In the heyday of the tennis simulation video game genre, Top Spin and Virtua Tennis were the best players in the crowded space. However, in the time since the genre's boom subsided, supplies have dropped significantly, with both series going more than a decade without a new release. TopSpin 2K25 heralds the re-emergence of the critically-acclaimed series, and even though it's been a while since it hit the scene, it's clear that the franchise hasn't lost its groove break.
TopSpin 2K25 faithfully recreates the high-speed game of real-life tennis. Position, spin, timing and angle are crucial to your success. For those unfamiliar with those tennis fundamentals, 2K25 does a great job of introducing players to the TopSpin Academy, covering everything from your position to how to play the different styles. Even as someone who has played tennis for many years in both real life and video games, I still enjoy going through more advanced lessons to familiarize myself with different playing strategies.
When you go on the field, you will know how important those strategies are. The margin for error is extremely small, as the difference between a winner at the baseline and a shot into the net is often a millisecond on the new timer. This meter ensures you release the stroke button at the right time when the ball is in the ideal hitting position relative to your player. Mastering this is important, as it not only improves your shooting accuracy but also your power.
TopSpin 2K25 works best when you are in long rallies against an evenly matched opponent. Hit a strong serve to immediately put your opponent on the defensive, then try to take advantage of their poor position as they try to win back the point to effectively capture the thrill of the game in the real world. I also like the distinct feel of each play style in action; a baseline attacker like Serena Williams presents different challenges than a serve-and-volleyer like John McEnroe.
You can hone your skills in one-off exhibition matches, but I spent most of my time on TopSpin 2K25 in MyCareer. Here you create your player, who you will train and climb the ranks. As you complete challenges and win matches, you will increase your status, which will open up new features such as upgradeable trainers, equippable skills, and Houses can be purchased to reduce the loss of stamina when moving. Managing your stamina by taking occasional breaks is essential to maintaining high-level play; Trying too hard can even cause your player to suffer an injury that will sideline you for months.
I loved most of my time in MyCareer, but some design decisions ruined the immersion. For example, I skipped the career goal sections needed to level up my player for hours, so when I was in the top 10 global rankings, I couldn't participate in a Grand Slam tournament because I'm still below my rank. will usually exchange. And since repetition is the path to mastery, it's counterintuitive to assume that repetitive training mini-games offer less benefit, especially since the entire mode is an iterative loop iterations of training, special events and tournaments. Additionally, MyCareer shines a light on the shallow pool of licensed players on offer. Most of my matches took place with generated characters, even lasting for hours. 2K has promised free licensing for professionals in the post-launch period, but for now, the game is lacking top multiplayer.
I was surprised at how simple it was to use VC. In the NBA 2K series, VC, which can be earned slowly or purchased for real money, is used to directly improve your player. In TopSpin 2K25, it is used mainly for secondary upgrades, like leveling up your trainer, moving houses, earning XP boosts, resetting attribute distribution, or purchasing cosmetics. While I'm still not a fan of the microtransactions that plague the single-player mode – especially since that's almost certainly why you need to be online to play MyCareer – it's much more forgiving than Modern NBA mode.
If you want to take on real opponents, you can show off your skills (and the character you create) in a variety of online modes. World Tour pits your created players against others across the globe in various tournaments and leaderboard challenges, while 2K Tour leverages a roster of licensed players with daily challenges days to join. Aside from minor connection hiccups, I had an enjoyable time solving challenges given by other players online. However, World Tour's structure means that despite the game's best efforts, mismatches still occur; There's no fun in playing against a character that was created many levels higher than you. Thankfully, these mismatches are the exception in my experience.
TopSpin 2K25 cleverly brings the beloved series back to center court, showing that not only does the series still have a place, but so does the entire sim tennis genre as a whole. Although its modes are a bit repetitive and lack some of the highlights at launch, TopSpin 2K25 still offers an attractive package for tennis fans.
