MLB The Show 21 Reviews
MLB The Show 21 isn't the generational leap forward we might've expected following a new console launch, but it's still the best baseball sim you can play on any platform.
A solid home-run hitter, but not the baseball revolution we were hoping for on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Even without many new features, The Show impresses with its play and wealth of content. There's something for everyone
MLB The Show 21 maintains the series' continued excellence on the diamond, but missing features and uneven additions hold it back.
San Diego Studios continue to try and improve an annual product that already has a fantastic core with MLB The Show 21.
MLB The Show 21 is still the best baseball game available by far. But don't buy it expecting a substantial next-gen showcase.
MLB The Show 21 is still loads of fun to play. Franchise is slightly improved, Diamond Dynasty continues to be strong, and Stadium Creator is even better than expected. However, there are areas of the game that don’t feel like an actual next-gen experience, and we’re still missing features that other sports games have had for years.
‘MLB The Show 21’ is great for new Xbox users. What about long-time PlayStation fans?
AAA-quality baseball is now available to all console owners (please Sony remember the PC in 2022) and the sun is shining on virtual big leaguers who are down for crossplay. MLB The Show 21 is once again an incremental step, but still an important one for the series moving forward.
When you take a step back and look at the "big picture," at least on paper, MLB The Show 21 is a success. That said, when it's your first entry in a new console generation, the bar for success is admittedly quite low. For this reason, not to mention the meager distinctions between the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game, it's fairly difficult to justify the extra expense of making the jump to next-generation hardware. That said, if you decide to take the plunge and pick up the PlayStation 5 version, you won't be disappointed by the latest in a franchise that keeps knocking it out of the park.
Being the most consistent annual sports franchise out there, MLB The Show manages to overcome the loss of a few key features to give players yet another reason to step right back into the batter's box in MLB The Show 21.
MLB The Show 21 lands on the new generation of consoles with a limited amount of changes compared to last season. Those who expected a revolution spearheaded by the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S will be partially disappointed. That said, MLB The Show 21 is also an extremely refined title, full of options and fun, able to entertain those who want to face a few innings in total relax and also those who are looking for high-level competition.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Take me out to the ball game and leave me in the nosebleeds. I’m never coming back. MLB The Show 21 is a tremendous homage to a sport so many love. I know the Road to the Show regression will drive people crazy, and the bugs do continue to somewhat hinder my enjoyment. But this is all fixable stuff. What lies underneath is a beautiful simulation of baseball. Isn’t that what we came for?
MLB The Show 21 swings-and-misses in a few areas, with the well-intentioned Ballplayer system diminishing Road to the Show. Despite being stingier, though, Diamond Dynasty is still the best card collecting mode available, and the series' tried and trusted gameplay has been further enhanced with the addition of Pinpoint Pitching and new fielding animations. Sony San Diego hasn't quite hit a home run this year, but this is a strong lead-off double for baseball on PS5.
MLB The Show 21 is yet another solid entry in Sony's now multi-platform sports franchise. The consistent tweaks to how the game functions and its quality-of-life improvements each year have helped create a balanced, solid foundation for each iteration to improve on. Even though MLB The Show 21 lacks in delivering a truly engrossing current-gen experience on the new consoles in some ways and has a few typical sports franchise pitfalls, it's still an enjoyable game that has a high degree of craftsmanship.
While MLB The Show 21 is another solid entry in the series, the pitch to Xbox newcomers and those looking for a next-gen experience isn't as strong as it could have been. Pitching, fielding, and existing modes get some welcome adjustments, but truly significant additions are thin on the ground and the series' presentation is stuck in its tracks. Hardcore hardball fans and Xbox owners who haven't experienced MLB The Show before should have a good time, but this franchise may be in need of a rebuilding phase within the next year or two.
Not so much a true next-gen leap for MLB, but a cautious set of baby steps towards it. The presentation and gameplay remain strong, and the ability to be a two-way player in Road to the Show has freshened that mode up and made it more enjoyable than ever. MLB The Show 21 is another reliable entry in a strong sporting franchise, but it definitely needs a bit of a shakeup next time out.
It is a very entertaining game with which we are guaranteed countless fun moments. Because thanks to the implementation of MLB Show 21 to the Xbox Game Pass catalog, I've been able to try out a great IP that I hadn't previously had any contact with. The excellent work that San Diego Studio has done for the next generation consoles, together with the extensive content that is always accompanied by an annual title with which new playable and graphical functions are added, allows us to say that the franchise is in its peak.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Now available on Xbox, MLB The Show is still a fantastic way to discover and play baseball. This entry is still a very immersive experience, with a lot of things to do. And crossplatform is a great feature.
Review in French | Read full review
MLB The Show 21 makes the leap to a new console generation and ushers in a game-wide refresh that has the storied franchise feeling new.