PGA Tour 2K25: The Best Golf Game in a Decade, Undermined by Exploitive Tactics and Greed

I’ve always had a soft spot for digital golf. Seriously, I’m so into it that I’ve got a Golden Tee arcade setup right in my living room. Growing up, EA’s Tiger Woods games were my chill-out zone. Whenever I needed a break, I’d sink into one of those games. Now, as an adult with a neglected set of golf clubs gathering dust in the garage—because who has the time these days?—I’ve started to wonder if a solid golf video game might just be the perfect escape.

When I stumbled upon PGA Tour 2K25’s release, I thought it might fill that void. I thoroughly enjoyed 2K’s previous golf sim, so I chose to stick with them instead of venturing into EA’s territory. With a decisive nod to nostalgia and curiosity, I fired up Steam and went all in on the Premium Edition, getting a jumpstart on the action. The initial excitement was palpable.

As memories of the 2021 game lingered in the periphery, I was struck by just how polished PGA Tour 2K25 felt. It’s more refined and user-friendly now, which is a huge perk. The assists system stands out, reminiscent of what you’d find in racing games like Forza Motorsport. It cleverly unites the detailed worlds of simulation and arcade gameplay into a balanced and enjoyable experience.

You see, when you dive into a new, arcade-style game that channels the spirit of the PS2-era Tiger Woods titles, you can expect your custom career player to bank 100% of the experience points per round. Dial back on the features, and the experience points increase slightly, rewarding you for removing certain gameplay assists.

It’s similar to the Forza approach—I can ditch the racing line for more experience in that game; here, I go without aids for crosswinds and swing forgiveness. Driving? No problem, I’m good. Putting? That’s another story. I need all the help I can get once I’m on the green.

After tweaking my game settings, I was raking in 120% of the base experience, and players more adept than I am can earn even more impressive rewards.

Experience points are crucial—they level up your player, unlock rewards, and secure the currency for equipment upgrades. The allure of effortlessly breezing through the game with just enough assists is tempting, though I can opt for reality’s harsher complexities when the mood strikes.

What’s great is that career mode doesn’t force you to slog through every hole. You can tackle a select few, while the AI takes care of the rest, reducing unnecessary stress. But hey, if you want to sink into every single shot, that’s an easy switch away. Off the course, there are training mini-games, press conferences, rivalries—plenty to keep things engaging.

It’s reminiscent of the old golf games I loved—part sport simulation, part pure fun. Golf, as a sport, is pretty accessible. You don’t need brand-new clubs to hit the course with friends. In a video game, though, it’s all about simulating that pro-level experience while keeping things enjoyable and relaxed—without the real-life frustration I often encounter.

But here’s the catch—a pretty big one at that. Underneath PGA 2K25’s inviting façade lies an unsavory feature that came into sharp relief following the game’s initial update.

As you build your custom player, you’ll need currency—earned in-game or bought outright. Want new clubs or stylish gear? That’ll cost you VC. Leveling up your golfer? VC again!

Like many games, you collect and spend currency to advance. It’s standard. But 2K games take it further. Initially, during early access, the VC earning rate seemed fair. Yet, as the game officially launched, a quiet patch reduced this rate significantly.

People on Reddit have crunched the numbers, revealing that ascending to level 99 now takes 214 hours compared to the previous 92. The VC needed for leveling and gear has surged by 60%. The initial grind wasn’t fast, but evidently, 2K decided it wasn’t slow enough to prompt additional spending. They enacted changes quickly, like a kid rushing for candy.

I wasn’t deeply involved in the PGA 2K community, but even I noticed my earnings drop after the adjustment, which sent me down a rabbit hole leading to Reddit and the harsh reality. Steam reviews became brutal, labeling it “predatory.” And truly, it’s disappointing. I’ve got stronger opinions, but they’re probably best left unsaid.

Initially, I was thrilled with PGA Tour 2K25, but this move has soured my experience considerably. The minor gripe of navigating cumbersome menus now pales in comparison to the disheartening, money-led character progression system—better suited for a free-to-play mobile game, where progression feels forever tied to spending money or enduring a grueling grind. Once it felt like pulling teeth to progress—and knowing that it’s designed to coerce cash from my pockets through microtransactions—I’m rapidly losing interest.

Frankly, this kind of nonsense might fly in a gacha game, but not here. People have shelled out over a hundred bucks for this game. Even the basic edition costs a pretty penny. It feels like a bad joke, undermining what could have been the most enjoyable golf game I’ve encountered in years. Like missing an easy putt for a bogey after hitting the green perfectly, 2K crafted something wonderful and then spoiled it at the end. What a pity.