Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots [PC] | REVIEW

Golf games have often sat in two camps: serious simulations or light-hearted arcade outings, and  Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots confidently earns its place in the latter. Carrying on the tradition of easy-to-pick-up gameplay and cheerful golfing action found across the series for years – albeit with a new developer and publisher at the helm – this latest entry proves that Everybody’s Golf still knows how to deliver a round on the green that’s well worth being a part of.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The core of Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots’ gameplay remains familiar with the three-press shot system: tap once to start your swing, again to set power, and a final time to lock in accuracy. It’s simple, effective, and still one of the most accessible control schemes in sports gaming. It helps make for an experience that welcomes beginners but without making veterans feel left out, because whilst a well-timed button press might be enough to get the ball in play, learning to apply backspin, topspin, or curve shots is what sets the best players apart. Unlockable special shots further open the door to creative play once you’ve put in the time, whilst things such as wind, slopes, and spin all add additional layers of strategy – all without ever being too overwhelming. Most importantly? It’s a ton of fun, with the various mechanics in play coming together perfectly to make for a golfing experience that’s always enjoyable, but that will also gently ease players in when learning the finer aspects of taking shots.

Where Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots really shines is in its variety of game modes. Challenge Mode provides a steady stream of competitions with different rules, hazards, and prizes, with tougher opponents and courses steadily unlocking to keep the player on their toes. Then you have World Tour mode, which adds light narrative elements by giving each character a small storyline to follow on their golfing journey. It’s a bit on the corny side and the narrative threads are never especially exciting, but hey, it adds a fun bit of context to the sporting action that I’m sure will be appreciated by players.

Then you have your traditional Stroke Play or Match Play for more standard matches on a smaller scale, so if you’re just after a quick fix of golfing action, you’re sorted. And if you fancy something a bit wilder? Wacky Golf is for you, with its unpredictable (and typically ridiculous) twists on gameplay making for something more unconventional but undoubtedly fun. There’s also online multiplayer with support for up to four players in a game, and local multiplayer if you want to get together with pals for a few rounds of golf. The online leaderboard also adds to the appeal of online play, so even if you don’t necessarily want to compete directly with others, at least you can make your mark on the game.

“Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is a return to what has always made the series special over the years: simple but rewarding gameplay, plenty of content to unlock, and a colourful personality that makes it hard to put down.”

A lot of the satisfaction of Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots comes with player progression – at the beginning, you’re limited to a small roster of characters and courses, but as you progress, you’ll gradually unlock new golfers, caddies, abilities, gear, and cosmetic items. The only downside? Unlocking everything will take a significant amount of time, and with each character levelling up individually, you’ll have to a put a LOT of hours in to get everything. But hey, at least there’s more than enough here to keep dedicated players engaged for months… it’s just the casual players that might find the pace a little uneven.

Perhaps the strongest compliment that can be given to Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is how well it balances approachability and depth. Newcomers can enjoy casual rounds without getting lost in complicated mechanics, while veterans can spend hours refining shots, experimenting with spin, and hunting for unlockables whilst progressing through the game. It’s got a bit of something for everyone, and with multiple game modes and multiplayer support, there’s always something to do. I know I’ll be coming back to it for a long, long time, and even in the time I’ve been reviewing, I’ve found myself appreciating some of the finer nuances even more. It didn’t stop me from getting beaten by my friend who was playing the game for the first time though, but hey, it just shows how accessible and enjoyable the game can be (because I’m obviously the better golfer).

Presentation-wise, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is bright, colourful, and varied, with courses spanning cityscapes, mountains, and sunny resorts, with weather and time-of-day changes keeping rounds feeling dynamic. Customisation options let you tweak your golfer’s appearance, clothes, and gear, adding to the game’s playful personality, with everything about the overall aesthetic feeling charming and cute. Just…  maybe turn the in-game volume down – whilst the music and sound effects are great, the voice acting can be painful.

Check out some screenshots down below:

We also tested the game on the Steam Deck, and the good news is that it’s playable. However, performance isn’t flawless, and occasional stutters and inconsistent frame rates make timing shots trickier than on other platforms. It’s not unmanageable, but it does detract slightly from the precision required by the three-press swing system. A patch or two should be able to iron out these issues, but for now, those hoping to play on the Steam Deck might face a few frustrations. It’s a shame because it’s the perfect game for the platform, so here’s hoping some of these issues can be ironed out sooner rather than later.

Developer: Hyde
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2730810/EVERYBODYS_GOLF_HOT_SHOTS/