MLB The Show 23 Reviews
Fundamentally, though, MLB the Show 23 is a good game. MLB the Show 22 was a good game. Adding the Negro Leagues mode was noble from Sony (and no doubt the kind of goodwill-generating progressive addition that will keep the licensor happy with how Sony is treating the IP). However, the misstep with the World Baseball League and a complete unwillingness to build on any mode but the awful Diamond Dynasty also make this year’s The Show unacceptable. If you missed last year’s iteration, then you can add a couple of stars to this score, because for you, it won’t be one of the most cynical annual iterations that we’ve seen in sports games for quite some time. For the rest of us, though. No. Not good enough.
MLB The Show 23 has the same problems as other sports simulation experiences in recent months. The series seems to stagnate and doesn't bring enough novelties to push fans to pay for it every year. While we were used to the SIE San Diego team innovating every year, this is no longer the case. The integration of the shared save, the presence from the release on the Xbox Game Pass service or the excellent storylines mode featuring The Negro Leagues are not enough. If the gameplay is still as good as ever, it is not possible for me to recommend the purchase to a player who already has last year's edition. Not to mention that the title still doesn't offer translation in languages other than English.
Review in French | Read full review
While not a lot has changed in terms of ways to play MLB The Show 23, the experience on the field is much improved.
MLB The Show 23 is a better all-round package than last year's outing, thanks in large part to the new Storylines mode that adds a well-presented and educational history lesson for players to get involved in. In terms of this Switch port, presentation is perfectly acceptable, with the expected graphical downgrades made, but the frame rate can still be troublesome in places, making for play that feels sluggish in comparison to other platforms. This issue aside, though, this is a solid port that brings all the modes found in other versions of the game, making for a decent overall option for MLB fans.
The excellently executed Negro Leagues are the MVP of MLB The Show 23, adding an educational and entertaining interactive documentary to an already top-tier sports game. Diamond Dynasty sees some of its biggest structural changes yet, and has strengthened its already respectable single player slate with some smart additions to Mini Seasons. Meanwhile, rebalanced fielding and batter/pitcher matchups add more tension to the gameplay, but the graphics are starting to look stale and Road to the Show feels like it's almost been abandoned at this point.
Baseball fans will love it, but the game does nothing special to feel like something new – or next-gen.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Where last year’s MLB The Show felt too copy-and-pasted, MLB The Show 23 feels legitimately improved. New modes featuring historical and recent stars give a breath of fresh air to this series. Expanding practice types for RTTS players also helps players get meaningful practice to get better at the game. What’s not updated is a tale of two stories. From a core mechanics standpoint, you don’t need to upgrade what already works. Playing baseball in The Show has been just as fun since 2021 as it is now. The things that do need updates need them badly, however. Sciambi and Singleton need something new to say so the game loses what repetitiveness it still has. Finally, some bugs are game-breaking or crashing.
For those who take up the title, it will certainly be a prime opportunity to learn the sport at its best. Those who have knowledge of the sport will have higher demands, but even so, the result will satisfy them to a great extent.
Review in Greek | Read full review
All things considered, the misfires in MLB The Show ‘23 feel smaller than they have in years, and the upsides in this year’s entry elevate the full package. The game’s core product is solid, and the Negro Leagues mode offers something that hasn’t been explored at this level before.
MLB The Show 23 does not diverge much in its key mechanics from the previous chapter, but then again, the state of the game was already in very good shape even in previous years.
Review in Italian | Read full review
MLB The Show '23 is a big step up from its predecessor. In addition to improved gameplay, new game modes have also been added that offer an instructive glimpse into the history of the sport. This is the way an annual games are supposed to go forward.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
MLB The Show 23 doesn’t revolutionise its core gameplay mechanics, but the new Storylines mode and Diamond Dynasty features really hit the ball out of the park. Exploring the details of the Negro Leagues and some of its key players was captivating, whilst the changes in Diamond Dynasty ensure there’s plenty to keep players invested in the mode for hours on end – even Franchise feels a bit more exciting to play through thanks to its revamped draft system. What’s most important though is that the game remains a lot of fun to play, both for newbies and returning players. It’s accessible yet deep, with MLB The Show 23 giving players another great baseball experience that captures the essence of the sport perfectly.
There is no need to reinvent the wheel when you already have a winning formula. MLB The Show 23 doesn’t stray too far away from what has made the series successful, and that’s a good thing. Sets and Seasons is a bold but welcomed change in Diamond Dynasty, and revamped drafting and scouting was long overdue in Franchise mode. Road to The show once again disappointed, but Storylines managed to steal the show, rounding up another impressive entry for the baseball sim franchise.
I can recommend MLB The Show 23, but not to everyone. It's a very good game that even players who aren't necessarily baseball fans can enjoy. And that's totally cool. Other sports series should also have such options. However, in terms of content, there are very few changes. The educational story mode in The Negro Leagues is great. Some minor changes in other modes are also nice. But it's more like an expansion of 22. Even on the technical side and also on the rules side.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
The 2023 version of MLB The Show is by far the best and most visually advanced Baseball simulation on the market, and if you watch or play the sport, there is no harm in giving it a try, although it doesn't offer much outside of the story mode.
Review in Persian | Read full review
MLB The Show 23 hits a home run in some key areas and in others, not so much. However, while popular modes like Road to The Show are still being neglected, San Diego Studios still manages to improve enough to keep the experience fresh.
MLB The Show 23 is another solid entry to San Diego Studios' yearly iteration of MLB magnificence.
MLB The Show 23 is a continuation of one of the best sports game franchises on the market, and the inclusion of the Negro Leagues Storylines mode makes it an even better way to experience the game and learn about its history even further.
Despite confirming itself as the best baseball simulation on the planet, MLB The Show 23 continues to manifest the same problem for several years: the graphics sector.
Review in Italian | Read full review
There will always be missteps, but if MLB The Show 23 is any indication, the future of this series looks bright.