Golf Story

 Switch
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 346 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 274 out of 346
  2. Mixed: 48 out of 346
  3. Negative: 24 out of 346
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  1. a_big_favor
    Oct 1, 2017
    7
    Fun simple golf game. There is a nice variety of gameplay with a lot great unlocks. The story is fantastic so far.
    What the game lacks right now is polish. There is no way to quit a challenge you can't win. Several times after ending a conversation, beating a challenge, or something the game would freeze. Currently, my save file is corrupted. Its a good game that is a little too    Fun simple golf game. There is a nice variety of gameplay with a lot great unlocks. The story is fantastic so far.
    What the game lacks right now is polish. There is no way to quit a challenge you can't win. Several times after ending a conversation, beating a challenge, or something the game would freeze. Currently, my save file is corrupted. Its a good game that is a little too buggy at the moment.    … Expand
  2. MrTusks
    Dec 3, 2020
    5
    I'm finding Golf Story difficult to love. The golf itself is great, once you figure out for yourself how to play because the game WILL NOT tell you. But everything else seems to get in the way of just playing more golf. The pixel art graphics also clash terribly with the HD text and music. Plus where the save points are is a guessing game--you can select "save and quit" from the menu, butI'm finding Golf Story difficult to love. The golf itself is great, once you figure out for yourself how to play because the game WILL NOT tell you. But everything else seems to get in the way of just playing more golf. The pixel art graphics also clash terribly with the HD text and music. Plus where the save points are is a guessing game--you can select "save and quit" from the menu, but where you load in next time will be long before you left off, making you repeat content a lot.

    Supposedly one of the greats on Switch. I don't really see it.    … Expand
  3. kamhagh
    Jul 11, 2018
    7
    It okay honestly! It's cute and charming
    but it has a few bugs so make sure you save a lot.
    The golf mechanics can get frustrating if you're not into that :c
    And there's no clear tutorial or good explanations of what each skill does and no objective pointers
  4. AllySky
    Oct 13, 2018
    5
    Good golfing moments, awkward rpg moments. The game has decent charm, and a story, but it feels lackluster for the most part.
  5. craigetc
    Mar 10, 2019
    3
    For the first few hours I thoroughly enjoyed this game even as a non golf fan. Unfortunately, the poor implementation of the tutorial and teaching system along with the interface for describing terrain, wind, shot power etc showed its inadequacies when failing multiple times at the first tournament of the game “well worn grove”. Despite completing ALL previous missions and side missions IFor the first few hours I thoroughly enjoyed this game even as a non golf fan. Unfortunately, the poor implementation of the tutorial and teaching system along with the interface for describing terrain, wind, shot power etc showed its inadequacies when failing multiple times at the first tournament of the game “well worn grove”. Despite completing ALL previous missions and side missions I can’t get past it.… Expand
  6. KingFisher74
    Mar 31, 2019
    6
    Unexpectedly really fun game, but there's some ridiculous difficulty spikes here and there. After many attempts at the first round of the final course I decided to put down the game, whereas I breezed through all the other courses. Still want to give it an overal positive review though, but my score would be at least a 9 if it was balanced properly.
  7. rushstar495
    Jul 7, 2019
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Some missions are just about to be impossible, and the wind mechanics makes the game insanely hard and its very easy to use not enough or too much force. aiming is somewhat hard due to the aim is the same as change clubs. everything bad is all about the controls and the mechanic also the projectile drop… Expand
  8. Meeleepit
    Feb 6, 2020
    6
    I so dislike the sport Golf but...

    Golf story manages to make it super fun.
    Lots of laughing and quirky funny and weird characters.
    Seriously enjoyed playing this.

    Only issue i had after 14 hours off playing Golf i was done for,i was seriously sick and tired of swinging a Golf stick. Did not manage to finish the game as it became super repetitive .
  9. KowieT
    Aug 15, 2020
    6
    Since I haven't gotten a new entry in the Mario Golf series since 2014, I was dying for a golf game.
    I first heard of this game from YouTuber Caddicarus and figured I'd give it a shot.
    Golf Story has a unique charm about it. It's very self aware, and even though characters take themselves seriously. You as a player see how ridiculous their motives are. The protagonist of the game has    Since I haven't gotten a new entry in the Mario Golf series since 2014, I was dying for a golf game.
    I first heard of this game from YouTuber Caddicarus and figured I'd give it a shot.

    Golf Story has a unique charm about it. It's very self aware, and even though characters take themselves seriously. You as a player see how ridiculous their motives are. The protagonist of the game has his own motivation...but the NPCs make it clear pretty early that they don't care. I'd kind of say that the devs didn't really want to you care either. After the initial course, the protagonist unenthusiastically wins the remaining tournaments because "why not?"

    Gameplay was really fun in the beginning and I really wanted to get good enough to read the greens like I can in other golf games, but once you get to the mid to later holes the physics feel really broken. The game gave a vague description to how steep the green is, then it was randomly up to the game whether or not it would make the shot close to the hole or WAY past it. The devs also got a little lazy making the game read "yards" when my ball was only inches away from the hole.
    Oh my gosh and the wind. The wind mechanic is incredibly broken. Many times the 3MPH winds pushed my ball as much as the 12MPH wind.
    I became frustrated almost to the point of quitting, but was determined to finish the game. I even played to 100% completion because I wanted to get the most out of this game. There are many who like this game and I don't hate it, I just wish there was more polish.

    Overall, Golf Story is a fun time. Maybe I will play it again in the future, but for now it just made me want a more polished golf game.    … Expand
  10. TheVirtualDude
    Feb 24, 2020
    7
    I really enjoyed this game for the first 10 hours or so and eventually I fizzled out. I completed it because I was so close, but I would’ve liked an even better system to keep progressing. Didn’t feel rewarded by the end
  11. Ramoten
    Oct 14, 2020
    5
    Maybe I just don't get the humour, or find it very fun to play with the arbitrary trial and error physics of the game. The impressive reviews got me into buying this one, but 2-3 hours in a gave up, on trying to enjoy it, and started playing other games.
  12. jandleslapper
    Mar 22, 2021
    7
    Good base mechanics but I have found that (on the switch) some of my inputs seem to be ignored for a given hit, resulting in inconsistent results (sometimes). At the beginning of the story there seems to be characters, and gameplay elements that would be developed later in the game, and whil each level does bring something new to the table there is a distinct feeling that the developer bitGood base mechanics but I have found that (on the switch) some of my inputs seem to be ignored for a given hit, resulting in inconsistent results (sometimes). At the beginning of the story there seems to be characters, and gameplay elements that would be developed later in the game, and whil each level does bring something new to the table there is a distinct feeling that the developer bit off more than they could handle and that the final product is alot less than what could have been. This is also apparent in the narrative, which although funny, seems to have been cut back due to a lack of time or resources. The result is a game that, while fun, feels a little short, and occasionally repetitive.… Expand
  13. ReinaldoElisei
    Sep 28, 2017
    10
    I've never been into sports games (or even sports), so at first Golf Story didn't catch my eye. However, when people started telling me it was an RPG, I started paying more attention to it. Watching the game's first 30 minutes was all I needed to decide to buy it, and after playing it myself I was hooked! This has got to be one of the funniest, goofiest, most enjoyable and charming gamesI've never been into sports games (or even sports), so at first Golf Story didn't catch my eye. However, when people started telling me it was an RPG, I started paying more attention to it. Watching the game's first 30 minutes was all I needed to decide to buy it, and after playing it myself I was hooked! This has got to be one of the funniest, goofiest, most enjoyable and charming games I've played in a while. The game has a lot to offer under its colorful graphics and it's much more than meets the eye. It's relaxing, unexpected and fun!… Expand
  14. ryanthelou
    Sep 28, 2017
    9
    I saw the teaser trailer for this game last week and it looked like a lot of fun. I downloaded it earlier today and when my daughter came home from school, we started playing it. Such a fun, charming game. It's surprising how much variation and depth there is so far. I'm loving it and my daughter is as well!
  15. GoldBeard
    Sep 28, 2017
    9
    as someone who loves rpgs.. i didn't think twice about getting this game.
    the idea of combining a sport with rpg gameplay is just amazing...
    gameplay wise ( golf part ) is pretty simple but at the same time really satisfying. u walk around in this city doing like this side quests to collect money... with the money u can upgrade your kit and stuff. ( you also need the money for some    as someone who loves rpgs.. i didn't think twice about getting this game.
    the idea of combining a sport with rpg gameplay is just amazing...
    gameplay wise ( golf part ) is pretty simple but at the same time really satisfying.
    u walk around in this city doing like this side quests to collect money... with the money u can upgrade your kit and stuff. ( you also need the money for some story missions ) and of course you also level up and upgrade your stats like any other rpg. the music is really nice and subtle.
    the absolute best thing about this game IMO is the Dialogue.. i actually laughed out laud at some part. it's full of these puns and cheesy jokes. it's great xP
    yea if you have a Switch and you're looking for a fun and simple and very relaxing rpg to play... GET IT!    … Expand
  16. ericiidx
    Sep 29, 2017
    9
    Love it -- simple, witty, and charming. I don't even particularly care for golf! Golf Story combines light RPG elements reminiscent of 90's JRPGs with a constant focus on golf... if the world of golf were run by 8-year-olds. The golfing gameplay is well-executed, much like the mechanics found in Mario Golf games; not too in-depth, and not too simple. Your quest will take you to variousLove it -- simple, witty, and charming. I don't even particularly care for golf! Golf Story combines light RPG elements reminiscent of 90's JRPGs with a constant focus on golf... if the world of golf were run by 8-year-olds. The golfing gameplay is well-executed, much like the mechanics found in Mario Golf games; not too in-depth, and not too simple. Your quest will take you to various golf courses that are just outlandish in design; driving balls through forests, deserts, snowscapes, off the backs of turtles, through the peering eyes of ball-thieving gophers. The sidequests are ideal, in that they don't lead you on hour-long treks out of your way. Rather, they're all quick endeavors that reward you with money, experience points, and often a good laugh.

    Of particular note is the dialogue and its implementation. Writing in games is always a focal point to me, and it satisfies. Everyone is loaded with personality and regular humor, and gentle effects are added via speech bubble animations, variations in font size/hardness, and some solid HD Rumble utilization. You can practically hear your Joy-Con sigh when a person admits defeat, feel your hands kick back when you rifle off a perfect shot, and the never-gets-old clink-clink-clunk of sinking your ball in the hole.

    Once you've finished the main story, which at my estimate will likely be around 15-20 hours thanks to a deceptive difficulty curve, you're left with a Quick Play mode which will be great to come back to anytime you feel like playing some zany courses. Great value in this game.

    I've only got a few minor complaints. The main one being, a little more polish could've benefitted. Transitions between many scenes is a little jarring, with the screen not fading out/in and music cutting away from one track to the next. There's also a rare camera bug that fails to re-focus onto the player, which is remedied by exiting the area (or entering a building.) I also would've appreciated a little more in-game instruction -- you can push Select ("Minus") to show the controls, but it doesn't cover all of them (such as, clicking the right analog stick toggles the camera zoom) and there's no explanation of topspin and backspin. That's about it.

    Highly recommended for (Mario) golf fans, generally recommended for absolutely everyone else.    … Expand
  17. Footballpires
    Sep 30, 2017
    10
    This little game has me very pleasantly surprised. There is a lot of content packed here for the price you're paying and it's all really fun and just works really nicely. At first I just couldn't make any sense of a "golf rpg" but essentially it's just an RPG except that instead of combat, you play golf. Really solid game, haven't finished it yet but have played around two hours and I amThis little game has me very pleasantly surprised. There is a lot of content packed here for the price you're paying and it's all really fun and just works really nicely. At first I just couldn't make any sense of a "golf rpg" but essentially it's just an RPG except that instead of combat, you play golf. Really solid game, haven't finished it yet but have played around two hours and I am deeply into it. 10/10.… Expand
  18. projectxero
    Sep 29, 2017
    8
    Honestly when I saw this game being hyped, I was confused why a golf game was so cool. Well.. It's more than that. I caved and bought it out of curiosity. This game is really fun. Almost addictive. The main gameplay is.. golf. But it's like a throwback to classic golf games. The simplicity of it makes it all the more playable- while also having complex mechanics. The RPG aspect reallyHonestly when I saw this game being hyped, I was confused why a golf game was so cool. Well.. It's more than that. I caved and bought it out of curiosity. This game is really fun. Almost addictive. The main gameplay is.. golf. But it's like a throwback to classic golf games. The simplicity of it makes it all the more playable- while also having complex mechanics. The RPG aspect really surprised me the most. I didn't think I would get super excited to go on an adventure to become a golfer, but that's exactly what happened after I got sucked in. The modern pixel graphics are beautiful. Each area has it's own flavor and pulls you in. The soundtrack fits very well.

    If you're looking for a new game to buy, definitely give this a chance.    … Expand
  19. TheSeahorse
    Oct 1, 2017
    9
    Who would have thought that a retro golf game could be so fun?
    I had a blast playing this non-stop for three days. It took me 13 hours to beat but I bet you could get 20 hours out of it doing all of the side quests. Not to mention the re playability of just playing some golf.
    There are many glitches (most get solved by restarting the game) but I've heard that the devs are working on    Who would have thought that a retro golf game could be so fun?
    I had a blast playing this non-stop for three days. It took me 13 hours to beat but I bet you could get 20 hours out of it doing all of the side quests. Not to mention the re playability of just playing some golf.

    There are many glitches (most get solved by restarting the game) but I've heard that the devs are working on it as soon as possible.

    The story is funny, you will chuckle a lot, and uses the rumble feature the best out of any game on the switch so far.

    The golfing is not super hard for someone used to these types of games but it's still really good and satisfying because it's fair. If you hit it in the water it's because you're bad, you can't blame it on anything else. The skill system can be a bit hard to understand if you're not into golf though so make sure to google it so you understand how it works.

    This game would've probably been a 8/10 for me but the thing that puts it into the 9/10 spot is the price tag. There are so many games on the switch that takes advantage of the fact that there are few games by raising the prices but this is not one of them. For 15$ this is a must have for any RPG or Golf fan.    … Expand
  20. RedRoc
    Sep 28, 2017
    9
    I'm a big fan of Mario Golf for GBC and Advance Tour for GBA, and unfortunately it's been quite a while since Nintendo has released a Mario Golf (or Tennis for that matter) game in that vein. Fortunately, Sidebar Games picked up the slack. This game scratches that same itch on so many levels and it's so clear where they received a lot of inspiration. It may not be quite as polished andI'm a big fan of Mario Golf for GBC and Advance Tour for GBA, and unfortunately it's been quite a while since Nintendo has released a Mario Golf (or Tennis for that matter) game in that vein. Fortunately, Sidebar Games picked up the slack. This game scratches that same itch on so many levels and it's so clear where they received a lot of inspiration. It may not be quite as polished and fully featured as the games I mentioned, but it's damn close. For $15, it's a game you shouldn't ignore.… Expand
  21. Postmab
    Sep 28, 2017
    10
    This is one of my most looked forward to Switch games since I saw the first trailer and I am happy to say it exceeded my expectations. I was a little nervous about the amount of content for the $14.99 price but after playing all day and putting in roughly 7-8 hours there's no end in sight. The RPG mechanics are basic with gaining points to spend after leveling up on stats such as accuracyThis is one of my most looked forward to Switch games since I saw the first trailer and I am happy to say it exceeded my expectations. I was a little nervous about the amount of content for the $14.99 price but after playing all day and putting in roughly 7-8 hours there's no end in sight. The RPG mechanics are basic with gaining points to spend after leveling up on stats such as accuracy and power but it still scratches that RPG itch. The golf mechanics are what really shines and what I was most unsure about before release. A simple bar at the bottom of the screen that fills up and decides the power and accuracy of the shot is quite satisfying. The cool thing is that golf isn't the only sport in this title. The mini golfing, disc golfing and also drones are all quite fun as well. I found myself smiling and chuckling at the story with some of the dialogue and at the same time awing at how fun and pretty the world is. I dabbled a little in the two player and the only thing I was wishing was for quick play to have a way to record a high score and stats like longest drive or seeing how many total birdies and pars and what not that have been achieved thus far but that can always be added later if this is supported post launch. I can't recommend Golf Story enough for anyone looking for a light RPG out of the traditional fighting kind of games with a lighthearted story that doesn't take itself too serious. Its beautiful courses and mechanics along with a charming story will have anyone hooked for hours.… Expand
  22. Historik
    Sep 29, 2017
    10
    Brings me back to the days of Mario Golf on GBA. Graphics and music are outstanding. Dialogues are funny to read. For 15 euro, this is a game you surely can't miss on your Switch. Highly recommended.
  23. Creawen
    Dec 21, 2017
    5
    Game starts pretty good but it only gets worse from there. The more mechanics they introduce to you the less fun it gets. Why is it even called a RPG ? What they offer is pathetic since stats barely change anything and changing your club also wont result in a noticeable difference. Overall the only good thing about the game is the way the story is presented since it is pretty funny but theGame starts pretty good but it only gets worse from there. The more mechanics they introduce to you the less fun it gets. Why is it even called a RPG ? What they offer is pathetic since stats barely change anything and changing your club also wont result in a noticeable difference. Overall the only good thing about the game is the way the story is presented since it is pretty funny but the rest is just bad.… Expand
  24. Tila90
    Sep 28, 2017
    9
    Do you have 15 bucks to spare? There has never been a game more worthy of your money than Golf Story.
    The game charming and addictive mechanics, and the very classic art style blend together perfectly in a game that came out of no where and surprised everyone. If you enjoyed the old school Mario RPG sport style games, you are in for a treat here.
  25. riverkev95
    Sep 28, 2017
    10
    Un RPG hermoso, es increíble lo que han logrado hacer con este juego, para ser de un deporte para nada popular como el golf, este juego rebosa calidad y es un toque interesante de buen aire retro.
  26. Slipurson
    Sep 30, 2017
    9
    As others have said, this takes you back to the times of Mario Golf, but with a bit more precision perhaps.

    There are many things to do except for just playing golf, as the name tells us, this is a STORY and you progress and level up by playing golf and finishing side quests that are available in each new area you unlock.

    This game is highly recommended with its low price tag of 15€/$
  27. bluebomber242
    Oct 2, 2017
    9
    A charming rpg with interesting golf mechanics. A very enjoyable experience for a very good price. There is also replayability and multiplayer as you can play the courses separately from the story once you unlock them. A top game to consider for Switch owners.
  28. riskman64
    Oct 3, 2017
    10
    This game has all of the charm of Stardew Valley or Earthbound and the fun RPG and golf mechanics of Mario Golf or Mario Tennis. It's a must play on the Switch, and I really hope the developer makes a tennis version of this game. I'd buy that or Golf Story 2 on day one.
  29. Rbar
    Oct 4, 2017
    10
    Wonderful game! RPG of old reinvented. What a novel idea! This type of game is the reason I bought the system. Need more quality games like this on Switch.
  30. JRiv10
    Oct 30, 2017
    10
    Definitely 15 dollars well spent. I often prefer cartoon golf games to realistic ones and this is no different. The game provides a fun story and a quick game mode if you just want to fire it up with some friends. This is definitely one of the best indies on Switch yet.
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Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Best Switch Game of 2017
15
#15 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2017
22
#22 Most Shared Switch Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. CD-Action
    Jan 10, 2018
    85
    Golf Story came out of nowhere and stole my heart with its original sense of humor, use of HD Rumble, cute visuals and multitude of ideas for using golf in most unconventional ways. Don’t get discouraged by the whole golf thing though, as Sidebar’s game is actually a really good RPG that happens to borrow it’s mechanics from golf titles. [13/2017, p.50]
  2. Hardcore Gamer
    Jan 4, 2018
    80
    While a story or intriguing use of narrative might have only gone so far, though, Golf Story’s easy-to-grasp; hard-to-master core gameplay — that still manages to pace its teaching players the smaller details — is what will keep players coming back for more. Having them hunt down even the additional side-quests on top, no matter how zany or surreal the premise might be. It’s this unorthodox approach ultimately that gives Golf Story its unique identity and undeniable appeal as both a sports title and an independent release. While the influences are clear to see and the source material might not be entirely original, this game is wonderfully, weirdly different, but engaging all the same.
    Read full review
  3. games(TM)
    Dec 3, 2017
    80
    Classic golfing with a fun story, and few flaws. [Issue#194, p.83]
See all critic reviews »