EA Sports PGA Tour

Featuring deep swing mechanics and incredibly detailed courses, EA Sports PGA Tour sets a new gold standard for golf games. The title is every bit as deep as one wants it to be, with RPG elements that encourage replayability and self-improvement.

62%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

stability, optimization

53% User Score Based on 2,121 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 23 reviews

Platforms

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About

EA Sports PGA Tour is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with a kids theme. It was developed by Electronic Arts - Tiburon and was released on April 6, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR, "Home of the Majors," invites you to experience the thrill of professional golf at prestigious championship courses. Compete in virtual versions of golf's most esteemed tournaments, showcasing authentic recreations of the Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open Championship, and The Open Championship. Swing for glory and build your reputation in this immersive, realistic golf simulation.

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53%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,121 reviews

gameplay122 positive mentions

stability156 negative mentions

The game features absolutely beautiful courses and great gameplay mechanics that provide a realistic golf experience.
The career mode is engaging and offers a solid structure for progression, allowing players to build their golfer's skills over time.
The graphics are stunning, with impressive attention to detail in course design and environmental effects.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including frequent crashes, especially during critical moments like playoffs in career mode.
The user interface is clunky and unresponsive, making navigation frustrating and often leading to freezes.
The requirement for an always-online connection severely limits gameplay options, especially for single-player modes.

gameplay
370 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The gameplay of EA Sports PGA Tour has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the swing mechanics and overall challenge, while others criticize performance issues, bugs, and a frustrating microtransaction model. While some find the mechanics intuitive and rewarding, others describe them as clunky and inconsistent, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game offers a visually appealing and potentially enjoyable golf simulation, but technical issues and gameplay mechanics detract from its overall quality.
- “From the very first tee-off, EA Sports PGA Tour seduces you with lush greens, whispering fairways, and the kind of smooth mechanics that make every swing feel intimate.”
- “The swing mechanics are easy to learn and you can get good results quite quickly, even if you're a golf gaming novice.”
- “The gameplay is solid, but this game was 100% not ready for release.”
- “Too bad, I wanted to play these courses but I can't stand the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay and mechanics are ridiculously unrealistic.”
- “The swing mechanics are terrible and laggy/jittery.”
graphics
354 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
51%
9%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning course visuals and overall graphical fidelity, often described as the best in any golf game to date. However, several users report significant issues, including graphical glitches, stuttering, and subpar character models that detract from the experience. While some players find the graphics immersive and realistic, others criticize them as outdated or poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience.
- “Graphically, EA Sports PGA Tour is best-in-class.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and it really feels great.”
- “The graphics are excellent, gameplay is very good, good selection of courses and modes.”
- “The graphics are outdated, controls are clunky and inconsistent.”
- “The graphics look horrible.”
- “The graphics are subpar for 2023.”
stability
159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent freezes, crashes, and various technical glitches affecting gameplay and menus. Many players describe it as an "absolute buggy mess," making it nearly unplayable despite some acknowledging moments of smooth performance. Overall, the game's stability issues significantly detract from the experience, leading to frustration and disappointment among users.
- “I have played all the related Battlefield titles, and the engine still looks and runs great.”
- “The game itself runs great on my rig, and I've only noticed two bugs, neither of which hurt the gameplay.”
- “Runs great at any setting I try, although the GPU gets a bit toasty at 80°C under full load.”
- “The game is unplayable... despite all troubleshooting measures the game freezes on the loading screen. Not really surprised considering it's an EA game and EA has become trash in general.”
- “This game is a buggy mess. I really want to like this game, it has the potential, but currently it is a buggy mess.”
- “The program freezes/crashes all the time and I have to restart my PC every time; it's just unplayable.”
optimization
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
46%
41%
The game's optimization for PC has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, even on high-end systems. Users describe it as a poorly executed console port that struggles with performance, requiring significant adjustments to settings for a playable experience. While some players have managed to achieve stable performance, the general consensus is that the game is not well-optimized and requires urgent fixes to address its numerous technical issues.
- “The gameplay, graphics, and performance are easily matched or surpass this game and a much more pleasurable gaming experience in my humble opinion.”
- “Despite sluggish character creation buttons, and sometimes getting stuck at random menus, it's still a great game, and I have no problem with performance. I've played the 2K21 and 2K23 series on my 5-year-old laptop; there are some random FPS drops, but the FPS seems to be stable in EA Sports PGA Tour and with smoother graphics. Well done.”
- “I'm definitely enjoying the very dynamic career path you can take your player down depending on performance, and being able to take a strategic approach between deciding to go direct to the PGA Tour or going to Korn Ferry first if you win at Q School.”
- “It's just not optimized for PC.”
- “This game is a bad port and horribly optimized for PC.”
- “Absolutely horrible optimization.”
monetization
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
27%
64%
The monetization model in this game has been widely criticized for its heavy reliance on microtransactions, which many players feel detracts from the overall experience. Users express frustration over the pay-to-win elements and intrusive advertisements, especially given the game's high price point. Overall, the consensus is that the monetization strategy feels like a cash grab, undermining the game's potential and community trust.
- “This game is worth $30 new... maybe... not the gouged $70 they are charging, not to mention the in-game purchases (which I would avoid at all costs).”
- “Arbitrary progression and shot mechanics that are trying to push you to microtransactions and daily challenges that 95 percent of progression is locked behind.”
- “Most actual upgrades are locked behind enhancement items, which drives you towards microtransactions, of course.”
- “It's hard to know how to get better equipment/skills without microtransactions.”
- “The monetization is also quite annoying, but to be expected from this era of EA and games in general.”
- “Not only is this a huge disappointment for a long-time golf player, but for the high price of the game, this seems more like a cash grab from EA rather than an actual attempt to learn from their previous mistakes in golf games or even listen to community suggestions.”
story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
71%
18%
The game's story aspect is widely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with players noting that the career mode feels devoid of personality and meaningful narrative. Many find the quest system frustrating and buggy, often failing to track progress accurately, which detracts from the overall experience. While there are opportunities for upgrades and challenges, the absence of dynamic storytelling and rivalries leaves players feeling disconnected from their in-game journey.
- “There is good stuff to unlock via the story mode for upgrades.”
- “Challenges, quests, and tournaments also make this game great to play.”
- “The quests are comprised of winning tournaments, sponsorship challenges, and going through coaching, which I would personally recommend playing through first and foremost anyway, as the coaching mode will give you some great insight into how to play the game.”
- “There are no real rivalries, player interviews, or dynamic storytelling.”
- “- Career mode lacks story and personality.”
- “There's no story in career mode.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
95%
Overall, the grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews. While some players find the leveling-up process manageable and smooth, many criticize it as tedious and overly grindy, particularly in career mode where rewards feel insufficient and often push players towards microtransactions. The necessity to grind for credits and upgrades can lead to a stagnant experience, making it a significant point of contention among users.
- “The leveling-up isn't too grindy.”
- “I appreciate that the grind feels rewarding and not tedious.”
- “The progression system strikes a perfect balance, making grinding enjoyable.”
- “Career mode progression is lackluster, and the shop and rewards for grinding are not worth it.”
- “The whole system is just one giant tedious grind unless you shell out gobs of cash from your pocket.”
- “Payouts for anything are too low, making it way too grindy.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and occasionally buggy, leading to a frustrating experience. While the original soundtrack is deemed fitting for the game's atmosphere, it lacks variety and can feel cheap, especially in menu screens. However, some users appreciate the cinematic quality of the music during gameplay, likening it to a real TV broadcast, though many prefer to mute it entirely to enjoy other audio content.
- “The music and the commentary almost makes me feel as though I'm watching a real TV broadcast.”
- “Music and scenery are really good!”
- “The cinematics, the commentary, and the music when playing in a full 4-round masters tournament definitely has the same prestige you feel when watching it on TV.”
- “The OST is quite fitting but very repetitive, so when completing the aforementioned challenges, you hear the same music again and again (which also bugs out a lot of the time, meaning it doesn't play at all, or plays multiple songs all at once).”
- “Weird, not catchy music with a cheap feeling.”
- “It also lacks good menu music; it's just the same song or melody over and over again.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in clunky mechanics and bizarre design choices, such as the dreadlock customization. While some aspects are genuinely funny, like the ball mechanics and character selections, the overall experience is marred by frustrations that lead to laughter rather than enjoyment. Players express a sense of irony in their enjoyment, often laughing at the game's shortcomings rather than its intended humor.
- “The funny thing is it wasn't like this at launch.”
- “The ball mechanics are laughable; I actually found myself laughing at how far the ball carries in the rough and fairway.”
- “- 8 of the 22 playable starter pros are in LIV, which is hilarious.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The game's replayability is enhanced by various modes and numerous courses, offering significant value for players. However, the lack of custom course creation may deter some creative players. Overall, the addition of new mechanics and ongoing updates suggests a promising future for replayability.
- “The different modes and loads of courses give a lot of replay value.”
- “Huge career and challenge paths, and infinite replayability.”
- “Notably, there’s no custom course creation, which limits long-term replayability for creative players.”
- “This game has excellent potential and the roadmap for the game keeps the replay value somewhat high.”
- “But all said and done, it's a fun game and in a few months they will figure their stuff out and fix the PC version so it is more playable.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its lush and vibrant course designs, with detailed player models and organic weather effects that enhance immersion. Players feel a strong connection to the environment, with specific holes evoking strong emotional responses. Overall, the visual and atmospheric quality is considered exceptional, contributing significantly to the gaming experience.
- “Augusta, in particular, is a masterclass in digital course design—lush, pristine, and atmospheric.”
- “Player models are highly detailed, course environments are vibrant and atmospheric, and weather effects—like wind and cloud cover—feel organic and impactful.”
- “Visually and atmospherically, this game is fantastic.”
- “The commentary, though repetitive, is high-quality and adds to the atmosphere.”
- “You feel the course, the elevations, the atmosphere, the ground.”
- “The courses are very well done as far as looks and atmosphere; hole 16 at Scottsdale gives me goosebumps.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for its poor design and inconsistencies, with players expressing disappointment over the lack of depth and quality in character art. While the gameplay and courses are praised, the cosmetic microtransactions do little to enhance the overall character experience, leaving players wanting more.
- “Really good golf, gorgeous courses (39 of them), poor character design and microtransactions (only cosmetics though) leave you wishing for more.”
- “And as an aside, I know game art/character design will be low on some users' lists, but seriously, the character art inconsistencies make me embarrassed. Altering a hairstyle can sometimes result in your character's forehead being twice as large, lol.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express strong emotional responses, particularly feelings of anger, which drive them to engage more deeply with the content. This suggests that the game effectively evokes intense emotions, prompting players to reflect on their experiences.