I have given up on ever being a decent golfer, even though I have a strong passion for all things sporting. It just doesn’t make sense to me how the body must bend to efficiently crank a ball down the fairway. However, few other games can achieve what I see myself doing in real life, and PGA Tour 2K25 does it digitally thanks to its detailed simulation gameplay that allows my brain and thumbs to do things my real body just won’t.
I must admit that I was a little nervous going into PGA Tour 2K25. Despite not being the worst golf game I’ve ever played, 2K23 lacked personality and gameplay, which surprised me given that HB Studios has been diligently producing popular golf simulations like The Golf Club for well over ten years. It was safe to say that my expectations were reasonable given this and the fact that PGA Tour 2K took two full years to release a new version, in contrast to most sports games.
That extra time paid off, much to my relief and surprise, as PGA Tour 2K25 quickly impressed me with its enhancements, particularly in terms of appearance. The gap is not nearly as noticeable as it once was, even though it still can’t beat EA Sports’ rival PGA Tour game head-to-head in their respective graphic recreations of golf. Courses are more detailed, animations are sharper, and player models resemble their real-life counterparts far better. During several rounds of play, I found myself stopping to observe the sea crashing against the cliffs or to compare the rough areas, fringe, and fairway cut for each course.
Additionally, the putting and driving animations are smooth; they no longer seem overly heavy or end suddenly after impact. Additionally, performance has smoothed out, and the only occasion I experienced lost frames on my PlayStation 5 was when I was having trouble connecting to the internet. There were a few moments when my shot would stutter and even a couple of times when my round didn’t save because even the single-player Career Mode is constantly online.
I noticed that I kept stopping when I was playing to look around.
The dull commentary duo of Luke Elvy and Rich Beem is my major complaint about the appearance and feel of PGA Tour 2K25. Even though they both have extensive expertise and do a fantastic job of explaining methods and circumstances, their delivery could not be more lifeless. I get that golf isn’t the most thrilling sport, but talking about it shouldn’t seem robotic.
They appear to have a grudge against me as well. The price is wrong, Richie and Rich Beem will scold me like Bob Barker at Happy Gilmore if I perform worse than getting on the green in two or making a birdie putt. It wasn’t too hard to tune them out, not least because I’ve been putting up with FIFA commentary for years.
It’s essentially all positive news aside from that. For instance, HB Studios gave priority to things that the community has been pleading for. The most noteworthy additions concern approaches, where you can select your hazard drop location and alter the tee position. Some of my most annoying shots in PGA Tour 2K23 were caused by the inability to move the ball at the tee for a better angle or change position following a water hazard. It may seem like a minor feature. I adore how much control 2K25 offers me.
Another significant shift is that MyPlayer development has evolved into an RPG system that lets you unlock particular shots as you go, allowing you to tailor your MyCareer campaign growth to your unique strengths. The six trees offer a range of skills, from proficiency enhancements that aid improve each shot to more complex shot types like the Stinger, which is perfect for handling high wind conditions. To get my feet wet versus other rookie players in the Q-School, I decided to create a Powerhouse archetype that focuses on driving down the fairway.
I became accustomed to the new EvoSwing mechanics here. The updated golf swing technique emphasizes torque, arc size, and good posture. It also analyzes your contact, rhythm, transition, and swing path after every swing, giving you specific feedback on how to do better. Depending on your skill level, you may even choose between the traditional Swing Stick and the 3-Click Swing to personalize the settings.
PGA Tour 2K25 regrettably still allows microtransactions, albeit fortunately, they are primarily cosmetic. While it is possible to spend real money on making your player a superstar in terms of stats and outfits right away, you can also earn upgrade points and other outfits at a respectable rate by participating in tournaments. As a result, they are less offensive than what 2K has been doing in recent years with its casino-like approach to NBA 2K. Since this isn’t a sport where you’re being dunked on by someone who can run faster and leap higher because they paid more, playing online with others is nonetheless fun.
The seven online modes from 2K23 are back, including four-ball, which is my favorite. Because it felt more intense, fast-paced, and participatory than battling against AI, I enjoyed competing against my partner and the opposing side. In my opinion, this mode is the next best thing to competing on the course with your friends. You can pick between Swing Stick and 3-Click lobbies in ranked and casual games, as well as any gaming elements and tools you want to turn on and off to keep everyone in sync. Notably, Societies mode now has crossplay capabilities that enable you and your friends to plan asynchronous activities across platform differences.
Verdict
With significant visual and gameplay modifications, PGA Tour 2K25 feels very different from its predecessor. Even though the announcing crew gave a sluggish performance, the new swing mechanics and the greatly enhanced graphics create a lot more realistic atmosphere. Despite having a tacked-on personality system, sporadic needless connectivity problems, and of course microtransactions, the fully customizable MyCareer campaign mode stands out as one of the more entertaining features. As the best golf simulator available, PGA Tour 2K25 is still a few steps behind EA Sports PGA Tour, but if it keeps getting better with each new version, it might be close to catching up.
