NEW ON STEAM
This Is Golf
At a glance
This Is Golf game facts
Steam store information checked 2026-09-01。- Studio
- SaltySeedGames Published by SaltySeedGames
- Release
- Aug 18, 2026 Released
- Official genres
- Casual · Indie · Simulation · Sports · Strategy
- Play mode
- Single-player · Multiplayer · Online co-op
- Desktop platforms
- Windows · Linux
- Steam Deck
- Unknown No additional compatibility detail
- Controller
- Not listed
- Steam features
- Achievements · Family Sharing
- Languages
- 1 listed languages English
What that means for your setupThis Is Golf is developed and published by SaltySeedGames and was released on August 18, 2026. It is listed for Windows and Linux, with single-player, multiplayer, and online co-op; official details say that multiplayer takes place in lobbies of up to eight players. Its supported language is English. Steam lists Achievements and Family Sharing, but controller support and Steam Deck compatibility are not listed, so neither should be assumed before purchase. The current price supplied for this check is $4.99 USD. The game describes itself as casual yet challenging, but its learning curve is not especially casual: a driving-range session is the sensible way to build club-by-club distance control. Players can walk or spectate in third person to inspect a hole before returning to the first-person shot view. SaltySeedGames has made the central swing mechanic the star rather than a conventional power meter. Official clubs range from irons through a pitching wedge, driver, and putter, while reviews mention useful techniques such as partial swings and low-finishing backspin. Every hole is procedurally generated, which gives the basic package a potentially fresh test of judgment and control. The trade-off is scope: reviews consistently describe a bare-bones presentation, limited clothing and head customization, no listed course editor or tournament structure, and requests for more wedges, woods, bag choices, a rangefinder, clearer club and distance feedback, and more expressive shot-shaping options. Those are player requests, not promised features.
The first swing is the hook: click and drag your mouse like a real club, with shot direction, distance, and spin emerging from the motion. A randomized course then asks you to repeat that physical-feeling task under pressure, whether you are learning partial swings alone or laughing through tricky chips with seven other players.
What the game actually feels like
Mouse-driven golfing turns a familiar power-bar concept into a physical aiming exercise. Your swing path and finish help determine what the ball does, so learning each club is a matter of repetition rather than simply selecting a number. Several reviewers describe the game as difficult to begin, simple to understand, and hard to master, with partial swings and spin control providing the satisfying depth once the basics click.
Procedurally generated holes keep the practice-to-course loop from relying on a fixed set of familiar greens. You can leave first person, walk around in third person, scout the terrain, or watch another player's attempt before committing. The result is a compact ruleset that asks you to understand elevation, landing room, club selection, and your own mouse motion, then execute under the pressure of the next unpredictable hole.
Solo play is useful for range work and learning distances, but multiplayer appears to be the game's social center. Up to eight players can share a lobby, watch one another create low-spinners or badly overcooked shots, and turn difficult chips and putts into a sociable evening. One review specifically describes public lobbies as a relaxed way to play with other people, while others report strong fun with roommates and friends.
Progression is intentionally light: the official feature list includes Achievements, and reviews mention cosmetic items unlocked through them. That means the appeal rests on refining the swing and enjoying fresh holes or group competition, not on a large metagame, deep equipment management, or a content-heavy career mode.
What early players are seeing
What is landing
- The most persuasive praise concerns the shooting and putting feel. One golfer with 121 hours at review praised substantial distance control and precision, called chipping and putting genuinely challenging, and described a solid mechanical foundation. Other reviews similarly call the physics great, the shot feeling amazing, and the system simple to learn but hard to master. That is stronger support for the core swing than for any surrounding feature set.
- The randomized courses receive unusually direct praise. The 121-hour review explicitly enjoyed the randomly generated layouts and said they helped keep the game fresh. A 156-hour review moved from checking maximum yardages on the range to an 18-hole round, while a 313-hour review highlighted the challenge and fun with friends. These are individual positive reports, not a quantified consensus, but they give useful evidence that the basic loop can sustain repeated play.
- At $4.99, the asking price is repeatedly treated as a low barrier to entry. One review called the game worth $5, another recommended it to golfers who enjoy public lobbies at that price, and another said the solid gameplay offered plenty of reason to be excited despite limited content. That supports trying the game for players curious about its mechanics, while still leaving customization and content concerns intact.
- The community relationship also shows promise without being overstated. A player reported seeing the developer active in some lobbies and listening to ideas, while a longer review described a solid base with room to expand. This is useful encouragement for a small early-release package, but it is anecdotal and does not establish a roadmap or guarantee that requested features will arrive.
What still needs watching
- A mouse is effectively the swing controller by design, while controller support is not listed. Players who prefer conventional analog aiming, accessibility settings, or controller-first sports controls may find the core interaction restrictive or uncomfortable; the evidence does not provide enough information to assess accessibility.
- The package is frequently described as bare-bones. Reviews cite very limited character customization and a lack of requested features such as course creation, tournaments, rangefinder, customizable bags, additional woods and wedges, and more detailed shot-shaping controls. Those omissions may matter if you expect a full golf simulator rather than a focused swing sandbox.
- The same mechanic that creates depth has a demanding learning curve. Reviews describe difficult early sessions and little hand-holding, so the range matters. Buying on the assumption that standard golf-game aim-and-power conventions will transfer immediately would undershoot the likely adjustment period.
Is This Is Golf worth buying now?
Current decision
Worth tryingThis Is Golf earns a try because its most important feature is also its best-supported one: a tactile mouse-swing system that reviewers find challenging, precise, and satisfying after practice. Procedural holes, a useful third-person scouting view, solo range work, and eight-player lobbies give that mechanic enough structure to show its personality, especially for friends. The $4.99 entry price makes the focused experiment easy to justify. The recommendation stops short of suggesting a complete golf package, because the available reviews repeatedly flag limited content, light customization, missing conveniences, and an initially difficult learning curve. The sensible choice is to try it for the swing itself, then judge its staying power against the depth you want.
Who this is for
A good fit if you…
- Players who enjoy practicing a precise, motion-based control scheme until a difficult technique starts to feel natural.
- Golf fans looking for a casual-format game that emphasizes shot feel, partial swings, spin, and distance control more than simulation breadth.
- Friends or roommates who want a low-cost online activity for up to eight players, including spectatorship and relaxed public-lobby play.
- Solo players who like using a range, learning clubs, and returning to procedural holes to chase cleaner execution.
- Curious budget buyers who would rather support a promising small-scale mechanic than wait for a fully featured golf sandbox.
Wait if you…
- You require listed controller support, known Steam Deck compatibility, or detailed accessibility information before buying.
- You want extensive courses, course creation, tournaments, deep bag customization, robust character options, or a large progression system from the outset.
- You expect conventional easy-to-read aiming and power controls rather than a mouse-swing learning curve.
- The idea of paying to practice extensively in a range before results become consistent does not appeal to you.
If This Is Golf is not quite your game
SIMILAR OPTION
HELLDIVERS™ 2
Choose it ifChoose This Is Golf for mouse-driven golf with friends; choose HELLDIVERS 2 for action-focused online co-op.
How it comparesOnline group play and a slightly goofy, socially replayable multiplayer loop. HELLDIVERS 2 is a fast, frantic third-person shooter built around cooperative pressure and combat, whereas This Is Golf replaces action with a slower, skill-testing mouse swing and procedural holes. Players seeking expressive multiplayer competition should choose HELLDIVERS 2; players wanting relaxed golf rounds, spectating, and shot-practice should choose This Is Golf.
SIMILAR OPTION · 30% OFF
Phasmophobia
Choose it ifChoose This Is Golf for accessible, humorous golf competition; choose Phasmophobia for evidence-driven horror teamwork.
How it comparesOnline co-op for small groups, with a social lobby structure and an emphasis on repeated play. Phasmophobia is a four-player psychological-horror investigation built around gathering evidence with ghost-hunting equipment. This Is Golf is lighter in tone and has no comparable investigation or horror structure, but it offers solo play, up to eight players, and a physical golfing mechanic. Fans of tense objective-based co-op should choose Phasmophobia; golfers should choose This Is Golf.
SIMILAR OPTION · 40% OFF
Among Us
Choose it ifChoose This Is Golf for practicing a real-time physical mechanic; choose Among Us for social deduction and party chaos.
How it comparesAccessible multiplayer party play where groups can join quickly and enjoy unpredictable outcomes. Among Us supports four to fifteen players, deception, social deduction, and both online and local play. This Is Golf has a maximum of eight online players, focuses on individual shot execution, and has no listed local multiplayer. Players who want variable roles, betrayal, and larger groups should choose Among Us; players who want a shared golf challenge should choose This Is Golf.
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