PGA Tour 2K25: Where Every Swing Is a New Heartbeat

Between the backswing and the follow-through, a moment in PGA Tour 2K25 exists where it stops being a form of entertainment made by code and pixels on a screen but morphs into something alive that even consumes you. The controller buzzes in our hands, the wind whispers through the pines, and the princess is no longer leading a different castle, Button Masher. You are no longer mashing buttons but gaming with 2K in one of the best sports games published recently.

This is more than an improvement. This is a shift. The most recent instance I experienced this amount of stress in a sports sim was during my first time playing PGA Tour 2K23, where I drove my golf ball into a water hazard at TPC Sawgrass, watching it sink to the bottom while my friends laughed uncontrollably. But PGA Tour 2K25? It's deeper, it's meaner, it's beautiful. And if you're not cautious, it might shatter you into pieces.

The Swing Stick: An Apology for Those Who Enjoy Self-Harm

Let's discuss PureShot, the new swing mechanic that introduces either the best moment in virtual golf or the moment you resort to throwing your console out the window. The era of gamers mindlessly pressing the power swing button is over. Now, everything is controlled by tempo. Too much power? Your ball gets sent off into the rough with the energy of a drunken squirrel. Too much time on the downswing? Enjoy bunting a 7-iron 50 yards.

This is something that I found out the hard way during my first Ranked 1v1 Match. My PGA Tour 2K25's opponent, some demon with a username like xBirdieMachinex, was able to land all of the greens, and I was flailing like a toddler with a plastic club. The Swing Stick doesn't forgive. It doesn't forget. And when you finally nail that perfect tempo, when you feel the vibration feedback synch with your rhythm and the ball launches like it's being shot from a railgun, that is pure bliss.

• Pro Tip: If things are becoming extremely difficult, temporarily switching to 3-Click Swing might help. They're like training wheels but don't get too habitable. The beauty and suffering lie within the Stick.

Augusta National: A Masterclass in Digital Seduction

The Master is now fully licensed for the first time, and what an entrance it is. When approaching the 18th fairway at Augusta, the sunlight dappling through the Georgia pines, I actually paused my round to soak it in, probably like all players who buy PS5 sports games. The burst of the bunkers like crushed velvet and the roar of the crowd as you get ready to take a putt is the closest most people will feel to experiencing the true thing.

But do not allow the picturesque views to deceive you. This golf course is sadistic. The smooth greens punish lazy reads, and the notorious Amen Corner (holes 11-13) will bring down even the most arrogant of players. I lost three balls in Rae's Creek before I cowardly decided to lay up. Some battles just aren't worth the trouble.

The Grind: Ranked Mode & the Art of Suffering

This is where PGA Tour 2K25 distinguishes between the weekend golfers and the lunatics. The new Competitive Golf system feels like a Dark Souls boss rush. Advancing through the tiers in 1v1 or 2v2 matches (Swing Stick only because 2K caters to casual haters) comes with a feeling that fulfills the soul of every player. Each promotion feels like a celebration, while every demotion turns into a crisis.

In Tuesday Silver III, I lost an entire evening after getting into a bogey war of attrition. Then, after another loathsome endeavor, I managed five perfect drives in a row and got my Gold promo. Then, I had to make sure I celebrated immediately by three-putting the subsequent hole. Virtual golf is no exception when it comes to cruel mistresses.

• Pro Tip: The pain is far less excruciating if it's someone you know, so try Private Matches with friends first.

Where the Cracks Start to Show

One of the most highly-rated games of the year, PGA Tour 2K25, has its flaws too. Even though the commentary received some TLC, it still struggles with some elements, such as providing direction. There's a moment where the commentator chimes in, “What a great shot!” even when the player's ball is heading straight into a glittering lake and is stuck in an awkward animation. At times, character models move as if they were just exhumed, and their celebrations seem to be awkwardly and crudely animated.

This one goes out to put. The new "putting green" system, or as I like to call "TrueGreen," should make reading greens a bit easier; however, on faster greens, it plays out like trying to stop a marble on a trampoline. Not to mention, I've witnessed multiple two-footers lip out. In addition, I do not like that it's not available to players who buy cheap PS4 games or Xbox One - this game is available only for PC, Series X, and PS5.

Raving Review: It's The Best Yet Worst Golf Game A Simulator Fan Could Match With.

PGA Tour 2K25 wasn't just designed to be a game—it's an obsessive-compulsive tendency waiting for you to pick up the controller. It's the unnerving sensation of palms sweating on a downhill putt and the anger one feels after dropping a perfect drive only to find it gets knocked out of bounds.

If you seek anything closer to an arcade experience, definitely check out other titles. However, if you want the most accurate simulation of golf in digital form—warts and all—this is the title for you. Just don't come crying to me when you wake up at three in the morning repeating, "One more round."

Final Score: 9/10 – A near-perfect game that's beautiful and brutal at the same time. I'll take that score, thank you, and now please excuse me while I go ice my thumbs.