Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots Switch Review

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots Switch Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch

It’s been a while since I’ve played Everybody’s Golf. I love this series, and I hate to say it, but despite Mario driving the mascot golfing genre for a long time, later iterations of Everybody’s Golf would often leave Mario and friends in the bunker. The closest we got on Switch was Easy Come, Easy Golf, which was actually one of my first ever reviews, but it just didn’t have the same impact as Everybody’s Golf. Now, Clap Hanz has handed over the reins to the new developer, Hyde, and left a cheeky parting shot as the series finally makes its way to Nintendo Consoles. What’s it Like? Pick a caddy, grab your clubs, and get ready to launch some balls down the fairway as we review Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots for Nintendo Switch.

Before we begin, the majority of the footage you see in the video above is largely recorded on the Switch 2. The performance section will show Switch 1 footage as well as list the differences between both versions.

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is an arcade-style golf game that uses the series’ famous triple-tap method. As the player, your goal is to complete each course using the fewest number of strokes possible. This simple system is easy to pick up but provides plenty of depth, allowing both casual players and veterans to enjoy mastering shots, spin, and course strategy.

The core of Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is Challenge Mode, where you earn money, unlock courses, and recruit new golfers. With 30 characters to collect and a healthy number of courses, there is plenty to keep you busy. The World Tour adds a light story element to the experience, while Stroke Play and Match Play return as classic options. New this time is Whacky Golf, which introduces several fresh ways to play. Colourful Mode overlays a grid onto the course, letting you strike panels to unlock items that can help or hinder your opponent. Scramble is a two-player team format where partners alternate shots. Survival Golf turns up the pressure with competitive matches that let you steal your rival’s clubs. Boom Golf takes things even further by placing explosive hazards across the fairway.

Every character has loyalty to build up, which gradually unlocks new skills and clubs. I stuck with one of the two available starters, as progression can feel quite slow. You can purchase food items to help level up stats, which makes the grind a little easier. Completionists will have a field day working through the full roster, although more casual players will likely focus on perfecting a single character.

Control Methods

There are three main shot systems: the Traditional Shot System, the Gauge Shot System, and the Advanced Shot System. Each offers its own feel, but traditional remains the most balanced. It is simple to learn yet hard to master. You can also choose between three preconfigured control styles that adjust spin, aiming, and other assists. If those do not fit your style, you can build a custom setup that matches the way you like to play. No matter which control method you choose, I’m pleased to report that Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots does what the series does best: smashing a ball down the fairway feels gratuitously satisfying. The classic gameplay is intact, so fans of the series will not be disappointed.

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots continues the series’ tradition of zany characters full of personality. Sometimes they can be a little too expressive, as they are quite vocal, but it adds charm and humour to the game. The courses are varied, featuring everything from lush greens to more whimsical layouts, all rendered in a bright, cheerful colour palette. Shadows are handled well in most areas, and while the series has never aimed for hyper-realistic visuals, this is a visually impressive title on Switch 1. The game looks crisp and clean, with smooth animations and lively course details.

It uses variable resolution, which can be turned off, though I wouldn’t recommend it. Minor graphical issues appear occasionally, including some shadow problems on characters during dusk or night courses and low-resolution textures on 2D text and certain items. These do not detract from the overall visual experience but are worth noting. On the audio side, some of the sound design can be grating, particularly the repeated character voices and certain crowd reactions.

Thankfully, the game allows you to adjust or turn off individual sound sources, so you can tweak the audio to your preference and focus on the sounds that enhance your experience. Overall, the presentation is colourful, charming, and polished, capturing the personality of the series while looking and sounding great on Switch hardware.

Performance

On the original Switch, pop-in is quite noticeable, particularly with trees and other course details. The “Nice Shot” overlay and similar effects can cause stuttering, especially during replays. These hiccups do not affect swing timing or moment-to-moment gameplay, but post-shot sequences often look choppy. Loading times are fair, but overall performance feels a step behind what players might expect from a polished sports title. On Switch 2, the game runs smoothly without the performance issues seen on the earlier hardware. Environmental pop-in is still present, although it is only really noticeable during course flyovers and never feels as jarring as it does on Switch 1. Outside of that, the experience is stable, responsive, and a clear step up in terms of overall presentation.

I would not be surprised to see a Switch 2 update arrive close to release. The game was developed alongside the PC and PS5 versions, and Bandai Namco has recently brought titles like Tamagochi World and Shadow Labyrinth to Switch 2. Nothing is confirmed, but it is not beyond the realm of possibility. Clap Hanz, the former developer of the Everybody’s Golf series, left a parting shot by releasing a 60 fps patch for Easy Come, Easy Golf on the very same day that Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots launched. With Hyde now leading development on the new entry, it sets up an interesting split for fans of the franchise.

For my golfers looking into accessibility, there are no accessibility options to speak of, so I recommend doing some research to see if Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots suits your needs. For $70 AUD, there is a lot of Everybody’s Golf here. The variety of modes, combined with a plethora of courses and 30 characters, along with skills, unlockables, and progression, will keep players busy for quite a while. There is enough content to satisfy both casual rounds and long-term completionists, making it a solid package for fans of the series.

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots delivers exactly what fans of the series have been waiting for. With classic, satisfying golf gameplay, a wide variety of modes, courses, and characters, and charming, colourful presentation, it captures the spirit of Everybody’s Golf while offering fresh twists. Performance on Switch 1 has minor hiccups, but Switch 2 runs smoothly, and the game is stable and responsive across the board. For fans, this is the return of the series we all love, and for newcomers, it’s an accessible, fun, and visually appealing golf adventure. While the game on Switch 1 sometimes ends up in the rough, the game is still a fairway ahead of the competition.

So, What’s it Like? Everybody’s Golf is like Mario Golf, crossed with PGA Tour.

In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by Bandai Namco, but this doesn’t influence my score.

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