One of the things I would love to do here is review some of my favorite games. Similar to my Top 160 Movies, I have a list of top games that I might run through at some point. But doing long-form reviews of the ones I think should be talked about the most would be a lot of fun. I’ve done this already with Balatro and Baba is You, but now I am tackling another favorite – Walkabout Mini Golf.
Walkabout Mini Golf is a VR game available on any virtual reality system, and even with all of the innovations in the industry, it remains one of the most satisfying and well-supported games in the VR landscape. There are a plethora of reasons for this, but one of the most significant is its accessibility (it is an inexpensive game) and its constant and continual DLC releases adding maps for only $3-4.
A game is only as good as its gameplay, and this is one of the places this game shines. It is one of the best feeling games on Oculus that I have played – it genuinely and effectively captures the feeling of being on a mini golf course. Aiming, hitting, and moving around the green feels satisfying and reminiscent of an actual golf course. The courses have a lot of beautiful scenery and great music, and the holes are often interesting and engaging without being overly complex (an issue that this game’s contemporary, Golf with Friends [on most consoles] struggles with). There are plenty of challenges here, but it also maintains a relaxing atmosphere.
The base game comes with 8 courses, and each of them have a “challenge mode”, which is a version of the course with a nighttime vibe that has more difficult versions of the daytime holes. It works out to 16 well-designed mini-golf courses for $15 which is an amazing deal since the courses are so well-designed. But golfing is not the only activity to be done – this game is full of collectibles. Each course has a ball hidden at every hole, and each challenge course has a puzzle/riddle set that grants you a new putter. Finding these range from a lot of fun to pretty frustrating, but with the ability to freely roam through the map with flight, I have spent plenty of time hunting through nooks and crannies for these.
All of this is included in the base game, but where this game really shines is in its DLC. There are a total of 18 DLC courses, with more being added frequently, each with a bonus mode, and each containing a large map with 18 new balls and a new putter. At $3-4 each, they are incredibly reasonable for the content you receive. I would write an article ranking these courses, but I honestly don’t think it would be possible – there are so many good ones, and they all have interesting spins. I will say that some particular standouts (that I have played – I still haven’t gone through the rest) are:
Atlantis
This one has a relaxing and calming underwater atmosphere that I love. It is one of the few where I would just float and sit, looking around, maybe lying down with my headset on and enjoying the ambience.
Myst
This one takes place on the island of Myst from the game with the same name. I love this game, and it is deeply nostalgic for me, so this course was a lot of fun to explore.
Labyrinth
Based on the cult-classic film Labyrinth, this one is incredibly creative and interesting. I’ve never seen the movie, but this course was still a stand-out for me!
There are plenty more cool maps with beautiful and interesting landscapes to explore, including spy-themed maps with lasers, a course that is entirely upside down, and one that takes place in a world of elves. Even the 8 base game maps are very well-thought-out and a lot of fun to play! I would still have recommended this game with the same vehemence when I started playing it, before the first DLC map. With the entirety of the DLC, you have 26 maps, 52 courses, 26 puzzles to obtain 26 putters, and 468 golf balls to collect. Plenty of content to keep you coming back for more, and the experience is worth every penny. Out of all the games on my Oculus, this is the one I keep returning to again and again. It never ceases to be a relaxing way to spend some time, and I have found that practicing in the Oculus has made me a bit more careful on the course in reality!
I would be remiss not to also mention one of the most significant benefits of this game – a very rich multiplayer system that makes you feel like you’re standing there with a friend, playing a round of mini-golf! Walkabout is fun to play on your own, but mini-golf has always been a social game, and I have had a ton of fun playing on these maps both by myself and with others.
If you have a VR headset or are thinking of getting one, don’t sleep on Walkabout Golf. It is a game that will bring you hours of entertaining gameplay, and has something for everyone. It truly is one of the best games for this system, and one of my favorite games of all time!
A Thinker in Space 
What do you think?