TopSpin 2K25 Review — A Perfect Ace?

TopSpin 2K25 has been long overdue, throwing its racket into the court of the tennis-sim genre that has been pretty quiet as of late. While it does have some shortcomings in minor areas, it’s a confident, enjoyable, and unique tennis game that will appease fans who appreciate the stars, culture, and nuances of the sport.

One thing TopSpin 2K25 delivers is a new feel. While previous games and other entries into the genre (like that of Virtua Tennis, AO Tennis, and others) feel a little more arcade-y, TopSpin 2K25 fully embraces the simulation element, making shots, placement, and timing feel more technical. It’s still incredibly easy to pick up and play, but there’s a layer of depth to the timing of shots that can result in a perfectly placed point-winner or a duff shot that just clears the net.

And due to this, getting your player into the right position to deliver a great shot is more important than ever. There’s some AI assist and silky automated animations to help your character pull off a spectacular return, but you feel a lot more in control of how those shots are executed. The game introduces a timing mechanic that sees an accuracy bar appear just before each shot. If you can get the button press correctly, your shot will be sharper, better placed, and more powerful. Anticipating this and mastering it feels more akin to the real-world sport, and those players whose timing is on point will find this a great addition.

The MyCareer mode of TopSpin 2K25 is where you’ll likely be spending most of your time with the game, and thankfully, there’s a lot to sink your teeth into. After creating your own unique character, you’ll have to fight your way up the tennis ladder, going from small matches to key tournaments around the world. Managing your player is also part of the gig though, and you’ll have to earn money in order to buy new gear and rackets, hire coaches, and even purchase houses around the world which can help reduce fatigue from travelling.

In terms of real-world licenses and likenesses, TopSpin 2K25 features all the big tournaments you can think of: the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, US Open, and Wimbledon, to name a few, along with their trademark grass, asphalt, or clay courts. Each iconic venue has also been meticulously recreated to capture the crowd and atmosphere of the real-world setting.

While the venues look great, the players and supporting character models can be a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the pros look pretty spot-on, while some have that uncanny valley, dead-in-the-eyes look. They all have the correct body proportions and iconic attire, but there’s just something off about their faces, and while it doesn’t break the immersion fo the game, it does remind you that it is, well, a game.

TopSpin 2K25 also features a pretty comprehensive multiplayer component, with a suite of modes available, all of which include day-one cross-play support for various platforms which is an awesome touch. You can also compete in daily, weekly, and monthly challenges to earn rewards, while you compete in ranked and unranked matches.

Verdict

It’s been a 13-year wait since the last entry into 2K’s beloved tennis franchise, but TopSpin 2K25 has launched us back onto the virtual court for another round of acing, smashing, and slicing action, and while it does have some rough edges, it’s still easily the best tennis sim around.

TopSpin 2K25 is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PC.