Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 78 | 49 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 80 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 72% | 69 | 402 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 78% | 73 | 306 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 19, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 306 total reviews in window · weighted 107.3 up / 30.3 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (49)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Cursed to Golf is a wholly unique golfing experience that is well worth checking out. The mechanics shake up the golf formula, allowing it to stand out among its peers and breathe new life (ironic, huh?) into this sports genre.The visuals and sound design across the board are a marvel, yet its frustratingly difficult gameplay can deter certain individuals from the key replayability this golf-roguelike offers.If you're anything like me, your little golf would-be champion will be spending more than eternity in purgatory. If that's even possible.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Cursed to Golf is an interesting and enjoyable golf game, mixing creative power-ups and roguelike game design with tried-and-true golf gameplay. Though we felt the roguelike elements held this one back a bit and the soundtrack can sometimes get irritating, the polished gameplay, appealing art style, and high replay value make this one an easy recommendation. If you're at all a fan of golf games, we'd suggest you pick this up immediately, but even if you're just looking to try something new, we'd encourage you to give it a shot.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Is it a repetitious, randomized roguelike that rewards a player's persistence, or an optimized golf simulator that promotes patience and planning? It's not really either one, instead standing in the middle of the two options: a golf game that simultaneously wants you to be efficient with your swings while also taking as many as possible. And if you really want to get out of hell, you will be swinging a lot. To that I only have two things to say: Godspeed and fore!.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The genre written above speaks for itself, but this isn't your average sports game. [T]he simplicity of the game's mechanics plus the puzzle-like courses that you have to make your way through really does make for an addictive experience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Merging a roguelike and a golf sim should not be nearly as fun as Cursed to Golf undoubtedly is. The retro-inspired visuals and bouncy soundtrack belie a truly stout challenge that takes a lot of practice to overcome. You’ll rue every poor shot choice and curse every mistimed button press, but battling through the trials of Golf Purgatory is an incredible gameplay experience that will have coming back for more time and time again. The only real thing missing is a multiplayer mode, but even without it, Chuhai Labs has undoubtedly hit a hole-in-one.”
read full review ↗ - 92
“This roguelike golfing title thoroughly proves that sports titles are ripe for conversion if they can all be this good”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The game nails just about everything it sets out to do. The pixelated graphics are vibrant and varied, the writing is witty and macabre, and the music is fantastic, albeit repetitive. All aspects of the title come together harmoniously, creating an unexpectedly fun and funny roguelike with a refreshingly unique premise.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Cursed to Golf brings with it a unique concept through a collaboration of genres that offers a splendid time teeing off in the underworld.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The difficulty may be off putting to some, though, and an argument can be made that it would be better off with some adjustments made in that department. That being said, it is hard to deny the underlying quality and charm that this game exudes with every swing of the club. Cursed to Golf is a big deal for relative newcomer developer Chuhai Labs. While the studio has developed and published several titles and their lineage can be traced back through multiple companies well represented on Nintendo platforms, Cursed to Golf may very well be the game that puts them on the map.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Cursed to Golf is a fun and surprising game that brings together golf, platforms, puzzles, and roguelike elements. If this seems very unlikely, it all works and fits together nicely, with a very creative approach to a comically macabre plot, a high difficulty level that makes players think carefully about each stroke, and a mechanic that changes the properties of the ball. A lovely piece of gaming that's more than welcome to the Nintendo Switch catalogue.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Cursed to Golf is a fun arcade sports game, but its roguelike elements don’t stack up well with other entries in the genre. Its long run times hurt my experience, making failure often more annoying than something to learn from. Its cute art, simple but fun mechanics, and challenge kept me enjoying Cursed to Golf to its end, but it’s lacking that addictive element that I look for in roguelikes that keep me coming back.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A Charming 2D Arcade Golf Game, That Might Make You snap a few clubs”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
Nintendo Life
Paste Magazine
Kakuchopurei
VGamingNews
Nindie Spotlight
Push Square
Capsule Computers
NintendoWorldReport
Starbit
FingerGuns
Games Freezer…and 37 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- 70% Off Daily Deal + Bug Fix Patch!Aug 19, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- The GOLF PIN Update! OUT NOW!Oct 13, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- HAPPY CURSIVERSARY! New Update coming soon!Aug 25, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- The PURGATORY REMIX update is here! (20% OFF CELEBRATION)Oct 25, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- August 08 Minor Patch Update notesAug 27, 2022
- Update 1.0.3 features a-hole host of bug fixes & changes for Cursed to Golf! ⛳Aug 26, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Steam Next Fest - DEMO UPDATE!Jun 13, 2022