Sports Story

Golf Story is a 2017 video game developed and published by Australian studio Sidebar Games for the Nintendo Switch. The game was nominated for several awards and won the best original sports game at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards. A sequel, Sports Story, is currently in development for the Switch. Golf Story is a top-down adventure game based on the sport of golf. The game follows a down-on-his-luck golfer attempting to reclaim his childhood love of the game, passed down to him by his father, after not playing the game for 20 years. The player character attempts to impress his estranged wife and play on the professional tour. The game is presented as a traditional role-playing game , with the character gaining skills in power and accuracy. The game features eight unique areas each filled with side quests and minigames that allow the player to earn experience and money, which can be used to develop the player's skills and purchase new equipment. In addition to traditional golf, the game also features a handful of cousin sports, including disc golf, miniature golf, an Atari-like golfing mini game, a driving range, and bowls. Golf Story was originally in development as a Wii U title by Sidebar Games, a development studio made up of a two-man team from Queensland, Australia. Due to a lengthy development time from expansion of the game's scope, development moved over to the Nintendo Switch after the end of Wii U's lifespan. Martin Robinson writing for Eurogamer called it "one of the finer games you'll find on Nintendo's Switch this year," Robinson also said that despite the game not being the best golf game or RPG, it was a "irresistible and harmonious combination" of the two. Gita Jackson of Kotaku said "Golf Story is a Nintendo Switch RPG you should play," and despite not being a fan of golf, she had a newfound appreciation for the game. The game also gained appreciation for its story and characters.