Entering a video game in real life is not as far-fetched as it seems. At the American Dream Mall, prepare to play the classic hit video game, Angry Birds, from a whole new angle at the Angry Birds Mini-Golf course. This mini-golf adventure is unlike any other, as each hole and its decor is completely based on the popular app. In late December, my wife Ahuva and I, accompanied by two of our friends, Yoni and Danielle, went to try out this unique mini-golf experience.
During the final week of December 2022, the American Dream Mall was bustling with holiday shoppers and families on break from school. When we arrived at the Angry Birds Mini-Golf course, we encountered a long line that snaked its way through the mall’s hallway. Despite having pre-booked a time slot online, the wait was prolonged because of the overwhelming turnout. After about 15 minutes of waiting, we reached the cash register, located inside a giant plane with the “Top Bacon” logo styled after the famous “Top Gun” logo. Soon after registering, we were ready to start our first hole.
Developed by Rovio Entertainment in 2009, Angry Birds has quickly become one of its most popular apps, reaching the #1 spot on the list of top downloaded apps, and helping to usher in the new era of touchscreen smartphone video games. The premise of the game is to launch birds using a slingshot aimed at an enemy tower full of green pigs known as “Bad Piggies.” The developers chose pigs as the game’s enemies because at the time of its release, the swine flu epidemic, a disease known to be spread by pigs, was prevalent. In the game, each bird has a distinct power that players can use to their advantage to cause as much damage to the pigs’ towers as possible. Interestingly, due to the company struggling financially, Angry Birds was actually supposed to be Rovio’s last app. The game’s success, however, saved the company, prompting the release of many more sequels, spin-offs, and movies, all based on the original game. As a way to engage fans and provide a new form of entertainment, the Angry Birds mini-golf course was created at the American Dream Mall.
Much like the app, the American Dream Mall’s Angry Birds Mini-Golf focuses on the Angry Birds as the protagonists and the Bad Piggies as the antagonists. As soon as I entered the first hole, I was immediately impressed by the attention to detail and vibrant design of the mini-golf course. Each hole’s landscape looked vastly different from the next, with the courses either on dirt terrain, water, ice, or even inside a school. Although the terrains were merely background wallpaper, they appeared incredibly realistic. The course was designed to remind players of the different levels and locations in the original app.
In the background of the first hole stood the iconic mountain with a giant sign of the Angry Birds Mini-Golf logo. The mountain had several layers with platforms for different birds, including Red, Chuck, and most prominently, Bomb, the largest bird with black feathers that stood out against the bright colors of the arena.
Compared to other mini-golf venues I have been to, the course itself wasn’t particularly challenging. In fact, I found the cups to be wider than at other courses I’ve played. But, to add difficulty, the course featured a variety of obstacles and traps at each hole, making the putting more demanding. Some holes had obstacles such as boxes and bird barrels, which players would have to navigate around. One hole featured a mini-hill that players had to putt the ball over, while another required the ball to be hit into a submarine. My favorite hole had a castle full of “Bad Piggies” that required hitting the ball through one castle door so it would pop out of the other side near the hole. Between each hole, there were bridges or trails of painted rocks directing guests to the next one.
The decorative-themed backgrounds and set designs were impressive. Every few holes, the scenery changed dramatically, immersing the player in a variety of environments, from igloos to underwater scenes to battles with the “Bad Piggies.” The final decor was designed to look like a school, including a library, a classroom and even a graduation party. At the end of the game, the experience concluded with an Angry Birds-themed gift shop for fans to pick up some mementos.
We completed all of the mini-golf holes in about an hour and 15 minutes. Besides waiting a bit to get started, the waits for each hole were minimal, and this was during the mall’s busiest season. If you don’t want any wait, I suggest going during a less busy week, such as when school is in session.
Overall, I had a great time playing Angry Birds Mini-Golf, which gave me the vicarious feeling that I had entered one of my favorite video games in real life. It was one of the coolest mini-golf courses I have played and I would highly recommend it to both mini-golf enthusiasts and fans of the Angry Birds game.
Admission: $20 general, $18 seniors (65+), children under 2 free
Hours: 11a.m.—8p.m.
Located: Parks Court, Level 1
Unique Feature: Mini-golf course based on the former #1 and highly acclaimed video game on the App store.
Zachary is currently a consultant at Semler Brossy as well as the TABC Track Coach. In 2019, Zachary was elected the YSU Vice President of Clubs at Yeshiva University. Additionally, he recently enjoyed watching the new HBO max show “Last Of Us.” If you have any recommendations of fun places for Zachary to cover, please email him at [email protected].
