R.B.I. Baseball 18
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for R.B.I. Baseball 18
R.B.I. Baseball 18 is another disappointing baseball 'simulation' on Switch. If you want a solid baseball experience on the Switch, you could do worse than Super Baseball 2020. Failing that, go buy a PS4 and MLB The Show 18 and be happy the rest of your life. On today's platforms, Sony San Diego has it sewn up and this is not going to change any time soon.
This is simply not a very good baseball game and the higher price point makes it even easier to accept this year. The improved graphics don't do enough to save this from another sub-standard effort.
Despite a nice variety of game modes, decent graphics, and a clever roster system, R.B.I. Baseball 18 continues the franchise's tradition of not making the cut.
R.B.I. Baseball 18 doesn't really need to exist on the PS4, which is an issue. While it's competent enough to register a clean hit, The Show runs laps around the title in virtually every department. Yes, it's cheaper and more accessible than Sony's vastly superior alternative – but we still wouldn't recommend pinch hitting San Diego's effort for this.
While the game does feature a full 10-Season Franchise mode, Postseason, Home Run Derby, and more, it just felt like the core foundation (gameplay) of the game was neglected. Development for the game was handled by MLBAM (Major League Baseball Advanced Media) which produces the amazing MLB At-Bat app so hopefully, they'll be able to improve the series with each new iteration. With RBI Baseball 19, I really hope they focus on the quality of the gameplay and making sure it's fun to play. They've got the modes and the visuals are pretty solid–now it's time to refine it. I honestly don't think I would recommend this game unless there's a steep discount or improvements are made.
Sadly, RBI Baseball 18, while ahead of last year's edition, is still obviously hampered by porting the mobile version to consoles and charging 300% more. It's not worth your time or your money, unless you're really hard up for a Switch baseball game. If you have access to any other console, play something there instead. Keep an eye on RBI Baseball as a series though, as they're making strides. It's got a long way to go, but they're clearly trying to make a great game.
If you're a fan of simulation baseball and or looking for a cheap alternative to MLB The Show 18, I would pass on this. RBI Baseball has an opportunity to fill the void left by MLB 2K for Xbox users and with this installment they still have a long way to go.
After five iterations in the modern era, R.B.I. Baseball 18 remains a terrible series for any type of baseball fan. The modes may be serviceable, but everything from the AI to the presentation and the overall performance is severely lacking in quality. PS4 owners have a choice, so if you need your baseball fix, opt for Sony's offering once more with a tiny bit of hope that MLBAM will finally get something going next year.
