Desert Golfing

About

Desert Golfing is a single player casual sport game. It was developed by Captain Games and was released on December 18, 2017. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Desert Golfing offers a simple yet challenging golfing experience across an endless, procedurally generated desert. Use your mouse to swing your club, navigating various terrain types and obstacles in your quest for the elusive end of the desert. With no scores, power meters, or course management, the only objective is to keep golfing.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 761 reviews

monetization12 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game offers a simple, relaxing, and addictive experience, perfect for passing time without pressure.
There are no ads, menus, or in-app purchases, allowing for uninterrupted gameplay.
The minimalist design and endless holes create a zen-like atmosphere that many players find meditative.

Some players experience frustrating bugs, such as disappearing balls or impossible holes that halt progress.
The lack of a restart option or scoring system can lead to feelings of monotony and frustration.
Physics inconsistencies and occasional difficulty spikes can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

monetization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
19%
35%
The monetization model of the game is highly praised for its simplicity and lack of intrusive elements, featuring no ads, in-app purchases, or microtransactions. Players appreciate the straightforward experience, emphasizing that the minimal cost of 99 cents is justified by the absence of distractions and the focus on pure gameplay. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing alternative to the typical ad-laden, freemium models prevalent in the industry.
- “No ads, no in-app purchases, super simple mechanics.”
- “No need for internet connectivity, no advertising, no menus, just the game and you need nothing else.”
- “No stupid ads getting in the way, no constant pressure to spend ridiculous amounts of money to make the game somewhat playable.”
- “Its raw minimalism is a breath of fresh air in an industry clogged with in-app purchases, unlockable content, ads and political agenda being pushed down our throats.”
- “If you're tired of freemium promotions and in-app purchases, you may find that this is your favorite mobile game ever.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and addictive mechanics, offering a minimalistic experience without ads or in-app purchases. While some players appreciate the zen-like quality and the potential for infinite play, others note the repetitive nature and lack of variety in challenges. Overall, the game is praised for its solid mechanics and engaging core loop, making it a worthwhile experience for casual gamers.
- “No ads, no in-app purchases, super simple mechanics.”
- “Perfect mechanics for addictive play.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic, backed up by a state-of-the-art physics engine.”
- “There is no pause menu or records of your gameplay.”
- “It is literally just a looping game where 70% of the gameplay is exactly the same as the last hole that continues on and on with no end.”
- “The game mechanics work really well, it's a dollar, give it a go.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist aesthetic that appeals to players nostalgic for 90s PC games, though some users express a desire for more variety and detail. While the simplicity is appreciated for its relaxing qualities, others highlight the impressive realism achievable on mobile devices. Overall, the graphics are functional and smooth, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience despite their stripped-down nature.
- “I guess it's appealing to me because I grew up on 90s PC games, so the simplicity (and the graphics of course) triggers my sense of nostalgia.”
- “The graphics are amazing, I never thought a simple phone could put out so much realism.”
- “By clicking this game, you immediately transport yourself to the depths of the Sahara desert, leaving your everyday worries behind, lose yourself in a world with full HD graphics and original desert sounds, a land where gold coins were nothing more than a distant fear in your genetic memory.”
- “The graphics are as simple as they can possibly be.”
- “Wish they would add a few more graphics and a bit of variety.”
- “Totally minimal game with 2600-esque graphics, and I can't stop playing it.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's story is described as both touching and dull, with a forgettable villain that fails to engage players in the campaign mode. While some find the narrative to be profound and emotional, others criticize it for lacking excitement and depth, suggesting that the multiplayer experience compensates for the shortcomings in storytelling. Overall, the story elicits mixed reactions, ranging from heartfelt to confusing.
- “Finally, the story is slowly unraveled, revealing one so touching that it brings me to tears.”
- “When I think of an exciting, in-depth, and excellent story, the first thought in my mind is of Desert Golfing.”
- “Desert Golfing goofs up on the campaign with a dull story and a totally forgettable villain, but they recover on the multiplayer side with some very nice maps, great bot AI, the usual frenzied gameplay, and the highly addicting extinction mode.”
- “Desert Golf goofs up on the campaign with a dull story and a totally forgettable villain.”
- “What is love? What is life? What is a desert? What is golfing? Are we stuck in an eternal quest for love? I don't know.”
- “Let me tell you how this game works.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music aspect of the game is characterized by its minimalism, with users appreciating the absence of intrusive music and ads, which contributes to a relaxing and zen-like experience. While some players find the lack of music enhances their enjoyment, others suggest that adding music could further enrich the gameplay. Overall, the focus remains on simplicity and straightforward enjoyment.
- “No leaderboard, achievement, overly bright music leads to a surprisingly zen, relaxing and addictive experience.”
- “Really speaks to my inner minimalist, no crazy music, no annoying ads, just golfing in the sand.”
- “Really easy to just chill out to music & play.”
- “I'd say the game is blank, no music, only sound effects, but apart from that, the game in general is cool!”
- “99¢, you should add some music.”
- “No leaderboard, achievement, overly bright music leads to a surprisingly zen, relaxing, and addictive experience.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with a story that unfolds in a touching manner, often leading players to tears. It is described as both emotionally draining and existentially challenging, evoking deep feelings of pain and inadequacy while simultaneously driving players to confront their desires.
- “Finally, the story is slowly unraveled, revealing one so touching that it brings me to tears.”
- “Emotionally draining and heartachingly painful, yet it continually pushes your desires further while exposing your utter inadequacy.”
- “Emotionally draining and existentially terrifying.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to become tedious quickly, leading to a sense of monotony in gameplay.
- “It gets tedious pretty quickly.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive.”
- “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over without any real reward.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, users report mixed experiences regarding stability; while some encounter bugs on newer devices like the S22, others appreciate a bug-free, ad-free, and in-app purchase-free experience.
- “The game is completely bug-free, ad-free, and has no in-app purchases, which makes for a smooth and uninterrupted experience.”
- “I appreciate the stability of the game; it runs flawlessly without any crashes or glitches.”
- “The absence of ads and in-app purchases contributes to a stable and enjoyable gaming environment.”
- “Good game, but it is a bit buggy on my new S22.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
Players highlight the game's endless replayability, noting its simple mechanics that allow for one-handed operation while providing a challenging experience that encourages repeated play.
- “One-hand operation, simple, immensely replayable, and challenging.”
- “Endless replayability.”
- “One-hand operation, simple, immensely replayable, challenging...”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a self-aware, meta approach, where the creator playfully acknowledges the lack of traditional engaging elements while finding amusement in the reactions of the audience. This lightheartedness resonates with fans, particularly those who appreciate a more ironic or tongue-in-cheek style of comedy.
- “My hobby: casually mentioning a unique 'game' without any real interesting parts in my webcomic and laughing at any griping commenters.”
- “Bought this because of a recommendation by Jared Petty of Kinda Funny.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is criticized for experiencing hitching and stuttering during ball movement, likely due to the system's struggle to track the ball's trajectory. Additionally, the lack of engaging rewards or performance metrics detracts from the overall experience.
- “There are some hitching and stuttering when the ball is moving, with short pauses presumably when the game is trying to determine where the ball is heading.”
- “The game lacks a long-term goal, juicy effects, rewards, and any form of performance pressure or social recognition.”