I was a sad individual when Sony decided to shut down Japan Studio as one of its developers. Japan Studio was responsible for many of my favourite gaming franchises, including Ape Escape, Gravity Rush, and Everybody’s Golf.
Everybody’s Golf on PS4 was my favourite game in the franchise when it was released in 2017. Not only was the gameplay accessible, but the game was visually beautiful. My brother and I spent 70 hours playing the game, which is a lot for a golf title!
Knowing that the franchise is still a popular IP, it seems as if Sony has lent the franchise to Bandai Namco to publish the series from now on. This is because a new developer called Hyde has released a new game in the series called Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots in 2025 for PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
Despite this game being made by a new developer, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots still retains the series’ iconic gameplay. The game still has simplistic controls for everyone in your family to play. It’s so accessible that even my Mum can play this game.
Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots still adopts the three button press setup for players to swing the golf ball. You press X to set up a shot, press X again to confirm the power, and then X for a final time to set up its accuracy. If you press X at the wrong time on the shot meter, the ball might fly out of bounds, for example.
There are other things you can do to adjust a shot to your liking. At the corner of the screen, you can see the direction and power of the wind. By using the left analogue stick, you can adjust the direction of the ball’s trajectory.
By pressing the circle button, you can change the golf club you want to use. Usually, the default option is the best, but you may want to get extra power if you’re playing a longer hole.
Arguably, the hardest part of the game is when you have to putt the ball. When the ball reaches the green, a grid system is shown on the screen to show you how steep the ground is and if it slopes left or right. You may have to listen to the caddie to make sure you’re choosing the right option to putt the ball.
Another thing I like about Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is the wealth of game modes that are on offer here. First, there’s Challenge Mode, where you take part in tournaments and even face off against other characters in 1v1 matches.
The other big single-player mode is World Tour, and this is where you can experience a story mode for each of the characters in the game. There are cutscenes and unique events you can do, but the game lacks voiceover dialogue, which is quite disappointing.
Players can then do solo rounds of golf by themselves or via the multiplayer modes. Both offline and online multiplayer are included here, and you can set the types of rules, time of day, and weather to your liking.
My favourite custom setting in the game is having small tornadoes inside the holes. This makes the game easier because the tornado can suck the ball inside the hole whenever it comes close. It sure made putting easier for me!
The last game mode in Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is a new mode called ‘Wacky Golf’. This is a very fun mode where wacky rules are put in place to either give you an advantage or sabotage your opponents.
Some of the obstacles can ruin your swing or even some animals can stampede on the course to knock your golf ball away. It’s a very fun mode to play with friends and family, and it will result in a lot of laughs.
Another thing I like about the game is that it includes more courses than the 2017 game, and there are tons of new characters for you to unlock. While I did not have time to 100% the game, I can see myself playing this game for many more hours to try and get the platinum trophy.
As much fun as I had playing and reviewing Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots, the only flaw the game has is the average-looking graphics. Despite being released in 2025 for the PS5, the game looks significantly worse than the 2017 game on PS4.
The colours are more muted in this game, and the graphics looked washed out for some reason. It’s a far cry from the bright and vivid colours that graced the PS4 version eight years ago. It’s possible the game’s visuals were dumbed down in order for the game to run well on an original Switch console.
Aside from the graphics, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is still an excellent new entry to the franchise. The gameplay is still accessible, and the game has lots of game modes and unlockables. Hopefully, the game is a success, so we can see more titles in the future.
Verdict: 8.5/10