Don’t putt off playing this game
By Paul Hunter
Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots lands under Hyde with Bandai Namco as publisher. The series that spent so long on PlayStation now reaches PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC, widening its audience in one swing.
Gameplay keeps the classic three-press swing front and centre. It’s easy to learn and gives you space to sharpen timing, spin and shot placement. You can switch between different swing styles and fine-tune impact to deal with wind and uneven terrain.
There’s plenty to chase. Challenge events and World Tour chapters drive unlocks and steady progression. Wacky Golf, which feature four different golf variations, toss in quirky rules and surprises. Solo Rounds, Match Play, Group Match and World Tournament broaden the ways you can compete. A respectable roster of unlockable characters pairs with a shop for clubs and cosmetics, and gear and caddies level up to give you clear targets. The in-game economy runs on currency you earn by playing rather than paid purchases at launch.
Will Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots earn a spot in your game library rotation? Let’s find out!
Story rarely heads a golf review, yet Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots gives you small narratives that actually matter between holes. World Tour works as a string of short character arcs. Each golfer brings a distinct mood and a few light scenes that explain why they swing the way they do. Some tales are sunny and upbeat; others lean quieter and a little moody. The variety keeps the single-player path from feeling like an endless string of scorecards.
Cutscenes are short and easy to skip if you only want to play. I watched enough to find a few characters I cared about. Newcomer Aile’s boundless cheer stuck with me after a tense Challenge match, while (also newcomer) Mitzuki’s gloom offered a neat contrast to the game’s generally upbeat tone. The stories don't aim for too much drama, instead focused on personality, and they succeed at that.
Narrative ties into progression without getting in the way. Win a special event and you often face a rival in a Versus match, and beating them can add that character to your roster. That loop gives you reasons to see more chapters and try different match types. Each arc also hands out small rewards that help you build your character’s kit over time.
Not everything lands perfectly. The dialogue grows familiar quickly, and repeated lines can make the talking feel recycled. Some of the voice work hits high notes that grated on me—so I turned volume down on occasion. Still, the cutscenes are optional and the writing keeps a playful edge that fits the game’s lighter sensibilities.
Overall, the story content is compact, friendly and often funny. It never slows the golf down. Instead, it offers small moments of personality that make unlocking new characters feel like an actual reward rather than just another icon in a menu.
The gameplay here is the kind that gets you playing right away but keeps you learning for weeks. Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots leans on the classic three-press swing, but you don’t have to stop there. Three different gauge options change how you set spin and timing—one for pre-set spin, one for mid-swing adjustments, and the old-school timing route if you want something straightforward. That variety makes each hole feel like a small puzzle.
Course conditions force you to think ahead. Wind, slopes and hazards rearrange your usual plan, and the clubs and balls you unlock actually change how a hole plays. In a Challenge match I ran into a tornado that kept dragging my ball into the rough. I swapped to a higher-spin ball, timed a Perfect Impact (a perfectly timed shot that results in greater accuracy) and watched the final putt land; unlocking the rival after that felt great.
Progression ties neatly into the loop. Challenge events and World Tour chapters drop cash and items you can spend in the game shop. Everything is earned through play at launch, so no surprise purchases cloud the path. Level up your gear, unlock shots like homing strikes, and the same caddy shop will slowly boost your stats as you build rapport.
Multiplayer swings between calm and chaotic fun. Solo Rounds and Match Play are the familiar formats, while Group Match and World Tournament connect you online and show global standings. Wacky Golf mix things up with bomb explosions, stolen clubs and random course modifiers—the kind of nonsense that makes multiplayer matches hilarious. I had a round where losing a club mid-game forced a complete rethink heading into the green, and that scramble was one of the funniest moments I’ve had with the game.
It’s easy to pick up but takes practice to master. Landing perfect impacts and learning gear quirks keeps the loop satisfying, though chasing every unlock can feel like a slow climb. Overall, the blend of instant fun and real mechanical depth kept me coming back for more rounds.
Visually, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is easy to read and fun to watch. Courses jump from mountains to city layouts, and sun, evening lighting and changing weather make each hole feel slightly different. I noticed that seeing wind gust across the fairway actually helped me plan shots more carefully, which made the rounds feel interactive. Some textures look simple, but each hole is clear and distinctive enough to know exactly where to aim.
Characters and caddies bring personality to the course. My favourite golfers had gestures and expressions that made even a missed shot entertaining, and caddies show little reactions that grow over time if you stick with them. Those visual cues make progression feel more personal. I found myself enjoying watching a new outfit or a quirky animation because it reflected the time I’d spent building my character.
Equipment looks and functions go hand in hand. Different balls and clubs aren’t just cosmetic—the higher-spin balls reflect light differently, and new clubs visually reinforce their mechanical advantage. The shop menus are easy to navigate, and I always knew what I was unlocking next. Seeing the tangible gear upgrades added to my sense of accomplishment.
Audio is upbeat without getting in the way. Music suits the environments, ambient noises add context, and the cheerful background helps maintain pace. Dialogue lines do repeat and can get annoying, so I muted them during long play sessions, but otherwise the sound keeps the course lively and fun.
Sure, some animations are stiff and certain textures feel artificial, but those imperfections are minor. The presentation focuses on visual clarity, which makes it easy to understand wind, slopes and hazards at a glance. Between bright courses, distinctive characters, and helpful gear cues, the visuals and audio work together to make every round feel clear, playful, and enjoyable.
Final Score: 8/10 - Great
Developer: Bandai Namco
Publisher: Hyde
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, Mulitplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots lands under Hyde with Bandai Namco as publisher. The series that spent so long on PlayStation now reaches PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC, widening its audience in one swing.
Gameplay keeps the classic three-press swing front and centre. It’s easy to learn and gives you space to sharpen timing, spin and shot placement. You can switch between different swing styles and fine-tune impact to deal with wind and uneven terrain.
There’s plenty to chase. Challenge events and World Tour chapters drive unlocks and steady progression. Wacky Golf, which feature four different golf variations, toss in quirky rules and surprises. Solo Rounds, Match Play, Group Match and World Tournament broaden the ways you can compete. A respectable roster of unlockable characters pairs with a shop for clubs and cosmetics, and gear and caddies level up to give you clear targets. The in-game economy runs on currency you earn by playing rather than paid purchases at launch.
Will Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots earn a spot in your game library rotation? Let’s find out!
Story rarely heads a golf review, yet Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots gives you small narratives that actually matter between holes. World Tour works as a string of short character arcs. Each golfer brings a distinct mood and a few light scenes that explain why they swing the way they do. Some tales are sunny and upbeat; others lean quieter and a little moody. The variety keeps the single-player path from feeling like an endless string of scorecards.
Cutscenes are short and easy to skip if you only want to play. I watched enough to find a few characters I cared about. Newcomer Aile’s boundless cheer stuck with me after a tense Challenge match, while (also newcomer) Mitzuki’s gloom offered a neat contrast to the game’s generally upbeat tone. The stories don't aim for too much drama, instead focused on personality, and they succeed at that.
Narrative ties into progression without getting in the way. Win a special event and you often face a rival in a Versus match, and beating them can add that character to your roster. That loop gives you reasons to see more chapters and try different match types. Each arc also hands out small rewards that help you build your character’s kit over time.
Not everything lands perfectly. The dialogue grows familiar quickly, and repeated lines can make the talking feel recycled. Some of the voice work hits high notes that grated on me—so I turned volume down on occasion. Still, the cutscenes are optional and the writing keeps a playful edge that fits the game’s lighter sensibilities.
Overall, the story content is compact, friendly and often funny. It never slows the golf down. Instead, it offers small moments of personality that make unlocking new characters feel like an actual reward rather than just another icon in a menu.
The gameplay here is the kind that gets you playing right away but keeps you learning for weeks. Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots leans on the classic three-press swing, but you don’t have to stop there. Three different gauge options change how you set spin and timing—one for pre-set spin, one for mid-swing adjustments, and the old-school timing route if you want something straightforward. That variety makes each hole feel like a small puzzle.
Course conditions force you to think ahead. Wind, slopes and hazards rearrange your usual plan, and the clubs and balls you unlock actually change how a hole plays. In a Challenge match I ran into a tornado that kept dragging my ball into the rough. I swapped to a higher-spin ball, timed a Perfect Impact (a perfectly timed shot that results in greater accuracy) and watched the final putt land; unlocking the rival after that felt great.
Progression ties neatly into the loop. Challenge events and World Tour chapters drop cash and items you can spend in the game shop. Everything is earned through play at launch, so no surprise purchases cloud the path. Level up your gear, unlock shots like homing strikes, and the same caddy shop will slowly boost your stats as you build rapport.
Multiplayer swings between calm and chaotic fun. Solo Rounds and Match Play are the familiar formats, while Group Match and World Tournament connect you online and show global standings. Wacky Golf mix things up with bomb explosions, stolen clubs and random course modifiers—the kind of nonsense that makes multiplayer matches hilarious. I had a round where losing a club mid-game forced a complete rethink heading into the green, and that scramble was one of the funniest moments I’ve had with the game.
It’s easy to pick up but takes practice to master. Landing perfect impacts and learning gear quirks keeps the loop satisfying, though chasing every unlock can feel like a slow climb. Overall, the blend of instant fun and real mechanical depth kept me coming back for more rounds.
Visually, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is easy to read and fun to watch. Courses jump from mountains to city layouts, and sun, evening lighting and changing weather make each hole feel slightly different. I noticed that seeing wind gust across the fairway actually helped me plan shots more carefully, which made the rounds feel interactive. Some textures look simple, but each hole is clear and distinctive enough to know exactly where to aim.
Characters and caddies bring personality to the course. My favourite golfers had gestures and expressions that made even a missed shot entertaining, and caddies show little reactions that grow over time if you stick with them. Those visual cues make progression feel more personal. I found myself enjoying watching a new outfit or a quirky animation because it reflected the time I’d spent building my character.
Equipment looks and functions go hand in hand. Different balls and clubs aren’t just cosmetic—the higher-spin balls reflect light differently, and new clubs visually reinforce their mechanical advantage. The shop menus are easy to navigate, and I always knew what I was unlocking next. Seeing the tangible gear upgrades added to my sense of accomplishment.
Audio is upbeat without getting in the way. Music suits the environments, ambient noises add context, and the cheerful background helps maintain pace. Dialogue lines do repeat and can get annoying, so I muted them during long play sessions, but otherwise the sound keeps the course lively and fun.
Sure, some animations are stiff and certain textures feel artificial, but those imperfections are minor. The presentation focuses on visual clarity, which makes it easy to understand wind, slopes and hazards at a glance. Between bright courses, distinctive characters, and helpful gear cues, the visuals and audio work together to make every round feel clear, playful, and enjoyable.
The Verdict
The swing is excellent, the unlock loop hooks you, and the modes keep things fresh. Challenge events and World Tour chapters give steady rewards, and Wacky Golf adds silly, replayable mayhem. Everything unlockable is earned through play, giving the game lots of replayability. Visuals are bright and cheery, but expect some voice lines repetition, and I saw occasional performance hitches on PS5. None of that stops the game from being a go-to for casual rounds or longer sessions. Everbody's Golf Hot Shots is a nonstop tee-off adventure that keeps every round lively.Final Score: 8/10 - Great
Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots details
Platform: PS5, Nintendo Switch, PCDeveloper: Bandai Namco
Publisher: Hyde
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, Mulitplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.