PGA Tour 2K21

PGA Tour 2K21
Cover art featuring Justin Thomas
Developer(s)HB Studios
Publisher(s)2K
SeriesPGA Tour 2K
EngineUnity
Platform(s)Stadia
Microsoft Windows
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
ReleaseStadia, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • WW: August 21, 2020
Nintendo Switch
  • NA: August 21, 2020
  • EU: September 25, 2020
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

PGA Tour 2K21 is a sports video game developed by HB Studios and published by 2K for Stadia, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It is the fourth installment of the PGA Tour 2K series, the first game in the series to be released under the PGA Tour 2K name and the second game in the overall series to be licensed by the PGA Tour.

PGA Tour 2K21 received generally favorable reviews, with critics feeling that the game preserved the realism of its predecessors, while adding more difficulty levels and assists to make it more accessible to a wider audience.

The game has sold around 3 million units, as of May 2022.[1]

Reception

PGA Tour 2K21 received "generally favorable reviews" on all platforms, except for the Nintendo Switch and PC versions which received "mixed or average reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic.[2][3][4][5]

Owen S. Good of Polygon felt that the game addressed almost all of his criticisms of The Golf Club 2019, and that its assists "[gave] me the certainty of knowing that when my shot goes awry, I did something wrong. Moreover, I know what I did wrong, and the game no longer feels arbitrary or punitive."[16]

Tristan Ogilvie of IGN similarly noted that given the reputation of The Golf Club as being an "uncompromisingly hardcore simulation" of golf (to the point that comparisons were made to FromSoftware games), the difficulty modes and assist options allowed players to achieve a more balanced experience. Among criticisms were its "static" environments, a lack of any women's tour or tournament options, such as LPGA events, or any licensed female players (although female golfers can still be created), the included PGA Tour characters not being playable, as well as levelling and rival systems that felt "arbitrary". In conclusion, it was felt that the game as a whole was the "most flexible and enjoyable golf game since EA’s Tiger Woods series was at its peak".[11]

Barring "minor annoyances" such as its handling of rough, repetitive commentary, none of the tour professionals being playable in-game, and its use of micro-transactions, GameSpot felt that PGA Tour 2K21 was "the most realistic and pure golf experience in a game to date", preserving key aspects of The Golf Club while making it more accessible to a wider variety of players.[8]

During the 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated PGA Tour 2K21 for "Sports Game of the Year".[17]

References

  1. ^ "NBA 2K franchise helps Take-Two post a strong fiscal year 2022". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  2. ^ a b "PGA Tour 2K21 for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "PGA Tour 2K21 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "PGA Tour 2K21 for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "PGA Tour 2K21 for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  6. ^ Goroff, Michael (August 20, 2020). "PGA Tour 2K21 review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  7. ^ Reiner, Andrew (August 25, 2020). "PGA Tour 2K21 Review – A Sweet Swing". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Petite, Steven (August 24, 2020). "PGA Tour 2K21 Review – For Purists And Newcomers Alike". GameSpot. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  9. ^ Dwair, Rob (August 20, 2020). "PGA Tour 2K21 review: "Like a Bryson DeChambeau drive, it's on the right trajectory"". GamesRadar. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  10. ^ Wells, Cory (August 20, 2020). "Review: PGA Tour 2K21". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Ogilvie, Tristan (August 20, 2020). "PGA Tour 2K21 Review". IGN. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  12. ^ Scullion, Chris (August 29, 2020). "PGA Tour 2K21 Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  13. ^ Ronaghan, Neal (August 23, 2020). "PGA Tour 2K21 Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  14. ^ Barker, Sammy (August 20, 2020). "PGA Tour 2K21 Review (PS4)". Push Square. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  15. ^ Donaldson, Alex (August 20, 2020). "PGA Tour 2K21 review: a solid start for a new 2K sports franchise". VG247. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  16. ^ Good, Owen S. (2020-08-25). "In PGA Tour 2K21, golf experts bring the sport to the masses". Polygon. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  17. ^ "2021 Awards Category Details Sports Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2 December 2023.