TopSpin 2K25 is here, with 2K reviving the series since the last release back in 2011, TopSpin 4, so it has obviously seen some improvements, and as a tennis simulation series, the courts have never felt more alive. There are 48 courts that will be playable or unlockable from launch, with some of these being original pieces from the developer, Hangar 13, as well as some well-known courts around the world.

The title has 25 playable pros, including the likes of Roger Federer and Serena Williams, but in true form, we are also able to make our own champions, and who knows, you might win that Grand Slam Tournament. I was impressed with MyPLAYER, the character customisation screen, where you can create everything for your own player, right down to your play style, and while I don’t follow tennis enough to know much about play styles, this game has taught me a fair bit.

I’m not the type of person who spends a lot of time creating my characters, and I don’t care much for what they look like, but I found myself spending a lot of time in the after-creation section, fine-tuning my player’s attributes with things like power, movement, backhand and forehand, and hiring my personal coach, and of course, you can deck your character out with some big name brands like Nike, New Balance, and Adidas.

Once you have finished the character creation, and if you want to build them from a no-name player into a tennis champion, you can dive into MyCAREER, letting you travel the world to play on some well-known courts. The one that excited me the most was the Rod Laver Arena, based in Melbourne, Australia, and is home to the Australian Open. If you are more into the game, you could be excited to see things like Wimbledon in London, or Roland-Garros in Paris, but the aim of the game is to become the Grand Slam Champion. Have you got what it takes?

I spent most of my time in the Offline Exhibition game mode, practising how to play the game. It’s not simple, and it put me in my place quickly. There were a couple of different variations you could play, such as the standard one versus one game which was great fun, even with the lack of Australian tennis players. You can also do Doubles with AI as your partner, and needless to say, the AI made me look so much better than I actually was.

You also have the option to do singles or doubles in local multiplayer, supporting up to four people. If you are more adventurous, you can jump into an online exhibition that uses a skill-based matchmaking system to determine your opponents. This will also make use of cross-platform play from launch, and multiplayer between friends has been planned for an update shortly after.

This is the first sports title in a long time where I have needed to spend as much time as I could learning the ropes, and this took place in the TopSpin Academy. Here, you are trained by John McEnroe, a former American professional tennis player who was well-known for his shot-making and volleying skills back in the day. I highly recommend the TopSpin Academy for everyone as it teaches you the basics of the game, how to utilise the different shots that come with the game, where you need to be, and the best shots to take. There were a couple of lessons that were frustrating to finish, but that was more a skill issue than anything, and after a little bit of time, I smashed them out.

The lessons were broken down into three sections, starting off with “Basic Lessons” to help you understand shot timing and positioning. The “Advanced Lessons” show you things like serving, lob shots, and power shots, and these took me a hot minute to learn. Playstyle Lessons teach you the different playstyles, such as what is considered a good move or a bad move, and as I mentioned before, I highly recommend everyone to jump in and get these finished. There is a bit to unfold with this title.

We’re starting to see seasonal battle passes in more and more titles, and TopSpin 2K25 is no different with its own. Dubbed the Centre Court Pass, there are two different tiers; free passes, and the Premium Centre Court Pass, which will have two purchasing options; Single Seasons, or the All Access Pass. Each season is going to run for 8-10 weeks, giving players a chance to earn some great current season-themed rewards while volleying their way to the top.

You can unlock things like clothing, equipment, pre-match animations, and even some experience boosts for MyPlayer. Those who decide to purchase the Premium Centre Court Pass will have a few extra cosmetic items they can purchase, while those who buy the All Access Pass will unlock six of the Premium Seasons as well as even more cosmetic goodies.

The 2K Tour is great for the competitive players out there. You select one of the licensed pros in the game and play online, challenging other players with their selected pros. Each day, you’ll be challenged with new objectives to complete and earn points, building your reputation and earning you a spot on the 2K Leaderboard. If you would prefer to put your custom player name on the list, you have the option of taking part in the World Tour, which is basically the 2K Tour, but you can use your own player, and I’ll need to practice a little more before I even look into getting onto the leaderboard.

I’ve never been so frustrated by the controls for a sports game before, but it took me a solid couple of hours to get used to the timing. There is a little to unfold with the controls, and this is why I recommend the TopSpin Academy so much. Press “Y” for a lob shot, “X” for a slice shot, or “B” for a topspin shot sounds incredibly simple, but you also need to remember to move back to centre court in case they power shot one to the opposite corner you are currently at.

I would have loved to see some options to simplify the game a little more, particularly for accessibility, but with TopSpin 2K25 being a simulation, I can understand that they want players to experience the full effect.

Playing TopSpin 2K25 honestly felt like I was watching Tennis on TV. The character models and environmental graphics of the courts are absolutely stunning. The power of Unreal Engine 5 is well and truly showing itself now, and I’m all for it. The fact that it looks like you are watching it on TV is an incredibly immersive experience, and finding it hard to tell the difference between a video game and the real thing is amazing.

The audio in this title brought out my immature side, particularly while I was creating my character. You can select how they grunt when hitting the ball, and me being me, I selected one that sounded like a mental moan, so my character sounds awesome and like they’re ready to be casted. You might see a familiar face in TopSpin 2K25, with Pete Wentz from Fallout Boy being named as the franchise’s first-ever off-court ambassador. He has had a big say in the soundtrack, which surprised me, with songs from artists like Dillon Francis who remixed a song from Fall Out Boy’s latest album, Heartbreak Feels So Good, and there is more to be announced soon, so keep your ears open.

If you love the sport of tennis, or you’re a sucker for any sports game, and you’re looking for something more difficult and closer to a simulation, TopSpin 2K25 might just be the one for you. It’s a great representation of the sport in a digital format, offering a variety of challenging gameplay and rewards.

Written by: Hayden Nelson