A new entry in the Topspin series has finally happened after 13 long years. Yet wildly, after all this time Novak Djokovic is still the world’s number one men’s tennis player, just like back then. This fact perfectly encapsulates TopSpin 2K25: the more things change, the more they stay the same. The formula for the game was not broken 13 years ago, so they did not try to fix it. However, the game finds itself lacking in some other areas.

My first thought when loading up TopSpin 2K25 on PlayStation 5 for the first time was: “That’s meant to be Roger Federer?” It did look like him, but given the available hardware, I expected more than players who looked like wax figures with hair from games from 13 years ago; especially since this is a game made by the devs who made the Mafia games. However, with that in mind, close-ups of the players do not occur that often. While they are building out the playable pro roster, not having Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal on release is a missed opportunity, the two will go down as some of the all-time greats. With Novak Djokovic having won the most Grand Slam Tournaments ever, it’s certainly an odd choice.

The tutorial in the form of Topspin Academy is a great tool to learn how to play the game. It gives you a training video to watch before letting you loose on the courts to practice what you have just learnt, with the ability to go back and rewatch the training videos. But I found the coach in John McEnroe to quickly get on my nerves with the almost constant reminders on how to time the shots. He was quickly met with me screaming “I’m trying, okay!” Before finally being muted in the settings. Regardless, new and returning players to the game should spend a while in this mode as they get the basics down pat.

Playing the tournaments is self-explanatory. Various tournaments from around the world are available to play, and winning them unlocks those venues for use in exhibition modes, though some are only unlocked by winning men’s or women’s tournaments. One little thing I liked when making my created player is the ability to give your player prosthetic arms and legs, which is a nice bit of inclusivity. Perhaps we will see wheelchair tennis in a future game.

Online has much the same game modes as offline, offering a ranked tour, exhibition matches and tournaments. Trying to find games was a bit of a chore and then once in them I often found myself outclassed by those who took to the game quicker than me. Finding a season pass and microtransactions available with the in-game shop was a surprise, as the game already gives you plenty of premium currency just by playing. There are items available in the shop for free, but including trophies for making your first purchase using the currency, and another for spending over 3000 of it, sends a shadier message.

But there is no other mode to play, which in a sports game in 2024 is rare. Testing yourself against greats like John McEnroe and Andre Agassi is strangely locked behind MyCareer when it could be a mode all in itself. To the credit of Hangar 13 and 2K, there is not a lot you can do with tennis to flesh out the game, it is not like they can add a MyGM mode like in NBA2K or MLB The Show. Perhaps a dedicated doubles career mode would add something else to the game, but they are limited in what they can do compared to a team sport.