PGA Tour 2K23

PGA Tour 2K23 is a golf simulation from HB Studios that, on Xbox Series X/S, brought the series its first official PGA Tour license along with the likenesses and names of real professional golfers, including famous courses like TPC Sawgrass. The game builds on the swing-control system proven in earlier entries of the series that grew out of the former The Golf Club brand, combining precision with a degree of tolerance for players still learning golf mechanics. The MyPLAYER career mode lets you create your own golfer, upgrade their equipment and sponsorship deals, and gradually climb the tournament rankings, while a sophisticated course editor gives the community the ability to design and share their own golf courses — of which players have created thousands over the series' history, from faithful replicas to fantastical layouts.

On the new generation of consoles, what stands out most are the finely modeled courses with realistic lighting, terrain undulation, and weather conditions that affect ball flight and green behavior just as in reality. A sound design with hushed commentary and the calm atmosphere of golf tournaments does a good job of evoking the feel of watching a real contest on the greens, complemented by more lighthearted side modes beyond classic golf, such as quick tournaments with modified rules or accuracy-driving challenges.

Under the PGA Tour banner, the 2K golf series has gradually established itself as one of the few serious golf simulations on current-generation consoles, where competition among golf titles has remained limited for a long time. For golf fans, PGA Tour 2K23 offers a solid combination of realism and accessibility, though the game will appeal mainly to those with a close relationship to the sport who also want to try designing their own courses or following professional PGA Tour tournaments from the player's own perspective.

Why play it: Players with a close relationship to golf will appreciate PGA Tour 2K23's solid combination of realism and accessibility, plus the ability to design their own courses, in one of the few serious golf simulations on current-generation consoles.