domain, and it’s chock full of angry demons.

I’m like the Doom Guy (you know, from Doom( but instead use a racket or a chainsaw. Sometimes I find a tennis ball, and I can serve it through a monster’s face. Other upgrades are available on the playing field. For example, I could get a huge tennis racket to make parrying easier.

It is a relatively easy game to play. They shoot projectiles at me and I shoot them back with my racket, transforming the demons into tasty soda or burgers that replenish my energy. If I’m overwhelmed, I duck, dodge, and wall-run out of there. A couple of times, the game propelled me out of the map and into the sky, which certainly wasn’t ideal, but after a quick float I was able to descend and get back into the action.

It’s not exactly the most traditional take on hell — or tennis — but it’s a delightful romp through some silly territory. The Hell of a Racket Steam has released the game on May 1. It is free.