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PGA Tour 2K23 Review

December 19, 2022

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A new season of golf awaits with PGA Tour 2K23 with a range of courses, game modes and golf pros. With an enhanced career mode and special events featuring real-world pros, this is sure to be a top choice for virtual golfers. Grab your clubs and let’s hit the links – it’s time to put PGA Tour 2K23 through its paces.

PGA Tour 2K23 details

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PS5 and Xbox Series X and PC
Reviewed on: Xbox Series X
Developer: HB Studios
Publisher: 2K Games, 2K Sports
Genre: Sports, Simulation
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

PGA Tour 2K23 Overview

With PGA Tour 2K23, HB Studios and 2K Games have once again delivered an impressive golfing experience. The game introduces a new 3-click swing option, new playable pros, Topgolf Mode, and 3 additional licensed courses. The new greens each have their own unique hazards to test your skills. Additionally, there are also enhancements and expanded features added to MyPLAYER customization and flight physics. Overall, it’s a very compelling package that will keep golf sim fans occupied for hours.

MyCareer Mode

The career mode returns letting you create your own golfer and take them from unknown to all-star in pursuit of the FedEx Cup. You can customize your character with new clubs, apparel, expressions and more. There is even a hockey stick shaped putter that gives a nod to the 1996 golf comedy classic film Happy Gilmore.

In addition to offbeat accessories, you can select from a variety of playstyles, while the career mode offers up all sorts of challenges to test your skills on the green. The FedEx Cup is the ultimate goal, unfortunately, this leaves many other major events like the US Open and The Masters absent from the game. On the plus side, there are plenty of tournaments and special events to compete in along the way. It is a shame to see some of the biggest tournaments and courses synonymous with pro-golf missing from the game.

PGA Tour 2K23 gameplay

The game offers up a realistic golfing experience from tee-off to the final hole. You’ll need to select the right club for each shot, taking into account power and accuracy – as well as the wind direction and strength. The game does a great job of conveying a sense of realism with detailed courses (complete with physics-based water hazards), and intuitive controls. PGA Tour 2K23 takes a simulation approach to golf, meaning it can take some time to master its mechanics. Thankfully, there are several difficulty levels to choose from, so even beginner players can find a suitable challenge.

3-click swing

The new 3-click swing system offers a lot more technicalities to your swing, but offers improved accuracy and power when you can master it. The learning curve is quite steep and I often found myself reverting to the analog stick swings after a few holes. It is nice to have access to the new 3-click swing system, but it may not be for everyone.

New playable pros in PGA Tour 2K23

In 2K23, players can now choose from an expanded roster of PGA Tour pro golfers, with Tiger Woods being the biggest headliner this year. The series is also debuting female pros in-game, so players can now choose from over 14 male and female professionals including Justin Thomas, Lexi Thompson, Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau, Lydia Ko, Collin Morikawa, Will Zalatoris and Brooke Henderson. In an added twist NBA icons Michael Jordan and Steph Curry are also available as playable characters. Unfortunately, MJ and Curry are only available via side modes and versus play, limiting how often you can play as them.

Topgolf and casual modes

This year 2K23 features Topgolf Mode, which allows players to experience the same gameplay as the popular golf entertainment phenomenon. If you are unfamiliar with how it works in real life, players aim for targets and try to earn the highest score. I enjoyed this addition and found it a great couch co-op mode to play with friends when you needed a quick golf fix. In addition, multiplayer mode Divot Derby and three-hole matchmaking are back to keep entire crews of players competitive with their friends as well as other players from all around the world.

Course designer returns in 2K23

The Course Designer returns in full force, giving players the ability to construct their fantasy fairways and share them with others from all around the world. The newest version of the mode includes updated UI, tools and visuals, making it more accessible than ever. I found the menu system well organized and easy to navigate and was pleased with the range of options available to create a course. From elevations, textures, and building water features, players have access to a plethora of architectural and landscaping options. Whatsmore, these are available from the start and not locked behind a paywall or progress grind, which I thought was a nice touch.

PGA Tour 2K23’s graphics and audio performance

Visually, PGA Tour 2K23 looks as good as ever – bringing realistic courses and detailed 3D models to life on the links. The presentation unfortunately is a little bland, with flawed commentary and cutscenes that didn’t properly encapsulate the action. For example, the TV packages didn’t always follow the ball and focused on the golfers instead. The commentary also didn’t always match the on-screen action and miss called the direction of the ball. That being said, I did find some aspects of the audio enjoyable, like the background noises and the sound of golf clubs connecting with balls really enhanced the atmosphere. Music is also featured in-game and I found it quite enjoyable, although the soundtrack could be more varied outside of classical music.

Overall thoughts on PGA Tour 2K23

In conclusion, PGA Tour 2K21 is a welcome addition to the series. It offers an immersive golf experience focusing heavily on simulation, giving players access to multiple courses and difficulty levels to challenge their skills. With improved visuals, new modes such as Topgolf and returning Course Designer. PGA Tour 2K23 presents something for everyone — whether you’re a novice or an experienced golfer. While some elements can feel a bit unpolished, there’s no denying that 2K23 provides hours of fun on the green. All in all, this game is worth picking up and will provide an enjoyable experience for golf fans alike. So grab your clubs and hit the links with PGA Tour 2K23!

+ Topgolf Mode is a great addition to the series
+ You can play as pro golfers like Tiger Woods now
+ Course Designer returns with more options

-Many similar courses to PGA 2K21
-Three-click golf system overcomplicates the formula
-Some elements are unpolished like cut scenes and commentary