The famous tennis game series returns after 13 years: Here’s TopSpin 2k25 

With TopSpin 2K25, 2K Sports announced the return of Top Spin Tennis for the first time after more than a decade of hiatus. The last Top Spin Tennis game was Top Spin 4 from 2011 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii. That game was developed by 2K Czech, while the entry before that, Top Spin 3, was developed by PAM Entertainment before its closure in 2008.

Tennis video game players have been feeling abandoned since 2011. Okay, there was VR Tennis, which gained popularity at a fast pace in the meantime as a simple, stress-free indoor tennis playing option for both beginners and pros who could practice anything from hitting to joyning competitive competitions. The latter are sought-after ATP and WTA Virtual eSport tournaments (Euro Slam, Tennis Canada VR Tournament, Holiday Cup), which are featured on platforms listed as the top online sites in 2024 on Bookmaker-Expert.com. No game has even approached the level of Top Spin 4, which is regarded as the best simulation of the sport played with a small yellow ball, since its introduction. With TopSpin 2k25, the path to a successful comeback to the franchise this year is wide open. Does it possess the capability, though? We provide an answer in our game preview.

Even the most ardent fans didn’t think that Top Spin would return. But the latest installment of the most popular tennis simulation comes as fast as a serve of Ben Shelton: TopSpin 2k25 launches on April 26 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4, giving Deluxe Edition and Grand Slam Edition owners three days’ head start to pre-order. TopSpin Academy and Exhibition were the two game modes that franchise enthusiasts were allowed to try out at 2K preview events. Sufficient to establish an initial viewpoint regarding the gaming experiences offered by TopSpin 2k25.

Federer, Agassi, Roland Garros: Promising content

The statement made by Rémi Ercolani, the game director of the Top Spin 2k25 (as well as Top Spin 2, 3, and 4) developer studio Hangar 13 explains it all: interest in tennis is rising at a time when a fresh crop of players is emerging (we paraphrased). It must be acknowledged that the famous faces are gradually fading away, replaced by the youthful ferocity of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. There’s only one person left from the old “batch”, Novak Djokovic, the greatest player of all time, who sits atop the ATP rankings. But how long will he last? The fact that there are outsiders within the younger generation who are prepared to topple the king is likely what’s causing the sport with the small yellow ball to resurrect.

There are many candidates who we hoped to see in the Top Spin 2k25 final casting, but some amazing names were already there. Serena Williams, André Agassi, Steffi Graf, and Roger Federer are examples of iconic players. Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe, Iga Świątek, and Coco Gauff are positioned next to them; an intriguing line-up that piqued our interest in seeing the other players. This is especially true given that all of the important events appear to be represented when it comes to tournament licensing. Of course, there are the Grand Slam competitions, which include the US Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros, and the Australian Open. Incorporated as well is the Indian Wells, ATP Master 1000, which just concluded in California and falls just below the GS category. The existence of the other eight M1000 contests means that you’re in “tennis paradise”.

The courts really immerse the gamer and are replicated amazingly. We genuinely feel as though we are there! The judgment on player movements supports a further look at these tennis events. Even though the players’ features lacked polishing, it’s still evident that the actors who portrayed their actions did a fantastic job: we can see Tiafoe’s unusual forehand preparation as well as Świątek’s extremely high ball throw. Some players went so far as to capture their own virtual character’s motions on camera. Serena Williams and Roger Federer are two examples of this.

Further on, we could see inconsistent player behavior between points throughout our game experience. Something that can amuse tennis enthusiasts, but isn’t that much disagreeable. Overall, we find these licensed players and venues with unabashed joy (although measured, as the game wasn’t yet in its final edition at the moment).

Most difficult shots require timely hitting the mouse

TopSpin 2k25 already seduces with its form. But what about the basics? Like Top Spin 4, this new iteration of the franchise features the Top Spin Academy: a game mode that, via mini-games, teaches the basics of tennis such as changing sides and positioning. For the more seasoned, advanced lessons on play style will be available in the final version. It’s legendary John McEnroe (also playable) who comments on your progress, recorded expressly for the occasion. Enough to get in shape before going all out on the baseline since, according to our feelings, Top Spin 2k25 imitates what’s done in real-life court: big rallies from the baseline.

To hit your best shots (flat shots, lobs, slices, etc.), you must succeed in pressing the cursor at the right time. The better the timing, the more powerful and precise the shot will be. A timing mechanic that’s tricky to master, its difficulty depends on many factors: good positioning, player fatigue, ball speed, etc. The numerous situations faithfully transcribe their complexity: the volley, for example, is a difficult exercise since the ball often arrives very quickly: it leaves little preparation time for the player. A similar observation can be made for the serve.

Generally speaking, achieving a winning service requires risk, and the aces in a game, aren’t that frequent. This is also the pleasant surprise of TopSpin 2k25, which perpetuates the excellence of Top Spin 4. The frequency with which winning shots, unforced errors, and aces arrive seems to come straight out of a real tennis match. Something that we will still be keen to confirm in the final version.

Note: Seven difficulty levels should be part of the final version. During sessions lasting a good hour, we mainly spent our time on “Difficult” before switching to “Very difficult”. Difficulty levels make the simulation even more real, with more winning shots and fewer long rallies. We express, once again, a reservation regarding the fidelity of the game with regard to direct errors.

Where are emotions?

Overall, Top Spin 2k25 excited us both in substance and form. Yet, it’s an enthusiasm that we keep moderate since there remain many questions to which we’d like to have the answers.

Essential to this type of sports simulation, what about the “Career” mode? Generally speaking, how does Top Spin 2K25 keep the player’s flame alive over a longer period of play?

This last question is all the more noteworthy for the notable absence of any atmosphere during the match: no commentary at the end of the points, no reaction from the crowd, or even exclamations of encouragement from the players. During his video game-related interviews, Ercolani clarified that this was one of the features that the developer teams worked on but which quickly proved to be too demanding to be integrated into the base game.

Final verdict

Despite the fact that there are still some gray areas to be clarified, this new edition of Top Spin has some big racquet assets in hand to bring the game of tennis simulation back to the forefront.

At debut, the game will be offered in three editions. On last-generation consoles, the Standard Edition will set you back $59.99, and on current-generation consoles, the price is $69.99. Next up is the Deluxe Edition, which costs $99.99 and gives you access to the game three days before its official release. It also comes with a variety of in-game perks, such as cosmetics, MyPlayer enhancements, and virtual cash, in addition to the original game.

Lastly, the Grand Slam Edition will come with everything mentioned above along with eight extra cosmetic items, the Grand Slam Champions Pack (which includes the Champion Serve and Championship Racket), and the All Access Pass, which includes six seasons of the Centre Court Pass after launch. It will cost $119.99 at retail.

The editorial unit