What the Golf
What the Golf? (stylized as WHAT THE GOLF?) is a sports video game developed by Triband. It was originally released for iOS and macOS (via Apple Arcade subscription) by The Label on 19 September 2019.[2] Ports for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were released by Triband, respectively in 2019, 2020 and 2024.[3][4]
| WHAT THE GOLF? | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Triband FoxNext[1] |
| Publisher(s) | Triband The Label |
| Composer(s) | Sune Køter Kølster |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, visionOS, Windows |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay edit
The game revolves around completing levels to progress on the world map. The goal of each level is to reach the hole. Every level of the game has a twist on traditional golf. Each section of the world map has its own theme, which the level's unique mechanics follow.
Development edit
What the Golf? was crowdfunded through American crowdfunding website Fig.[5] The developers chose golf as the sport to ridicule, saying that it was "mostly played by rich people, so it seemed like a safe target". The levels in the game were designed to be short, to be able to try as many jokes as possible. Much of the game's humor is based around slapstick, as it was seen as a form of comedy that would work regardless of where the player was. The game's crown system was designed to make players revisit levels and for people who wanted to complete everything. The developers considered having unlockable skins for the golf ball, but the idea ended up being scrapped. The slow-motion feature was originally intended for the game's soccer level, but it was added to the rest of the game.[6]
Release edit
What the Golf? released on 19 September 2019 for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS on Apple Arcade. A macOS version separate from Apple Arcade and a Windows port launched through the Epic Games Store on 1 October 2019.[7] A Nintendo Switch port was released on 21 May 2020.[8] A physical Nintendo Switch release was sold through Iam8bit alongside a vinyl soundtrack.[9] A Steam version was released on 22 October 2020.[10]
Mixed reality features for visionOS became available through Apple Arcade with the release of the Apple Vision Pro headset on February 2, 2024.[11]
Reception edit
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | iOS: 79/100[12] PC: 83/100[13] NS: 84/100[14] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 8.5/10 |
| GameSpot | 8/10 |
| PC Gamer (US) | 88/100 |
| TouchArcade | [15] |
What the Golf? received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[12][13] Sergio Velasquez of TouchArcade praised the element of surprise the game presented.[15] Jordan Devore of Destructoid appreciated the game's comedic value.[16] Christopher Livingston, writing for PC Gamer, while also praising the comedy, enjoyed both the soundtrack and the challenge each level brought.[17] However, James O'Connor of GameSpot did not enjoy the differences between the Windows and Apple editions.[18]
Awards edit
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | SXSW Gaming Awards 2019 | Gamer's Voice: Video Game | Nominated | [19] |
| Independent Games Festival Awards 2019 | Excellence in Design | Nominated | [20] | |
| Golden Joystick Award | Best Mobile Game | Nominated | ||
| The Game Awards 2019 | Best Mobile Game | Nominated | [21] | |
| 2020 | 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards | Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game | Nominated | [22] |
| Portable Game of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Game Developers Choice Awards | Best Mobile Game | Won | [23] | |
| 16th British Academy Games Awards | EE Mobile Game of the Year | Nominated | [24] | |
| 2020 Webby Awards | Best Game Design | Nominated | [25] | |
| Best User Experience | Nominated |
References edit
- ^ Forde, Matthew (22 March 2019). "GDC 2019: FoxNext Games picks up Big Indie Pitch winner What The Golf?". Pocket Gamer.
- ^ Frushtick, Russ (17 September 2019). "Here's the full list of games coming to Apple Arcade on launch day". Polygon. from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "'What the Golf' is coming to the Nintendo Switch on May 21st". Engadget. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Ivan, Tom (12 February 2024). "Indie hit What the Golf? is coming to PlayStation". VGC. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Alvarez, Edgar (22 March 2018). "'What The Golf?' is the perfect game for people who don't care about golf". Engadget. from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ Harris, John (November 2019). "What the Golf? is going on in this Q&A". www.gamasutra.com. from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "What the Golf? - The golf game for people who hate golf". Epic Games Store. from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "If Utterly Bonkers Multiplayer Games Are Your Jam, Check Out What The Golf? On Switch". Nintendo Life. 12 May 2020. from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- ^ "WHAT THE GOLF? (Nintendo Switch Physical Edition)". iam8bit. from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "WHAT THE GOLF? on Steam". store.steampowered.com. from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "Apple announces more than 600 new apps built for Apple Vision Pro". Apple Inc. 1 February 2024.
- ^ a b "WHAT THE GOLF? for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ a b "WHAT THE GOLF? for PC Reviews". Metacritic. from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "WHAT THE GOLF? for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ a b Velasquez, Sergio (25 September 2019). "Apple Arcade: 'What The Golf?' Review – The Best Golf Game not related to Golf". TouchArcade. from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ Devore, Jordan (21 September 2019). "Review: What the Golf?". Destructoid. from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ Livingston, Christopher (2 October 2019). "What the Golf? review". PC Gamer. from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ O'Connor, James (9 October 2019). "What The Golf Review - Swing And A Hit". GameSpot. from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ Trent, Logan (29 January 2019). . South by Southwest. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Fogel, Stephanie (3 January 2019). "'Return of the Obra Dinn' Leads IGF Awards Nominees". Variety. from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Makuch, Eddie (13 December 2019). "All Winners From The Game Awards 2019". GameSpot. from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Chalk, Andy (13 January 2020). "Control and Death Stranding get 8 nominations each for the 2020 DICE Awards". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Makuch, Eddie (18 March 2020). "Untitled Goose Game Wins Another Game Of The Year Award". GameSpot. from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- ^ Stuart, Keith (3 March 2020). "Death Stranding and Control dominate Bafta games awards nominations". The Guardian. from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "Webby Awards: Games". The Webby Awards. 19 May 2020. from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
External links edit
- Official website