Gravity Golf
Gravity Golf swaps grass and bunkers for empty space and a handful of planets. Each planet pulls on the ball, so a shot that looks straight on paper ends up curving, looping or bouncing along a surface. Your target is a small red marker sitting on one of them.
The game was made by eschatonic for the js13k contest, and it is drawn with simple lines on a dark canvas. You can aim with a mouse or a finger, and the page loads quickly with nothing to set up.
How to play Gravity Golf
Layouts are random every time. Hole one has three planets, and each new hole brings one more. The ball starts out floating, then drifts until it comes to rest on a planet. A yellow outline means it is ready.
Press anywhere on the field and hold. Slide the pointer toward the spot you are aiming for, and pull farther away from the ball for a stronger shot. A trail of dots shows where it will travel, bounces included. Let go to hit, and one stroke is added to the counter.
Larger planets have a stronger pull. The ball slows a little each time it bounces and stops when it gets slow enough. Touching the red marker at any point, even in the middle of a bounce, finishes the hole. If a shot sails far off screen or stays in flight for 20 seconds, the ball returns to where you last hit it, and that stroke still counts.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aim and set power | — | Press and hold, then move the pointer; farther from the ball is stronger | Touch and drag the same way |
| Shoot | — | Release the button | Lift your finger |
Tips
- Before letting go, sweep the pointer slowly in a small circle and watch the dotted path. A tiny change in angle can turn a near miss into a hole in one.
- Plan bounces instead of avoiding them. Letting a gentle shot hop once off a close planet and settle on the marker is often more reliable than a long flight.
- When the hole looks hard, play a short shot to a planet closer to the target first. Two easy strokes beat a wild slingshot that sends the ball off screen.
- Give the biggest planets extra room. Their pull bends the path the most, so pass them on the side that curves the ball toward the marker.
- Notice which side of its planet the marker sits on, and aim to arrive on that side rather than landing opposite and rolling around.
If you like Gravity Golf, try these
Mini Putt ParkBack on solid ground, these nine holes trade planets for bumpers, angled walls and a moving gate you have to time.
Moon LanderGravity is again the thing to respect, except you fly the craft yourself and must set it down softly on a small pad.
Questions
Does Gravity Golf work on a phone or tablet?
Yes, touch is supported. Drag on the screen to aim and lift your finger to shoot. The canvas shrinks to fit, so a larger screen makes it easier to see the dotted path.
Is there an end to Gravity Golf?
There is no final hole. Each finished hole loads a new random layout with one extra planet, so it keeps getting busier.
What happens if the ball flies off into space in Gravity Golf?
After it goes well past the edge or stays airborne for 20 seconds, it is put back at your last hitting spot with a short message. The stroke still counts.
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