Backyard Baseball '97

About

Backyard Baseball '97, now on Steam, is a classic game that brings fun and excitement to baseball. Create your dream team, play pick-up games, practice batting, and keep track of stats. With adjustable game modes, including single games and a whole season, players of all skill levels can enjoy this realistic yet user-friendly game. Relive the nostalgia of backyard baseball!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,515 reviews

gameplay26 positive mentions

stability11 negative mentions

The game perfectly captures the nostalgia of the original 1997 version, making it a joy for those who played it as kids.
The characters are memorable and the gameplay is fun and engaging, with a surprising amount of depth for a children's game.
It's a great way to introduce kids to baseball, with simple controls and a charming atmosphere.

The game suffers from some bugs and issues, such as unskippable cutscenes and AI errors that can be frustrating.
There are no significant updates or improvements from the original, which may disappoint players expecting modern features.
The gameplay can feel slow and repetitive, especially in season mode where all games are played at the same field.

gameplay
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and charm, making it accessible for children while still offering enough depth to engage adult players. Intuitive controls and smooth mechanics enhance the experience, allowing players to feel immersed in the action. Although some aspects may feel outdated, the nostalgic appeal and fun, arcade-style gameplay make it a delightful experience for both returning fans and newcomers.
- “The gameplay is simple enough for kids to jump in but has enough depth to keep adults engaged.”
- “The intuitive controls and smooth mechanics make every swing, pitch, and homerun a blast.”
- “The gameplay is as amazing as ever before, the characters as charming as ever, and every part of it still fills me with intense joy.”
- “The gameplay is pretty simplistic if you're coming back to play this as an adult, but that's because it's a game for kids.”
- “It is a little outdated, it is in 4:3 aspect ratio, the gameplay is simple and can be too easy even on hard mode.”
- “Some of the mechanics can be easily taken advantage of (throwing to other bases to make the AI run foolishly), and it can be slow at times (can't skip opponents' home runs, but can skip your own?).”
graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
70%
7%
The graphics of the game are described as vibrant and nostalgic, effectively capturing the charm of its original release while maintaining a timeless quality. While they may not impress modern audiences, the art style and animations have aged well, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience for fans of classic games. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia, appealing to those who appreciate the simplicity and character of retro design.
- “The graphics are vibrant, the animations full of life, and the commentary is brimming with the kind of humor that keeps you smiling inning after inning.”
- “The graphics still look good, considering when they're from, and the gameplay is entirely competent, so it's still a recommend from me, but I do think a lot of my enjoyment is nostalgia.”
- “The drawn art style has ensured that outside of some aliasing, this game barely feels like it's aged more than 2 years despite being almost 30 years old.”
- “Graphics are not going to wow you, but it's a timeless classic.”
- “The graphics are pixelized - you've got to like that, because otherwise there's nothing very special about this game.”
- “Also don't go in thinking this is gonna be a modernized version with better graphics because it's the same as the original.”
humor
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised for its vibrant and lively character interactions, witty commentary, and playful banter, which keeps players entertained and laughing throughout. The memorable characters and goofy gameplay contribute to a fun atmosphere, making it a delightful experience for both solo and multiplayer sessions. Even after many years, players find the humor just as engaging and enjoyable as when it first released.
- “The graphics are vibrant, the animations full of life, and the commentary is brimming with the kind of humor that keeps you smiling inning after inning.”
- “Game is super fun and really goofy with all the characters, the announcers are hilarious and the fields are so different to each one, you can make your own team and pick your own team of goofy little kids trying to have a fun time.”
- “My fiancée and I spent most of the night just laughing and playing.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
59%
18%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and upbeat soundtrack that enhances the playful tone, with each character having their own distinct theme that adds to their identity. While the soundtrack and sound effects are charming and memorable, some players noted that the voice lines can be repetitive. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, with specific tracks, like Pablo Sanchez's walkout song, receiving particular acclaim.
- “The catchy, upbeat soundtrack perfectly complements the game's playful tone.”
- “Each character even has their own music theme which gives them even more identity to the character, and those tunes will probably get stuck in your head.”
- “Everything down to the music is the same as the original.”
- “Charming soundtrack and characters, though voice lines are a bit repetitive.”
- “The chatter, the music, the walkups and strikeout animations, all of it oozes character.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
73%
Overall, the stability of the game is generally praised, with many users noting that it runs well on modern hardware and has minimal graphical glitches. However, some players mention that it retains a few bugs reminiscent of its original 1997 release, though these do not significantly impact gameplay. Users express optimism that future updates will address these minor issues.
- “Excellent, runs great on deck!”
- “Runs great on modern hardware, unlike the original which you have to do workarounds to even get to run on anything past Windows XP.”
- “Runs great.”
- “I would love to say this game lives up to the nostalgia for all the right reasons so far, but it's just as buggy as it was in 1997.”
- “The game holds up fairly well from its release back in the day, some random glitches but nothing actually game-breaking and nothing surprising from a game released in '97.”
- “Yes, it's a little buggy, but c'mon man.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
42%
8%
Overall, games like Backyard Baseball '97 are praised for their high replayability due to engaging mechanics and various modes, making them enjoyable for both long sessions and quick matches. However, some titles, such as UFO 50, lack replay value due to limitations in gameplay features and scaling options, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “Whether you're in it to conquer season mode or want a quick pickup game, Backyard Baseball '97 is endlessly replayable.”
- “Great replay value.”
- “Good mechanics and fun and replayable.”
- “Because of this, there’s nothing really replayable.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
The reviews indicate a lack of a compelling story, with multiple users noting that there is either no story or a poorly executed one. Overall, the narrative aspect of the game appears to be a significant weakness.
- “No story.”
- “Bad story.”
- “No story.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
13%
38%
The optimization of the game has been well-received, with users noting that it runs smoothly and effectively on modern systems, including the Steam Deck. While it doesn't introduce new content, it enhances performance and nostalgia, with minor adjustments to scaling settings for an optimal experience.
- “They offer nothing new whatsoever, but they took the old game and made it run smoothly and perfectly over 25 years later.”
- “Steam Deck users - to make the game fill the screen correctly, keep everything in-game as it is, go to the performance settings and set your scaling mode to 'fit'.”
- “Seems to run smoothly and scratches the nostalgia itch.”
- “Steam Deck users need to adjust the performance settings to make the game fill the screen correctly by setting the scaling mode to 'fit'.”
- “The game is only ever so slightly modded to add a few extra performance features.”
- “Steam Deck users have to navigate to the performance settings to ensure the game displays properly on their device.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the characters in Backyard Baseball '97, highlighting their wholesome personalities and well-crafted dialogue. The game is described as an emotional journey that significantly impacted players' childhoods and lives, fostering a strong sense of investment in the characters.
- “These characters are so wholesome with their well-scripted voices and personalities.”
- “Backyard Baseball '97 wasn’t just a game—it was an emotional journey, one that wove itself into the fabric of my childhood and, ultimately, changed the course of my life.”
- “Bought this not expecting a ton, but now I am emotionally invested in at least 9 little baseball champs.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly immersive, capturing the essence of a backyard setting through detailed sound effects and unique player behaviors. While the animations are basic, they complement the overall kidoo vibe, enhancing the nostalgic and playful feel of the experience.
- “From the crack of the bat to the crowd’s cheers, every detail immerses you in the backyard atmosphere.”
- “Animations are very basic, but perfectly suited to the game's atmosphere.”
- “The players have their own little ways of doing things that give the game a special, totally backyard feel, and the ambient sound adds even more to the kiddo atmosphere.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews suggest that the monetization strategy may be overly focused on a single character, Pablo, and recommend diversifying the advertising to highlight other characters to enhance appeal and engagement.
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic commitment akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”