PGA Tour 2K21

As A PGA product PGA Tour 2K21 falls a little short, but as a golfing game it's the best in its craft

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"PGA Tour 2K21 Baller Edition offers a premier golfing experience with branded clubs, stylish apparel, and wacky putters. Enjoy post-launch content and a wide selection of gear, though some items require player progression. The Digital Deluxe Edition provides even more value with the Golden Touch Pack."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,090 reviews

graphics514 positive mentions

stability107 negative mentions

The game offers a good variety of offline and online modes, with a strong emphasis on multiplayer gameplay.
The graphics and course design are impressive, providing a realistic golfing experience.
The swing mechanics are intuitive and allow for a satisfying gameplay experience once mastered.

The PGA Tour Mode is frustrating due to forced replays and interruptions, which can break the flow of the game.
There are significant issues with swing timing and consistency, leading to unpredictable shot outcomes.
The game requires an internet connection for career mode, which can be problematic if servers are down.

graphics
990 mentions
52 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the realistic course designs and high-quality visuals, while others criticize them as outdated and lacking depth, often comparing them to older titles. Many players note that while the graphics can be impressive on high-end systems, they still fall short of modern standards, leading to disappointment given the game's price point. Overall, the visuals are seen as decent but not groundbreaking, with room for significant improvement in future iterations.
- “From the stunning graphics to the immersive sound design, every aspect of the game is crafted with care and precision.”
- “The graphics and course design are top-notch, providing a realistic golfing environment that's a visual treat.”
- “The graphics are amazing and the course selection is beyond words.”
- “The graphics are terrible and the golf is worse.”
- “The graphics look worse than the prime era of 2002.”
- “This game is a step back in time, the graphics are 10 years old and look it, the corny commentary had to be muted after only 10 min, its that bad.”
gameplay
854 mentions
38 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of PGA Tour 2K21 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its smooth and intuitive mechanics that cater to both newcomers and experienced players. However, the swing mechanics are frequently criticized for being inconsistent and frustrating, leading to a lack of confidence in shot execution. While the game offers a variety of courses and customizable difficulty settings, some players feel that the overall experience is marred by bugs and a lack of depth in career progression.
- “But what truly sets PGA Tour 2K21 apart is its gameplay.”
- “The mechanics are smooth and intuitive, allowing both newcomers and seasoned pros to pick up a controller and immediately feel at home on the virtual links.”
- “Furthermore: gameplay is tight, difficulty scaling is perfection, the courses are diverse and fun to play, and the multiplayer experience is actually quite varied.”
- “Despite this, I wouldn't be pointing out the graphics if it wasn't for the price tag of $100 along with poor gameplay.”
- “Swing mechanics are completely unrealistic and very gimmicky.”
- “The swing mechanics are about as consistent as a 3-year-old child's swing... tried the calibration 7 times now and there is no true way to figure out how to get a perfect swing.”
stability
123 mentions
8 % positive mentions
5 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users have experienced smooth performance after updates, others have faced frequent crashes, freezing issues, and corrupted save files, leading to frustration. Overall, the game appears to be plagued by stability issues that detract from its potential enjoyment.
- “I don't have an especially powerful PC; it was a decent setup in 2009, but this game runs great on high settings, the default the game set me on.”
- “2nd update: this is a relaxing game (as golf should be) and the video game itself has given me no problems, no glitches, no bugs at any time (I play on Windows 10 with i7-8700 and a RTX 2070).”
- “It runs flawlessly, and to know it runs great at launch is huge.”
- “Game is full of glitches.”
- “It freezes and crashes all the time.”
- “If you want to play multiplayer, good luck getting into a match where the servers don't freeze or people are always getting kicked, and when one player is kicked or disconnected, the game just freezes for everyone else or disconnects.”
monetization
85 mentions
4 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
66 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in this game has drawn significant criticism, with players expressing frustration over excessive ads and intrusive microtransactions that disrupt gameplay. Many reviewers feel that the game is a cash grab, laden with promotional content for other titles and unnecessary splash screens, detracting from the overall experience. While some note a reduction in microtransactions compared to previous 2K titles, the presence of cosmetic purchases and aggressive advertising remains a major point of contention.
- “But the big win for me here is the dramatic dialing back of microtransactions that are so prevalent nowadays, especially in sports games.”
- “As for the microtransactions, it's not very egregious in my opinion.”
- “It also isn't plagued with microtransactions, and the result is a game that, refreshingly, just gets on with it.”
- “On top of all this, they're still trying to get money off people by advertising their other games and deals inside this game, which is already a ripoff.”
- “What I really hate are the 9 splash screens you have to click through and then 2 full-screen ads for 2K23, then another splash screen... then you get to the menu (a very convoluted series of screens) and then maybe you'll get to where you want to be.”
- “This game feels like a cash grab.”
story
56 mentions
25 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect has received significant criticism for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players expressing a desire for a more immersive narrative in the PGA Tour and MyCareer modes. Reviewers noted that the current storylines feel linear, dull, and lacking in replayability, making the overall experience less compelling. While the gameplay itself is praised, the absence of a robust story detracts from the potential enjoyment of the game.
- “I love the game, love the campaign though I wish it was a little more fleshed out with maybe even a small story.”
- “Good graphics, would have liked to see more of a MyPlayer storyline.”
- “It would have also been good to have a proper story mode too.”
- “Fantastic gameplay with a small downside of little to no story in the MyCareer mode.”
- “No secret the game is raw and the story mode is really bland; online matchmaking is buggy and the commentary is atrocious.”
- “There is no real storyline in career mode (thus far).”
replayability
48 mentions
42 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, particularly due to its engaging multiplayer options, user-generated courses, and a robust course designer. Many players find the experience addictive and enjoyable, especially when played with friends, although some critiques mention a lack of depth in certain areas that could diminish long-term replay value. While the career mode offers significant replayability, opinions vary, with some players feeling it may become repetitive over time.
- “Whether you're competing against friends in local matches or taking on rivals from around the globe in online tournaments, the multiplayer component adds endless replay value and excitement.”
- “The course designer and online access to courses from other users is fantastic - gives excellent replayability.”
- “PGA 2K21 delivers a near perfect virtual golf experience with tremendous replay value.”
- “Overall it's a fun game, but it lost some replayability due to the lack of depth in some areas.”
- “The game takes itself way too seriously to offer replayability.”
- “With that being said, this game has very little replayability.”
music
44 mentions
23 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it generic and repetitive, particularly criticizing the lack of variety in the menu music and commentary. While some enjoy the chill experience of turning off the in-game music to listen to their own, others feel that the soundtrack does not compare favorably to earlier PGA Tour games. Overall, there is a consensus that the music could benefit from more tracks and diversity to enhance the gaming experience.
- “Music, commentary, and sound effects are all good.”
- “The graphics, soundtracks, and crowd noise are top notch.”
- “I also think the menu music is brilliant, something I almost universally turn off in almost all games I play.”
- “Same stupid boring menu music continues to play when you finally get a match after waiting a half hour, so if you step away you won't hear anything new until the match is in progress or you get kicked for afk.”
- “The only thing I would like to be able to change is the background music and broadcaster John (commentator); it is really boring having the same music and the same commentator.”
- “Music isn't great and has nothing on the previous PGA Tour games, especially the early 2000s, but the music isn't dreadful.”
humor
42 mentions
95 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely driven by its entertaining commentators, who are frequently described as hilarious and engaging, often providing comedic commentary during gameplay. Players appreciate the inclusion of quirky, humorous characters and items, as well as the amusing situations that arise during multiplayer matches. While some aspects, like outdated graphics and inconsistent mechanics, can be frustrating, they often become sources of humor, contributing to an overall fun and lighthearted gaming experience.
- “Very relaxing game to play, the commentators are hilarious.”
- “The casters are hilarious and will trash you when you deserve it.”
- “It's funny when you're killing it in career mode and then try multiplayer for the first time and you're slicing your shots left and right.”
- “Rich Beem is an unfunny person; he has like one good joke and that's it, while David Feherty was way funnier.”
optimization
38 mentions
16 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as framerate drops and unresponsive AI that fails to scale with course difficulty. While some users noted smooth performance in certain aspects, others criticized the lack of customization options and the game's inability to recognize performance-enhancing tools like Geforce Experience. The consensus suggests that while the game shows promise, it currently suffers from optimization flaws that hinder the overall experience.
- “In those games, the customization was better, and everything from the grip to the head of the club was customizable and had an impact on your performance.”
- “Performance-wise this is the closest thing out there to TW2008.”
- “Game runs smoothly and is nice and stable.”
- “The game looks promising, however it is unplayable with the current performance issues; framerate loss in the middle of a backswing is infuriating.”
- “In PGA Tour mode, AI performance doesn't seem to scale in relation to course difficulty at all.”
- “The optimization is trash.”
atmosphere
22 mentions
55 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its fantastic graphics and cozy, immersive environments that enhance the golfing experience. Players appreciate the realistic elements and presentation style, which closely resembles a live broadcast, contributing to a relaxing and engaging atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully combines challenging gameplay with a captivating ambiance that appeals to both new and returning players.
- “The graphics are fantastic and there are several courses and modifications that make the atmosphere cozy.”
- “A golf game that defines 'atmospheric' with the attachment to the course it brings to the player, as well as incorporating real-life golfing elements very convincingly to the difficulty and fun of each match.”
- “Great atmosphere and it's really relaxing.”
- “The atmosphere and style of the presentation is closer to an actual broadcast than before, though your mileage may vary on the occasionally tiresome lines delivered ad nauseam.”
- “The gameplay was pretty solid, views were pretty great, the field was pretty accurate, and the atmosphere was a little bit realistic, like a golfer would shake her head for a bad shot.”
- “Atmosphere, commentary, cutaways, on-course reporting, etc.”
grinding
17 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed; while some players find it enjoyable and immersive, likening it to the experience of working towards a PGA card, others feel it becomes tedious and repetitive after extended play. Many express frustration with the paywall that restricts access to gear, suggesting that the grind can feel excessive and detracts from overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding aspect can be rewarding for those who embrace it, but it risks becoming a chore for others.
- “I really don't enjoy how much is locked behind a paywall or the time grinding in the game.”
- “After 14 hours of play, it has become tedious, boring, and repetitive already.”
- “All sense of progression is held back by an in-game shop that demands hours of grinding on the player's part or real-life money.”
emotional
7 mentions
71 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The game evokes a strong emotional response, blending heartwarming moments, such as helping a ball prepare for its journey home, with the frustration of near victories in competitive play. Players appreciate the immersive presentation that enhances the emotional stakes, although some criticize the linearity of the storyline as a missed opportunity for deeper engagement. Overall, the emotional highs and lows contribute significantly to the gaming experience.
- “A truly heartwarming game about helping a ball pack its bags and sending it on a safe flight home.”
- “Nothing felt so real and fun but also genuinely emotionally devastating than finally catching the leader in the FedEx playoffs only to hit a slightly too much slow downswing and swim the ball, ending double bogeying myself out of contention.”
- “The presentation is also incredibly impressive, with strong audio and course-mapping that made me feel like I was an actual pro.”
character development
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with players noting that there are no meaningful skill enhancements or growth opportunities for characters, and the focus is primarily on unlocking cosmetic items instead.
- “There is no real character development, where you can work on the skills of your player.”
- “No character development, just unlocking cosmetics.”
- “There is no real character development, where you can work on the skills of your player.”