As another year rolls in, it’s time to look back at the highlights reel of our second favourite pasttime, that thing that we do when the weather is too rubbish to play golf… play it online of course! Today we feature the games that really struck a chord with us in 2017, whether it was in gameplay realness, being able to win cash in tournaments, gaming on the go, or just to have some silly fun with the kids. Check ‘em out.
Note: Some of these games are available with golf simulators, the home setups that provide the most realistic golf experience available without actually hitting the green. Check out the website of each game to see if it’s available for simulator use.
WGT
WGT, or World Golf Tour, is the game that you can really play anywhere. This game is one that you can play pretty much on any device or platform if you wish as it is a fully browser based game. You can also play it mobile if you’re in the mood and on the go (because it has a dedicated app) – like we did on the bus on the way to work each day. Repeatedly. Because of this feature, it makes WGT the perfect fill in golfing game, for when you don’t have hours to spend, or your computer or console isn’t front of you. With over 10 million registered players, there will always be tournaments that you can play in at any level. Download via the App Store with iTunes (or head over to the website) and get to playing – the app is rather a cool 4.4/5 by iOS users.
Rory McIlroy PGA Tour
While we all miss the Tiger Woods PGA Tour games of yore, he’s unfortunately not quite the force of old, so we have Rory Mcilroy as his next best substitute in the realm of professional player golf games. Rory’s game provides players with actual licensed courses and real golf tournament players. It’s good fun to play against your friends, and is available on both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The game features some nifty inclusions like the ability to set up your controls in different configurations, Tour mode, and a 3-click swing, and it’s the only option available from EA Sports presently, who are always top of the field in sports gaming. This one’s rated a 61 on Metacritic.
The Golf Club (2)
The Golf Club 2 is the world’s biggest online golf community – any it’s growing by the day. It’s available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam, and the second iteration of the game is out now. The game offers an awesome tool where you can design your own courses, which – for us, anyway – is the highlight, as you can do some really awesome stuff here, but of course it also offers the opportunity to get involved in either solo or online play. There are clubs and societies set up for each platform, either as a social league, or where there is buy in for members and you can compete to win a pot. Play in tournaments, climb the ladder, and become immersed in this very addictive game. Play it any which way you want. The game clocks in at 76% on Metacritic, with fans of the series impressed by the societies and interactions with other players, the gameplay itself, and the new career mode in version 2.
Everybody’s Golf
If you’re looking for something a little quirky from your fairway play, then Everybody’s Golf could just be your winning golf game. This new title, released in August 2017 for PlayStation 4 is a Japanese-produced game that really is designed ‘for everybody’. With fun, cartoon graphics, with great solitaire but a realistic engine under the hood, it’s a great little golf game for both golfers and those new to the sport as well. It’s a particularly great game if you have kids, a spouse, or friends that you’d like to game with who aren’t interested in golf usually! The online functionality has lot of active Japanese players – not so many Westerners – but it’s fine to play around with if you’re not a huge fan of chatting with your competition or teammates anyway. This one is rated a solid 77% on Metacritic.
Grand Theft Auto V
What the? GTA is a car game! And GTA V was released in 2013! Hey, nevertheless, if you want a game where you can play golf as part of a range of other stuff, then GTA V might be actually be worth a spin – so long as you’re not easily offended and you’re a fan of out-there crime, of course. The game is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam, and follows the GTA series in delivering mad cap criminal capers and storylines across San Andreas in California. The fifth edition of the game also includes fully playable tennis courts, darts, and the aforementioned golf course, where you can battle other players online, so long as you’ve reached a high enough level in the game to do so. Yes, we are still playing this in 2017 because who doesn’t love a slice of GTA action every now and again? This game is so good it has a score of a whopping 97 on Metacritic.
100ft Robot Golf
100ft Robot Golf is, as the name suggests, 100ft robots duking it out on the golf course. So what golf courses would that be? Well, cities with skyscrapers, a moon base, and underwater, of course! If you like your golf play ridiculous, or you just want to have a bit of silly fun for a while, then this 2017 release might be worthwhile. The game is available on PlayStation 4 and Steam, where you can play online with up to three other players. The real excitement for us with this one was the ability to play with PlayStation VR – like you are actually a gigantic robot in the game, which gives us a bit of a giggle. While it’s not exactly a great one for tactical long play, it has that fun aspect where you’ll give it a spin every now and then. This one is rated 56 on Metacritic.
Jack Nicklaus Perfect Golf
For a game as close to a perfect physics game engine as possible, then it’s hard to go past Jack Nicklaus Perfect Golf, which was released on Steam last year. The game was built by indie developers with the help of legendary course designer and golf pro, Jack Nicklaus. The accuracy both in the course design and gameplay is second to none, especially for PC players who often get a rough trot of things, losing out in gameplay to Xbox and PlayStation. The game was reportedly being developed for the PS4, although we see no sign of it yet. You’re able to play online with others by finding a competitor in the lobby, or you can set up your own game with a password protected entry so that you can play with friends. Definitely one to look at for PC gamers.
If you love golf but you’re not feeling up to a full game then you can always check out golf themed online games. NoDepositFriend has free spins golf slot games for casino fans, there’s putt putt games you can play online in various different formats and types, or grab a golf-themed solitaire game for a traditional card game with a golfing flavour.