TopSpin 2K25 Review

The sport of tennis has always made quite a pairing with the world of video games, which is why the big void between new entries for the beloved TopSpin series was a big surprise. 13 years is a long wait, but thankfully, Hangar 13 and 2K Games have managed a well-timed reunion with the world of tennis via TopSpin 2K25, even if it is not championship material just yet.

Considering the development team is more well known for making open-world adventure games of a criminal nature with the Mafia series, their efforts are to be lauded when transitioning to the fast-paced and high-stakes arena of professional tennis.

As with many sports games, TopSpin 2K25 is something newcomers can easily get into by chalking up a quick match or two, but the game is filled with intricacies and systems that are to be savored and mastered, making it a worthy investment for an enthusiast of the sport who is once again jumping into the virtual courts after a long time. TopSpin Academy, its lengthy and very educational onboarding mode narrated by tennis legend John McEnroe, does well to teach players the ins and outs of the sport, priming them up for some actual matches.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is surprisingly satisfying, with capable players able to play the court with various shots and techniques, allowing for intense rallies as you switch between controlled and power shots using the timing mechanic. Eking out a win feels as awesome as serving an ace or using power to catch your opponents unaware, just as it should be in the real thing.

Like many of its sports contemporaries, the core of TopSpin 2K25 lies in its MyCareer mode, where players can embark on their journey of greatness starting from the bottom. While the gameplay side of things will get progressively more challenging, especially as you face off against the big-name pros in the more prestigious tournaments, it’s everything outside of the actual playing that will take up most of your time.

A key part of that is the game’s energy system. Every action taken within MyCareer mode tends to sap energy—undergoing training, doing special challenge events, participating in tournaments, and even flying to a new location can reduce your reserves. Furthermore, your career progress is tied to a status tier, so even if you are the world’s top-ranked player, you are still going to have to work on that part of your character, which feels counterintuitive and a way to gate or slow down progress.

When you’ve made your way up the food chain in TopSpin 2K25, you’ll finally get to face off against some of the more recognizable players in the sport. From cover athletes Roger Federer and Serena Williams who you can face in special events, to the likes of Francis Tiafoe, Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu, and much more, the lineup is star-studded but could use more players down the line since there’s a chance you’ll be facing them multiple times.

Rising to the top will require leveling up, and attributes play a big role in molding your player in TopSpin 2K25. There are 8 attributes to choose from like Forehand, Serve, Volley, Stamina, and more, and once again, the energy system rears its head. While it makes complete logical sense to lose energy to train that leads to self-improvement, there’s a real risk of slowing progression down further because of injuries and such, which is always a point of contention from the video game perspective, but less so from a simulation point of view.

Should things go sideways in TopSpin 2K25, players will need to take time off to recuperate, negatively impacting ranking and standings. Simulation-wise, it does sound like something that adds to the whole immersion angle, forcing players to juggle between well-being and chasing the dream just like how the pros do it. There are some elements such as hiring coaches who come with special objectives that reward XP, so these are also welcome avenues to improve performance.

The inclusion of the Centre Court Pass, which functions like tennis’ version of a battle pass, is a nice touch, keeping the rewards coming as you put more time into the game. The various elements all contribute to the feeling that TopSpin 2K25 is always taking two steps forward to hit a well-timed volley, only to have to backtrack to catch a lob. There’s always the online competition to turn to, but that’s a whole other ball game.

While the on-court action is something to be enjoyed, player animations outside of a battle for points are quite limited. Make no mistake, TopSpin 2K25 looks good where it matters, but save for occasions like an extended rally leading to exhausted players, the animation side of things leaves a lot to be desired.

The available number of licensed venues and events in TopSpin 2K25 is sizeable as well. Tennis enthusiasts will recognize the more famous ones like Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, but there’s more than enough to fill the appetite, with the likes of the ASB Classic, Australian Open, Miami Open, Rolex Masters, and more in the mix. All of the stadiums look amazing and serve well to bring Top Spin 2K25 to good graphical heights.

Making an example of the NBA 2K series, there’s always the fear of how its implementation of VC could be offensive, but it’s not quite the case with TopSpin 2K25. There aren’t any real gameplay-impacting purchases to be made, which is always a good sign, and players will mostly be spending their earned currency on cosmetics like outfits, accessories, and much more. VC is almost always something to frown at with these games, but we can breathe a small sigh of relief, at least for this installment, even though the trickle could be a tad bit faster.

Verdict: Wait for it…

It’s been a while since we’ve had a taste of a competent and worthwhile tennis game, and TopSpin 2K25 is a decent offering that will please fans and enthusiasts of the sport. The action is fantastic and suitably technical, and it’s a decent example of how VC can implemented to not fully ruin the experience as compared to more blatant examples in other sports titles, despite the slow drip.

Sadly, the way MyCareer and its progression are structured is not exactly smooth and enjoyable in the long run. While it can be overlooked, being the main mode to play the game on might leave a slightly bad taste.

That said, this outing bodes well for the resurrection of a beloved franchise, and we can only hope for more in the future. Enough to complete a Grand Slam, and then some.

*TopSpin 2K25 was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.