RBI Baseball 21
- March 16, 2021
- MLB
- 24h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Epic Games Store"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.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game is a fun alternative for PC users who want to play baseball until MLB The Show is available.
- Pitching mechanics are enjoyable and satisfying, providing a good experience for players.
- The graphics and character models are decent, and the addition of commentary is a step forward for the series.
- The game is plagued with bugs and glitches, making it frustrating and often unplayable.
- Baserunning and fielding mechanics are poorly designed, leading to unrealistic gameplay and AI behavior.
- The overall presentation and animations feel outdated and lack polish, making the game feel clunky.
- gameplay56 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of frustration and appreciation, with many players criticizing the batting mechanics as inconsistent and the baserunning as poor. While the pitching mechanics receive praise for their precision, the overall experience is described as lacking depth and variety, feeling more like a bare-bones arcade game than a fully realized simulation. Despite these shortcomings, some players find enjoyment in the franchise mode and the potential for future improvements.
“Astounding variety in viewing batting or pitching angles during gameplay is another great addition/improvement from past RBI games.”
“In terms of gameplay mechanics, it is definitely worth mentioning that this game is slowly getting closer to a simulation style similar to 'The Show' with each yearly revision.”
“I absolutely adore the pitching mechanics in this game.”
“The baserunning mechanics are still pitiful, along with the graphics.”
“Mechanics don't make sense, the AI hardly contains any baseball knowledge.”
“This in between of arcade/sim isn't working here because the gameplay doesn't have enough depth and is overall just not fun.”
- stability44 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, with many players reporting frequent freezes and gameplay issues that detract from the overall experience. While some find it enjoyable despite these problems, the consensus is that the game's stability is unacceptable, leading to calls for refunds and urgent updates to address the issues. Overall, players recommend caution, suggesting potential buyers wait for fixes or sales before purchasing.
“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.”
“This game is more buggy than a game still in alpha testing.”
- graphics42 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising their quality and aesthetic appeal, while others criticize them as outdated and plagued by glitches. Many users note that while the visuals are decent for a baseball game, they fall short of modern standards and are marred by issues such as poor physics and awkward animations. Overall, the graphics are seen as a highlight for some, but significant improvements are needed to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
“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.”
“Graphics and celebrations are dull as hell.”
“Catches made when the player is 40 feet away, curve balls that show 167 mph, awkward throwing graphics that are so impossible that you just laugh and give up on assuming the game is even being fair.”
“The graphics look old and dated, there are no player intros, the announcer only calls play by play, no commentary. Sound is good and controller support is good as well.”
- music36 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it dated and annoying, leading them to turn it off completely. Others appreciate the indie and alternative tracks, describing them as catchy and enjoyable. Overall, there is a strong desire for a feature that allows players to customize their music selection, as the current soundtrack does not cater to all tastes.
“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.”
“This game is okay, but oh my god, the soundtrack is so bad it makes Madden's sound like the best soundtrack. I would rather play this game with no sound; it's just terrible.”
“Half the music in here is terrible; I had to turn it off completely, which coming from a musician says a lot.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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 the necessary effort or resources to improve the game, leading to a perception of minimal effort aimed at maximizing profits.
“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.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect to be a mix of tedium and enjoyment, noting that while it can become repetitive, it also provides a fun experience overall.
“It gets very tedious at times; however, it's still enjoyable.”
“Grinding can become monotonous and feels like a chore after a while.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players note that the lack of an easily replayable tutorial option significantly impacts the game's overall replayability, suggesting that a well-designed tutorial can enhance the experience and encourage multiple playthroughs.
“I've rarely played a game that doesn't have a tutorial option that's easily replayable.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the reviews is largely absent, as users express frustration with the franchise mode's limitations, describing it as underwhelming to the point of being "not even funny." The repetition of complaints highlights a lack of engaging or humorous content in this aspect of the game.
