A Little Golf Journey Review (PC)

A little box is glowing alluringly in the corner. I think I can get my golf ball into the hole in two but that little shimmer is too interesting to ignore. So, I hit towards it, trigger a challenge, and complete it. I have a new hole to drive for, which I do. Then, another level appears on the overworld, ready to drop a whole new load of stars into my lap.

A Little Golf Journey was put together by Okidokico, with publishing duties handled by Playtonic Friends. Players can pick up the title on the PC, using Steam, or on the Nintendo Switch. The experience is built around the sport mentioned in the title but not in a classic simulation sense.

There’s some story in the game but it does not represent the main reason to push forward through the areas. A mysterious entity known as X tells the player the basics of the sport. As one deals with courses there are more letters between X and another person, who signs off as Y, offering tidbits about a larger universe than the one bounded by green grass. It’s cute at times but I quickly become disinterested in paying close attention to the words. I had puzzles to solve.

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Despite the name, this is not a game with a strong connection to the actual sport of golf. There are no people on these courses, there’s no focus on carefully choosing which type of iron to use, there’s no management element, the courses would not make sense in the real world. This journey is all about solving a physics-infused puzzle. Get the ball to the hole using the smallest number of actions possible, getting as many of the stars as possible. Learn from failure. Search for secrets. Find blue things. Get to try out new holes.

Control is very important in A Little Golf Journey. Pulling back on the mouse for the most powerful shot possible is all but essential to get a lot of stars or even the fabled hole in one. But that power shot means little if it is not tempered by using Left Shift to focus aim. Left Control is also important because it shows a reverse view of the shot, crucial to avoid hazards and better judge the landing spot. Putting is very simple and seems almost an afterthought. I found that the best way to get decent stars from almost all levels is to try to make it into a position where you can get the ball in the hole without getting on the green first.

There are nine courses to try out, each with its own visual identity, gated by checks on the number of stars the player has managed to get. Grinding becomes at some point, which is not in the best interest of the game. There are secret holes and alternate paths to open up, which can boost the star total. I like the concept, but the timed challenges seem somehow contrary to the overall spirit of A Little Golf Journey. The deepest secrets involve a whole other layer of courses, even more, fantastical than the ones in the core nine areas.

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The biggest problem of A Little Golf Journey is that you don’t automatically get the maximum number of stars for a level where you find secrets, but actually have to go back and complete it again. For players who become too frustrated with this and with the gating of progress, the game offers a set of assists in the Options menu. I loved that I could turn on an undo option and that there is a simple way to get rid of timers. It might feel like cheating a little, but this is a great way to make progress and see everything the game offers.

A Little Golf Journey looks like a solid indie effort. The world has an interesting diorama look, with quite a bit of variety when it comes to environments. It’s nice to get hints via the graphics about where the various secrets of the universe are located. Colors are sometimes used in cool ways. The sound design is the best part of the presentation. The music, in particular, is designed to enhance the feeling of calm exploration and puzzle-solving and works well.

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