Out of the Park Baseball 20

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Out of the Park Baseball 20 is a highly detailed and customizable baseball simulation game, officially licensed by MLB, MiLB, and the MLBPA. It allows players to step into the role of a GM and/or manager, own the future or rewrite the past of their favorite real-world baseball franchise, and build their team according to their preferences. With a rich historical component, players can also manage teams from the past dating back to almost 150 years.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 842 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Incredibly deep and engaging baseball management simulator with extensive customization options.
Perfect Team mode adds a fun and competitive element, allowing players to collect cards and build teams.
Realistic simulation of baseball statistics and player performance, making it a must-have for baseball fans.

Frequent crashes and bugs, particularly with save files and game stability.
AI trading logic can be unrealistic, often leading to poor trade offers and decisions.
The focus on Perfect Team mode has led to concerns about the neglect of core gameplay features and balance.

graphics
41 mentions
20 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally considered outdated and functional, with many users noting issues like bugs, lag, and inaccuracies in animations. While some appreciate the improvements made in recent iterations, particularly in 3D visuals, the overall aesthetic remains a secondary concern for players who prioritize gameplay and simulation over graphical fidelity. Despite the limitations, the engaging gameplay experience often overshadows the graphical shortcomings for many users.
- “Great artwork.”
- “Not sure when they came out with the graphics of the players actually moving about the field, but it's new to me and really adds a much needed dimension to the already very deep gameplay.”
- “The graphics are very well done, too.”
- “The graphics are long outdated, the user interface is terrible, and the game doesn't explain the myriads of abbreviations or mechanics that make it work.”
- “For me, the immersion in the game is being able to watch my team on the field, and the little stickman graphics never cut it.”
- “OOTP Baseball 20 has some worthwhile improvements over previous versions, but it is still sadly lacking in animation graphics.”
gameplay
23 mentions
30 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Out of the Park Baseball is praised for its depth and engaging management simulation, making it a standout in baseball gaming. However, criticisms arise regarding the introduction of lootboxes and gambling mechanics, which detract from the core experience. While the animated gameplay adds a new dimension, it suffers from unrealistic animations that can disrupt immersion, and the user interface and graphics are considered outdated.
- “The gameplay of Out of the Park Baseball is fantastic - it's really fun to virtually manage a baseball team.”
- “Lots of depth, massive amounts of information, and a very believable simulation model for both gameplay and management aspects.”
- “Excellent interface, depth of gameplay, and progression.”
- “Now inundated with loot boxes and gambling mechanics just like every AAA sports video game.”
- “The devs simply added the gambling game mode and forgot about the other 98% of gameplay.”
- “There are too many completely unrealistic animations of gameplay, from fielders standing with the ball, one foot from the bag, and waiting for another player to run 60 feet before tossing him the ball, to infielders holding the ball instead of making easy outs, infielders throwing the ball at about 20 mph to 1st base to ensure the runner is safe... I understand that they're just making the animation match the simmed outcome, but it's poorly done in some cases.”
optimization
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while the developers provide regular updates and a rich collection of cards, players report performance issues, particularly on older hardware when graphics settings are maxed out, leading to stuttering and lag. Additionally, there are concerns about the AI's adaptability and the logic behind trades, suggesting that further improvements in these areas could enhance the overall experience.
- “The developers started with a fantastic collection of cards and regularly update with new sets each week, whether through unique or whimsical themes, or through sets that recognize outstanding performances by today's major leaguers (e.g., player-of-the-month or team-of-the-decade sets).”
- “I don't mind less new features if the time is spent improving performance and the AI, which was already pretty good.”
- “The AI will change in strength depending on your performance.”
- “The 3D engine may be too demanding for older hardware, especially when all eye candies are turned on - stuttering and hesitating gameplay were noticeable.”
- “I had stuttering and slowing down issues when the graphics options were maxed out.”
- “I don't mind fewer new features if the time is spent improving performance and the AI, which was already pretty good.”
story
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally well-received, particularly for players who appreciate the evolution of baseball leagues and teams over time. However, some users feel that the game should focus more on financial elements and less on narrative, suggesting that the stats themselves often convey the story more effectively than traditional storytelling methods.
- “Story: very good, especially if you enjoy the evolution of the baseball leagues, teams, players over the long season.”
- “Game in general has to step back from some story aspects in it and actually get some of the financial stuff put down correctly.”
- “Instead of writing a story, I'll just list out some pros and cons.”
- “The stats tell the story.”
monetization
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game, particularly through the "perfect team" feature, has drawn mixed reviews; while some fans appreciate its execution, many criticize it as a predatory cash grab that detracts from the core gameplay experience. The presence of microtransactions has led to accusations of a pay-to-win structure, causing frustration among players who feel that the focus on monetization overshadows the game's quality.
- “Despite this game having a monetization model in the form of Perfect Team, it still manages to do everything just right to keep sim fans satisfied.”
- “The PT mode, like Madden's MUT or FIFA's FUT, is nothing more than a greedy and predatory cash grab.”
- “Unfriendly old boys all over the official message boards, a cynical pay-to-win cash grab taking development away from the core game, and a 'small sample size' magic bullet to shoot down any critique of unrealistic results make this a year to skip.”
- “All the hype is about Perfect Team from the developer as it's their big cash grab.”
replayability
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the exceptional replayability of the game, citing extensive customization options and various league formats, including historical and online leagues, as key factors. The combination of these features contributes to a highly immersive experience, making it a standout sports simulation with virtually limitless replay value.
- “The fun factor, replayability, and immersion are still very much there, just as they have been in every version that I've ever owned!”
- “The amount of stuff you can easily customize in-game, allowing for pretty much infinite replayability, makes this the best sports sim out there.”
- “There are historical MLB leagues, online leagues, and custom leagues - replayability is amazing.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of funny, sad, and occasionally disgusting moments, with animated figures adding a layer of comedic contrast to the text. While some aspects of the game excel in humor, there are also instances of absurdity that players can appreciate without feeling detracted from the overall experience.
- “The discussions are both funny, sad, and disgusting at times.”
- “Occasionally, some unbelievable things happen, but you can just take it in stride as humorous rather than game-breaking.”
- “This does some things very well, but baseball mogul does some things way better.”
stability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, including buggy and laggy 3D graphics, particularly during errors and extra base hits. Additionally, many experience freezing problems when exiting the game after a certain point in the season, making it impossible to reload.
- “3D graphics are buggy and laggy, especially during errors and extra base hits.”
- “After a certain amount of time in the season, my laptop freezes when I exit, making it impossible to reload the game.”
- “After a certain amount of time in the season, my laptop freezes when I exit, regardless of the settings.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report forming deep emotional connections with the characters, enhancing their overall gaming experience. The emotional engagement is highlighted as a key aspect, making the game highly recommendable, even beyond its gameplay features.
- “You grow a strong emotional bond with them all.”
- “Touching on the perfect game component.”
- “A definite recommend, and that is without even touching the perfect team game mode.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, citing a lack of user-friendliness and intuitive navigation. The frequent interruptions and absence of keyboard shortcuts contribute to a cumbersome experience, making the grinding feel excessively laborious.
- “On the downside, the game is not very user-friendly and navigating between pages can be tedious and frustrating.”
- “I just found it extremely tedious.”
- “I don't find it particularly intuitive, and the constant player-screen popping up when trying to do anything remotely associated with a player (and an inexcusable lack of keyboard shortcuts) is so incredibly tedious.”
music
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game received mixed feedback, with users noting the presence of baseball action sounds and crowd cheers, but a lack of memorable background music. Overall, the absence of a significant musical score was highlighted.
- “There were baseball action sounds, cheers, etc... I don't recall any background music.”
- “No background music.”