Everybody’s Golf arrived on PS4 in 2017 as a fresh start for a series that had wandered through handheld ports and console oddities. The game drops the numbered titles and the formal tournament structure, trading both for a simple pitch: hit the ball, watch it fly, repeat. That simplicity is the point. It is also the limit.
Trailer, via Push Square.
A New Look
The core loop is unchanged since the original 1998 release on the PlayStation. Players choose a club, aim, and strike the ball across a course. The physics model is forgiving enough to reward casual play and precise enough to satisfy anyone who wants to study wind direction and elevation. Putts roll with weight, chips bounce off greenside slopes, and the ball carries farther when struck low on the face. None of this is new, but none of it feels dated either.
Courses are built from scratch for this version, and they show more imagination than past entries allowed. The game includes a small town street, a rooftop garden, and a snowy mountain peak, each packed with hazards and shortcuts that reward creative routing. Courses are small by modern standards, often a handful of holes rather than the eighteen expected elsewhere. That brevity fits the game’s loose design philosophy.
The Mode Lineup
The main mode is a straightforward round-robin format where players pick characters, courses, and handicaps before each match. There is also a story mode that sends players through a fictional tournament arc, complete with scripted cutscenes and character banter. This mode is thin on substance but thick on charm, leaning on comedy and silly situations rather than genuine tension.
Beyond that, the game offers a few smaller modes:
- A practice range where players can test clubs and shots without pressure
- A quick round option for fast matches with friends
- A solo career mode that tracks progress and unlocks gear
- A challenge mode with bonus objectives tied to each course
None of these modes is essential on its own, but together they give the game a decent amount of variety. The challenge mode in particular rewards repeated play, asking players to clear par in fewer strokes or land shots within tight targets.
Multiplayer
Local multiplayer remains the strongest reason to own Everybody’s Golf. Up to four players can join a match on one screen, passing controllers around as turns rotate. The game handles this smoothly, pausing after each shot and letting the next player take over without interruption. Online multiplayer exists too, but it is less essential. Matches feel awkward without the physical presence of other players, and the lobby system is simple rather than robust.
“Hit the ball, watch it fly, repeat.”
That line captures the whole experience. There is no deep strategy here, no complex rules, no grinding for gear. Just hitting the ball and watching it travel.
Presentation
The visual style is bright and cartoonish, with exaggerated character models and exaggerated animations. Wind blows grass and trees, water splashes, and the sun moves across the sky during long matches. These touches add personality to a genre that often relies on realism, and they make the game feel distinct from its competitors.
The soundtrack is light and cheerful, with a mix of electronic and acoustic tracks that change with the season. Course themes shift between sunny days, rainy afternoons, and winter nights, giving each hole a distinct mood even when the layout itself looks familiar.
Performance
Performance is solid but not exceptional. Load times are short, and matches rarely stutter on modern hardware. The game runs at a steady frame rate, though some online matches can suffer from latency when connections are poor. There is no support for PS5 hardware, and the game plays the same way today as it did at launch.
The controls are simple: players select a club, aim, and strike. The game does not offer extensive tutorials, and the difficulty curve is gentle enough that anyone can pick it up in minutes. That ease of entry is a strength, but it also means there is less to discover the longer you play.
What Holds It Back
The game’s ambitions are modest, and that modesty shows in its length. A full campaign takes hours to complete, and once that is done, there is little left to draw players back. The challenge mode extends the lifespan somewhat, but it is not enough to justify extended play beyond a weekend session.
There is also a lack of depth in the club selection. Players can customize colors and shapes, but the actual performance of clubs is limited, and there is little difference between the best and worst options available. This is a game about swinging, not about managing equipment.
The story mode is the weakest element. Its jokes land inconsistently, and the tournament structure feels artificial rather than engaging. It is a pleasant diversion rather than a reason to return.
Final Word
Everybody’s Golf succeeds because it knows what it is and does not try to be more. It is a game about hitting a ball, watching it fly, and enjoying the process. It does not demand attention, and it does not ask for much in return. For players looking for a quick pick-up-and-play session with friends, it delivers exactly what it promises.
For anyone hoping for a deep strategy game, a lengthy campaign, or a reason to play alone for dozens of hours, it falls short. The game is at its best in small doses, and its appeal fades quickly once the novelty wears off.
The critical score for Everybody’s Golf sits at 7.9 out of 10, reflecting a game that is competent, charming, and ultimately shallow. It is a solid addition to the PS4 library, best enjoyed in short bursts with people nearby.
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