Adrenaline Golf raises the classic question of value vs. price. From a graphics and variety standpoint, it might be the best on this list, with 72 courses in three different game modes beautifully designed to retain a semblance of "real" golf play in fantasy realms. But at $5.99, it is also the most expensive game on this list, which will immediately draw criticism from avid gamers if there are any discrepancies. But if money is no matter to you, or you've tried all the rest, Adrenaline Golf is a nice addition to your favorite golf game apps.Download: iTunes
Real Golf 2011 ($4.99)
The Real Golf series has been a consistent player in golf game apps since its inception. Offering an alternative to the Tiger Woods titles, Real Golf 2011 comes complete with PGA Tour professionals and courses, and for that it should garner interest from fans of "real" golf and gamers alike. But graphics aside, the gameplay proves why it's hard to compete with EA Sports. Average at best and downright clunky at worst, this is definitely a game for those who have advanced portable devices if they don't want too many stalls (and maybe why they never created a 2012 version). Still, the PGA wouldn't license their likenesses to just anyone, and after Tiger Woods PGA Tour, this is the next best real golf simulator available.Download: iTunes | Android
Flick Golf Extreme ($.99)
Flick Golf Extreme is the exact same game as Flick Golf, just with different and -- as you might have guessed -- extreme new settings. Aside from the theme of the game, which adds a new dimension to the original in the way of cool backdrops (vs. boring old nature), Full Fat Productions have added a Five Ball mode that offers a shortened version of play (normal rounds use nine balls), but little else has changed. In fact, I feel "Extreme" should simply be an add-on to the original. That said, if you want them both, you'll have to buy them both, making them two separate games at a relatively cheap $.99. For that, Flick Golf Extreme makes the list, but I'm giving this one an extreme asterisk.Download: iTunes | Android
BubbaGolf ($.99)
BubbaGolf is considered an "arcade game", which means it is filled with a series of distance and accuracy challenges -- essentially a skills game for your mobile device. This in itself makes it a fun, and enjoyable play, especially when sifting through the multitudes of near-identical golf and min-golf games. Where BubbaGolf falls behind is in its limitations. The graphics lack detail, which can be confusing and leave you wondering what target you're trying to hit, while the gameplay is very similar to the "practice mode" found in the Tiger Woods franchise. Still, a good concept that should see some improvements as Bubba's marketability grows.Download: iTunes | Android
Worms Crazy Golf ($.99)
Maybe I like this game because Earthworm Jim was a childhood favorite of mine, and like that old Sega Genesis classic, fantasy and cephalopod violence play a main role in Worms Crazy Golf. With ridiculous hazards (like an old woman who smacks your ball) and gear to help you in precarious situations (magnets, jet packs), this plays more like an obstacle course than an actual game of golf, but it's both fun and addicting. The crazy animation and left-to-right gameplay (vs. head-on 3D) actually enhances the theme of a worm who is playing golf, and with four 18-hole courses as well as challenge maps, you won't tire of it too quickly.Download: iTunes
Super Stickman Golf ($.99)
I'm ranking Super Stickman Golf in my top five, although I can see why some might be turned off by it's 8-bit, 2-D graphics. Essentially, this is the Angry Birds of golf, with a very addictive, simple gameplay that rewards distance control, pitch and accuracy. The challenges play like brain teasers with each "hole" offering different route options and obstacles to avoid. Super Stickman Golf is less a golf game, and more a maze that can easily be enjoyed by anyone, of just about any age. Even the free version will prove impossible to put down.Download: iTunes | Android
Flick Golf ($.99)
What Tiger Woods is to the realist, Flick Golf is to the surrealist. The mobile world's no. 1 golf game app offers a "quick fix" for golf game junkies. As the name implies, you simply flick your ball at a series of targets, with the ability to spin and direct it while in flight (and even once it hits the ground). The ease of gameplay and a wide array of challenges, along with the gratification of being able to hit multiple holes-in-one, makes this a fun, addictive--and very time consuming--game to play. And with additional versions and add-ons available for .99 cents, you'll find yourself grabbing for your phone or iPad whenever you have those few precious minutes to kill.Download: iTunes | Android
3D Mini Golf Challenge (FREE)
DigitalChocolate.com's 3D Mini Golf Challenge is the game I ended up playing the most throughout this very scientific study. First and foremost, it's simple, enjoyable, and addictive to play. Secondly, it's free! In my opinion, the best game apps should offer an extended free version, and in this case, the free version is a complete game (you pay for additional versions and boards). In total, the free version offers six levels and 28 boards, which means a lot of bang for no buck. Each level is a series of challenges you must pass to open up the next stage, and with each board, the challenges get a little tougher, eventually ending with "master" and "expert" levels. A mini golf game was going to be my "aside" to this list, but 3D Mini Golf Challenge is enjoyable at all golf-interest levels. Plus you have nothing to lose by trying it out.Download: iTunes | Android
Let's Golf 3 (FREE)
The Let's Golf franchise is a throwback to the Super Mario Golf days. In fact, the gameplay (tapping to start your swing / to select your power / and again at impact) is remarkably similar to the classic Nintendo title, and like Mario, it stays true to the game of golf despite dropping you into a fantastical array of courses and settings with incredibly detailed and fun animation. Of the animated golf game apps I tested, Let's Golf 3 is the only one that can compete with Tiger Woods on a realistic gameplay level. And with the ability to download and play an extended free version, create personalized avatars, and even challenge your friends remotely, I'd rank Let's Golf 3 as the second best golf-game option, and No. 1 for kids.Download: iTunes | Android
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 ($4.99)
Say what you will about Tiger Woods the golfer, Tiger Woods the video game is still head and shoulders above all competition. Of course, having the funds to license the best course layouts makes it tough to match for any true golf fan, while the graphics and realistic gameplay, along with the different game modes and built-in challenges, makes EA Sports' Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 a bargain even at $4.99 ($.99 for iPhone). The only possible downside to the Tiger Woods franchise is that it's geared towards the sophisticated golfer, which may turn off those who don't care about teeing it up at St. Andrews, or those who prefer a more "animated" feel. And with only seven courses, you'll find yourself wanting to play a wider array of options (also like in real life). But in short, this is the golf game app all others are judged by.Download: iTunes | Android
