MLB The Show 23
- March 24, 2023
- SIE San Diego Studio
A respectable sophomore season after a surprisingly great rookie campaign.
"MLB The Show 23: The Captain Edition" is a sports game that offers various gameplay modes, including local multi-player for 2 players, multi-player, co-op, and single-player with split-screen. The game brings you closer to living your baseball dreams with updated commentary, in-game presentation, and expanded commentary. It also features Diamond Dynasty and a partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to celebrate the careers of legendary players.
Nintendo Switch
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The new Negro Leagues Storylines mode is a brilliant addition, providing an educational and engaging experience.
- Graphics and gameplay have improved significantly, making it one of the best baseball simulations available.
- The game offers a variety of modes and features, including revamped Diamond Dynasty and Franchise mechanics, keeping players invested.
- Road to the Show feels stagnant and lacks new features compared to previous iterations.
- Some gameplay mechanics have not changed much, leading to a sense of repetition.
- There are minor issues with commentary and music utilization, which detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay in MLB The Show 23 is generally praised for its solid mechanics and engaging modes, particularly the new storylines and improvements to Diamond Dynasty, which enhance the overall experience. However, some players feel that core gameplay has not significantly evolved, with certain modes like Road to the Show feeling stagnant. While the graphics and presentation have received updates, there are concerns about a lack of innovation in gameplay features.
“The gameplay is fantastic across all phases of the sport, and the line-up of modes has been improved thanks to the addition of storylines.”
“MLB The Show 23 is a superb title that has a great balance of enjoyable gameplay, well-researched and deeply educational story elements.”
“Core gameplay is as solid as ever, storylines mode is an inspired addition, satisfying new scouting/draft mechanics, tons to keep you busy overall.”
“A lack of innovation when it comes to core gameplay keeps this year’s title from being a true home run, but it’s at least a strong double.”
“Gameplay hasn’t changed much; Road to the Show is stagnant.”
“No major additions to existing gameplay modes; omission of pitch clock.”
- story15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story aspect of MLB The Show 23 is highlighted by the introduction of the "storylines" mode, which focuses on the Negro Leagues and offers an educational and engaging experience that reflects an important era in sports and American culture. This new feature, along with improvements to existing modes, has been praised as a significant enhancement to the overall gameplay, making it a standout addition to the franchise. Players appreciate the depth and variety brought by these storylines, which enrich the game's narrative experience.
“The Negro Leagues storyline shines bright as the best addition we’ve seen in the series.”
“MLB The Show 23 is a superb title that has a great balance of enjoyable gameplay, well-researched and deeply educational story elements.”
“Mlb the show 23 is a superb title that has a great balance of enjoyable gameplay, well-researched and deeply educational story elements.”
“San Diego Studios brings the Negro Leagues to the forefront with their brand-new storylines mode, detailing the journey of eight different greats from that era, including Leroy 'Satchel' Paige, Jackie Robinson, Andrew 'Rube' Foster, Hilton Smith, Hank Thompson, John Donaldson, Martin Dihigo, and John Jordan 'Buck' O'Neil.”
“Mlb the show 23 doesn’t revolutionize its core gameplay mechanics, but the new storylines mode and Diamond Dynasty features really hit the ball out of the park.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game are praised for their continuous improvement, with many users highlighting stunning visuals and a high level of detail, particularly in modes like the Negro Leagues. However, some players feel that certain aspects, such as the graphics in the Switch port, show signs of aging and experience performance issues, leading to a less fluid gameplay experience compared to other platforms.
“Love how every year the graphics keep getting better and better.”
“Great graphics and gameplay.”
“Stunning graphics look better than ever, the most responsive and consistent gameplay to date.”
“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.”
“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.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the great playlist and its integration into various modes, others feel it isn't always utilized effectively. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the gaming experience, enhancing the immersive qualities of the gameplay.
“The music playlist is great and enhances the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack adds a lot to the game, making it more immersive.”
“The return of team affinity and the improved music selection really elevate the gameplay.”
“The music isn’t always utilized properly, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack feels disjointed and doesn't match the game's atmosphere.”
“There are minor commentary issues that affect the immersion of the music.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game experiences a few bugs and glitches, indicating that while stability is generally acceptable, there are occasional issues that may affect gameplay.
“There are a few bugs and glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
“I encountered several stability issues that affected my overall enjoyment.”
Critic Reviews
MLB The Show 23 Review
The excellently executed Negro Leagues are the MVP of MLB The Show 23, adding an educational and entertaining interactive documentary to an already strong sports game. Diamond Dynasty sees some of its biggest structural changes yet, and has strengthened its 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.
70%MLB The Show 23 review – Heroes get remembered, but legends never die
MLB The Show 23 moves the franchise forward in several ways. The Negro Leagues storyline shines bright as the best addition we’ve seen in the series. While San Diego Studios didn’t pitch a perfect game, they delivered a game worthy of being called The Show.
85%MLB The Show 23 Review – Features Home Run, Gameplay Bunt
The makers of MLB The Show 23 clearly heard the complaints about a lack of fresh features in recent entries, as this year’s game offers up the new exciting and enlightening Storylines mode as well as significant tweaks and improvements to Franchise, March to October, and Diamond Dynasty. A lack of innovation when it comes to core gameplay keeps this year’s title from being a true home run, but it’s at least a strong double.
80%
