MLB The Show 21

Worth PlayingRedmond Carolipio

8.8/10

Take your ballplayer across game modes to own every at-bat, every pitch, and every play and for the first time ever you have more ways to play than ever before.

Game InformerAndrew Reiner

8.5/10

When a long-running sports series migrates to a new console generation, the fan base expects change. Developers usually answer that call with improved visuals, inventive gameplay ideas, and enhanced feature sets that couldn’t be achieved on older hardware. MLB The Show 21 doesn’t make a strong case to upgrade in any of these areas. You have to squint to see the graphical differences, the gameplay is identical, and the only content exclusive to new-gen are post-game commentary videos and a stadium creator.

COGConnectedRhett Waselenchuk

83/100

For a long time, I’ve believed that MLB The Show is the best sports franchise you can buy. No other game – arguably with the exception of the NBA 2K series – simulates the sport it’s trying to recreate better than The Show. I admit that it must be a lot easier to mimic the ebbs and flows of a sport that involves as much standing around as baseball does. But that’s a shallow excuse reserved for developers that are most guilty of releasing what feels like the same song and dance, year after year.

Impulse GamerPaul Stuart

On the former, developer Santa Monica Studios went all in for MLB The Show 21 (‘Show 21’), allowing cross-play between should-be arch nemeses Xbox Series X|S

Sirus GamingErickson Melchor

8/10

When the issues of a game are rolled and stomped by its greatness, then it’s something to invest on if you have some spare.

MP1STAvery Feyrer

8/10

Ultimately, MLB The Show 21 reigns supreme among sports games. From the wide variety of game modes to many different playing styles that fit any player, MLB The Show 21 goes above and beyond to be an experience for everyone. While some player ratings can be a head-scratcher, there isn’t much to get upset about in that department. Other than the frequent hiccups with the online servers, each mode runs smoothly and offers in-depth tutorials to ensure optimal success. Hopefully, the server problem is more of a launch issue and will sort itself out as time goes on. MLB The Show 21 shines with its ...

GamerBravesBen

8/10

MLB The Show has always been regarded as the definitive baseball video game series for ages, so we decided to review its latest title, MLB The Show 21 to see if it upholds that legacy.

Toms GuideBilly Givens

MLB The Show 21 is still the best baseball game available by far. But don’t buy it expecting a substantial next-gen showcase.

Playstation LifestyleBlake Grundman

8/10

Man was I excited for the 2021 installment of MLB The Show! This is our first season on the next-gen consoles, so what’s not to be excited about? With my PS5 at the ready, I fired up the game and was greeted by the ever-familiar glow of my favorite franchise in all of sports. However, herein lies the problem: MLB The Show 21 seemed too familiar. Where was my new console pomp and circumstance? This felt like the same goddamn title I’ve been playing for the last decade. Now, if that is a good thing or not, I will leave for you to decide.

WayTooManyGamesLeo Faria

7.5/10

Upon booting MLB The Show 21 on my Xbox, I was greeted with the most bizarre thing ever. Watching that brand new Marvel-esque video from PlayStation Studios on an Xbox console is something I will never be able to get used to. Playing a Sony game on a rival console is a novel concept, that’s for sure, but it won’t make any impact whatsoever if the game ends up sucking. Thankfully, despite being based on one of the most mundane sports out there, MLB The Show 21 is actually pretty fun. A lot...

Push SquareSammy Barker

7/10

Sports games, for all the ire they attract, subscribe to some of the most brutal development cycles in the industry. Spare a thought, then, for Sony San Diego, which has not only transitioned from one platform to four with its annual baseball simulation MLB The Show 21 – but it’s also done it during a global pandemic. There are clear compromises as a consequence, but fortunately the series is working from such strong foundations that it’s still relatively easy to recommend.

XboxEraJustin O'Brien

6.5/10

In closing, it feels good to have baseball back on Xbox again, because the core gameplay of MLB The Show 21 remains excellent. You’ll have a blast learning and mastering the mechanics, and once you get the hang of it, everything just clicks. Outside of the gameplay itself, the game feels like a sometimes-ugly, disorganized collection of menus that wants you to pay extra money to really enjoy the most engaging content without falling victim to an endless grind.