Comparison

GL Golf vs Nova Golf

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

GL Golf

Experience realistic 3D golf with simple graphics and a physics system. Play solo or with up to four players across numerous holes, featuring various environmental challenges and game modes. Enjoy online tournaments, customizable golfers, and constant free updates.

Highlights
  • Realistic 3D golf simulation
  • Multiplayer support (up to 4 players)
  • Realistic physics system
  • Numerous holes and courses
  • Online tournaments
  • Customizable golfers
  • Driving range and practice modes
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

GL Golf is a 3D sports game for the casual gamer. With a realistic physics system and great simple graphics, you and up to four players can golf all 720 holes (some available through in-app purchase) for countless hours. Everything in a real game of golf is included, such as water hazards, sand traps, trees, bushes, wind, four seasons, different time of days to play, and a driving range. Other great features include both an internet and individual high score list, game saving, great music, iTunes controls, 3 difficulty modes, mulligans, the ability to choose your set of clubs, match/stroke play, online tournaments, customizable male and female golfers, and much more. GL Golf is constantly being updated with free new features. Four new courses are released every year, available for in-app purchase. *New Game Center Multiplayer Support* - Play against your friends or a random opponent on any of your favorite courses. Golfers alternate every three hole until a winner is crowed after all 18 holes are finished. If you like GL Golf, make sure to check out Nuclear Nova’s other games, all available for the Mac/iPhone/iPad/iPod.
 • Nova Golf, the successor to GL Golf, is a much more detailed golf simulator with more modern graphics
 • Pinball Shuffle and Pinball Massacre are two unique comic book arcade style pinball tables
 • Barnyard Blaster is a unique shooter with plenty of weapons, animals, and environments
 • Rocket Golf gives golf a new twist with its unique 2D side scrolling gameplay
 • Liquid Defense, Hydrothermal, and Escape are our three classic puzzle/simulator games
 • Fractal 3D and ASCII Art are our first non-game apps Play now on your iPhone, iPod, and iPad! "This is a solid game and should definitely be on every duffer's app download list." -tuaw.com "In the end, GL Golf is an incredibly deep game, serving up six courses and tons of options, it never gets old" -iPhoneGamingNetwork.com "Of all the golf games and simulations I’ve played so far for the iPhone, there’s one that stands head-and-shoulders above the rest. GL Golf." -intomobile.com "I must say, this app is a very fun app. I am kind of addicted." -iPhoneMatters.com "The game play is solid. To swing the club just double tap on the screen; when the power meter reaches to a spot you want, just single tap and the club will swing, hitting the ball. You can change the type of club you have by dragging your finger up/down the screen, thereby changing the range. The game does pause itself when you tap the home button, so if you get a call while playing, you won't lose your game. " -Tuaw.com

About

Nova Golf

Experience a realistic and immersive golf simulation with stunning 3D graphics and diverse courses. Customize your character, compete in career modes, and challenge friends in multiplayer. Earn virtual currency or use in-app purchases for custom clubs and balls.

Highlights
  • Realistic ball physics
  • Stunning 3D graphics
  • Unique global courses
  • Customizable characters
  • Career mode
  • Multiplayer challenges
  • In-app purchases for clubs/balls
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Welcome to Nova Golf, the finest golfing game on the Mac! A followup to the award winning game GL Golf, Nova Golf is sure to keep you entertained and immersed for countless hours. Redesigned from the ground up, Nova Golf has everything both casual/hardcore gamers and frequent/weekend golfers could want. • Realistic ball physics - Everyone will enjoy the simple realism while avid golfers will be able to shape every shot and watch the ball react to all surfaces and lies • Stunning 3D graphics - Nova Golf adapts to each computer for the best image quality while always maintaining a smooth framerate • Unique courses - Locations from around the world feature distinct styles of both play and appearance. You'll know if you're in the Pennsylvania forest, Arizona desert, or on the Scottish coastline • Customizable characters - Level up five playing statistics while managing each avatar's wardrobe and physical appearance • Career mode - Play as both an amateur and professional and progress by winning the required qualifiers and tournaments • Multiplayer - Challenge up to three of your friends and play at the same time • Purchase custom clubs and golf balls using both virtual currency earned in game and through In-App Purchase • High replay value - No hole is the same when varying the white/blue/green tees, five pin locations, and three environmental difficulty settings • Custom music made specifically for Nova Golf • Best rounds list for each course/difficulty setting System Requirements: iOS 7+ iPhone 4+ iPad 2+ iPad Mini+ iPod Touch 4th+ If you like Nova Golf, make sure to check out Nuclear Nova's other games, all available for the Mac/iPhone/iPad/iPod. • GL Golf, the predecessor to Nova Golf, is still actively developed and has over 35 unique courses! Thousands of golfers are posting scorecards online every day with this golf classic • Pinball Shuffle and Pinball Massacre are two unique comic book arcade style pinball tables • Barnyard Blaster is a unique shooter with plenty of weapons, animals, and environments • Rocket Golf gives golf a new twist with its unique 2D side scrolling gameplay • Liquid Defense, Hydrothermal, and Escape are our three classic puzzle/simulator games • Fractal 3D and ASCII Art are our first non-game apps

Screenshots

GL Golf4 screens
Nova Golf4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: GL Golf at 4.0 against Nova Golf's 3.6. GL Golf also leads on review sentiment (63% vs 46%) and ratings volume (105 vs 31). Nova Golf's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $4.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

GL Golf costs $4.99 and Nova Golf $1.99 up front. GL Golf sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Nova Golf sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GL Golf holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 105 and 31 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of GL Golf's written reviews are positive against 46% of Nova Golf's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
GL Golf versus Nova Golf: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGL GolfNova Golf
Price$4.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.0 (105 ratings) — better3.6 (31 ratings)
Positive reviews62.6% of reviews — better45.7% of reviews
Number of ratings105 — better31
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#95 — better#181
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size153 MB287 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNuclear Nova SoftwareNuclear Nova Software

Customer experience

GL Golf

All ratings105 ratings
Positive74.3%
Neutral10.5%
Negative15.2%
Written reviews179 reviews
Positive62.6%
Neutral14.0%
Negative23.5%

Nova Golf

All ratings31 ratings
Positive67.7%
Neutral3.2%
Negative29.0%
Written reviews92 reviews
Positive45.7%
Neutral5.4%
Negative48.9%

Bugs and requests

GL Golf

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Swing button not functioning
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Courses not loading properly
  • Incompatibility with newer devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • More course options
  • Improved graphics and visuals
  • Better putting system
  • Online leaderboards and multiplayer

Nova Golf

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

11 purchases

GL Golf

One-time11
  • GL Golf Lob Wedge$0.99
  • GL Golf Mulligan Pack$0.99
  • GL Golf Tour Clubs$1.99
Show 8 more
  • GL Golf Square Grooves$1.99
  • GL Golf Driver 330$2.99
  • GL Golf Course Pack 1$2.99
  • GL Golf Course Pack 2$2.99
  • GL Golf Course Pack 3$2.99
  • GL Golf Course Pack 4$2.99
  • GL Golf Course Pack 5$2.99
  • GL Golf Course Pack 6$2.99
10 purchases

Nova Golf

One-time10
  • Extra Mulligans$0.99
  • Dozen of all Balls$1.99
  • 1,000 Experience$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Course Pack 1$1.99
  • Driver$1.99
  • Course Pack 2$1.99
  • Level Overdrive$1.99
  • Character Pack$1.99
  • Course Pack 3$1.99
  • Course Pack 4$1.99

Questions

Is GL Golf free?
GL Golf costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Nova Golf free?
Nova Golf costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GL Golf or Nova Golf?
GL Golf is rated higher. GL Golf averages 4.0 out of 5 from 105 ratings, while Nova Golf averages 3.6 from 31 ratings.
Do GL Golf or Nova Golf have ads?
Neither GL Golf nor Nova Golf shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GL Golf or Nova Golf?
GL Golf ships an update every 3 months, and Nova Golf every 3 months. Most recently, GL Golf was updated on September 26, 2026 and Nova Golf on September 26, 2026.
Which is more popular, GL Golf or Nova Golf?
GL Golf currently peaks at #95 in the App Store charts, and Nova Golf at #181. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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