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.
PC
Reviews
- Incredibly detailed and immersive baseball management simulation.
- Great for both casual and hardcore baseball fans, with extensive customization options.
- Improvements in trading mechanics and AI make for a more realistic experience.
- Game suffers from bugs and crashes, particularly in long-term saves.
- Perfect Team mode has been criticized for being pay-to-win and having server issues.
- Some players report frustrating AI decisions and unrealistic player development.
- graphics38 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have seen some improvements, particularly in stadium visuals and animations, but many users feel they still fall short of modern AAA standards, often likening them to older titles. While some appreciate the enhancements and find them enjoyable within the context of gameplay, others express disappointment with persistent graphical glitches and a lack of significant upgrades. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for a simulation-focused experience, but there is a strong desire for further development and refinement.
“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.”
“At a certain point, you're seeing basically the same graphics for a ball hit to left or a grounder to second.”
“I am disappointed in the graphics.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of depth and complexity, with new coaching mechanics and trading options enhancing the experience, though some players find the learning curve steep. While the core gameplay remains solid, there are criticisms regarding the lack of improvement in certain areas and the need for better user interface design. Overall, the game offers a rich management experience for those willing to invest time in understanding its systems, but may not satisfy players seeking a more straightforward sports simulation.
“Much better gameplay with more realistic baseball action.”
“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.”
“A 'chemistry' system for coaches and 'morale system' that completely neglects to impact gameplay.”
“Unfortunately, the core gameplay hasn't really improved.”
- stability18 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, freezes, and performance issues, particularly in franchise mode and online play. While some players appreciate the game's unique features and potential, the overall experience is marred by a lack of effective customer support and inadequate troubleshooting resources, leading to frustration among the community. Many recommend caution, especially for those looking to engage in long-term gameplay or complex simulations.
“Fun game! Running it on Linux works great. If you love baseball, it's a must-buy!”
“They were the cleanest, most bug-free versions released in the last 10 or so.”
“My game as a whole is buggy and weird now.”
“It's an interesting simulator that's easy to get sucked into, and there's nothing else like it out there, but it's pretty buggy and you'll have to spend a lot of time on forums looking up why certain things aren't working properly.”
“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.”
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many players feeling that it primarily serves as a simulation of baseball results rather than a narrative-driven experience. While there are some engaging player storylines and variable dialogue, the overall missions are seen as poorly constructed and disconnected, leading to frustration among users. Many reviewers express a desire for more substantial and meaningful story content to enhance the gameplay 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 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.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing stuttering and slow simulation speeds, particularly on high-end PCs. While there are improvements in quality of life and overall smoothness, the performance issues detract from the experience, suggesting a need for future adjustments in simulation and development mechanics.
“There's always been an answer to my questions, and there are many stats to help you analyze player performance and 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 with my friends and family and see how their careers take off, how much money they make, teams they play for, performance, stats, all that.”
“The game suffers from significant stuttering and slow simulation speeds.”
“Despite having many stats to analyze player performance, the optimization leaves much to be desired.”
“The overall performance of the game is hindered by poor optimization, affecting the gameplay experience.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization in the game has improved since 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. While there are player-made tournaments without microtransactions, the overall experience is marred by the aggressive monetization strategies.
“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.”
“There are other player-made tournaments that do not appear to have microtransactions available, but I have not really experimented much with them.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in games can be excessively time-consuming, with some players feeling it requires a significant investment of time, likening it to needing a "second life." However, certain features, like the "Perfect team" mode, offer a more enjoyable experience by minimizing the grind and reducing the need for constant player upgrades.
“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.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by dark and absurd elements, such as exaggerated injuries leading to comically trivial outcomes, which some players find amusing. Additionally, the developers' overt encouragement for players to review a game they perceive as subpar adds a layer of irony to the experience. Overall, the humor is hit-or-miss, appealing to those who enjoy unconventional comedic scenarios.
“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.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the emotional aspect of the game is deeply impactful, as they experience a mix of joy and sorrow watching their drafted or traded players succeed as all-stars or struggle in the minor leagues. This duality of rewarding achievements and heartbreaking failures adds a significant layer of emotional investment to the gameplay.
“Watching players you drafted and traded for become all-stars is rewarding, but seeing them remain stuck in the minor leagues forever because they couldn't break through is heart-wrenching.”
“The emotional rollercoaster of managing a team, where every decision can lead to triumph or despair, truly immerses you in the experience.”
“The bond you form with your players, celebrating their successes and mourning their failures, creates a deep emotional connection that makes every game memorable.”
