SMPL Golf vs Retro Golf
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SMPL Golf
Experience a realistic golf simulation with intuitive one-handed controls. Master shot mechanics, course strategy, and environmental factors to conquer every hole. Play full rounds in minutes or enjoy quick sessions anytime.
- Intuitive drag-and-release controls
- Realistic ball physics (wind, spin, lie, terrain)
- Strategic course navigation
- One-handed gameplay
- Quick 18-hole rounds
- Progress saved after every swing
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SMPL Golf – Simple Controls. Quick Fun. Real Golf. Drag to aim, pull back to power up, release to swing. Your shot lands somewhere in the projected zone — shaped by wind, spin, lie, and terrain. Just like real golf, perfection is never guaranteed. Strategy that actually matters Choose your shot shape, manage spin and power, and navigate bunkers, trees, slopes, and headwinds. Every hole is a puzzle. SMPL Golf doesn't dumb down the game — it strips away the complexity without losing the depth. Play in minutes. Think about it all day. Knock out a full 18-hole round in minutes, or play a few holes during breaks in your day for a quick hit. Progress saves after every swing so you can pick up and put down whenever life gets in the way. Built for golf lovers. Playable by everyone. Realistic shot mechanics with one-handed controls True ball physics — wind, spin, lie, and terrain all affect every shot Course strategy at the center of every decision Clean, minimal visuals that keep the focus on the game Stop swiping. Start swinging. Download SMPL Golf and play your first round in under 10 minutes.
Retro Golf
Experience classic 8-bit golf with intuitive controls and challenging courses. Master your swing with a two-tap system, navigate hazards, and aim for hole-in-ones. Unlock challenges and earn trophies in this nostalgic arcade-style game.
- 8-bit pixel art graphics
- Intuitive two-tap swing control
- Skill-based gameplay
- Full 9-hole course
- Challenge modes
- Trophy achievements
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Tee off in style with Retro Golf, a charming top-down golf game featuring gorgeous 8-bit pixel art graphics inspired by classic NES games. Master the art of the perfect swing with our intuitive two-tap control system. Time your power, nail your accuracy, and watch your ball soar across beautifully crafted holes. But be careful — water hazards, bunkers, and tricky terrain await! FEATURES • Classic Arcade Feel — Crisp pixel art visuals and satisfying sound effects bring back the golden age of gaming • Skill-Based Gameplay — Master the oscillating power meter and accuracy timing for the perfect shot • Intuitive Putting — Simple drag-back controls make sinking putts feel natural • Full 9-Hole Course — Play through Lakeside Links featuring water hazards, sand traps, and challenging layouts • Challenge Mode — Unlock special challenges after completing a course, featuring collectible mid-air targets • Hole in One Challenge — Test your precision in this addictive mini-game where every shot counts • Trophy Room — Earn achievements for birdies, eagles, hole-in-ones, and more • Quick Sessions — Perfect for gaming on the go — play a quick hole or a full round EASY TO LEARN, HARD TO MASTER Tap to set your target, tap to lock your power, tap for accuracy. Three taps to glory — but timing is everything. Push your power past 100% for extra distance, but watch out for the dreaded CHUNK shot! Download now and experience golf the way it was meant to be played — one pixel at a time
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Retro Golf at 100% against SMPL Golf's 50%. Retro Golf also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). SMPL Golf's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Retro Golf sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. SMPL Golf asks for nothing beyond the download.
SMPL Golf holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 13 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of SMPL Golf's written reviews are positive against 100% of Retro Golf's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
SMPL Golf ships an update every 2 months, Retro Golf every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.
| Parameter | SMPL Golf | Retro Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (11 ratings) — better | 4.2 (13 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 11 | 13 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 513 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Edward Johnson | Chris Larson |
Customer experience
SMPL Golf
Retro Golf
In-app purchases
SMPL Golf
No in-app purchases
Retro Golf
- Remove Ads$1.99
- English2 variants$2.99








