Golf Story: A Hole-in-One for Charm, a Bogey for Staying Power

Golf Story is one of those indie gems that proves you don't need a massive budget to deliver a genuinely fun experience. Originally released in 2017 for the Nintendo Switch, this RPG-golf hybrid from Sidebar Games found its way into my hands on the Switch 2, and I'm glad it did. It's a game that knows exactly what it wants to be: a lighthearted, mechanically satisfying sports adventure that doesn't overstay its welcome. Whether it earns a permanent spot in your library after the credits roll, however, is another conversation entirely.

Wokeness: 0.0

Golf Story is refreshingly focused on being a video game. There's no agenda here, no ham-fisted messaging shoehorned into the narrative. It's a story about a guy who loves golf, wants to prove himself, and encounters a colorful cast of weirdos along the way. The humor is organic, the characters exist to serve the game's charm, and the developers clearly prioritized fun over anything else. This is exactly what we like to see.

Gameplay: 8.0

The core golf mechanics are simplistic but wonderfully intuitive. The classic three-click swing system is easy to pick up, and Sidebar Games smartly drip-feeds new mechanics throughout the adventure to keep things from going stale. Disc golf, mini-golf, and various course-specific challenges break up the standard rounds nicely. The controller feedback deserves special mention here — the use of HD rumble and audio cues from the controller itself provides satisfying tactile responses that elevate every shot. My one gripe is navigation. Knowing where to go next can be genuinely puzzling at times, with the game offering little in the way of clear direction. It's not game-breaking, but it occasionally disrupts the flow.

Story: 7.0

The narrative is straightforward — an underdog golfer chasing his dream — and it won't win any awards for depth. But that's not really the point. The real star here is the writing. The dialogue consistently brought a smile to my face, with genuinely funny exchanges and characters who each have their own distinct personality. Each course feels like its own little world, with inhabitants that match the theme and tone of their environment. It's not a story you'll be reflecting on weeks later, but it's one you'll enjoy living in while it lasts.

Graphics: 6.5

Golf Story employs a pixel art style that gets the job done without ever truly dazzling. Each course is visually distinct, which helps maintain variety as you progress, but this isn't the kind of pixel art that makes you stop and screenshot. It didn't detract from the experience in any way, but it also didn't elevate it. Perfectly serviceable is the most honest assessment I can give.

Audio: 7.0

The soundtrack is competent and appropriately varied — each course has its own distinct musical identity that complements the atmosphere. That said, none of it is particularly memorable. You won't be humming these tunes on your commute. It works in context, supports the mood, and never annoys, which counts for something. The real audio highlight, as mentioned, is the controller speaker integration, which adds a layer of feedback that the soundtrack alone doesn't provide.

Replayability: 4.5

This is where Golf Story takes its biggest penalty stroke. The game gave me that itch to 100% the story content, and I happily obliged. But once that's done? There's not much pulling you back. A versus mode exists for local multiplayer, but there's no progression tied to it, no option to play against the CPU, and no online functionality. You're essentially left playing against yourself. For a game this charming, it's a shame there isn't more reason to return to the course after the final putt drops.

Golf Story is a delightful, well-crafted experience that punches above its weight in personality and mechanical satisfaction. The controls feel great, the comedy lands, and the variety across courses keeps the adventure engaging from start to finish. It's the kind of game you recommend without hesitation — with the caveat that it's a one-and-done affair. Once you've seen the credits, the clubhouse is closed. If you're looking for a cozy, funny, and mechanically tight indie to fill a weekend, Golf Story delivers. Just don't expect it to be your go-to for months to come.