Top Spin 2K25 review: After a 13-year hiatus the popular tennis gaming franchise is back, providing a smash hit for familiar players and newcomers

Spring time is here. The days are getting longer. And the gaming world welcomes a new tennis game.

Top Spin are back with the fifth iteration of their popular franchise in the guise of Top Spin 2K25.

It's been 13 years since Top Spin 4 was released and for many tennis gaming fans, nothing has come close since.

However, Top Spin 2K25 provides a clean winner.

Admittedly, this writer is accustomed to the Top Spin mechanics - having played its predecessors - and it was lovely to see the main controls haven't changed too much.

But do not fear if you are a beginner to the game as the controls are self-explanatory and you have tennis legend John McEnroe on hand to fine-tune your game.

McEnroe's guidance comes in the shape of the TopSpin Academy - one of several game modes that it provides. This mode leads players through Basic Lessons (demonstrating fundamentals in positioning, timing and shot selection), followed by Advanced Lessons (teaching power serves, lob shots and more), as well as Playstyle Lessons (showing off strengths and weaknesses of various playstyles).

It provides a welcome refresher for experienced users and a brilliant tutorial for those who are new to it.

Timing is everything with the game, something you are constantly aware of with every shot courtesy of the timing bar, with this writer's biggest struggle proving to produce big booming and accurate serves out wide or down the tee.

Where the game does serve up aces is in its realism when it comes to the gameplay and authenticity.

Beginning with the former, having played several exhibition matches on Hard (there are six levels: very easy, easy, normal, hard, very hard and legendary - which is unlockable) it felt like you were playing on court - such was the grind.

The AI provides a worthy opponent, playing on their character's strengths and making you work out the puzzle to defeat them.

A brilliant characteristic too is the stamina. During a long rally you and your opponent's will deteriorate and this will prove pivotal in the accuracy of your shots. If you're running around the baseline constantly, you're more likely to hit a shot out. You will also see that weariness on the player too - with an increase of sweat visible.

That visual aspect is one dynamic that enhances the aspect of Top Spin 2K25, which is where the authenticity aspect comes in.

In total there are 48 different courts to play on - including the four official Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open) and all nine ATP Masters 1000 venues. In addition, all outdoor venues offer three different times of day to play, including nighttime matches, which provide a different feel when playing.

The realism aspect of Top Spin 2K25 is further enhanced by the roster of players available. There are 25 pros to choose from the past and present. The latter includes Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Frances Tiafoe Andy Murray, Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu to name a few. While legendary figures such as Roger Federer, Serena Williams, McEnroe and Steffi Graf.

'I am honoured to be a part of TopSpin 2K25. Seeing myself in the game is a really cool experience and the attention to detail is incredible,' Raducanu said of her inclusion. 

'I think TopSpin 2K25 captures the excitement and challenge of playing tennis, bringing it to life for fans of the sport everywhere!'

If there is one criticism from the game it would be a preference for an ever wider roster of players available to choose from. There are some obvious names missing such as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur that would add gravitas. Understandably, the licensing of players and their likeness is an expensive one but it's something that would be desirable - especially when you take in that any other sporting game usually has a full selection of players and teams to choose from.

A wider range of players would be handy too for the career mode, but that mode has plenty to immerse yourself in - including the numerous items of kit you can earn to deck yourself out in adidas, Asics, Nike, Wilson and more.

In order to be able to buy those items, you have to spend virtual currency (VC) - which you earn by playing any game mode. Speaking of which, it's probably time to get back on the virtual court and practise those serves...