| Virtual Bowling | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Athena |
| Publisher(s) | Athena |
| Producer(s) | Sakae Nakamura |
| Composer(s) | Ryoue Takagi |
| Platform(s) | Virtual Boy |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Virtual Bowling[a] is a 1995 sports video game developed and published by Athena in Japan for the Virtual Boy. In the game, the player participates in a series of bowling tournaments consisting of four 10-frame matches at various alleys against computer-controlled opponents, in order to obtain a high score and progress further. Its gameplay, featuring three modes of play, is viewed from a first-person perspective.
Virtual Bowling was created by Athena, a developer known for their bowling games, with producer Sakae Nakamura heading its development. The game was reportedly rushed to market amid Nintendo planning to cease support for the Virtual Boy, becoming one of the platform's last official Japanese titles alongside Bandai's SD Gundam Dimension War, and was produced under a very limited run. It is considered by gaming journalists as one of the rarest, most valuable and sought-after Virtual Boy titles.
Virtual Bowling garnered mixed reception from gaming publications since its release; criticism was geared toward the odd physics, lack of multiplayer and unbalanced scoring mechanics, but its sense of realism, playability and use of the Virtual Boy's hardware were commended. Retrospective commentary has been more positive, with some considering it one of the best games for the platform, being praised for its 3D visuals, controls, fast-paced tournament mode and use of the system's hardware.
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