A Little Golf Journey
- October 14, 2021
- Okidokico
- 4h median play time
A Little Golf Journey is a treat from start to finish, and should be a wonderful addition to almost anyone’s library.
Get on Steam"A Little Golf Journey" is a relaxing, casual golf game that takes players across charming landscapes. With over 100 holes to play, the game offers varied challenges and puzzles for players to solve. Its simple mechanics and cheerful art style make it accessible for all skill levels, perfect for a leisurely afternoon of gaming.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and relaxing music create a charming atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
- The game offers a unique blend of puzzle-solving and golf mechanics, with numerous secrets and challenges that keep it engaging.
- Assist mode provides helpful options like Undo and larger hole sizes, making it more accessible for completionists and casual players alike.
- The aiming system can be frustrating, with unpredictable shot trajectories that may lead to tedious gameplay when trying to achieve maximum stars.
- Some levels, particularly the final ones, introduce timing-based challenges that can feel unfair and detract from the overall enjoyment.
- The game can become repetitive, especially when aiming for 100% completion, as certain challenges may require excessive retries and can feel like busywork.
- gameplay23 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple yet engaging mechanics that are easy to grasp, though mastering them can be challenging. While the level design is praised for its creativity and the introduction of new elements as the game progresses, some players noted a lack of variety in gameplay features and a basic putting mechanic. Overall, the game offers a relaxing experience with beautiful graphics and clever puzzles, but may feel repetitive over time.
“Overall, I highly recommend this game for its simple and fun gameplay.”
“Beautiful graphics, simple-yet-deep mechanics, wonderful level design, and charming presentation make this a totally fresh way to relax with a spot of light golf.”
“A great golf game with the easiest mechanics possible that relies on clever level design to make it engaging.”
“You can restart the level if you go over, but that breaks the flow and makes mastering game mechanics really hard.”
“There's also a lack of new gameplay elements throughout the game; only the environments are changing.”
“Another thing I dislike is the putting mechanic; it is very basic and there isn’t much to it.”
- music22 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently described as relaxing and well-suited to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience with calming piano melodies and ambient sounds. Reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's ability to complement the visuals and gameplay, making it a pleasant backdrop for both casual and challenging moments. Overall, the music is highlighted as a significant positive aspect, contributing to the game's charm and appeal.
“Definitely a cute little game to have in your back pocket when you need something mindless to play that's still visually pleasing to look at with a great soundtrack.”
“The music is really well matched to each area and the little notes are very cute.”
“This game has an amazing art style and the music is super relaxing.”
“A puzzle golf game that is harder than a normal golf game, but it's accompanied by relaxing music, so it's an additional challenge.”
“Resolutions, windowed mode, v-sync, field of view, various graphics settings (depth of field, bloom, grass, anti-aliasing, etc.), separate volume settings (based on the rest I was surprised it was only music and sound; ambience could use its own for completeness' sake).”
“You can maybe also listen to music or listen to a podcast or whatever you like while playing this.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 85 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and charming art style, combining simplistic and complex textures with impressive lighting effects and water reflections. Players appreciate the low-poly visuals and the cozy atmosphere, which enhance the relaxing gameplay experience. The game also features a variety of graphical options, allowing for customization while maintaining a visually appealing presentation across different environments.
“Graphics are good; it's a combination of simplistic and complex textures with nice lighting effects, beautiful water reflections, and a cozy atmosphere.”
“The final levels also transform the game into a type of retrowave/vaporwave/outrun aesthetic which I didn't see coming and is really, really cool.”
“Graphically, this game is gorgeous.”
“The graphics are outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games, making the overall experience feel less immersive.”
“The character models look flat and lifeless, which detracts from the game's atmosphere.”
“The environments are bland and repetitive, failing to capture the player's interest or convey a sense of adventure.”
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered simple and not particularly memorable, with some reviewers noting it lacks depth compared to other titles like "Golf Story." While it may not be the focus of the gameplay, it serves to enhance the overall experience alongside the graphics and soundtrack. Ultimately, players seem to agree that a complex narrative isn't essential for a golf game.
“The game is so much fun to play and the graphics, story, and soundtrack just serve to enhance the experience.”
“Still a better love story than Twilight.”
“Two of the most compelling aspects of Golf Story were the very creative courses (a haunted country club?) and the humor on display.”
“There is a story, but it is really nothing to write home about.”
“Now, the story on the other hand is indeed simple.”
“If you are expecting a relaxing golf game with a loose story, this is not the game.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its combination of good graphics, including simplistic and complex textures, effective lighting effects, and beautiful water reflections, creating a cozy environment. Additionally, the music enhances the overall experience, contributing to a pleasantly surprising ambiance that complements the gameplay and encourages replayability.
“The graphics are good; it's a combination of simplistic and complex textures with nice lighting effects, beautiful water reflections, and a cozy atmosphere.”
“The music, atmosphere, and clever sprinkle of puzzle gameplay had me pleasantly surprised.”
“A golf game with easy controls, a nice atmosphere, nice music, optional objectives, and replayability.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, particularly in later worlds where timing events exacerbate the frustration. Achieving full stars on certain holes is often described as a tiresome and annoying experience, detracting from the overall casual enjoyment of the game.
“It just became very tedious and didn't feel very casual.”
“In fact, I would argue the later worlds with their timing events highlight how tedious, tiring, and unenjoyable the game actually is.”
“But getting full stars on some holes can be so tedious and annoying.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding humor in the game. While some players found the humor to be a standout feature, particularly in creative contexts like a haunted country club, others felt that the overall experience lacked comedic elements, leading to a bland impression.
“Two of the most compelling aspects of Golf Story were the very creative courses (a haunted country club?) and the humor on display.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, including glitches that disrupt gameplay and concerns about potentially losing progress if they needed to quit a level. Overall, these problems detract from the gaming experience.
“You had no idea how long it was going to be; some required moves felt like straight-up glitches. In fact, my ball glitched out twice, and I expect quitting out of the level would have necessitated replaying everything again.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
“I encountered multiple bugs that caused the game to freeze, forcing me to restart my console.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability due to its easy controls, enjoyable atmosphere, and optional objectives, making it appealing for players looking to revisit and explore different gameplay experiences.
“A golf game with easy controls, a nice atmosphere, great music, optional objectives, and high replayability.”
Critic Reviews
A Little Golf Journey PC Review
There are plenty of golf games and mini golf games on the market... A Little Golf Journey more or less combines both normal and mini golf and also adds some other quirks to stand out in the best possible way from a very large crowd.
86%A Little Golf Journey (Nintendo Switch)
A Little Golf Journey oversells its “stunning” courses and struggles to stay fresh with a mostly safe approach, regardless of plot attempts. It’s the sort of game that did enough to make me want to keep going for a few hours, but not enough to finish, let alone 100% it. Lacking diversity, both aesthetically and gameplay-wise, it pales when compared to many other Switch golf titles. But, even with a subpar camera, the secrets are quite a bit of fun. Assuredly not $19.99 fun, though. The content is there, but the enjoyment and polish aren’t as much. Wishlist this one for a sale while you browse other relaxing games on the eShop, and wait for an improved follow-up.
60%A Little Golf Journey Review
A Little Golf Journey is a treat from start to finish, and should be a wonderful addition to almost anyone’s library.
90%
