I'd like to thank Triheart Studio for the preview key to this title.

Typically, unusual game genre combinations either work or get reactions like "was the developer on drugs?". In the case of Golfie, which is a mix of roguelike, card battling, and miniature golf, it leans far closer to a successful blend of unusual game genre cocktails.

Golfie is a miniature golf-style game where reaching the highest score for consecutive levels is the goal. The levels are randomized, so no two sessions are alike, in typical roguelike fashion. Each level also grants the player a certain amount of moves before you lose points for your score, and on each turn, certain cards can be drawn from a list to grant your golf swings more power or allow them to jump obstacles.

In gameplay terms, all the elements mentioned work more or less as designed. However, it's worth mentioning the game does very little to ease new players into it, lacking tutorials or guides on the basic features. The game is, by the admission of the developer at the time of this writing, still early in development, so this could change in later builds.

Most levels are mini-golf courses with obstacles like rocks, spinners, and various other things both mundane and silly that try to prevent the player from knocking the ball in the hole. Using the mouse to control your aim, you are supposed to knock the ball around until you knock it into the hole. The cards you can draw each turn allow you to apply more power to some shots, increase the height on a shot to clear obstacles, and other advantages.

Graphically, the game uses a rather cartoony style that fits the often wacky course designs like a glove. The music is limited to one or two tracks, most of which have a laid-back, electronica and horn-like motif. Sound effects are nothing worth comment, but nothing unpleasant on the ears either.

The game only has keyboard and mouse support at present, being it's a very early in development title, but thankfully these controls work quite well. You use the mouse to do most gameplay, such as aiming the gold ball and controlling the camera. The keyboard is mostly limited to typing in your name on the scorecard and otherwise plays no major role. My only major complaint is that the game has no tutorial and the interface is pretty poor at showing the player how to do things like using the cards you can draw.

Stability is excellent. It only supports Windows 10 so far, but may be playable in Linux via Proton due to the use of the Unity engine. Its requirements are quite modest and easily achieved by very old and low-end computers as well.

Morally, there is practically nothing to complain about. No violence, language, perversion, occult stuff, or ethical issues I could discern are present.

Overall, I'd wait till it gets further polish, it's still rough around the edges. Regardless, it is rather playable as is and you could do a lot worse, so it might be worth getting when it's available.