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.
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Reviews
- In-depth managerial and GM aspects that provide a realistic baseball experience.
- Great historical accuracy and the ability to create custom leagues and teams.
- Highly addictive gameplay that keeps players engaged for hours.
- High learning curve that may be challenging for casual baseball fans.
- Frequent bugs and crashes that can disrupt gameplay and corrupt save files.
- Some players report issues with AI decision-making and unrealistic player performance.
- graphics43 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 7 % 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 sufficient for a simulation experience, others express a desire for a more significant overhaul to elevate the visual quality and realism. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for a text-based simulation, but there is a consensus that further upgrades are necessary to keep pace with contemporary gaming expectations.
“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.”
“The graphics of the field are great too without slowing the game down.”
“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.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising the depth and realism of the mechanics, particularly in team management and coaching systems, while others criticize the lack of significant improvements over previous versions and a steep learning curve. Players appreciate the detailed tutorials and online resources available, but some feel that the core gameplay experience remains stagnant and lacks engaging real-time action. Overall, the game offers a rich management experience, but potential buyers are advised to explore gameplay videos before purchasing.
“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.”
“Why am I paying money for the same gameplay experience I had with my 2018 version?”
“A 'chemistry' system for coaches and 'morale system' that completely neglects to impact 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.”
- stability19 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been 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, many express frustration over the lack of effective customer support and the developers' failure to address these persistent problems. Overall, the game is deemed unstable, with a recommendation to avoid it unless players are willing to navigate its numerous glitches.
“Fun game! Running it on Linux runs great. If you love baseball, it's a must buy!”
“They were the cleanest, most bug-free versions put out 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 functions as a simulation of baseball results rather than offering a compelling narrative. While there are some engaging elements like 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 a more substantial 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.”
“The past couple weeks feels like they have added hastily contrived pack reward missions trying to quell some of the player base unrest.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while it generally runs smoothly and offers improved quality of life features, players have reported issues such as stuttering and slow simulation speeds, particularly on high-end PCs. Critics suggest that the attention to detail may be contributing to performance problems, indicating 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.”
“The optimization is lacking, making it difficult to enjoy the gameplay experience.”
“Performance issues hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % 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 pressure to invest money or engage in card flipping.
“There are player-made tournaments that do not seem to have any microtransactions involved, which is a refreshing change.”
“The monetization model is fair and does not hinder gameplay, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend.”
“I appreciate that the game offers a variety of ways to earn in-game currency without relying heavily on microtransactions.”
“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
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of games, often feeling it requires excessive time and effort, likening it to needing a "second life." However, some games, like "Perfect Team," offer a more enjoyable experience by minimizing the grind and enhancing the gameplay without the constant need for 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 playing in China from now on for grinding my gears.”
- 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 seems to resonate with those who appreciate a blend of dark comedy and self-awareness.
“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 heartbreak watching their drafted or traded players succeed as all-stars or struggle in the minor leagues. This duality of reward and disappointment adds a significant layer of emotional investment to the gameplay.
“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.”
“The emotional rollercoaster of seeing your favorite characters face challenges and triumphs makes every moment feel significant.”
“The connections you build with the characters and the choices you make create a deep emotional investment that stays with you long after the game ends.”
