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3-D Ultra Mini Golf Deluxe

Last updated: January 9, 2026

Overview

3-D Ultra Mini Golf Deluxe is “a minigolf game for the Windows PC, designed by Dynamix and published by Sierra. It was released in 1998 as a sequel to the 1997 game 3-D Ultra Minigolf, and it features 9 brand-new holes.”1 As part of Sierra’s 3D Ultra series and the first non-pinball entry in the franchise2, the game promised that “the unique playability of 3-D Ultra Minigolf will help you perform amazing golfing feats never seen before in a miniature game”3. The game was marketed with claims of having “the most realistic physics and accurate ball movement of any computer mini golf game”2, utilizing “true-to-life ball dynamics and different surface types to come as close to realism as possible”3.

3-D Ultra Minigolf Deluxe was an “enlarged version of 3-D Ultra Minigolf” with “9 new holes added, overall 27 holes playable. No changes to gameplay were made” from the original4. The game has been described as “a strange hybrid of golf, pool, and pinball”5 and was created by the same studio behind “the critically-acclaimed Tribes series and The Incredible Machine”6. Despite its age, modern retrospectives note that it “remains an insane amount of fun”2.

Story Summary

3-D Ultra Mini Golf Deluxe does not feature a traditional narrative storyline. Instead, the game focuses on pure miniature golf gameplay across fantastical courses. As described in the official summary, “Minigolf was never like this. 3-D Ultra Minigolf Deluxe takes the classic game you love to whole new level of fun! Your favorite holes are here, plus some very unique new holes that have been created with adventure in mind.”7 The game features “interactive 3D animations that will challenge even the most intrepid putter, with hidden holes and other surprises guaranteed to inflate your score”8.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

The game offers two distinct control methods for putting. The traditional “EasyPutt” style provides standard golf game controls, while “TruePutt” attempts more realistic physics simulation. However, reviews note that “TruePutt is far trickier to control… It is also incredibly inconsistent, betraying its namesake. There’s a reason why the EasyPutt style is still around in golf games to this day and TruePutt is lost to time”2. The game’s interface is described as having “3D graphics are pretty cool and the gameplay is simple, controlled by intuitive mouse movements”5.

Structure and Progression

The Deluxe version contains 27 holes total across multiple courses, combining the original 18 holes with 9 additional holes4. The game supports “up to four players can play in both hotseat and online play” and “features traditional scored, hole-by-hole and race play modes”1. Players can enjoy “there are often multiple ways to get to the hole, and usually a shortcut or two in each level - some hidden, some not” with “special animations that play when you beat a course with a hole-in-one”9.

Puzzles and Mechanics

The courses feature fantastical elements beyond traditional miniature golf. The Sierra Chest walkthrough reveals complex hole designs, noting for one course: “Took a long time to figure this one out. If the ball drops into the teleporter in the center, you will not get a hole-in-one, but just get close to the hole”10. Another hole is described as having a “more direct approach” than “most people try to go the long way around”10, while one course is characterized as “a rather long and boring course”10. The game includes “hidden holes” as easter eggs8 and uses “pre-rendered CGI static screenshots for hole graphics”2.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

The game received mixed reviews across different platforms and time periods. User ratings were generally positive, with MyAbandonware users giving it 4.59/511 and 4.36/58 respectively. CNET Download users rated it 3.2/55. An enthusiastic user review from 2010 gave the game 9/10, noting “If you’re looking for a fun and wacky minigolf game, this one is for you!” and highlighting that “what makes the really shine trough are the announcers!”12

PublicationScoreNotes
CNET Download3.2/5User ratings spanning 2000-20055
MyAbandonware4.59/5User rating11
MyAbandonware4.36/5Alternative user rating8
sb1254 (Forum)9/10”This is a gem of a game with fun holes, great gameplay, and lots of replayability”12

Modern Assessment

Modern retrospective reviews have been largely positive. The Collection Chamber review notes that “despite its age, it remains an insane amount of fun”2, though it criticizes some technical aspects like the preferences menu crashing and inconsistent TruePutt controls2. Zomb’s Lair describes it as a “childhood favorite” and states “3D Ultra Minigolf is a really fun, constantly smile-inducing time that’s really worth a look, especially if you have a couple friends or family members to play with”9. The game is noted for combining “whimsical and fantastical mini-golf courses with interactive elements”13 and described as having “fun holes, great gameplay, and lots of replayability”12.

Development

Origins

3-D Ultra Mini Golf Deluxe was developed by Dynamix1 and published by Sierra On-Line in July 19984. The game was part of Sierra’s 3D Ultra series, being “in the same series as 3-D Ultra Pinball” but representing the “first non-pinball entry in 3D Ultra series”2. The original 3-D Ultra Minigolf was released in May 19973, with the Deluxe version following as a direct sequel that added content rather than changing core mechanics.

Production

The development was handled by Dynamix, Sierra’s internal development studio known for acclaimed titles like Tribes and The Incredible Machine6. The game’s production involved creating “pre-rendered CGI static screenshots for hole graphics”2 and implementing two different putting control systems. A version 1.01 patch was later released that “added online play capability”14, expanding the multiplayer functionality beyond local hotseat play.

Tragically, “Dynamix division was closed by Sierra in 2001 during development of next minigolf game”3, which affected the series’ future development. The planned sequel “Minigolf Maniacs” for PC and PlayStation 2 “went unreleased for five years until Wanako Studios completed development of the game in 2006” as 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures15.

Technical Achievements

The game ran on Windows 95 and later systems5, with file sizes of “611 Mb (Version 1) / 571 Mb (Version 2)” and install sizes of “836 Mb (Version 1) / 660 Mb (Version 2)“2. The technical specifications included support for Windows 95 as the minimum requirement5. The game featured “true-to-life ball dynamics and different surface types”3 and offered both local and online multiplayer capabilities after the 1.01 patch14.

Legacy

3-D Ultra Mini Golf Deluxe spawned a series that continued into the 2000s, though with significant development challenges. The immediate sequel “3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures was originally created in 2000, as a sequel to 3D Ultra Minigolf Deluxe, titled Mini Golf Maniacs for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 2”15. However, “the game, while nearly finished, went unreleased for five years until Wanako Studios completed development of the game in 2006”15 due to the closure of Dynamix in 200116.

The series eventually saw releases on modern platforms, including Xbox 360 and Steam17, though with mixed results. Steam Community reviews show “Mostly Positive (70% of 113)” ratings18, but users frequently complain about technical issues and poor PC porting. One Steam review notes the “game doesnt have controller support. What are people supposed to do, pass around the keyboard and mouse or take turns sitting at a desk?”19

The game maintains a cult following among retro gaming enthusiasts, with preservation sites like MyAbandonware11 and the Internet Archive1 ensuring its continued availability. Modern players appreciate it as “3D Ultra Minigolf was a childhood favorite” that provides “fun and charming” gameplay9.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

Download / Preservation

References

Footnotes

  1. Internet Archive - 3D Ultra Minigolf Deluxe – - Basic game metadata and release information ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  2. Collection Chamber Blog - 3D Ultra Mini Golf – - Retro gaming review and technical details ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  3. Internet Archive - 3-D Ultra Minigolf – - Game description and series information ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  4. LaunchBox Games Database - 3-D Ultra Minigolf Deluxe – - Release details and game specifications ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  5. CNET Download - 3D Ultra Mini Golf Deluxe – - Download page with user ratings and reviews ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  6. Max Laumeister - 3D Ultra Minigolf Deluxe – - Personal tribute page with setup recommendations ↩ ↩2

  7. Metacritic - 3D Ultra Mini Golf Deluxe – - Official game summary and basic information ↩

  8. MyAbandonware - 3-D Ultra Minigolf – - User reviews and compatibility information ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  9. Zomb’s Lair - 3D Ultra Minigolf Deluxe – - Retrospective review and personal gameplay experience ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  10. Sierra Chest - Minigolf Adventures Deluxe – - Development history and technical specifications ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  11. MyAbandonware - 3-D Ultra Minigolf Deluxe – - Download site with user compatibility reports ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  12. MMO Central Forums - User Review – - Detailed user review with scoring breakdown ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  13. [Kagi FastGPT - Review Scores](kagi:fastgpt:What were the review scores for 3 D Ultra Minigolf Deluxe video game?) – - Review compilation information ↩

  14. [Wikipedia - 3D Ultra Minigolf Game Series](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_Ultra_Minigolf_(game_series) – ) - Series overview and development history ↩ ↩2

  15. LaunchBox Games Database - 3D Ultra Minigolf Deluxe – - Development history context ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  16. Gamicus Wiki - 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures – - Development history and controversy information ↩

  17. Steam Community Reviews - Top Rated – - User perspectives on technical issues ↩

  18. Steam Store - 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures – - Official store page with system requirements ↩ ↩2

  19. Steam Community - Game Page – - User discussions and technical issues ↩

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