Out of the Park Baseball 21

About

Out of the Park Baseball 21 is a highly detailed and customizable baseball simulation game. It allows players to manage any team from the past or present, and features a realistic AI, full MLB license, and in-depth player development. Experience authentic baseball action with real player stats, strategies, and events.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,790 reviews

gameplay24 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Incredibly deep and immersive baseball management simulation with extensive customization options.
Perfect Team mode adds an engaging card-collecting aspect that enhances the overall experience.
Offers the ability to play through any MLB season in history, allowing for unique scenarios and team management.

Frequent crashes and bugs can disrupt gameplay, leading to lost progress and frustration.
The AI can make unrealistic trades and roster decisions, impacting the overall experience.
Graphics and animations are outdated, detracting from the immersive experience during gameplay.

graphics
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
75%
13%
The graphics of the game are generally considered subpar, often likened to those from the 90s, with many users noting that they are not the main focus of this baseball simulation. While some improvements have been made in recent versions, such as better animations and UI, the overall visual quality remains lacking compared to modern standards, leading to a mixed reception. Players emphasize that the game's strength lies in its statistical depth and simulation experience rather than its graphical fidelity.
- “The improved graphics are a nice touch so it feels like you're really watching the game.”
- “OOTP21 is an excellent baseball sim that has really stepped up the game in visuals.”
- “The graphics are vastly improved and lead to a far more immersive experience than in previous versions.”
- “I have a Dell Alienware gaming computer and the game is barely watchable; the graphics are so horrible.”
- “The graphics look 20 years old and are terrible.”
- “There is an in-game mode with 3D graphics that lets you watch the players play, but it's pretty rudimentary and looks like something out of the 90's - it's obviously not the focus of the game.”
gameplay
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The gameplay in OOTP 21 is praised for its depth and realism, offering an engaging experience for both historical and modern baseball simulations. While the core mechanics remain strong, some users noted occasional quirks and a need for polish, particularly in defensive mechanics. Overall, the game provides a satisfying blend of strategy and management, appealing especially to stat enthusiasts and those who enjoy immersive team management.
- “OOTP 21 contains the same great gameplay OOTP 20 has, but also adds a lot of nice improvements as well.”
- “The gameplay continues to be terrific, the MLB licensing is a really nice touch they added, and the level of depth you can go in analyzing stats, building your rosters, and implementing strategies are second to none.”
- “Gameplay is complex but accessible.”
- “The gameplay consists of nothing more complicated than having the option to pitch the ball, walk the batter, hit the batter, or stare at the screen and do nothing.”
- “And that’s nothing to say of the dozens of graphics bugs on every other menu screen, that, while not painfully disruptive to gameplay, are demonstrative of serious lack of polish that a $40 game in its 23rd year of existence should sport.”
- “Not recommended for a casual fan or for actual baseball gameplay.”
optimization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
75%
15%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with players noting that it struggles to perform well on high-end PCs despite its potential. There are inconsistencies between player scouting evaluations and in-game performance, which adds depth but also highlights optimization issues. Overall, while the game offers an immersive experience, its technical performance leaves much to be desired.
- “The connection and sometimes disconnection between your scouting evaluations of a player and their in-game performance really make this game enjoyable.”
- “Baseball is vastly more an independent performance for the players compared to the team structure of European football, but talking with Bryce Harper about his hitting slump and boosting his morale into a reclamation of his dominance would make this game so much better.”
- “This is a very promising game, but it's poorly optimized for high-end PCs.”
- “One of the last leagues I played in, there was only one other team making changes based on player performance (out of 30).”
- “Knowing that what your scouting director is telling you does not take into account statistical performance added an extra layer of depth and immersion to one of the deepest sports strategy games.”
monetization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
25%
60%
The monetization strategy in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating that the Perfect Team mode is not paywalled despite the presence of in-app purchases. However, many criticize the frequent ads and the lack of innovation justifying the increased monetization, particularly noting the "cash grab" nature of requiring players to restart their teams with each new version. Overall, while the game offers competitive play without spending, the monetization practices have left some players feeling frustrated.
- “While I haven't spent a dime on the in-app purchases, I have a roster that competes with gold and diamond league teams.”
- “I also like that the perfect team mode isn't paywalled in any way despite in-game purchases being possible.”
- “There is just not enough innovation here to justify the increased monetization that has been brought on by the perfect team mode.”
- “If you are a fan of microtransactions, they seem to be putting all their effort into a MUT clone to drain customers via cards.”
- “Perfect Team is well done and fun as far as it goes, but pay-to-win card purchasing and the fact that the online team you build up over many months in one version of OOTP Baseball does not transfer to the next version (you have to start over from zero in each version) is the 'cash grab' part I mention in my scoring below.”
- “I do enjoy the game; however, how developers think it is appropriate to have constant ads pop up when you start the game and also when I click to go into a game mode within the game I get another pop-up.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
6%
89%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience, particularly in the user interface and during gameplay. While some players have had no issues, others find the game too buggy to enjoy, often leading them to prefer older versions. Overall, if players are not willing to troubleshoot frequently, this title may not be the best choice for them.
- “It is the most recent edition I own, and I've had no glitches (knock on a hardwood bat).”
- “It's too buggy to play, so if I want to scratch this itch, I'll go back to '18, which, as far as I can remember, never crashed nor suffered from all of these weird UI bugs and black screens.”
- “If you don't want to spend as much time troubleshooting as playing, this isn't the game for you.”
- “The UI is a buggy mess that hard crashes the game at any given moment when you hover over any part of it.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
64%
21%
The game's story is characterized by rich, player-driven narratives that emerge from its simulation mechanics, reminiscent of titles like RimWorld and Dwarf Fortress. Players engage with various modes, each offering unique storylines through card collection, trading, and mission completion, creating a dynamic and immersive experience. However, some users express frustration with the availability of certain high-demand diamond mission cards, which can impact gameplay.
- “Very interesting storylines if you like simulation games with no direction, and like to fill in the blanks yourself (think RimWorld or Dwarf Fortress storytelling engines). I find myself popping in to watch rival games or the playoff games of my future opponents, and see how those games play out.”
- “Actively collecting new packs of cards, trading your old cards in the auction house, or looking to complete collection missions via the auction house (which rewards you better cards for your lineup) has gotten me through 2 weeks of the coronavirus lockdown.”
- “Many, if not a majority, of diamond cards belong to missions and are severely demand-based.”
- “Every mode, every game, every player, every in-game award -- they all have their own story.”
- “My only gripe with the game is the availability of diamond mission cards, at times.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its lightheartedness, particularly in the amusing AI decisions, such as teams consistently filling their rosters with the same pitching staff. While some players find the humor enjoyable, others feel it lacks refinement compared to previous versions. Overall, the game offers a variety of ways to engage, contributing to its comedic appeal.
- “One thing I found humorous was the teams getting filled with the same exact pitching staff by the AI.”
- “Which is funny, because some reviews think it's too watered down.”
- “There are so many different ways to play and enjoy this game that it's not even funny.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is praised for its exceptional replayability, offering thousands of possibilities and options that provide unlimited replay value. Users consider it the best baseball simulation ever, highlighting its depth and variety that encourage repeated play.
- “There are thousands of possibilities to play the game with unlimited replay value.”
- “Best baseball simulation to ever exist, unlimited replay value.”
- “Best statistical sim of baseball ever, replayable with options I may never use.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply resonant, as it effectively simulates the highs and lows of being a sports fan. The experience of following a team through seasons, including thrilling victories and devastating losses, evokes genuine feelings akin to real-life baseball fandom.
- “Watching your team go through an entire season over the course of a real-life week is exciting, heartbreaking, and just reminds me of following along with actual baseball during the summer.”
- “It manages to simulate the emotional experience of following a franchise as a fan.”
- “I'm 8 seasons in with 4 division titles, and 1 World Series appearance that I lost in heartbreaking fashion.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's enjoyable in-game playability but find the grinding aspect can be tedious at times. While the experience is generally engaging, many do not foresee investing extensive hours into grinding through long-term progression.
- “I'm enjoying the game, but it can be super tedious at times.”
- “Despite all this, I don’t sense that I will be putting in serious hours and grinding through decades of a career.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The new single game interface significantly enhances the immersive atmosphere of gameplay, despite some bugs in player animations. Overall, it represents a notable improvement in how players experience and manage their games.
- “The new single game interface has some bugs in terms of player animations, but it is a huge step forward in creating a more immersive atmosphere while you watch and manage your single games.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is not characterized by a high-definition, dynamic soundtrack typical of 3D games; instead, it lacks the energetic and immersive qualities often expected in such titles.