House of Golf 2 Review

House of Golf 2 swings onto the busy minigolf scene bringing with it a plethora of courses, creative mechanics, and a chance to putt your way to victory from the comfort of your couch. But is it a hole-in-one, or a frustrating bunker-seeker? Let’s tee off and find out!

Wacky Wonderland

House of Golf 2 presents you with an immediately intriguing premise – you get to play minigolf inside of an incredibly-detailed house! (It is so detailed, that you can use the free cam to navigate over to a carton of green apple juice and read the ingredients list on it!) As such, you’ll putt through vibrant environments, from your living room to a pirate ship, encountering everything from pinball bumpers to mischievous portals.

The first few times you play, you will likely encounter a couple of “wow!” moments as it seems that there is always something new to encounter. The course design is imaginative and often hilarious, keeping things fresh and engaging as you progress and there is always more than one way to complete a hole. As such, you can take the typical route or you can investigate your surroundings, trying to pick out a very specific, probably-hidden route, to the hole. This keeps the game fresh and interesting, although after you have discovered said secret routes, the mystery is all but gone.

Trick Shots and Putting Puzzles

The core gameplay revolves around navigating the environment and sinking the ball. House of Golf 2 utilises a simple two-click mechanic for shot power and direction. Place your ball, adjust the power, and watch as your ball flies through the air towards its target. However, mastering these mechanics takes practice, as power gauges and environmental factors significantly influence your ball’s trajectory and it is very easy to over- or underestimate just how hard you need to hit the ball. As with all sports, patience and planning are key to conquering these courses, especially when faced with obstacles like fans, moving platforms, infuriating bulldozers (seriously) and even teleporters (again, seriously).

Party Time (Sort Of)!

House of Golf 2 offers a multiplayer option but in the least satisfying form – local co-op only. As such, it’s still great fun to grab some friends and take turns putting your way through the courses, but that requires you to be in the same room as one another which, in 2024, probably won’t be the case. Furthermore, several other minigolf games offer online multiplayer options and it seems amiss that House of Golf 2 doesn’t offer the same experience. There is a way, however, to compare yourself to others who play around the world via online leaderboards, which let you vie for glory against asynchronous competitors. Otherwise, unless you’re having friends over, or if your family feel like joining you, you’re on your own!

An Audiovisual Hole-In-One

House of Golf 2 is immediately visually stunning and sounds incredible. The visuals are slick, clean and completed to a very high standard. Surfaces reflect light, everything is ridiculously detailed, and the environments are at once recognisable for their real-world counterparts. Ever wonder what it’s like playing minigolf in the kitchen? Or the middle of the lounge? Or how about the garage with tools everywhere? House of Golf 2 has you covered!

The soundtrack is equally delightful, with each hole being accompanied by a fitting score to hum along with as you line your shots up. Overall, House of Golf 2 is extremely nice to look at and fun to listen to.

A Short Scamper or a Marathon Match?

With over 100 holes spread across various courses, House of Golf 2 offers a decent amount of content to explore. However, the lack of online multiplayer and a narrative mode might limit the replay value for some players. Once you discover the secret routes, hidden gems and quirky aspects of each hole, there isn’t much reason to want to return, which is a shame because House of Golf 2 looks, sounds and plays far too well to merely be forgotten after a couple of playthroughs.

Conclusion

House of Golf 2 is a delightful minigolf game that delivers a fun, visually striking experience. The creative courses and wacky mechanics make it a perfect choice for a fun and casual gaming session either with friends or without. However, while the lack of online co-op and a story mode might limit its appeal for some, House of Golf 2 is sure to provide hours of amusement for those seeking a light-hearted and quirky golfing adventure. It is certainly one of those titles that you can dip in and out of at will to have a quick gaming fix whenever you feel like it, but you probably won’t be playing through any marathon sessions anytime soon.

Grade: 7.5/10