Out of the Park Baseball 16

 PC
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 74 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 74
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 74
  3. Negative: 14 out of 74

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  1. GO4
    Jun 17, 2015
    5
    Out of the Park 16 is the best baseball game of it's kind. It's also the only baseball game of it's kind. The game is very detailed with many customization options. It has good community support, you can find player photos for just about anyone that has ever played the game on the OOTP forums.. You can go with the major league setup, which contains all the logo's and players for each MLBOut of the Park 16 is the best baseball game of it's kind. It's also the only baseball game of it's kind. The game is very detailed with many customization options. It has good community support, you can find player photos for just about anyone that has ever played the game on the OOTP forums.. You can go with the major league setup, which contains all the logo's and players for each MLB team, along with all the associated minor league teams, or you can create your own fantasy league. Do you like stats? OOTP has got more stats than you'll ever need.

    But, there are some big problems with the A.I. It just isn't good enough to handle substitutions properly. It isn't smart enough to properly handle many game situations when playing out your games. If you like simulating a full season, then it does a good job. But when you play out your games, the opposing A.I. will make some very questionable and sometimes silly decisions.

    OOTP is still mostly a spreadsheet simulation. 3D graphics are under development, but still have a long, long way to go.

    So, in summary, OOTP 16 is a good game. But, wait for a sale with a 50% mark down or more in price. You'll be glad you did.    … Expand
  2. marc5477
    Jun 23, 2015
    6
    Anyway, OOTP16 seems to be too similar to OOTP15 to be given a 10 score. I enjoy the game very much because I am a statistic buff but the fact is that I have played nearly 30 seasons in this game using various starting options and I have not noticed any noteworthy differences from the previous game except for a few insignificant additions such as improvements to the GUI. Seriously, this isAnyway, OOTP16 seems to be too similar to OOTP15 to be given a 10 score. I enjoy the game very much because I am a statistic buff but the fact is that I have played nearly 30 seasons in this game using various starting options and I have not noticed any noteworthy differences from the previous game except for a few insignificant additions such as improvements to the GUI. Seriously, this is not worthy of a new $40 price tag. At best, the improvements made in OOTP16 should have been added as a $10 addon pack and not a whole new game for $40 because it certainly is not. Further, the licensing from the MLB added absolutely nothing to the game and should simply be removed to save money in the future. No one cared that the game did not come (out of box) with all the current team names. It was trivial to change the names in your own game and it was even less trivial to simply download a player made game start (basically like a mod) that did it for you. The MLB license probably added costs and brought nothing worthwhile to the player.

    Other changes like with the managers seems to dumb down the system rather than add anything new. Basically the skill modifiers have been hidden so now when you hire coaches and managers you must depend on actual performance rather than some sort of metric. Ok fine. I can do that with my MLB team but what about all my minor league teams? I dont want to do that with all of them because it is simply too tedious thus this new "feature" is a wash. Its neither a step forward or back.

    Overall, still a good game for us number crunchers but it is not a "new" game. You might as well buy OOTP15 for half the price if you are going to jump in. I feel like I got burned with this latest release.

    The improved financial reporting also added nothing. We already had all this stuff in the previous game, all they did was improve the GUI to make it more accessible. This is good, but this does not warrant new game status. This should have been a patch.

    Again I restate. This is not a new game! Its basically a patch disguised as a $40 new game.

    -------------------

    Special Note: Unfortunately the creators of this game tainted the review system when asking only fans who liked their game (those who take the time to look at their forums) to review this game positively. They claimed that someone is trolling their game by giving it bad reviews... well clearly this is not the case and the reviews are extremely skewed in their favor (with too many unjustified 10 scores) rather than the other way around. This is very bad and reminds me a lot of Sony tactics to make their games seem better than they really are... until you go buy the game and realize that Sony sucks the big one (hence no Sony system since the PS2).    … Expand
  3. AlabamaFootball
    Jun 15, 2015
    10
    I have been playing this game since version 2 came out 14 years ago. Developer is awesome. Game is great. I get to relive my childhood of strat--o-matic without the use of cards, tracking my own stats in spiral notebooks and buying new player cards for each season. Game makes great use of lahman database. Free player cards! for those on here writing negative things about this game, I doI have been playing this game since version 2 came out 14 years ago. Developer is awesome. Game is great. I get to relive my childhood of strat--o-matic without the use of cards, tracking my own stats in spiral notebooks and buying new player cards for each season. Game makes great use of lahman database. Free player cards! for those on here writing negative things about this game, I do not know your motivation for doing so but baseball extremely hard to simulate. This games does a fantastic job at that.

    Customization options and third-party add-ons make this game play any way you want to play it. Fictional players, fictional leagues, fictional teams for those who want to play that way. Intermingle players from different eras if you want to. Historical recreations and what-ifs if that is what you want to do.

    This game has given me hours and hours of relaxing, therapeutic, fun. Playing games with players from my youth, from Ernie Banks and Ron Santo to Felix Millan and Larry Bowa. brings back memories...

    This game provides a tremendous bang for the buck! Great support. Awesome product. As simple or complex a game as you want to make it....    … Expand
  4. Klew721
    Jun 15, 2015
    10
    OOTP never ceases to amaze me every year. I have been playing since OOTP4 and every year this game gets better and better. Most detailed baseball game out there.
  5. Airdrop01
    Jun 15, 2015
    10
    OOTP is a simulation of every possible level of world wide baseball for age 16 and up. Literally. It is also scalable, which means that your world can be limited, so that you don't have to scout international free agents, for example. I've played computer baseball of some form since Micro League Baseball in 1984 on a PC Jr and this iteration of OOTP is by far the best.j
  6. skoepa
    Jun 15, 2015
    10
    By far the greatest baseball simulation I have every played. Incredible statistical depth, complete customization, and the ability to replay any historical season make this THE greatest baseball sim ever.
  7. Assos99
    Jun 15, 2015
    10
    This is game is the standard for baseball sims out there. It allows you to recreate history and/or make your own history and/or invent your own worlds. I have seen the Negative reviews and found them baseless and full of impatient people who do not understand the scope of the game. Once you figure out your league settings, it takes no more then 5 minutes to set up your universe to playThis is game is the standard for baseball sims out there. It allows you to recreate history and/or make your own history and/or invent your own worlds. I have seen the Negative reviews and found them baseless and full of impatient people who do not understand the scope of the game. Once you figure out your league settings, it takes no more then 5 minutes to set up your universe to play ball! I play a lot of historical, but I have also fallen in love with the fictional leagues. You can create a Far East or Middle Eastern league, using fictional players from the region. Who else does that! And with support on the forums and the mod-ability of this game, it is well word every penny!… Expand
  8. Charley575
    Jun 15, 2015
    10
    OOTP is a highly detailed baseball sim which sets the Gold Standard for baseball sims. The game can be fully customized so you can create any baseball universe you want. Of course, you can also select a pre-set league and dive straight in. The game has a great online community where new users can get their questions answered. I've played every version of this game since '04 and have neverOOTP is a highly detailed baseball sim which sets the Gold Standard for baseball sims. The game can be fully customized so you can create any baseball universe you want. Of course, you can also select a pre-set league and dive straight in. The game has a great online community where new users can get their questions answered. I've played every version of this game since '04 and have never been disappointed. If you love baseball, this is the game for you.… Expand
  9. dnu318
    Jun 15, 2015
    10
    So you want to be General Manger or you want the hot seat in the manager's office? Let OOTP be your ticket.

    The level of realism in this game has always been incredible. The customization that this game allows is endless. If you have an obscure setup wish, just head over to the forums and ask. There are plenty of people to help you out with tips and suggestions. There are plenty of    So you want to be General Manger or you want the hot seat in the manager's office? Let OOTP be your ticket.

    The level of realism in this game has always been incredible. The customization that this game allows is endless. If you have an obscure setup wish, just head over to the forums and ask. There are plenty of people to help you out with tips and suggestions. There are plenty of mods to enhance game enjoyment: logos, jerseys, ballparks, universes, databases, you name it.

    Setup can be as easy or as complex as you want it to be. If you're new to the game checkout the MLB quickstart and poke around. learn the menus and learn how to play. Then maybe expand into playing wiht the database. You can start a league at any point in baseball history. Do you want to sim from the dead ball era to present day to see how you could change baseball history? Do you want to test the game and see how historically accurate it is? Do you want to create a completely alternative baseball reality with completely fictional players? It's all at your finger tips.

    You will not find a game more in-depth than OOTP! waivers and dfa's (designate for assignment) It's all there! Injuries, suspensions, rain delays, rain outs, It's literally endless.

    OOTP, until last year, was a text based sim. Now they've got 3-D graphics, which are still a work in progress but it just shows the depth of the game and what that the development team is willing to go the extra mile.

    There are plenty of patches. If things are need to be fixed, and can be (programming can be a dificult endeavor)., the team is right on it. Patches aren't just about fixes either! You can even find new features in upgrades.

    Many years ago, (sometime in the 80's) I believe the New York Mets had a slogan: "Baseball the way it aught to be." Well, OOTP is a baseball Sim the way it Ought to be. The team truly does hit it "out of the park" and they've done it consistently, for years.    … Expand
  10. kingdomk
    May 21, 2015
    10
    Certainly the best baseball game available today. It's not about action, but rather strategy. You are essentially the manager / GM of your favorite MLB team... totally addicting gameplay. If you are a baseball fan, you should definitely get this game!
  11. isais1
    Jun 15, 2015
    10
    The Most Realistic Date Sin Baseball Game ever. So detailed and you can virtually do what ever kind of league you want real or fictional. I will continue to buy every new version of this game
  12. tyler87898
    Jun 15, 2015
    10
    Honestly, it's incredible how in depth and realistic OOTP is. OOTP 16 has many new great features, such as all star and hall of fame voting that just make it so much more immersive. The OOTP team is great when it comes to listening to the fans, with many even participating in forum threads. Each version gets better and better, and OOTP 16 surprised me once again with these new features.
  13. kent8142
    May 17, 2015
    10
    Possibly the greatest sports game of all time, you can choose to either micromanage everything or let the CPU do a lot. Its provide a perfect simulation of a 162 game season, with injuries, breakouts, vintage performances from old veterans, 30-something rookies, bad contracts, and the one that got away all either helping you win the pennant or destroying your season. You can be the 2014Possibly the greatest sports game of all time, you can choose to either micromanage everything or let the CPU do a lot. Its provide a perfect simulation of a 162 game season, with injuries, breakouts, vintage performances from old veterans, 30-something rookies, bad contracts, and the one that got away all either helping you win the pennant or destroying your season. You can be the 2014 Rangers, the 2014 Royals, or somewhere in between. The customization is also a very good part of the game, as you can change almost anything in your game from city and team name, to adding the DH to the NL or deciding how many votes a player needs to enter the HoF. New additions from last year include All-Star and HoF voting, the MVP award, new owner goals, an upgraded coaching and scouting system, and of course the MLB license. I can't possibly imagine someone not enjoying this game, unless you are too braindead to figure ANYTHING out.… Expand
  14. q098c0
    Jun 15, 2015
    10
    The most in-depth sim I have ever played. Whether it's to replay the current MLB season or play through your own fictional universe, OOTP offer great in-game text-based simulation play, while also allowing you to be a GM for total team control.
  15. HuachucaThunder
    Jun 18, 2015
    10
    This is the best baseball sim on the market, by far. I have played this since OOTP 8 and it has improved greatly with every release since. The game provides so many options for the user that it does take some "tinkering" to get your world how you want it. But, that is just one thing that separates OOTP from all the other baseball sims. Some people will say that it is not real. I beg toThis is the best baseball sim on the market, by far. I have played this since OOTP 8 and it has improved greatly with every release since. The game provides so many options for the user that it does take some "tinkering" to get your world how you want it. But, that is just one thing that separates OOTP from all the other baseball sims. Some people will say that it is not real. I beg to differ. The game plays out with the choices you make as the GM, Manager, etc. Your moves, i.e. trades, waiver moves, releases, affect your team and your fan base in a realistic manner.
    Out of the box, it is ready to play. A few simple clicks with your mouse and you are managing a baseball team, from rookie ball to the majors or any one of the dozens of other leagues included in the game.
    As long as the franchise continues, I can say for myself, I will purchase it without any second thoughts.

    The community that is available in the forums is one of the things that is great about this game. If you have a problem or just a question on how to do something, chances are your issue will be addressed in a very timely manner and you will have a multitude of ways to do something.

    Be aware, this is NOT and "arcade" game, so you will not get a player who regularly hit 100 homeruns or hits .700 every year, unless you physically go in and adjust the settings, and then it still may not happen. I have seen a few posts in the forum about user not getting the results they expect and say the game is flawed. How can my team, , lose 100 games when I have the same players that won the world series last year? Well, simply put, "The Fogs of War". The game is worth every penny in my opinion.    … Expand
  16. metacritic1967
    Jun 18, 2015
    0
    Update - The User Score is just a bit tainted since the programmers asked the users to inflate the score!

    But at least I am getting my complaints finally listened to by the group! With no manual, game setup that takes hours, financial system that does not match historical records, AI managers playing players out of position, so-called historical replays that use fictional coaches and    Update - The User Score is just a bit tainted since the programmers asked the users to inflate the score!

    But at least I am getting my complaints finally listened to by the group!

    With no manual, game setup that takes hours, financial system that does not match historical records, AI managers playing players out of position, so-called historical replays that use fictional coaches and owners (seriously, a historical 1977 replay has the New York Yankees owned by someone from Cuba and not owned by George "The Boss" Steinbrenner) and a new owner option that is completely idiotic, I say pass on the baseball game.

    If you are a fan of recreating historical leagues there are better games out there.

    Final Verdict - The game is not worth the money or the time!    … Expand
  17. Aumakua
    Jun 19, 2015
    10
    Amazing baseball sim/management game. This isn't "The Show" so if you are looking for arcade baseball please look elsewhere (although it would be nice to somehow combine the two). This is for the baseball history lovers, GM and manager wanna be's and creative people who love making up a baseball world that suits their own imagination. It really can be tweaked for every type of player,Amazing baseball sim/management game. This isn't "The Show" so if you are looking for arcade baseball please look elsewhere (although it would be nice to somehow combine the two). This is for the baseball history lovers, GM and manager wanna be's and creative people who love making up a baseball world that suits their own imagination. It really can be tweaked for every type of player, repeat history, change it a little, change it A LOT. Fully customize the game anyway you want it, logos, jerseys, hats, players, facegen (want Joe Montana in the game as a baseball player, no problem). The "community" is amazing with the work they do with some very intelligent and creative people willing to help out. By the way, a little advertised feature in this game is baseball cards! for those who enjoyed collecting in your youth or still do, you can create or use templates people already created baseball cards for your fictional league, just one of the coolest features I have ever seen put in a game.… Expand
  18. pjh5165
    Jun 17, 2015
    10
    This iteration of OOTP has convinced me that Jesus Christ was indeed the first coming of developer Markus Heinsohn. I have played several versions now and the improvements keep on coming. Buy this, you won't regret it.
  19. oilersfan99
    Jun 17, 2015
    10
    For baseball simulations, this game is head and shoulders above anything out there. I have been playing this series since it started and have been huge fan of each game. It is incredibly in depth and takes a bit of learning to know the ins and outs of the whole game but is easy enough to pick up and play too. One of the best features of the game isn't listed. It is the community. They areFor baseball simulations, this game is head and shoulders above anything out there. I have been playing this series since it started and have been huge fan of each game. It is incredibly in depth and takes a bit of learning to know the ins and outs of the whole game but is easy enough to pick up and play too. One of the best features of the game isn't listed. It is the community. They are helpful and will help teach different things.

    If you want a great baseball simulation, this is it.    … Expand
  20. caporegime
    Jun 16, 2015
    10
    OOTP is by far the best baseball sim on the market. Nothing else comes even remotely close to it in terms of its versatility and customizability. You can play as the manager or GM of any team in MLB's past or present, play in commissioner mode and control ever aspect of your league, or create a fictional league in Zimbabwe, Paraguay, or any other place your heart desires. No other sportsOOTP is by far the best baseball sim on the market. Nothing else comes even remotely close to it in terms of its versatility and customizability. You can play as the manager or GM of any team in MLB's past or present, play in commissioner mode and control ever aspect of your league, or create a fictional league in Zimbabwe, Paraguay, or any other place your heart desires. No other sports sim, including the legendary Football Manager, can offer that kind of flexibility.

    Best of all, OOTP's development team is among the best in the industry in terms of fine-tuning their product and adding new features that fans want. You'll never catch these guys sitting on their laureals, that's for sure. I've been playing OOTP since v4 was released in 2002, and can attest to the fact that forward strides made in improving this game have been nothing short of spectacular.

    In short, OOTP is the game that NO baseball fan should be without. If you love baseball, you absolutely owe it to yourself to own this game. Even if you're lukewarm on the sport or wouldn't know a baseball from a costume ball, OOTP's intricacies and depth of play will guarantee you get your money's worth.    … Expand
  21. Robo1234
    Jul 29, 2015
    4
    It really doesn't have any competition. The vast number of options is quite amazing. However, the game is flawed at its very core. Player evaluation is flawed and the AI struggles with roster management. If you want to see some great players become backups or even sent to AAA for no explainable reason, then it's a pretty good game.
  22. AlanJobb
    Oct 22, 2015
    10
    Owned every version ever released and the game gets better every release. An absolute must have for the detailed baseball fan and the best game in the text sim genre. The 3D modeling is still very much a work in progress and if they can eventually get it to the level that the FM series has that will be fine.

    Those that don't like the text sim style and concentration on details and    Owned every version ever released and the game gets better every release. An absolute must have for the detailed baseball fan and the best game in the text sim genre. The 3D modeling is still very much a work in progress and if they can eventually get it to the level that the FM series has that will be fine.

    Those that don't like the text sim style and concentration on details and realism over bells and whistles probably wont like it. But for those that want this out of their game it is damn near perfect.    … Expand
  23. tomashancock
    Jul 24, 2015
    9
    Stuff you should know first, because US sports fans tend to be an insular bunch.

    Football Manager is the God of Sport Sims worldwide: All hail Football Manager. Arcade games like EA Whatever outsell it of course, but that's a bigger market. You have to like soccer or be willing to learn it though to play FM. OOTP is the baseball rendition of FM, which the developer previously worked    Stuff you should know first, because US sports fans tend to be an insular bunch.

    Football Manager is the God of Sport Sims worldwide: All hail Football Manager. Arcade games like EA Whatever outsell it of course, but that's a bigger market. You have to like soccer or be willing to learn it though to play FM.

    OOTP is the baseball rendition of FM, which the developer previously worked on. The similarities are obvious. Because it's a soccer game, Football Manager has a much larger potential market than any baseball game ever will. This is why FM is more polished than OOTP. There's just more money for development.

    That said, OOTP is the only baseball sim for seriously OCD baseball managers. If you want something lighter--no judgement--try Baseball Mogul.    … Expand
  24. Ernestogon
    Sep 15, 2015
    9
    There's some bugs underway in OOTP 16, the most famous when the AI substitutes injured/ejected players. Or some weird general management decisions, although that's supposed to simulate human behavior.

    Anyway, Out Of The Park Baseball stays as the true paramount of baseball sims - maybe the best among the whole sporting genre. Many changing new features includes an owner goal system, and    There's some bugs underway in OOTP 16, the most famous when the AI substitutes injured/ejected players. Or some weird general management decisions, although that's supposed to simulate human behavior.

    Anyway, Out Of The Park Baseball stays as the true paramount of baseball sims - maybe the best among the whole sporting genre. Many changing new features includes an owner goal system, and a brand new player chemistry feature - that's not merely cosmestic but affects the outcome of your savegame in unimaginable ways. Oh! - finally the game comes with MLB licenses with real names and logos without crawling around the forums.

    OOTP comes with a kind, polite online community helping always to the rookies and uploading a wide array of mods - remedying some of the few flaws, like the "Cuban-born Yankees' owner" hypothesis of one fellow user. As said, there's historical and current-day modes, allowing the player to reenact any Major League Baseball season from their humble 19th century days or channelling your inner Nostradamus - will the Wrigley Boys finally end their long, centennial drought, anytime? Will be the Yankee Empire dominating once again, or struggling for a long time a la Cubbies? Also, the beloved fictional mode is here, again for the cheers of every ball daydreamer (like me :) )

    I'm not giving the tenth star for the aforementioned bugs. But in spite of this, OOTP is truly awesome, worthy their tag price.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. PLAY! Zine
    Oct 7, 2015
    80
    Alongside Football Manager, Out of the Park Baseball 16 stands as the best sports sim at the moment.
    Read full review
  2. Gaming Nexus
    May 5, 2015
    95
    Out of the Park ’16 proves once again why it’s the go-to series for baseball management simulators. With the new license to use real MLB players and the other additions and improvements, there’s not much you can’t do in this year’s edition. If you’re looking for a great baseball management simulator, you’ll be hard pressed to find something better.
    Read full review
  3. XGN
    Apr 30, 2015
    80
    Out of the Park Baseball 16 is once again a fine baseball sim, although it misses the ball on several points. The learning curve for new players is huge and a good tutorial is absent, ratings of players don't seem to matter too much.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »