Out of the Park Baseball 18

Out of the Park Baseball 18 is just another fantastic entrant into the game’s series and is perhaps the best-received new release in years. Clean, sleek, accurate, and easy to learn and navigate, OOTP 18 gives players ultimate control over their team, in any form, year, or league they choose. The inclusion of new leagues, new features, and the all-new Challenge Mode enhances a game I already consider the capstone of the genre. A must-own for any sport simulation fans.

78%Game Brain Score

gameplay, humor

graphics, stability

93% User Score Based on 800 reviews

Critic Score 95%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

Out of the Park Baseball 18 is a sophisticated baseball management simulation game. It offers a realistic experience, allowing players to manage every aspect of a baseball team, from trades and lineups to finances and personnel. With historical teams and real-time 2017 major league rosters, this game provides endless replayability and a rich, immersive baseball experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 801 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

Incredibly deep and detailed baseball simulation that allows for extensive customization and management options.
New features like Challenge Mode and the inclusion of historical Negro Leagues enhance gameplay and replayability.
The game provides a realistic experience of being a GM or manager, with a focus on strategy and decision-making.

High injury rates can disrupt gameplay and lead to unrealistic team management challenges.
The user interface can be overwhelming for new players, making it difficult to navigate and understand all features.
Some players report technical issues, including crashes and bugs that affect gameplay experience.

graphics
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The graphics in the game are generally considered rudimentary and not the main draw, often compared to early 3D engines with some glitches present. While the visuals may not impress, they are complemented by excellent sound work and a compelling gameplay experience, particularly for fans of baseball management simulations. Players seeking high-quality graphics may be disappointed, but those focused on strategic gameplay will find the graphics acceptable for their needs.
- “This is a thinking person's game and not a shoot 'em up high graphics game, but it does look fantastic.”
- “New features to this year's edition include a better injury system, improved 3D play-by-play graphics (featuring little sprites and baseballs arrayed on a representation of your stadium), and challenge mode -- an online leaderboard that tracks your achievements against those of other players using a similar ruleset.”
- “I know the game is not trying to be MLB 17, but I'm happy to see continued evolution of the on-field graphics.”
- “Far too expensive for poor graphics and unexciting gameplay.”
- “Graphically, there are some glitches that occur (balls get stuck under walls in certain stadiums, causing delays, players chasing after balls that should be fielded by other players, etc.).”
- “The stupid little graphics of the 3D are completely dull, and the control of the game is non-existent.”
gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
81%
8%
The gameplay is praised for its immense detail and depth, offering a realistic experience akin to a football manager style of baseball that is engaging for both team managers and casual followers. However, some players find certain mechanics, particularly outfield behavior and responsiveness, lacking, which detracts from the overall experience. While the game is complex and takes time to master, it offers significant replayability across various eras and leagues, making it worthwhile for dedicated players.
- “Not only is the level of detail absolutely immense, but the gameplay is incredible.”
- “Football manager style of baseball, with very in-depth mechanics that are easy to learn, but take a long time to master.”
- “Has amazing depth, detail, and diversity in the gameplay; you can play any era and team in the MLB and other world baseball leagues, adding to the replayability of this game.”
- “Far too expensive for poor graphics and unexciting gameplay.”
- “The outfield mechanics and aggressiveness of fielders are just way too placid that it actually lessens the experience of gameplay.”
- “You will find some of the in-game mechanics less intuitive and responsive than they perhaps should be.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, stability in the game is mixed, with some users reporting significant glitches, particularly in full-screen mode and during gameplay, such as graphical issues and autoplay errors. While some players experience a smooth performance on various systems, particularly on gaming PCs, others express frustration with the lack of Linux support and persistent bugs. Recommendations include avoiding full-screen mode and refreshing the window to mitigate some of the issues.
- “The depth of customization, the community that has built up over time, and the ability to play with a bug-free application lets you focus on taking your franchise to the top.”
- “If this review says I only have 9.9 hours on record, that is because I play on my gaming PC and laptop; it runs great on anything.”
- “The only tips I can give are to not play in full screen, and you will have to press the + button on the window to refresh the screen from the glitches.”
- “Since I run Linux, I give 7/10 stars; it would be higher if there was actual support for Linux and fewer glitches.”
- “Graphically, there are some glitches that occur (balls get stuck under walls in certain stadiums, i.e., Houston, causing play-by-play delays, players chasing after balls that should be fielded by other players, etc.).”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with users highlighting its near-infinite customization options and diverse gameplay that allows players to engage with various eras and teams across multiple leagues. The intuitive user interface further enhances the experience, making it easy to manage rosters and finances, contributing to the game's overall unpredictability and enjoyment.
- “The replay value is nearly infinite since you can easily customize it in so many different ways.”
- “Has amazing depth, detail, and diversity in the gameplay; you can play any era and team in the MLB and other world baseball leagues, adding to the replayability of this game.”
- “Offers near endless amounts of replayability.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly without crashes and loading quickly, which enhances the overall experience. While it offers a detailed baseball simulation, it does not perfectly replicate real player or team performance, focusing instead on the management aspect. Players find the game enjoyable and engaging, particularly in tracking and managing player performance through the farm system.
- “Track their performances through your farm system and promote/demote them at the right time!”
- “The game never crashes, loads quickly, runs smoothly, and most importantly, is fun.”
- “This is a wonderful detailed baseball simulation, but it does not recreate the actual performance of a player/team.”
- “The actual 'performance' of the teams/players?”
- “In OOTP, your success as a GM or manager is based on your performance in that specific role.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The game's story aspect is praised for its engaging and dynamic narratives surrounding player lives, injuries, and the ups and downs of sports management. However, reviewers suggest that there is room for improvement, such as enhancing the draft process, adding more storylines, and providing greater detail in minor league reports and trade negotiations. Overall, fans of sports management simulations find the storytelling compelling, though they desire deeper and more varied narratives.
- “The ups, the downs, the fun OOTP storylines for player lives and injuries, the game really has it all.”
- “If you are a fan of sports management sims... then my review from 17 ('worth every penny, worth every minute'), and from 16 (which was a winding story), say everything that needs to be said about this series.”
- “Anyway - just one of the storylines happening.”
- “There are always things they can improve on, like a more in-depth draft process, adding more storylines, expanding staff roles, detailing minor league reports, and more real-life trade negotiations.”
- “If you are a fan of sports management sims, then my review from 17 ('worth every penny, worth every minute'), and from 16 (which was a winding story), say everything that needs to be said about this series.”
- “Anyway, just one of the storylines happening.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and not very user-friendly, particularly when it comes to micromanaging tasks, especially with minor league teams. Despite these frustrations, many still enjoy the overall experience.
- “I understand they have to fit in a lot of different things, but the game is definitely not very user-friendly and quite tedious at times.”
- “The micromanaging can get a little tedious at times, especially dealing with minor league teams.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, often finding themselves amused by unexpected bugs and scenarios, such as a coaching glitch involving Don Mattingly managing two teams simultaneously. These moments of irony and absurdity contribute to a lighthearted experience, even amidst frustrating gameplay elements like injuries.
- “Sometimes you find yourself laughing because at just the right moment, your whole pitching staff will succumb to long-term injuries and you think to yourself, 'go figure'.”
- “(Funny bug in my game had Don Mattingly coaching the Marlins and Mets at the same time. Amusing.)”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game has received consistent feedback regarding its lack of music, with multiple users noting that the absence of any musical score feels unusual and detracts from the overall experience.
- “No music: it is odd that there isn't really any music in the game at all.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is positively viewed, as users appreciate the extensive modding community that enhances the game with features like 3D stadium advertising and player facegens, allowing players to easily download additional content that the base game may lack.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively captures the emotional highs and lows of a major league baseball season, providing players with a deep and challenging strategic experience that resonates on an emotional level.
- “It's one of the deepest and most challenging strategy games on Steam, and it captures the highs and lows of the emotional roller coaster that is a Major League Baseball season.”