Few gaming series are as synonymous with light-hearted fun as Everybody’s Golf. For decades, it’s been a staple of PlayStation, charming fans with its easy-to-learn mechanics, colourful characters, and deceptively deep gameplay. With Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots, the franchise tees off in an exciting new direction: its first multi-platform release, now under developer HYDE.
The result? A cheerful, content-packed golf game that may not reinvent the series, but keeps its joyful spirit alive while adding fresh twists for new and returning players alike.
The Heart of Everybody’s Golf Lives On
At its core, Hot Shots is everything fans love about the series. The iconic three-click shot mechanic is as satisfying as ever—simple to learn, yet endlessly rewarding to master. Nailing a perfect drive or sinking a tricky putt still delivers that rush that’s defined the franchise for decades.
The presentation remains delightfully upbeat, with bold on-screen reactions to shots, quirky caddies, and energetic crowd chatter that makes every round feel lively. This is the perfect “pick up and play” golf game, equally welcoming for casual players and those who want to sink hours into mastering each course.
Notably, it did take me a while to master the art of getting the perfect shot, and after a few rage quits and practising to get the hang of it, so please, please take note, practice makes perfect and is essential to get used to the gameplay here.
Plenty of Ways to Play
Hot Shots comes packed with content, blending classic modes with inventive new ones. Challenge Mode and World Tour provide structure and progression, offering new characters to unlock and tournaments to conquer. The light storytelling in World Tour may not grab headlines, but it gives each character a bit of personality that makes unlocking them more satisfying.
Where the game really shines is in its party-like Wacky Golf modes. These colourful twists on traditional play add grids of effects—giant cups, shifting weather, or explosive tiles that can completely change a hole’s outcome. Add in co-op Scramble, Survival Golf, and Boom Golf, and there’s always something new to keep the experience fresh.
The unlock system is a fun grind, with clubs, balls, and food items that buff stats giving you plenty of reason to keep improving. On top of that, each golfer’s unique Special Shot adds extra personality and strategy to the roster.
A Game Built for Good Times
While Hot Shots doesn’t boast cutting-edge visuals, its bright aesthetic works in its favour, especially with the addition of night-time courses that add variety and atmosphere. There are some performance dips that occur here and there, but for the most part, the game remains smooth and enjoyable, keeping the focus on what matters most, having fun on the course.
Verdict
Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots proves that the series can thrive outside its PlayStation roots. HYDE has delivered a game that honours the franchise’s history while introducing new modes that make it perfect for group play. It’s approachable, entertaining, and full of content that will keep golf fans busy for dozens of hours.
