Out of the Park Baseball 23
- April 22, 2022
- Out of the Park Developments
- 1300h median play time
Get on Steam"Out of the Park Baseball 23" is the latest edition of the award-winning sports strategy franchise, offering a comprehensive baseball management experience. With new 3D visuals, expanded customization options, and in-game tutorials, it's accessible to newcomers and veterans alike. The game boasts unmatched authenticity with MLB and MLBPA licenses, providing numerous offline and online gameplay options for an unparalleled experience.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- OOTP 23 is the best baseball management simulation game on the market, offering incredible depth and customization.
- The new features, such as improved trade logic and AI, enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- The game is highly addictive, allowing players to immerse themselves in managing a baseball team from top to bottom.
- The game has numerous bugs and issues, particularly with the Perfect Team mode and save file corruption.
- The removal of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league has frustrated many long-time players.
- The user interface can be overwhelming and not very intuitive for newcomers, making it difficult to navigate.
- graphics76 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 86 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have seen some improvements, particularly in stadium visuals and animations, but many players feel they still fall short of modern standards, often likening them to older titles. While some appreciate the enhancements and find them enjoyable within the context of gameplay, others express disappointment and note persistent graphical glitches. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for a simulation-focused game, but there is a strong desire for further upgrades and refinements.
“The improvements aren't crazy but the loading times and the time it takes to save a game has been reduced significantly and although I don't really play many games (I simulate about 148-150 of my 150 regular season games) the stadiums and the little graphics are much improved from 2021.”
“I love the baseball stadiums and graphics that go with it.”
“For what is basically a text-based game, the graphics are pretty good.”
“Another thing is that the animations and graphics make me feel like I'm playing an old game.”
“I am disappointed in the graphics.”
“At a certain point, you're seeing basically the same graphics for a ball hit to left or a grounder to second.”
- gameplay45 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers a mix of depth and complexity, with new features like coaching chemistry and trading options enhancing the experience, though some players find the mechanics less satisfying than previous iterations. While the learning curve is steep, helpful tutorials and resources can aid new players, making the overall experience rewarding despite some criticisms regarding UI and core gameplay improvements. For those seeking detailed management rather than real-time action, the game provides an extensive sandbox environment, though it may not appeal to everyone.
“Much better gameplay with more realistic baseball action.”
“That said, the balance of the gameplay is perfect.”
“Incredible depth to the game mechanics, but a bit daunting to get into: tutorials are your friend.”
“Do not spend one penny on this before you see a video of the gameplay.”
“The entire mechanics are 10 times worse than last year, that I refunded and 10 times worse than 'xx' which is the last 'solid build' that allows you to sorta play a real season with real players.”
“Unfortunately, the core gameplay hasn't really improved.”
- stability36 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, freezes, and performance issues, particularly in franchise mode and online play. Players have expressed frustration over the lack of effective customer support and poor organization of troubleshooting resources. While some users find enjoyment in the game, many recommend caution due to its significant stability problems.
“They were the cleanest, most bug-free versions put out of the last 10 or so.”
“Fun game... running on Linux runs great; if you love baseball, a must buy!”
“My game as a whole is buggy and weird now.”
“If your game freezes and you have to close OOTP using Task Manager, your game will corrupt.”
“23 has been a buggy mess for either historical play or fiction and there isn't really a light at the end of the tunnel.”
- story30 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many players feeling that it primarily functions as a baseball match result simulator rather than a narrative-driven experience. While there are some player storylines and variable dialogue that add freshness, the missions are seen as poorly constructed and disconnected from the overall narrative, leading to frustration among users. Overall, players express a desire for a more engaging and structured storyline to enhance the gaming experience.
“There are some exploits, and with computer games there always will be, but the simulation is outstanding and the game's ability to create storylines with real and fictional players is unparalleled.”
“Aside from player storylines, there are plenty of other news articles, box score reports, and variable dialogue that keep the game fresh.”
“I simply watch from afar, simming a week and then looking at what storylines unfolded during that time.”
“Seriously needs more storyline here; otherwise, this is just a baseball match result simulator based on functions.”
“The missions make little sense and seem cobbled together hurriedly.”
“We had a delayed launch (2 fewer months in the game cycle), server issues from the start, the content releases were really weak, the markets got out of control, and missions were a total pain in the ass.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with users noting instances of stuttering and slow simulation speeds, particularly on high-end PCs. While the attention to detail and quality of life improvements are appreciated, many feel that performance lags behind previous entries and that future adjustments to simulation and development mechanics are necessary for a smoother experience.
“There's always been an answer to my questions, and there are many stats to help you analyze player performance and to make sensible player trades.”
“There is definitely more quality of life, and the game runs smoothly most of the time, but there needs to be some change to how simulation and development works in the future.”
“I follow along my friends and family and see how their careers take off, how much money they make, teams they play for, performance, stats, all that.”
“Complete with some stuttering and slow sim speeds.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The monetization in the game has improved with the removal of pop-up ads, but many users still view it as a cash grab, requiring significant spending or reliance on luck with lootboxes to progress. While there are player-made tournaments without microtransactions, the primary mode heavily emphasizes financial investment.
“However, this entire mode is really just a cash grab where you have to either spend obscene amounts of money on the game, flip player cards like stocks, or get lucky with lootboxes.”
“The cash grab perfect team part... no, I'm not going to spend money on that.”
“There are other player-made tournaments that do not appear to have microtransactions available, but I have not really experimented much with them.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, often feeling it requires excessive time and effort, likening it to needing a "second life" to keep up. However, some find relief in alternatives like the "Perfect Team" mode, which offers a more enjoyable experience without the relentless grind and constant player upgrades.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Perfect Team is an excellent solution for those who love the 'Ultimate Team' experience, but without the endless grinding and the constant need to upgrade your players.”
“Have fun in playing in China from now on for grinding my gears.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by dark and absurd elements, as players find amusement in exaggerated injuries and the ironic situations that arise, such as a career-ending bruised thumb. Additionally, the developers' insistence on receiving positive reviews for a game perceived as subpar adds a layer of comedic irony to the experience. Overall, the humor is a mix of macabre and self-referential jokes that resonate with players.
“Well, I ruptured his spine in several places, broke his nose, gave him gout, but what finally ended him was I gave him a career-ending bruised thumb. I found it funny that was what ended his career; I just made the injury last for 20 years.”
“Funny story: the devs were loudly telling us to please leave a review on Steam... for a crap game.”
“Which is kinda funny.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game's mechanics, finding both joy and sorrow in the outcomes of their drafted and traded players. The experience of seeing these players succeed as all-stars or struggle in the minor leagues evokes a powerful mix of pride and heartbreak.
“Watching players you drafted and traded for become all-stars or remain in the bottom of the minor league system forever because they couldn’t break through is both rewarding and heartbreaking.”
