Miles Bennett
Justin Smith's Desert Golfing is a minimalist golf video game that takes place in an endless side-scrolling desert. The game was designed to be a challenging walking simulator with no restarts, no menus, and no lose conditions. The game seemingly never ends, with the score solely dependent on how long the player continues to play. However, one player on Reddit claimed that they reached the end of the game on hole 10,001, as their ball went into the water and never returned.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game Developer | Blinkbat Games |
| Game Designer | Justin Smith |
| Release Date | 6 August 2014 for iOS and Android |
| Genre | Minimalist golf video game |
| Gameplay | Addictive and simple |
| Game Mechanics | One-finger swipe to shoot the golf ball |
| Golf Course | Entirely made of sand |
| Game Objective | Reach each hole in the fewest shots |
| Game Continuation | New pseudorandomly generated course |
| Game Ending | Endless; no restarts, no practicing |
| Score | Depends on how long the player plays |
| Holes | More than 10,000 |
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What You'll Learn
- The game's creator, Justin Smith, did not intend for the game to be never-ending
- The game continues with a new, pseudorandomly generated course after each hole
- There are no restarts, no menus, and no ability to restart
- Players have reached a game-stuck screen on hole 10,001
- The game received positive reviews for its addictive gameplay and simplicity
The game's creator, Justin Smith, did not intend for the game to be never-ending
The creator of Desert Golfing, Justin Smith, has stated that he did not initially intend for the game to be never-ending. In an interview with Alec Thomson, Smith revealed that he expected an impossible hole to be generated eventually, which would serve as the game's ending. He compared his game to Derek Yu's popular platformer Spelunky, which, unlike Desert Golfing, is designed to never be impossible to complete.
Smith's intention to include an impossible hole was not executed as effectively as he had hoped. He stated that he wished he had made the later holes more distinct, or added a true ending, saying, "I didn't do anything to prevent [an impossible hole]. I wish I had done that with more gusto. In retrospect, I should have done that intentionally."
The game's endless nature was not well-received by all players, as some found the lack of a conclusion unsatisfying. This is evident in online discussions and reviews of the game, where players express their curiosity about the game's ending and share their experiences upon reaching the 10,000th hole, which some believed to be the end.
While Smith did not intend for the game to be truly endless, he did have a complete idea of what the game would look like from beginning to end. In the interview, he mentions having two modes of working: one where he explores and prototypes, and another where he executes a fully formed idea. For Desert Golfing, Smith states that he was mostly in completion mode, indicating that he had a clear vision for the game's progression.
Despite the game's endless nature, Smith's intention for an impossible hole to serve as an ending adds an intriguing layer to the playing experience. It challenges the traditional structure of games, where a conclusion or goal is typically expected, and instead presents players with an open-ended journey across the desert.
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The game continues with a new, pseudorandomly generated course after each hole
The mobile video game Desert Golfing features an endless side-scrolling desert, where the player can shoot a golf ball using a one-finger swipe to determine direction and power. The game was designed by Justin Smith and released on August 6, 2014, for iOS and Android. Notably, the game has no menus, no ability to restart, and no lose condition.
Each hole in the game is procedurally generated, with human-orchestrated constraints that slowly introduce new gameplay aspects and environmental features as the game progresses. The game continues with a new, pseudorandomly generated course after each hole, and the player's score accumulates with each stroke they take. This lack of traditional game structure gives Desert Golfing a unique sense of continuity, with one hole ending and the other beginning seamlessly, creating a mesmerizing and stressful experience for the player.
The endless nature of Desert Golfing adds a layer of challenge and permanence to the gameplay. Players cannot undo mistakes or restart the game, making every error feel significant. This design choice sets it apart from other arcade games, where dying and restarting are common elements. Every stroke a player makes contributes to their overall score, creating a sense of cumulative progress across the endless desert landscape.
While the game initially had no defined ending, an update removed the impossible holes, limiting the game to the player's next 10,000 holes. After completing 10,000 holes, some players reported that their ball disappeared into the water on hole 10,001, and the game became stuck on that screen. This update effectively created an ending point for the game, though it is unclear if this was the intended conclusion.
Despite the update, the vast number of holes and the procedurally generated nature of the game ensure that players can still enjoy a lengthy and challenging experience before reaching the potential ending. The game's unique structure and gameplay have gained a dedicated following, with players intrigued by the idea of an endless desert golfing journey.
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There are no restarts, no menus, and no ability to restart
The mobile game Desert Golfing has an unconventional design that breaks the norms of typical mobile game design. It has no menus, no restarts, and no ability to reset your progress. The game continues endlessly, with a new, pseudorandomly generated course after each hole, making the player's score entirely dependent on how long they play.
The game's creator, Justin Smith, has stated that he expected an impossible hole to be generated eventually. This idea of a procedurally generated game ending in impossibility is unprecedented and intentionally embraced by Smith. He mentions that he once encountered a hole in the upper 2000s that he believed was impossible and decided to leave it as a good ending.
While there is no built-in way to restart the game, players have found a way to reset their progress by uninstalling and reinstalling the game or deleting the save directory on PC. However, this method may not be reliable, especially if updates have been made to the game since its initial release.
The lack of restarts and the endless nature of Desert Golfing create a unique gaming experience that tests players' endurance and persistence rather than their ability. It received positive reviews from critics for its addictive gameplay and simplicity, showcasing that sometimes, less is more.
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Players have reached a game-stuck screen on hole 10,001
The seemingly endless nature of the minimalist golf video game Desert Golfing has been a topic of conversation among players. The game, developed by Canadian indie studio Blinkbat Games and designed by Justin Smith, was released for iOS and Android in 2014 and later for Windows and macOS in 2017. It takes place in an endless side-scrolling desert, where the player can shoot a golf ball using a one-finger swipe to determine its direction and power. The "golf course" is entirely made of sand, making the physics of the ball more unpredictable and challenging.
While the game does not have a traditional ending, players have reported reaching a game-stuck screen on hole 10,001. In a Reddit post, a player shared their experience of not being able to see the hole and hitting the ball into the water, resulting in the game getting stuck on that screen even after force-quitting the app. This occurrence seems to be the game's closest version of an ending.
Justin Smith, the game's creator, has acknowledged the possibility of an impossible hole being generated eventually. He mentioned that he didn't do anything to prevent it and wishes he had approached it with more intention. Smith also shared that he manually played through 10,000 holes and re-generated the impossible ones, allowing players to play 10,000 more holes before encountering water.
The water element in the game was not always present. Initially, Smith placed a magnetic repulsion around hole 2,000, making it impossible for the ball to land inside. However, some players found a way around it, leading Smith to introduce water as a more thematically consistent ending. This ending, while abrupt, has received praise from players who appreciate its simplicity and uniqueness.
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The game received positive reviews for its addictive gameplay and simplicity
Desert Golfing, a minimalist golf video game, received positive reviews from critics for its addictive gameplay and simplicity. The game was developed and published by Canadian indie studio Blinkbat Games and designed by Justin Smith. It was released on iOS and Android on August 6, 2014, and later for Windows and macOS on December 19, 2017.
The game takes place in an endless side-scrolling desert, where the player's goal is to shoot a golf ball using a one-finger swipe to determine its direction and power. The entire "golf course" is made of sand, making the physics of the ball more unpredictable and challenging. The objective is to get the ball into each hole in as few shots as possible, but the game continues with a new, pseudorandomly generated course after each hole.
The game's addictive quality stems from its endless nature and the sense of permanency it creates. Players strive to improve their overall score, which is the total number of strokes they have taken. Unlike traditional arcade games, there are no restarts or deaths in Desert Golfing. Every mistake and error in the game is permanent and contributes to the player's overall score. This unique feature adds a layer of challenge and intrigue to the game.
The simplicity of Desert Golfing also contributes to its positive reception. The game has no menus, no ability to restart, and no lose condition. It features a continuous flow from one hole to the next, with no interruptions or arbitrary scores given. The game introduces new gameplay aspects and environmental features gradually, creating a sense of progression and exploration as players advance through the thousands of holes.
The combination of addictive gameplay and simplicity has made Desert Golfing a successful and unique mobile game that has captivated players and broken the norms of mobile game design.
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Frequently asked questions
Desert Golfing is a minimalist golf video game developed and published by Blinkbat Games. The game seemingly never ends, and the score is solely dependent on how long the player plays. The game takes place in an endless side-scrolling desert, and each hole is procedurally generated. However, some players have claimed to have reached the end of the game after 10,000 holes, where the ball went into the water and never came back.
No, there are no restarts or practices in Desert Golfing. Once you start playing, it's a constant march forward.
The goal of the game is to make the golf ball reach each hole in the fewest shots. However, when this happens, the game continues with a new, pseudorandomly generated course.
Your score is the total number of strokes you have taken throughout the game, and there is no way to remove strokes from your total. Every mistake is permanent.
