PGA Tour 2K25 Shines as the Decade’s Best Golf Game, But is Marred by Unethical Tactics and Greed

I have a bit of a thing for digital golf. In fact, it’s more than a bit—I love it. So much so, I even have a Golden Tee arcade machine at home. Back in the day, EA’s Tiger Woods series was my go-to stress buster during those teenage years. Now, as a grown-up with a sadly neglected set of real golf clubs gathering dust in the garage (life’s busy, you know?), I can’t help but think that a good golf game might just be what I need to fill that void.

When I noticed a gap in my gaming lineup, I thought I’d give PGA Tour 2K25 a shot. I was already impressed with 2K’s initial step into golf sims, so I was curious to see what’s new and improved. Armed with that enthusiasm, I hopped on Steam and splurged on the Premium Edition for some early access action. At first, I was delighted.

Drawing on my somewhat hazy memories of the 2021 version, 2K’s 2025 upgrade is a clear step up. It’s slick and easy to navigate. The assist system deserves a special mention as it cleverly caters to both the simulation nerds and arcade fans alike. It reminded me a bit of the assist options in racing games like Forza Motorsport—cleverly blending realism with fun.

So, if you’re into that arcade vibe reminiscent of the PS2-era Tiger Woods games, you can engage in a highly customizable experience. Your player earns full experience points for each round played. And if you’re keen on a real challenge, you can turn off more features to rack up extra EXP.

For me, it’s the thrill of honing my skills that drives me. Like in Forza, where I opt-out of the racing line for a bonus, here, I turn off assists for crosswinds and forgiving swings—except when it comes to putting, which I’m terrible at. My tweaks earned me 120% of the standard EXP, and I imagine seasoned players would unlock even more.

Experience points are the currency of progress, leveling up your player and unlocking new gear. The game’s approachable nature, paired with the flexibility to intensify the challenge, pulls me in. Career mode, meanwhile, doesn’t push you to play every single hole. Usually, you play a select few, while AI fills in the gaps, but if you’re keen to go hole-by-hole, just change the settings. When you’re not playing, there are mini-games, press conferences, and player rivalries to keep you busy.

This is what I cherish about classic golf games—they’re simulations, yes, but they’re also packed with fun. Real-life golf is pretty accessible, yet the beauty of video game golf is its relaxed, higher-stakes experience—minus the stress. Trust me, real-life golf is a whole different ball game.

Still, there’s a snag. Despite the game’s fine-tuned balance between casual and hardcore play, a dark cloud looms over PGA 2K25, compounded by its recent update.

Specifically, your ‘myPLAYER’ development relies heavily on currency, which can be earned in-game or bought outright. Want new clubs or snazzy attire? You need virtual currency (VC). Boost your player’s skills? More VC required!

Sure, many games involve earning and spending currency—after all, it’s par for the course in RPGs. Selling VC for cash might be a questionable move, but at launch, the rate of earning VC wasn’t unreasonable. However, after its full release, an unannounced patch drastically cut those VC earnings.

Players on Reddit are crunching numbers and revealing that leveling up your avatar now takes between 92 to 214 hours—far from a mild jump. VC costs for leveling up or buying essential tools have surged by about 60%. It seems 2K felt the previous earning rate wasn’t slow enough, so they ramped it up to encourage more spending. The whole thing smacks of greed.

Even I, initially oblivious to the community discontent, noticed a sharp dip in my earnings post-update. Reddit unveiled the grim reality, reflected in increasingly harsh Steam reviews where terms like “greedy” and “predatory” appear frequently. I’d describe it as ‘disgusting,’ but that’s barely printable.

PGA Tour 2K25 was a joy to play initially, but this greed dampened my enthusiasm. Minor niggles I had, like clunky menu navigation, now pale in comparison to a system reminiscent of a free-to-play mobile game—unfortunately echoing grind-dependent monetization.

This exploitative economy is indefensible, especially considering the price paid for this game. Many forked out over a hundred pounds, and the standard version isn’t much cheaper. It’s laughably bad but undermines what is otherwise potentially the best golf game in ages. It’s like 2K crafted a masterpiece only to sabotage it with a cheap trick. What a misstep.