Wonderputt
Wonderputt is a 2011 video game for Flash and iOS created by Damp Gnat, the studio of independent developer Reece Millidge. The game is a simulation of mini golf in which players navigate through an surrealistic animated course that changes its obstacles and holes on a single screen. Millidge developed the game following the creation of earlier mini golf titles in the attempt to create a more animated title for a wider audience. Upon release, Wonderputt received positive reviews, with praise directed to the game's visual presentation and course design, and criticism directed to the controls and short duration of the game. The game received award nominations at the Webby Awards and the Independent Games Festival. Gameplay 

Players aim to complete eighteen holes of a mini golf course whilst avoiding traps and obstacles in as few swings as possible. The player controls the ball using the mouse on the browser, or touch controls for iOS, and drags to adjust the strength of the swing in the direction of an arrow. The game features a par score for individual holes and also a points system for the final score, encouraging players to replay the game to get the highest score. As players complete holes, the landscape of the course changes, introducing new obstacles and holes to complete. Completion of the game unlocks a "Rainbow" collectables mode for additional challenge, in which players also aim to complete all holes of the course whilst collecting shards of a rainbow throughout the course for additional points. Development and release 

Wonderputt was created by independent developer Reece Millidge. Millidge had created earlier Flash-based mini golf games Adverputt and  Microputt. Wonderputt was developed over a six-month period using the Adverputt engine with the purpose of expanding the game for a wider audience and creating a "rich and animated environment". Millidge was inspired by the visual presentation of scientific illustrations and encyclopedias and their cross-section of landscapes, and designed parts of the isometric course as a homage to M.C. Escher. Originally intended as a course that played through the diagrams of products advertised on a website, Millidge changed the "direction and flow" of the game as the game's concept "outgrew the initial concept and size". On 12 September 2012, an iPad compatible version of Wonderputt was released, featuring high definition graphics for a larger display, a longer soundtrack, and changes to the control scheme. Sales 

Millidge recounded that the game was a financial success, with the game receiving 100,000 paid downloads and becoming the 1# paid app on the UK charts. Reception 

Wonderputt received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Many critics praised the game's visual presentation and design, with several comparing the design to the work of M.C. Escher. Describing the game as "breathtakingly good-looking", Pocket Gamer highlighted the game's "awe-inspiring" and "brilliant" animations, and described the holes as "cleverly interlaced" and "well thought-out". 148 Apps described the graphics as "absolutely amazing" and "incredibly detailed". AppSpy praised the "novel artwork", finding the game to be filled with "delightful gadgets and hazards". However, Slide to Play found the miniaturized graphics to limit visibility due to the absence of a zoom system. Critics were mixed on the gameplay and controls. Destructoid commended the game for its "elegant shooting mechanic" and "surprisingly robust physics". Pocket Gamer faulted the iPad controls for being imprecise, stating "you're rarely able to get the precision you really need". Similarly, 148 Apps found the isometric graphics to make it "difficult to line up shots" and discerning slopes. AppSpy noted the controls were "not perfect" due to the "tiny areas that are sectioned off to putt on". Critics were mixed on the game's limited content and replayability. Touch Arcade noted the game's single course was a "let down", but found the introduction of collectibles on a second playthrough "much more fun and manageable". Pocket Gamer found that "once you've played it once, you've basically seen it all". 148 Apps similarly remarked that "the one course may wear thin over time". AppSpy described the game as a "small offering" that is "easily played through in a single sitting", although acknowledged its additional mode. Accolades  

Wonderputt received several award nominations. In 2012, the game received a nomination for 'Excellence in Visual Art' at the Independent Games Festival. In 2014, the game was nominated for a Webby Award for the Best Tablet Game. Sequel 

In December 2022, a sequel titled Wonderputt Forever was announced and released for iOS, Android and Steam, with the mobile version released exclusively as part of the Netflix Games service. References

External links 

2011 video games
Browser games
Flash games
IOS games
Miniature golf video games
Video games developed in the United Kingdom
Video games inspired by M. C. Escher
GameClub games
Single-player video games