PGA Tour 2K25 first look: Revamped swing mechanics are cool, but the completely new way to rank up MyPlayer and enjoy your career makes this instalment worth the wait

Unlike its NBA and WWE contemporaries, 2K has refrained from dropping a new golf game ever year since they took over the franchise in 2020. PGA Tour 2K25 is their third effort five years in and the leaps forward are excitingly obvious. Tiger Woods may not be the best player in the world anymore (though I'd never publicly allow myself to utter that) but he remains the the greatest and biggest name the sport has ever seen. Thus, his place on the covers of the game still feels right.

While the already strong gameplay has been evolved yet again, the most exciting additions on the surface certainly lie in the new ways to rank up your MyPlayer and enjoy your career or how to create your own course. Mail Sport had the chance to play he game for a few hours a month ahead of it's international release, so let us tell you what we think:. The cover for the standard edition for PGA Tour 2K25, but there are two other covers.

First impressions. As a veteran of a good golf game, I immediately noticed the difference with the new swing mechanics. I upped the difficulty to pro and even playing as Tiger Woods, it was near-on impossible to get the swing totally perfect in the early going. If you play golf, you know that's really how it is! So the improvements feel well made, especially given the stick dynamic became repetitive to some down the years.

What I appreciate most about the 2K generation of these golf games is they keep what works and refine the rest. The course designs and replicas all look amazing as you would expect, but the MyCareer element left a little to be desired on the last iteration. That's not something you expect from 2K. Their NBA franchise is built on their MyCareer, something they've even expanded to open world over the past few years.

Their WWE racket appears to be heading in the same promising direction this year, so I was hoping for a little more from the golf than my players' ability essentially growing dependent on the clubs and gear you have. For anyone who plays Pro Clubs on FIFA, PGA 2K25 now has the tree system for skills and abilities so you can choose how your golfer grows. You want to be a big hitter? Then max up that power! You wanna have an unreal short game? You can sort that out too.

The new way to build up your created player is a vast improvement from 2K23. 2K25 introduces three new championship courses with more set to drop in DLC. It seems you have far more control over how your MyPlayer looks and plays than ever before and the career mode needed that. Couple that with the introduction of The U.S. Open Championship, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship making their franchise debuts and there is already a lot more meat on the bone.

All it really needs is the Ryder Cup to take things to the top level - but we're not there yet. While it doesn't have narratives in the career mode like it's NBA and WWE cousins, the golf itself and the gameplay is arguably the strongest offering this brand has. No complaints at all on that front; whatever your level, you can instantly enjoy this game. What's new?. EvoSwing is the new way to hit the golf ball. New shot types, ball flights, roll physics, and visual improvements spawn from the new system. Playing golf has never felt more realistic, says 2K.

As mentioned above The U.S. Open Championship, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship have arrived for their franchise debuts. The new EvoSwing mechanics make it realer than ever to swing your club. Putting largely remains the same giving players a helping hand to read the green. We know about the new way to rank up your MyPlayer with the new progression system, but in career-mode you can dynamically simulate rounds or play through extra gameplay moments with all-new training and pre-tournament events. For example, you play three or four holes and the game takes that form and simulates the round.

Fire up friendly competition with robust multiplayer match formats including Stroke Play, Match Play, or Scramble–online or locally. Take on Ranked Matchmaking and compete at the top level for Seasonal rewards. You can also challenge your friends and can create your own community of golfers and customise your own entry requirements and events. EvoSwing in action accompanied by the sensational graphics 2K bring to the table.

There are more ways to customise your player than ever before. Designing courses has gone up a gear! Anyone who has played online knows this is one of the most fun elements of the game and 2K gives you more control than ever this year. Design your dream course in the new and improved Course Designer. New tools, surfaces, objects, and a new higher-res terrain system equip you to create even more beautiful courses and, importantly, faster than ever before.