MLB The Show 21 Reviews
As is the case with many annual sequels, MLB The Show 21 is an iteration and improvement over its predecessor. Having said that, if you bought The Show 20, I personally can’t see enough of a change to justify getting 21 in my opinion. There are improvements to the game modes that deserve praise, though I don’t know if it will keep me on the hook for a very long time. Having said that, both titles share some fantastic elements, such as the impressive depth of mechanical customisation, which by itself carries the game into high regard.
MLB The Show 21 might not excel in vastly improving its overall package, but the smaller upgrades you do get make this game just as entertaining as it was last year. Next year will have higher expectations to meet.
MLB The Show 21 does exactly what a sports sequel needs to do; it refines and expands on the best features of the predecessor, without taking away from what works.
MLB The Show is now multiplatform, so more players can see what makes it one of the best annual sports sims in the world.
It's a fantastic year to be getting MLB The Show 21 on Xbox. There's a welcome 'Casual' preset for beginners, the gameplay is more enjoyable than ever, and newcomers will likely be overwhelmed (in a good way) at the sheer amount of content at their disposal. Road to the Show's new Ballplayer integration won't satisfy everyone, and needs a few tweaks, but it's nevertheless still a highly enjoyable mode to play, and the likes of Diamond Dynasty and March to October are excellent options as well. We've been waiting a long time to experience The Show for ourselves on Xbox, and it's amazing to finally be stepping up to the plate with MLB The Show 21 on Xbox Game Pass.
MLB The Show proves once again that it's one of the best sport simulation out there.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
MLB The Show 21 is a refined and satisfying baseball experience, as well as being fully accessible to both fans and those who want to get into the sport. Things like Stadium Creator and that the game works at 4K and 60 FPS are something we can all value. Visually there cannot be a significant leap from its predecessor. In addition, although it includes some major gameplay renovations, more effort was needed in this regard.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
MLB The Show 21 doesn’t quite knock this one out of the park. Instead, it’s one of the most well-hit doubles I’ve ever seen. The foundation San Diego Studios has cultivated over the years has allowed them to almost seamlessly transfer over to the next-gen and has me excited to see where the series goes from here.
MLB The Show 21 is another great entry in the series, expanding the platforms while also heading into the next generation.
Mandatory for fans and recommended for sports lovers, MLB The Show 21 features a competent and fun digital version of the baseball game. The visuals are beautiful, the gameplay is good and very customizable and we have many ways to play. In particular, the Diamond Dynasty and Road to the Show options are engaging and well-built. We will still have to wait to see how the franchise will evolve in the new generation of video games, but until then the players will be well served.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
MLB The Show 21 manages once again to offer an immersive experience and a precise gameplay that baseball fans can enjoy. Furthermore, the team added a really cool new futur that will let the creative people have a lot of fun with the stadium editor mode. Nevertheless, the new elements are sparse and the release on multiple generations of consoles seems to have brought the visuals and the performances down a notch. The game will still provide a lot of fun times.
Review in French | Read full review
All in all, I believe MLB The Show 21 is pretty good at showing us the in’s and out’s of the wonderful game of baseball. the very fact that the controls can be tweaked to the player’s preferences really shows that the series as a whole is very welcoming to players of any skill level. On top of that, the adaptive difficulty setting scales depending on how the player is performing on the field. Potentially making it so that it’s not too difficult or too easy at any given time.
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.
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.
MLB The Show 21 is not an easy game to get the hang of by any means, but it manages to make the experience a good one whether you’re winning or losing.
MLB The Show 21 isn’t just worth playing on the Xbox Series S and X out of novelty. It is a pretty good baseball game that’s shockingly accessible to people who know absolutely nothing about the sport, while being exactly what veterans and fans would expect from a yearly update of a sports franchise.
Minimal additions are a feature of the annual releases and MLB The Show 21 follows that rule.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Not exactly the all-star debut, MLB The Show 21 is still the frontrunner for the best baseball experience on consoles.
MLB The Show 21 maintains the series' continued excellence on the diamond, but missing features and uneven additions hold it back.
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.