Switch Sports Resort lands this October with golf among its returning activities, and if you want to get your swing ready early, Mario Golf on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is the obvious place to start.
Originally released in June 1999 and developed by Camelot Software Planning, Mario Golf blended the classic Nintendo golf formula with the breezy tone of Hot Shots Golf and brought it to the N64. It's available right now through the NSO + Expansion Pack tier, so no cartridge hunting required. The roster goes well beyond cosmetic differences — each character has distinct stats, and late unlocks like Bowser and Wario hit hard enough to genuinely change how you approach a hole. Beyond the standard Tournament mode, the game packs in Ring Shot challenges, per-hole training, and a Speed Golf mode that rewards precision and pace over everything else. Up to four players can take turns locally, with spectators able to press buttons to interfere with active shots.
Camelot's work on Mario Golf clearly landed well enough to define the studio's direction — they've been making Mario Golf and Mario Tennis titles for Nintendo ever since, despite a back catalogue that includes Shining Force and Golden Sun. Mario Golf: Super Rush on Switch was well-received, so there's a clear throughline for anyone who enjoyed that and wants to trace it back to the original.
With Switch Sports Resort still a few months out, Mario Golf is a low-friction way to scratch that Nintendo sports itch — especially if golf is the mode you're most looking forward to revisiting on Wuhu Island.
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