Play PGA Tour '96 (USA, Europe) on gb Online

Electronic Arts released PGA Tour '96 for the Game Boy in 1995, bringing a portable golf simulation to a system better known for platformers and RPGs. It arrived during a period when sports games on handhelds were often simplified, but this one attempted to capture some of the depth found in its console counterparts.

You control a professional golfer through a full tournament, selecting clubs, adjusting for wind, and carefully judging the power and direction of each shot. The main objective is to post the lowest score across four rounds of play. Key mechanics include choosing the right club for each situation, reading the green's slope before putting, and managing your golfer's accuracy and power on every swing. The game moves at a deliberate pace, demanding patience and calculation rather than quick reflexes; wayward shots are heavily penalized, often leaving difficult recovery plays. It feels satisfying to sink a long putt or place a drive exactly where you intended after accounting for all the variables.