RBI Baseball 21

About

"RBI Baseball 21" is a fast-paced baseball simulation game with easy-to-learn controls and new features like Create-A-Player, play-by-play commentary, and progressive time-of-day. Players can create their own slugger and guide their team to a World Series title in Franchise mode, or play a quick exhibition game. With immersive visual improvements, this game is perfect for both casual and dedicated baseball fans.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

51%

Audience ScoreBased on 138 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

stability22 negative mentions

The game provides a decent alternative for PC baseball fans until MLB The Show is available.
Some players find the pitching mechanics enjoyable and the graphics to be good for a baseball game.
The addition of a create-a-player feature and various gameplay modes adds some fun and customization options.

The game is plagued with numerous bugs, glitches, and poor AI, making it frustrating to play.
Fielding and baserunning mechanics are poorly executed, leading to unrealistic gameplay experiences.
The commentary and overall presentation are lacking, with many players noting that it feels outdated and unpolished.

gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of frustration and enjoyment, with many players criticizing the batting and baserunning mechanics as inconsistent and lacking depth, while praising the pitching mechanics and the variety of viewing angles. Some users appreciate the arcade-style gameplay and customization options, but feel the overall experience is hindered by outdated graphics, limited modes, and a lack of engaging presentation. Overall, the game shows potential but requires significant improvements to fully satisfy both arcade and simulation baseball fans.
- “The mechanic is crazy fun, and any future Super Mega Baseball games by EA and The Show should consider making use of this really fun mechanic!”
- “I absolutely adore the pitching mechanics in this game.”
- “It's a bare bones baseball experience, but with the added variety and options, I believe it has the capability to please the arcade-style fans and start to get into a little more of the middle ground between the two with the new modern style mechanics.”
- “The baserunning mechanics are still pitiful, along with the graphics.”
- “I only played this game for 29 minutes, and the mechanics are horrendous.”
- “This in between of arcade/sim isn't working here because the gameplay doesn't have enough depth and is overall just not fun.”
graphics
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
44%
12%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising their quality and aesthetic appeal, while others criticize them as outdated and plagued by glitches. Many users note that while the visuals can be decent, issues like awkward animations and unrealistic physics detract from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that the graphics are average at best, with room for significant improvement.
- “I find the game runs really good and has pretty good graphics for a baseball game.”
- “On the positive side, it's a baseball game with fairly good looking graphics and it's officially licensed so you are using real ball players instead of goofy big-headed avatars.”
- “The game looks very nice, and the graphics and modeling have come a long way.”
- “The baserunning mechanics are still pitiful, along with the graphics.”
- “Graphics and celebrations are dull as hell.”
- “This game has terrible physics graphics; when I hit a ground ball, the player catches it when it's literally 2 feet away from his glove. Do not buy; the price isn't worth it.”
stability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, leading to frequent freezes and frustrating gameplay experiences. While some players find it enjoyable despite these issues, many recommend avoiding it until significant updates are made to address the stability problems. Overall, the consensus is that the game's stability is unacceptable at launch, with calls for refunds and improvements.
- “I can look past bugs and glitches, but this is just unacceptable.”
- “To release a game this buggy is criminal and everyone should get a refund.”
- “It's not awful, but it launched with some serious glitches that I don't really understand how they weren't ironed out before launch.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
44%
17%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it outdated, annoying, or simply not to their taste, leading some to turn it off entirely. While a few users appreciate the indie and alternative tracks, the overall sentiment leans towards a desire for more customizable music options. Despite the music being a secondary concern for some, it remains a notable aspect that could benefit from improvement.
- “The soundtrack is really good.”
- “It’s filled from top to bottom with super dope indie songs and they are really really catchy.”
- “I dig the soundtrack a lot.”
- “The soundtrack is the most annoying garbage music I've ever heard.”
- “There are few modes of gameplay, the music stinks, there isn't any real cinematic but is baseball and the end is the most important to me.”
- “This game is okay, but oh my god, the soundtrack is so bad it makes Madden sound like the best soundtrack. I would rather play this game with no sound; it's just terrible.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over the lack of a career mode despite promises of a create-a-player feature. Many feel that the developers are not investing adequately in the game's quality, leading to a perception of minimal effort aimed solely at profit rather than player satisfaction.
- “MLB could easily afford good developers and develop a game equal to The Show; the bottom line is, they don't want to. This is easily a minimum effort cash grab.”
- “I have more hope for the Orioles to win 60 games this season than MLB to fix the problems with this game before they make another cash grab next year with RBI.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mix of tedium and enjoyment, noting that while it can become repetitive, it also provides a fun experience overall.
- “Grinding becomes a monotonous chore that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it feel like a time sink rather than a rewarding experience.”
- “After hours of grinding, it feels less like progress and more like a never-ending loop of boredom.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
100%
Users note that the game lacks an easily replayable tutorial option, which may limit its overall replayability.
- “The game offers a variety of choices that significantly change the outcome, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With multiple endings and diverse character paths, I find myself coming back to explore every possibility.”
- “The random events and procedural generation keep the gameplay unpredictable, ensuring that no two sessions are ever the same.”
- “I've rarely played a game that doesn't have a tutorial option that's easily replayable.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely perceived as lacking, with players finding the franchise mode underwhelming and devoid of engaging features, leading to a sense of disappointment rather than amusement.