Released in March 2021 for Nintendo Switch and only arriving in January 2023 for other consoles, Monster Hunter Rise is a more pared-down experience compared to World and Wilds. However, it offers the new Wirebug for getting around (and unleashing new skills), and players can also mount Palamutes to explore maps. There’s also the Rampage, a tower defense-style mission type.

Slime Rancher 2 was released last year after an extensive time in early access and serves as the follow-up to Monomi Park’s beloved farming title. Players venture to a new planet to raise slimes, which have new variants, and even uncover various new mysteries.

As for PGA Tour 2K25, it’s the latest title in 2K’s series developed by HB Studios, and offers several Championships, a new MyCareer mode, and more. Despite a solid launch, it received several egregious microtransactions shortly after, so be warned. Finally, there’s The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road, which includes the 2024 expansion and everything else before, making it a decent entry point into the MMO.

All of the above titles are available from March 3rd to April 6th. Check out February’s offerings here and redeem them while you can.

Subscribers to all tiers of PlayStation Plus will reportedly get the chance to add PGA Tour 2K25 to their libraries from March 3rd onwards, until April 7th.

PGA Tour 2K25 was originally released back in February 2025, bringing in quite a few advancements to the golfing franchise. New EvoSwing mechanics brought in more options for players when it comes to shot types, and advancements in the engine made ball flights and roll physics more realistic. Its main career mode-dubbed MyCAREER-has also been described by the studio as being “the most immersive and customizable” version of the mode so far.

“The all-new EvoSwing system delivers players more authentic, realistic swing mechanics, creating an even more real-golf feel into PGA Tour 2K25,” explained HB Sports spokesperson in an interview. “EvoSwing timing adapts to input mechanics for a tailored rhythm, while a player’s swing path is based on their own swing bias as selected during MyPLAYER creation.The EvoSwing creates a more unique swing per player and gives MyPLAYER more customization.”

The title also brought in improvements to the Course Designer, giving players more options to create their own unique golf courses. Among other things, it features a higher-res terrain system, and new spline tools to create lakes and rivers, as well as quality-of-life updates like terrain painting and surfacing systems.

In our review of PGA Tour 2K25, we gave it a score of 8 out of 10 thanks to its top-tier animations and authentic commentary contributing to its excellent presentation. EvoSwing was also considered a notable and worthwhile addition to the franchise. However, we also criticized its progression system with low Virtual Currency gains, and the fact that MyCAREER “isn’t breaking the mold”.

February’s slate of PlayStation Plus games was headlined by Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Echoes of the End: Enhanced Edition. PS4 players also got access to Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin so that they could catch up with the gameplay and story in time for the upcoming release of Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. Other titles added to the service include Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, Neva, Venba, Rugby 25, and Season: A Letter to the Future.

Additions were also made to the PlayStation Plus Classics catalog, which was headed up by PSP fighting game Tekken Dark Resurrection, and classic rail shooter Time Crisis. PS2 title Disney Pixar Wall-E was also added to the list of old-school games.

As you wait for the arrival of PGA Tour 2K25 on PlayStation Plus, you can check out everything you need to know here. It is worth noting that 2K hasn’t yet made any announcements of a brand new entry in the franchise. Since February is almost at an end, the company might skip this year to instead focus on 2027’s entry.

Note: This interview was conducted before the game’s official launch date.

"We have the most immersive and customizable MyCAREER experience to date"

What kind of changes can we expect to see from PGA Tour 2K25 when compared to its predecessors?

PGA Tour 2K25 features several franchise advancements that we’re really excited about, including the addition of new EvoSwing mechanics with a whole host of new shot types, ball flights, roll physics, and lots of visual improvements. We have the most immersive and customizable MyCAREER experience to date, a diverse suite of creation tools and so much more. 2K25 has some of the top male and female pros and three of The Major Tournaments – PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open. We really feel that PGA Tour 2K25 is the ultimate golf experience.

What is some of the more single-player oriented content we can expect from PGA Tour 2K25?

MyCAREER is a go-to mode for single player fun. In MyCAREER, fans can fulfill their PGA TOUR dreams as they aspire to greatness. Players can experience long-term career progression, compete against top Pros on the TOUR, and build relationships with top brands to unlock MyPLAYER customization. Additionally, in-stride MyCAREER now supports both sudden death and aggregate playoff formats.

The mode offers the chance for players to prove themselves to themself, and become FedExCup Champion. No pressure, right?

Will players be able to share their custom-made courses made in the Course Designer with other players?

Yes, Course Designer is another key feature we love that brings endless replayability. The team loves the community effort and the chance for players to publish, share, and play the courses created.

How powerful will the Course Designer be in terms of the tools it gives players?

Course Designer features new tools, surfaces, and items that equip players to build the dream courses, faster than ever before. A higher-res terrain system gives you more precise control than ever, new spline tools for lakes and rivers, an all-new terrain painting & surfacing systems, quality-of-life updates to tools—and so much more! Plus, new camera systems let players show off their courses in all its beauty for the global online community to witness and experience.

"Course Designer is another key feature we love that brings endless replayability"

Will the MyCAREER mode feature a storyline for players to follow?

In MyCAREER, players can choose to start their journey in Q-School, on the Korn Ferry Tour, or by jumping directly into the PGA TOUR, with the goal to finish in the Top 70 and earn the spot in the playoffs to compete for the coveted FedEx Cup.

There are brand new Training Scenarios to help boost your MyPLAYER’s attributes ahead of tournaments. We have Practice Rounds, allowing you to get used to the course before the tournament starts.

As you skill and career grows, you can also grow your relationships with your Sponsors by participating in events – you can get messages from fellow Pros and major brands for opportunities. I am really excited by the new Conversation and Interview systems we’ve added which allow you to shape your personality and also be a part of press conferences and interviews. It’s the most immersive and customizable MyCAREER experience yet for the franchise.

What kind of multiplayer modes can we expect to see in PGA Tour 2K25?

Golf is a social sport, so we love the robust variety of multiplayer offerings with a choice of match formats including Stroke Play, Match Play, or Scramble with or against each other, online or locally, available for some friendly competitions.

There’s also the option to play for the top spot in new Ranked Tours daily and weekly tournaments and earn rewards each season while climbing the rankings ladder.

Players will have fun challenging their friends, without worry for no matter the hardware with new cross-platform societies.

What kind of post-launch support and content is planned for PGA Tour 2K25?

There is a robust post-launch plan for the game.

Players can expect the likes of new, free courses, quests and challenges, increases to Evolution Tiers in Equipment Progression, as well as ranked leaderboard rests. The Clubhouse Pass, a Seasonal content program with free and premium rewards, makes its return. During each Season, a new, Clubhouse Pass will be available, aligned with real-life golf events and offering ample rewards. Players can progress through each Clubhouse Pass at their own pace, with previous Seasons still accessible for players to progress through even when a new one has become live. Additionally, Season 2 will deliver the iconic “Home of Golf,’ The Old Course at St. Andrews Links, free to all players.

"The Clubhouse Pass, a Seasonal content program with free and premium rewards, makes its return."

How will the EvoSwing system affect how a player approaches their swings?

The all-new EvoSwing system delivers players more authentic, realistic swing mechanics, creating an even more real-golf feel into PGA Tour 2K25. EvoSwing timing adapts to input mechanics for a tailored rhythm, while a player’s swing path is based on their own swing bias as selected during MyPLAYER creation.The EvoSwing creates a more unique swing per player and gives MyPLAYER more customization.

Our goal for the EvoSwing was to make the game accessible and meaningful for players new to the franchise or seasoned veterans.

Will the game have PS5 Pro support? Can you please reveal the details?

PS5 Pro sees increased resolution in performance mode. It also has increased object detail and grass quality performance when compared to PS5 performance mode. It has increased object detail and shadow quality in quality mode compared to PS5 quality mode.

We have no additional support or plans for the PS5 Pro at this time.

What resolution and frame rate does the game run on PS5, Xbox Series X and S?

Frame rate for PGA Tiyr 2K25 is 30fps in Quality mode, 60fps in Performance mode. Quality mode resolution is 4K on PS5 and Xbox Series X, 1440p on Xbox Series S (with slight variants depending on the scene on all consoles).

Performance mode resolution is ~1800p on PS5 Pro, ~1440p-1620p on PS5 and Xbox Series X, ~900p on Xbox Series S (again, with slight variants depending on the scene on all consoles).

As with its predecessor, you create a MyPlayer – a virtual avatar that serves as your golfing throughput. Though I went with one of the many default creations, there are some decent customization options, from multiple hair presets, ears, noses, and mouths to body shape, muscle definition, and head presets. The gameplay differences truly arise in the Archetypes.

"Regardless, the actual golfing is enjoyable and, dare I say, addictive. Multiple control types are available, including Swing Stick, but I opted for the 3-Click Swing since the timing-based mechanics of its button presses appealed to me."

There are five to choose from: the Magician who specializes in Contact and Transition, effectively turning things around; the Technician who excels in Putt Weight and Correction; and the Greenskeeper who’s all about Putt Path and Putt Contact. So naturally, I went with the Powerhouse, specializing in Power, Transition and Rhythm, to belt out long drives over hundreds of yards and watch it all whittled away on the putting stage.

Starting n MyCareer is delightfully streamlined – choose from four starting places, like Q-School or the PGA Tour (to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs and TOUR Championship). Customize your career with numerous settings, including round length, the difficulty of conditions, opponent difficulty, and even how many holes you want to play. You’ll be greeted with text messages and set your personality accordingly, which admittedly feels a little milquetoast.

You can be bold, reserved or a mix of the two, with your responses shifting your golfer’s personality in different directions. It’s all well and good, but they don’t feel as impactful or interesting to your long-term prospects as they should. Considering your public persona has little to do with how sponsors and followers view you – they care more about strong performances than anything else – it feels like a missed opportunity.

Regardless, the actual golfing is enjoyable and, dare I say, addictive. Multiple control types are available, including Swing Stick, but I opted for the 3-Click Swing since the timing-based mechanics of its button presses appealed to me. It can be punishing, though – mess up even a little in any single aspect, and your shot could fall shorter (or go further) than expected. Thankfully, the EvoSwing system provides extensive feedback throughout, outlining whether any single aspect, whether it’s the contact, rhythm or transition, is perfect or how much they’re off by.

"I wasn’t initially sold on the character models and their detail, but seeing my golfer react with various shades of disappointment when missing specific shots or missing Par, seemingly channelling Olivia Munn, felt all too real."

Of course, that’s only one aspect of the golfing experience, as you need to account for the terrain. Changing your approach and club can help in this regard, especially when dealing with weeds and sand traps. I also quite liked being able to swing off rocks smack dab in the middle of lakes if the ball happened to fall in (totally by accident, of course), offering more freedom while laying the onus on my skill. Now, it’s possible to lose it all in the putting stage because you misjudged the slope’s direction by a tiny bit, but such are the mysterious wiles of golf.

Suffice it to say that I love all of this. Mastering the shot timing is one thing, but knowledge of the course and where I should aim to ensure the best possible approach on the hole is also key. Trying to offset the correct angle when putting is tense every single time and just as rewarding when you get it right.

It’s all extremely fluid with not a frame of choppiness on the PS5 and ensures the focus remains on your timing. The presentation accentuates the experience all the more, especially the run-throughs of the course beforehand, showcasing the greens with the commentary setting the tone in an understated yet endearing fashion.

Barring some slight pop-in from the vegetation during these instances, the courses look absolutely lush, from the rough and forests to the water. I wasn’t initially sold on the character models and their detail, but seeing my golfer react with various shades of disappointment when missing specific shots or missing Par, seemingly channelling Olivia Munn, felt all too real.

"Say what you will about the microtransactions for gear and how slimy it is to buy better equipment with real money – slowing progression to this extent to encourage VC spending is the pits."

When your golfer isn’t partaking in tournaments, they have practice sessions and training events to complete. On top of sharpening your skills, they can also provide different rewards and boosts for your attributes while also leveling your clubs and golf ball. You can also equip different fittings to compensate in certain areas, like Power, Swing Path, Correction and so on, though additional slots must be unlocked, which adds some RPG-lite progression. They also no longer require Virtual Currency to slot in.

You also have multiple skill trees, separated into Tee, Recovery, Bunker, and Green skills (on top of the seasonal skills). While you can opt to improve certain shots, they also provide opportunities to unlock new shot types. The limited Skill Points means careful thinking is required before selecting a skill. Unfortunately, respeccing your skills requires spending VC, and that brings us to the biggest issue with the progression system.

I started with multiple attribute points at the ready but with limited VC to allocate them. It didn’t seem like a big deal at first – completing activities and quests will grant VC after all. However, the rewards from various events and rounds felt surprisingly meager.

Based on player feedback, the launch day patch has seemingly reduced the amount of VC earned while increasing the amount required, for applying attribute points. Say what you will about the microtransactions for gear and how slimy it is to buy better equipment with real money – slowing progression to this extent to encourage VC spending is the pits.

"Though the campaign could have used a few more distinctive bits to help it stand out, PGA Tour 2K25 is an enjoyable golfing experience that’s leaps and bounds above its predecessor."

It’s all the more disappointing considering how much HB Studios got right with this year’s edition. Fine-tuning your MyCareer experience to be as difficult or forgiving as possible with multiple options; the responsiveness of the controls and EvoSwing system coupled with the physics and course design; the production values that make you feel like an amateur golfer about to snap your club in half – it’s all here and done incredibly well.

Though the campaign could have used a few more distinctive bits to help it stand out, PGA Tour 2K25 is an enjoyable golfing experience that’s leaps and bounds above its predecessor. Here’s hoping that HB Studios improves on the progression with future updates.

This game was reviewed on PS5.

Among the things shown off in the launch trailer for PGA Tour 2K25 are its pro players, which include Tiger Woods, Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson and Tom Kim, while also giving us some gorgeous views of its courses.

As is the case with 2K’s sports titles, PGA Tour 2K25 will include a host of game modes, including a MyPlayer mode, complete with its own progression systems and skill trees. 2K has previously promised that MyCareer will be the “most immersive and customisable” experience so far.

PGA Tour 2K25 will feature improved visuals over its predecessors, as well as new shot types and the new EvoSwing technology that allows for more accurate simulation of golf strokes and how they would affect the balls. The game will also feature 29 licensed courses that players can golf through, as well as a Course Designer that will allow players to design and share their own courses.

PGA Tour 2K25 is out on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details on the game, here’s everything you need to know.

What is it?

“Next Round, Best Round” is the tagline 2K and HB Studios are assigning to this year’s iteration of their biennial golf sim in hopes it’ll entice you to a digital tee off. 2K’s PGA Tour series emulates the sport of golf, obviously, but with a specific PGA Tour edge, which is the North American championship showcasing the best talents in the world. It’s blended accessibility and authenticity appeals to fledgling and diehard golf fans alike, although with the US Open Championship, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship all making their franchise debut in PGA Tour 2K25 we can foresee a higher proportion of long-standing PGA Tour fans picking 2K25 up.

Of course, PGA Tour 2K executive director, and Tiger Woods is adorning this year’s cover, and sitting alongside perhaps the greatest linksman since Jack Nicklaus is six-time PGA Tour winner Max Homa and 2K-sponsored 2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.

Playable roster

PGA Tour 2K25 will feature eleven stars from both the PGA and LPGA Tours on launch. In addition to the three cover stars, we have Brooke Henderson, Collin Morikawa, Lydia Ko, Justin Thomas, Tom Kim, Tony Finau, Rose Zhang, and Will Zalatoris. These eleven you’ll be playing as and competing against across the digital greens, and it’s fair to say it’s a solid list so far which represents a mix of seasoned veterans and exciting up-and-comers. Some high-profile names are absent; 2K will share more as we approach 2K25’s release date.

Playable courses

Twenty-nine licensed courses are primed and ready to tee off come PGA Tour 2K25’s launch, including a trio of newcomers in Pennsylvania’s historic Oakmont Country Club, Northern Ireland’s challenging Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club, and this year’s PGA Championship venue Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina appearing for the first time alongside PGA Tour classics like Pebble Beach. The Player’s Championship course at TPC Sawgrass will also feature on launch, with additional venues such as the prestigious Old Course at St. Andrews arriving in post-release updates.

MyPLAYER

On top of caddying pristine fairways in command of the world’s best golfers you can also live out your dreams of being a golfing legend with 2K25’s MyPLAYER, a create-your-own experience 2K are promising as the most diverse and customisable to date. Building your MyPLAYER from the ground up with a slate of appearance, stat, and archetype options are par for the course, but this year it sits alongside an all-new attributes points progression system, an overhauled skill tree, and a novel equipment progression system.

MyCAREER

Taking your MyPLAYER creation to the links via MyCAREER is still the best way to level up to legendary status, and in addition to MyPLAYER’s boon in features 2K are also pledging 2K25’s MyCAREER as the most immersive iteration ever. Showcasing your personality through media interviews, for instance, or your unique gameplay style via simulating extra gameplay moments in all-new training and pre-tournament events are just some of the innovations on offer this round.

New equipment and apparel

More equipment and apparel are equip-able in 2K25 than any prior PGA Tour. Yes, your player can be customised with a variety of options from licensed brands including Mizuno, Cobra, TaylorMade, Callaway, Puma, and Titleist supplying clubs and balls, with apparel from Nike Golf, Malbon, Adidas, Lululemon, and more.

New mechanic – EvoSwing

Enhancing PGA Tour 2K25’s authenticity and realism further is the innovative new mechanic EvoSwing which, in 2K’s words, “truly nails the feel of handling a golf club.” In play, on-screen stats for ball contact, rhythm, transition, and swing path are displayed, giving you ample enough information to work towards the perfect swing. Additionally, as part of EvoSwing, 2K25 features new shot types, ball flights, roll physics, and visual improvements.

Ranked Tours

Tee up online with friends or foes and compete for top position via 2K25’s new ranked tours, comprising daily and weekly tournaments whereby you can earn rewards the further up the rankings you climb. Now, prior PGA Tour games harboured an element of imbalance in that swing stickers – such as those using controllers – and 3-click swingers weren’t separated in ranked play. One method is arguably easier than the other, and whilst the question was asked numerous times during a recent Reddit Q&A 2K declined to answer. With EvoSwing being incorporated, it might be a moot point; regardless, 2K’s silence doesn’t bode well.

New cross-platform societies

PGA Tour 2K25 allows you to challenge your mates wherever they play via cross-platform play, but 2K25 is also offering new societies whereby you and your pals can create your own community of golfers and take to the fairways together in game modes and events customised with your own entry requirements. Multiplayer match formats include stroke play, match play, or scramble, and these can be played locally or online.

Changes to seasons

At present, there are five seasons planned for 2K25, each lasting twelve weeks. Seasonal battle passes in the shape of Clubhouse Passes are returning from 2K23, and they’ll allow you to progress through tiers during each season to earn rewards including clothing and equipment plus XP boosts for your MyPLAYER creation. Each Clubhouse Pass has 100 tiers, with 34 of these tiers containing free rewards. To unlock premium tiers, you’ll need to pay $9.99 for Clubhouse Pass Premium, or $39.99 for a Members’ Pass to unlock all premium rewards through seasons one to five. One thing to note is you can progress through seasons at your own pace. Your Clubhouse Pass will not expire, even when a new season is live.

Topgolf mode

Introduced in PGA Tour 2K23, the arcade-style Topgolf mode makes a return in this year’s iteration. 2K haven’t shared whether this mode is simply returning or whether it’ll harbour changes, but as it was Topgolf provided a fun driving range experience whereby you’d aim your swing towards targets across the field of play. It was a fun levelling up tool for single players, and provided a source of friendly, low-stakes competition between friends. The globally recognised venue in Las Vegas was the playable course in 2K23 – perhaps we’ll see somewhere new this time?

Course designer

PGA Tour’s industry leading course designer returns in 2K25, and 2K assure is they’ve revamped the experience with all-new tools, surfaces, and items, allowing players to build their dream courses with ease. Furthermore, new camera systems showcase your creation from all the most dramatic angles, with courses shareable across the global online community.

Editions

There’re three editions to order this year: Standard Edition which, of course, includes the base game. Deluxe Edition features up-to 7 days early access plus the early birdie bonus accessible from 21^st February. Included in the early birdie bonus is the birdie pack, the starter pack, and the Extra Butter x Adidas pack, with each featuring equipment and apparel to be adorned right away, plus levelling up tokens, tools, and digital currency. The Butter X Adidas pack also includes Chris McDonald as a playable pro. The Legend Edition has everything the Deluxe Edition includes plus the Sun Day Red pack, the Malbon bucket ball pack, and the aforesaid Clubhouse Members’ pack.

PC requirements

At a minimum, your PC will require a Ryzen 5 or Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon RX 570 GPU, and directX version 12 to play PGA Tour 2K25. Recommended settings as per the game’s Steam listing include Ryzen 7 2700X or Core i7 6700 processors, 12GB of RAM, and GeForce RTX 2060 Super or Radeon 5700XT GPUs running at 8GB RAM. The game requires 30GB of storage space.

Release date, platforms, price

PGA Tour 2K25 releases globally on 28^th February 2025, with PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC the playable platforms. Pre-orders have been available to purchase since 14^th January, costing $69.99, $99.99, and $199.99 for the Standard, Deluxe, and Legend editions respectively. Pre-ordering the Standard Edition will unlock the Extra Butter X Adidas pack which otherwise is only available when purchasing the two highest tiers.

The former retails for $99.99 and includes the base game alongside several packs like the Extra Butter x Adidas Pack, the Birdie Pack, and the Starter Pack. These include cosmetics, a Titleist GT4 Driver, ball fittings, club fitting, Level-Up Tokens, and 1,800 Virtual Currency. Owners also get seven days of early access, thus allowing them to play from February 21st.

The Legend Edition costs $119.99 and features everything in the Deluxe Edition (including early access). It also offers the Member’s Pass for the next five seasons of Clubhouse Pass Premium, three Malbon cosmetic balls, and the Sun Day Red Pack with cosmetics like the Red 3 Button Polo, a black Ballcap and Pants, white Gloves, and the TaylorMade Driver Qi10.

Stay tuned for more details on PGA 2K25, and check out our review of the last title, PGA 2K23.

The sequel features 11 pro players at launch, from Tiger Woods and Tom Kim to Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson. It also offers new shot types and EvoSwing mechanics to go with the improvements to visuals, roll physics, and ball flight. There are 29 licensed courses to play on, but the Course Designer also returns, allowing players to create their own levels with various new features.

MyPlayer also returns with new Attribute Points and Equipment Progression systems to go with improved Skill Trees. Meanwhile, MyCareer promises the “most immersive and customizable” experience yet, with major tournaments playable for the first time.

Stay tuned for more details on PGA Tour 2K25 before its launch. Check out our reviews for PGA Tour 2K23 and EA Sports PGA Tour in the meantime.

PGA Tour 2K23 was released in October 2022 for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Xbox One and received an average critical reaction (check out our review for more details). Nevertheless, it’s still getting more content. As VGC reports, pro golfer Nelly Korda will be playable. New courses like Spyglass Hill and Pinehurst No 2 are also being added along with Eastside Golf gear.

It’s worth noting that Cena’s arrival in PGA Tour 2K23 coincides with the release of EA Sports PGA Tour. The latter was delayed from March 24th and is the first title in the franchise since Rory McIlroy PGA Tour in 2015. Stay tuned for more details on it in the coming week.

https://twitter.com/2K/status/1641456152952324096

One of PGA Tour 2K23’s strengths is understanding that it’s a golf game and that nothing should get in the way of you playing golf the way you want. From the beginning, every mode, from MyCareer to local and competitive play, is fully unlocked with all courses and playable characters, including a special TopGolf game mode. In MyCareer, you can choose to play starting at lower amateur levels and work your way up to the PGA Tour, or you can forgo the grind and start at the PGA Tour right away. Your created character starts as a virtual nobody in whichever tour level they want and can work their way up the ladder to the top of the Tour leaderboard. In doing so, you also gain new materials and equippable items, like a driver head or an iron grip, that make your overall skills better. It can get a bit tedious to see so many different options for such minor changes on a club, but over time they certainly help you get better. While the number of game modes isn’t overwhelming, you get exactly what you expect, and there isn’t much else I would’ve hoped for in this type of game that wouldn’t come in the way of actually playing golf. MyCareer is a great starter point for anyone playing alone, and there are some good single round and tournament options, both online and offline. You can also play a true-to-form game of TopGolf, trying to hit the individual spaces for points against your friends or competitors.

"I think there’s a pathway to a great game with PGA Tour 2K23, but it needed a bit more time to cook, or a mulligan so to speak, to get it on par with its major sports franchise competitors."

On the course, the act of playing golf is pretty similar to other golf games on the market, most notably HB Studios’ other golf games PGA Tour 2K21 and The Golf Club, as there’s a lot of flexibility in the different ways you can play. You’ll most likely be playing Stroke Play most of the time, but you can also play match play or other variations of the traditional structure. There’s also a decent list of famous golfers and athletes you can play as, each equipped with different stats. Tiger Woods, Jon Rahm, and Rickie Fowler are a few of the PGA Tour players whose likenesses you can embody, but there are also others like Steph Curry or Michael Jordan, whose stats are set to be on par with the best of the best.

The list of courses you can play is a solid build on PGA Tour 2K21, but it’s still a bit underwhelming when compared to the courses played on the Tour in reality. It’s always fun to play at a place like TPC Sawgrass or Copperhead, and there is some great variety in the types of scenery and playing surfaces throughout the 20 licensed courses. It’s still difficult to not see a course like Augusta or Pebble Beach on the course list, but I’ll take what I can get. There’s also a somewhat dynamic course creator that lets you build your own 18, and while it wasn’t highly populated at time of writing, I’m excited to see what types of courses the public will drum up.

PGA Tour 2K23’s mechanics aren’t particularly different from previous HB Studios games, though there are some builds that refine the formula. Swings can be done in two ways, for instance. The first is an analog system, a variation of one we’ve seen in past games, that combines your power, accuracy, and timing to create the final version of your shot. The second is a three button press system that’s new to the series but familiar to other competing golf games. I chose to stick with the analog system more often than not, primarily because it resembles more of a real-life swing and leaves a good amount of room for error and correction.

"PGA Tour 2K23’s mechanics aren’t particularly different from previous HB Studios games, though there are some builds that refine the formula."

Both swing types lead to generally the same amount of difficulty and results, but they aren’t perfect in doing so. With the analog swing system, for example, the timing aspect of your swing feels less consistent than I’d hope. You’re hoping to have perfect timing, but if you’re in a margin of error on either the fast or slow side, you’ll still hit it relatively well with a slight hook or slice, respectively. I ran into some troubles, though, when I’d unexpectedly hit it too slowly, readjust, and then unknowingly swing too fast, resulting in shots that look less like a professional golfer’s and more like my own. Timing is slightly different for each unique player, too, so it’s a recurring problem when you try someone else out. I also had a repeated issue where the power meter would hitch on my backswing, resulting in low power and poor timing on my swings, and the inability to take a mulligan or rewind a shot means that the game’s glitch would cause me to eat a couple of penalty strokes.

When choosing your shot, I’m a big fan of the variety of shots you can elect between. On your approach shots, you can hit the ball normally, or you can hit a chip, pitch, or flop shot, among others. Your ability to change the ball’s spin to affect its arc or bounce means you have a lot of options to play with and nail down. With that said, there is still some tweaking needed to make it feel like a full simulation. Balls bounce and roll past their landing spot for what feels like far too long, and your guess is as good as mine when it comes to the degree of effectiveness of putting spin on the ball, especially when trying to approach the green with some backspin. Putting can be its own beast, but I feel the game does it well enough without changing the formula. It strikes a good balance between giving you the distance and necessary shot power without automatically giving you the correct line to sink a 40-footer. While it can be incredibly satisfying to make a long putt, I do find it to be too much of a crutch to have the putt line available for every putt. It’s too powerful not to use, as you effectively get to make each putt twice, but it can take far too long and feel overpowered for its own good.

While PGA Tour 2K23 has a solid game of golf within it, the surrounding pieces leave a lot to be desired. The announcers, for example, are painfully underdeveloped in their ability to react to your shots. It’s not infrequent for them to completely skip calling one of your shots or to talk about something fully irrelevant, and when comparing them to announcers in games like Madden or MLB The Show, it’s much less able to recreate the experience of watching the sport on TV. The fans on the sides of each hole are there almost out of necessity, too, but they don’t react if a ball is coming their way, nor are they at all felt in major moments, like at the end of a tournament.

"While PGA Tour 2K23 has a solid game of golf within it, the surrounding pieces leave a lot to be desired."

For a game about playing golf, PGA Tour 2K23 does most things right. Its mechanics are most of the way there, with only a few tweaks and increased consistency needed to make it feel exactly right. There’s so much variety in the types of shots you can make and the different lies you’ll have to hit from that it really does mirror a real-life golf round in a lot of ways. Around the edges, though, things start to fall apart, with the lackluster television aesthetic and generally small list of players and courses. For anyone looking to simply play golf, PGA Tour 2K23 will do the trick if you can overlook a few nitpicks in the gameplay, though it will need to be much more fleshed out in the future to be considered among the best sports games on the market.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox Series X.