PGA Tour 2K25: Ultimate Preview Revealed

If you were to conduct a Family Feud-style poll asking fans which classic sports game series they’d most like 2K to revive, the return of NFL 2K would almost certainly top the list. Golf might not even crack the top three (looking at you, MLB and NHL). Yet despite that, 2K continues its push into the sport with PGA Tour 2K25, marking the third installment in the series. After spending a few hours with the game, it’s clear there’s plenty here to appreciate.

HB Studios, the development team behind the title, has been refining its golf simulation expertise for over a decade—starting with The Golf Club before rebranding under the 2K umbrella in 2020. That experience shows in PGA Tour 2K25. During my hands-on time, I struggled to find any major flaws. Is this the most visually stunning sports game on the market? Probably not. Would more real-world courses be welcome? Absolutely—though the inclusion of iconic venues like the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship helps. And yes, I did notice some unexpected frame drops on PC when pressing Y to preview new holes. Still, once I got into the meat of the gameplay, the experience was undeniably enjoyable.

One of the standout updates is the refined EvoSwing mechanic. There are multiple control options available, but using a controller, I found the right-stick method most intuitive—pull down to set up your backswing, then push forward to strike. You can adjust the difficulty to make things forgiving or brutally realistic, where even a slight thumbstick wobble could result in a painful slice or hook. For players who prefer a more relaxed session, the “Perfect Swing” setting reduces the penalty for imperfect inputs, helping maintain flow. Tapping LB also allows shot shaping, giving added control over ball trajectory. HB Studios claims improved ball physics, and I appreciated the ability to shift laterally on the tee box to adjust for obstacles—like a tree slightly blocking my preferred drive path. Starting off as Tiger Woods, this year’s cover athlete, didn’t hurt either.

Meanwhile, MyCareer mode has received a narrative-driven boost, borrowing mechanics from other popular sports games. During my session, I was offered a movie role alongside Christopher “Shooter McGavin” McDonald—who makes an appearance in the game, though not as his famous Happy Gilmore character due to licensing restrictions. Choosing to play hero or villain affected which stats got a boost. Gear unlocked through VC earnings also impacts performance, and skills can be upgraded through continued play and victories. New to the mix are Quests, offering broad, refreshable goals such as landing 10 consecutive birdies.

As for MyPlayer, while I didn’t spend much time building a digital clone of myself, tinkering with the player creator was intuitive and allowed me to get fairly close to a recognizable likeness. The addition of skill trees adds depth and is a welcomed enhancement. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test the multiplayer features, which include ranked matches and cross-platform Societies—akin to clubs or groups. Having fond memories of casual online rounds in Links 2004 on the original Xbox, I’m hopeful that PGA Tour 2K25 will recreate that same vibe—and maybe even improve upon it. Asynchronous multiplayer support is also a nice touch for those whose friends live across different time zones.

All in all, PGA Tour 2K25 is a bit tricky to preview because it does so many things well without really excelling in one area that screams “must-buy.” But for golf enthusiasts and anyone looking for a relaxing yet deep sports sim, it looks like a solid investment. Better yet, you don’t have to take our word for it—a playable demo is now live, letting you try before you buy.