An online game named "Beating Corruption" promoted by the micro blog account of People's Daily Online, has proved popular with Chinese netizens since its launch on Thursday.

The Internet-based game, which is largely a virtual Whac-A-Mole, presents characters on two competing sides: corrupt officials and the police who fight against corruption. The officials are divided into four types: those who spend money on illicit love affairs; those paying bribes; those accepting bribes; and those abusing their privileges.

Players win hundreds of points by hitting corrupt officials as they pop out quickly and randomly from the windows of a jailhouse. They lose points if they miss their targets or accidentally hit the police.

According to People's Daily Online, the characters originated from the allegorical saying that President Xi Jinping used in his address to the plenary session of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Dec 22.

Xi used the metaphor of "tigers and flies" to refer to corrupt officials operating at different levels, all of whom should be hit hard by anti-corruption efforts.

People's Daily Online said on its official micro blog that the game reflects the principle that everyone is responsible for fighting corruption.

The game has become hugely popular among Chinese netizens so far, with many official micro blogs also joining the game.

"It's like you hit really fast and the corrupt officials will appear faster," wrote one player on their Sina micro blog.

While many netizens found the game enjoyable, some asked whether the fight against corruption should be regarded as just a game.

Contact the writer at zhangyue@chinadaily.com.cn