When it comes to golf, we're down for almost anything. Crazy golf, mini golf, putt-putt, or any other variant; we're always up for a round. We'll even play normal, proper, ‘big‘ golf. After all, nothing beats walloping a tiny ball around the countryside in loud trousers.
We're also partial to video game versions of the sport and Nintendo consoles have a rich history of great golf games, many of which have featured a certain mustachioed mascot. Mario and his Mushroom Kingdom pals haven't hit the fairway in a brand new game on Switch yet, but the console has built up a bagful of quality golf games since launch.
With that in mind, we've collected together our picks of the best golf games on Switch (or, more accurately, the best golf-inspired games on Switch). They run the gamut from crazy to contemplative... actually, they tend to congregate on the 'crazy' end of the scale, but PGA Tour 2K21 now provides some more sensible simulation if you prefer more decorum and less fireworks on the fairway.
Regardless, you're sure to have a good time with the games below whether you’re a scratch player or you hack your way from bunker to bunker like us.
So, without further ado, let's check out the best golf games on Switch. Fore!
What The Golf? (Switch eShop)
What the Golf? is a game that's hard not to love; a riot of accessible, physics-based silliness and great fun whether you like golf or not. In fact, it's perfect for bringing along a second player who doesn't want to get stuck caddying. You can't go wrong with this off-the-wall indie hit and we recommend you slide this into you golf bag at once.
Golf Story (Switch eShop)
An RPG in the mould of Camelot's exquisite Mario Golf on Game Boy Color, Golf Story was one of the breakout indie hits of Switch's first year, and it's lost none of its appeal since then. It's getting a multi-sport sequel named Sports Story sometime this year, so there's no better time to check out this top-down treasure.
Party Golf (Switch eShop)
Party Golf turns the tranquility of the real game into a mad, simultaneous dash between you and your friends as you race against the clock to whack your ball into the hole on a side-on 2D course. With plenty of customisation options and a multiplayer focus, this offers a fine four-ball experience where you don't have to wait politely for your fellow golfers to slice their way to the green for a triple bogey.
Golf Peaks (Switch eShop)
Isometric puzzler Golf Peaks is yet another in Switch's lineup of fun and rewarding alternatives to a 'proper' golf game that began on mobile before getting a Switch port. It's a short experience, best enjoyed in small chunks, but you're sure to enjoy your time with it. Who wants to traipse around a soggy hill for four-and-a-half hours on a damp Saturday morning anyway? Brisk and breezy, please.
Infinite Minigolf (Switch eShop)
Coming from Zen Studios, a developer better known for its pinball games, Infinite Minigolf isn't perfect when it comes to UI and clearly communicating its features, but it delivers a very solid, well-presented game of miniature golf and features a plethora of official and impressive user-created courses to enjoy. You can also build your own in the game's comprehensive editor.
Golf With Your Friends (Switch eShop)
Golf With Your Friends provides a chaotic golf-like game with 12-person simultaneous online multiplayer which really shines if you can get some similarly-skilled friends to join you. Be aware that mixing skill levels and playing with random people takes the shine off things a tad. However, provided you've got enough friends online, this can be a riotous hack around some legitimately 'crazy' golf courses. Just make sure you heed the 'With Your Friends' part of the title, otherwise it's just 'Golf', which is as fun as it sounds.
Just joking, golf fans! We love golf. Here, we'll prove it...
NES Open Tournament Golf (NES)
If you're after an early digital version of the sport, Hamster's Arcade Archives Golf brings the arcade original Golf to Switch. It’s a game which hails from an age where video games could just use the name of the sport as a title without anything else. It's also the title which popularised the familiar power bar swinging mechanic many golf games use to this day.
However, if you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online, you have access to its follow up, part of the Nintendo Switch Online offering of NES games. While the formative systems and mechanics put down in the '80s have advanced a lot in the interim, the core gameplay of NES Open Tournament Golf is as solid as ever. Plus, it's presently the only golf game on the system that puts Mario on the tee. Enjoy a swift nine holes if you haven't played it yet.
Neo Turf Masters (Neo Geo)
Thought we’d forgotten this one, eh? Neo Turf Masters (or Big Tournament Golf as it’s known in the US) is a satisfying arcade take on the game and one which still holds up very well to this day. The lack of career mode means it’s hardly a long term investment, but as short and sweet arcade golf games go, this is a great one. Just don’t expect to be playing it for hours on end.
PGA Tour 2K21 (Switch)
PGA Tour 2K21 plays a solid golf game with enough flexibility in its control settings to appeal to both die-hard simulation buffs and casual golf fans just looking for a quick round. Its real-life pro players are so underused they may as well not be in here and the game may not yet have the typical 2K Sports trademarks – the polished story mode, the slick TV-style presentation – but it also isn't plagued with microtransactions, and the result is a game that, refreshingly, just gets on with it.
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Not a bad collection if you like to whack little digital balls around, hmm? Until the two-ball pair of Mario Golf for N64 and Mario Golf for GBC arrive on Switch (or the console gets its own fully-fledged Mario Golf game), these will do nicely. Let us know below which of these you think are up to scratch or if you think there are other Switch golf games worthy of this list.
This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games , the Best Free Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Visual Novels, Fighting Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Run and Gun Games, Sports Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-builders, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch., and the Best Switch Collections And Compilations.
If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, as well as Every Nintendo Switch Online NES Game and Every Nintendo Switch Online SNES Game.
Comments (54)
I wish the Switch would get its own Mario Golf! The 3ds version was so cool!
Golf Story is 50% off
Pgatour2K21 is stated as sold out everywhere in all smyths stores where i am. Surely there isn't that much of a demand for this game. Can anyone collaborate? The xbox version is still in stock thats why i'm kind of confused.
@rockodoodle I'm with you! We need a Mario Golf Switch. The 64 and 3DS Mario Golf games are my favorites of all the Mario sports titles.
@Krockman And only 50% a golf game.
No NEO Turf Masters?! The disrespect.
Never really cared for Golf games personally but I always enjoy Mario Golf. I enjoyed the one on 3DS in particular and liked having the odd game with someone online.
@Bearzilla823 @Darthroseman The ones you've mentioned are ACTUAL golf games. The ones in the article are just variations of crazy golf. The Golf would count as relevant. I'm hoping the new PGA game is good. It would be a pefect world if Indie's were able to code sports games.
@Bearzilla823 Saw that on sale, and almost bought it, as it looked very hot shots to me. Then I read a bunch of reviews trashing it. Most complained about there only being one course, and bad controls.
@ the article. Man, we really need a good Hot Shots rip off, and some Mario Golf.
Neo Geo Turf Masters is the best golf game on Switch and a regular multiplayer game in my house
A sequel to Ribbit King would be great.
I’m dying for a new Mario Golf. The N64 one, Toadstool Tour, and World Tour are some of my favorite games on their respective platforms. I also would like to see the RPG mechanics and story from the GBA version to return but that would really just be icing on the cake.
Camelot I believe it you!
Nota great choice for golf fan’s. Roll on August
I’d like them to put the motion control version of NES Open tournament golf that the switch originally has in it’s programming on NES online.
NEO Turf Masters easily. Can't wait for PGA 2K21.
Never had any interest in GOLF and thought it's super boring etc.
Golf Story was so good it actually made me want to play in real life lol. Great game. Can't wait for the sequel SPORTS STORY.
@Bearzilla823 Seeing as it's only $4 and I can cover most of that in gold coins, I'm gonna take the plunge. Thanks!
I didn't realise there was quite so many already
Looking forward to pga tour. I'm hoping it has decent and optional motion control
@Darthroseman Right you are! Added
I didn’t think the Switch even had enough golf related games to write an article about. The only ones I have are Infinite MiniGolf which is great, and Golf Story, which I still have never tried yet.
I have never played actual golf, but World Tour on 3DS has made me appreciate the awesomeness of a good arcade golf game. While I would love a Mario Golf entry on Switch, there’s some great games on this list. Golf Story especially picks up the original Mario Golf template very well and I highly recommend it!
A Mario golf game with a way to turn of some of the special moves off, this kind of ruined the Mario tennis game on the Switch, plus I would give anything for a Wii U sports club port for the Switch.
@Marios-love-child @spirit_flame Personally I was excited for PGA Tour until I found out who was developing it. I bought The Golf Club 2 when it was on sale for $3 to check it out, and the analog stick swing controls are not fun. It's too difficult to move the analog stick straight back and forth, especially when your thumbs naturally sit on top of them at an angle. You could look at the controller while you do it, but then you can't see what timing you're supposed to use, and who wants to have to take their eyes off the screen anyway? I'm waiting for Mario Golf for the Switch, and unless there is a massive change in controls that I don't anticipate, I'll respond to PGA Tour by continuing to wait.
Gold story is awesome, but it's sad it's the best of the bunch.
@rockodoodle
Recently picked up 3ds Mario golf and it's so good. Obviously the online is dead, but the challenge coins are keeping me busy. Would love for the series to make it to switch.
Neo turf masters is the best in this list infinite mini golf is awful glad I bought it in a sale even at a cheap sale price I feel ripped off we need something like everybody’s golf still play the vita version it’s excellent great courses and loads of content
We need a new Mario golf for switch... remake or remaster or new doesn’t matter... I loved the Mario golf series.
Forget Mario Golf, we need Ribbit King on Switch.
Isn't there a PGA Tour game coming soon?
I would love a new Mario Golf game on the Switch in the same style as the N64 and GameCube versions.
Maybe bring in some other Nintendo golfers like Link or Samus.
@rockodoodle I have been playing Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour over the internet with a buddy on PC, it is lag free online emulation, it feels like black magic haha.
Neo Turf Masters is pretty legit, but I haven't tried Golf Story yet. I fully intend to though. NES Open is pretty good too and it was the first golf game I remember playing and liking as a kid.
I like the golf mini game in Mario Party 3. Sorry if this is a bit off topic haha
That fact that there isn’t a MarioGolf on Switch, is borderline criminal. This needs to happen ASAP. And, add Mii integration to it as well. Mii’s are an awesome and sorely underused feature.
Playing through What the Golf and it's lots of fun.
Man, seeing that list is making me hungry for Mario Golf on Switch...
@rockodoodle Agreed. I'd even take an "HD Port" of Mario Golf: World Tour with all DLC included.
I wish I could force people to play Golf Story without legal reprimand, because it is awesome.
@JHDK but 200% fun!
NES Open Tournament is the best by a mile. I adore it.
Didn't like Golf Story. Everyone in it just slags you off the whole time. And it doesn't play a great game of golf, either. I'm wrong though because everyone else on the planet adores it.
I know I’m in the minority probably, but I hate real golf. No desire to play it on a game
Even though I don’t have the game and don’t plan on playing it, I’ve been using what the golf as an exclamation when my parents are home 😂
No Mario Golf 64. No dice.
@StuartGipp I was just waiting on you to come along and talk about NES Open. Some lazy Saturday I'll sit down and sink some time into that game.
@rockodoodle I 100% agree. My favourite Mario sports games are the golf ones. I played World Tour on the 3DS a lot. I thought it was a really well made game. Mario Tennis Aces has sold well and received a lot of post release content. I really hope Mario Golf gets a chance on the Switch.
A new Neo Turf Masters with identical gameplay and slightly updated, HD / widescreen visuals, plus more golfers and several more courses, would be one of the greatest golf games ever.
Golf Story was fantastic but let’s be honest, we just need a proper Mario Golf next
What about Wii Sports golf?? (I know it wasn't a separate game, but a pretty good way to introduce the motion detector controller)
Tried some golf games, and I was always like "this is nice and all, but ah...it ain't no true mario golf!" hint hint
@JimmySpades Yeah, I read some reviews about The Golf being bad. I am hoping that PGA will be good.
@PhatToad PGA Tour 2k21 is not due out until August on all consoles. They are all currently preorders.
Rockstar should bring GTAV to the Switch and then we will have another good golf game.
@Shworange I hate actual golf, too. But I've always had fun with golf video games. Mario Golf is always a good time, and I played the hell out of one of the Tiger Woods games on Gamecube.
I have Golf Story on Switch, but I've never gone very far into it yet.
It's kind of like racing and shooting things, I have absolutely no interest in them as real-world activities but I'll play the video game versions for days.
@TheGameTutor Hey, yes i understand what you mean. But i was referring to you can't even pre order pga2k21 on switch at all. You can preorder on other systems, i'm just surprised.. unless did you mean it hasn't released for pre order on switch yet?
Mario Golf with RPG aspect like the game boy color and advance iterations would be ideal. Same goes for the Mario Tennis on those same systems. Just wish they could bring new versions of those to the switch. It’s sad that Mario Golf skipped the Wii and Wii U but Mario Tennis was on both...go figure.
Added PGA 2K21.
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