MLB The Show 21

 PlayStation 5
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. ComicBook
    May 11, 2021
    70
    It really all comes down to your love of baseball. Even as a fan who watches the game regularly, I've had a hard time finding my footing in The Show 21. It's a hard game and that's OK. Challenges should always be welcomed. But there needs to be a way to bridge the gap, especially with The Show 21 now being made available to a much wider audience. If it can happen with other sports games, it's time it happens for baseball's biggest title.
  2. TierraGamer
    Apr 28, 2021
    70
    MLB The Show 21 is a pretty solid game, but had questionable adjustments that will make you think a few times before buying it. On one side you have good hitting and pitching mechanics, but on the other, player progression is slower. In the name of 'innovation', some things were added and others eliminated, but the latter were working well in past entries.
  3. Launcher (The Washington Post)
    Apr 28, 2021
    70
    MLB The Show 21’ isn’t perfect, but it remains the best baseball simulation game out there. And it’s not particularly close.
  5. Push Square
    Apr 21, 2021
    70
    MLB The Show 21 swings-and-misses in a few areas, with the well-intentioned Ballplayer system diminishing Road to the Show. Despite being stingier, though, Diamond Dynasty is still the best card collecting mode available, and the series’ tried and trusted gameplay has been further enhanced with the addition of Pinpoint Pitching and new fielding animations. Sony San Diego hasn’t quite hit a home run this year, but this is a strong lead-off double for baseball on PS5.
  6. GameSpot
    Apr 20, 2021
    70
    Much like its predecessors, MLB The Show 21 is still one of the best sports games available once you step over the foul line. The gameplay has been tightened up and Pinpoint Pitching is a potential game-changer, and all of these elements go some way to dampening the disappointment of its missing features, stale commentary, and changes (or lack thereof) to Road to the Show and Franchise. It's not the strongest debut the series could've had on new hardware, but if you're in the mood for nine innings of America's favorite pastime, MLB The Show is still the undisputed king.
  7. Screen Rant
    Apr 19, 2021
    70
    Even though MLB The Show 21 lacks in delivering a truly engrossing current-gen experience on the new consoles in some ways and has a few typical sports franchise pitfalls, it's still an enjoyable game that has a high degree of craftsmanship.
  8. Forbes
    Apr 18, 2021
    70
    MLB The Show 21 is still loads of fun to play. Franchise is slightly improved, Diamond Dynasty continues to be strong, and Stadium Creator is even better than expected. However, there are areas of the game that don’t feel like an actual next-gen experience, and we’re still missing features that other sports games have had for years.
  9. IGN France
    Apr 18, 2021
    70
    A great simulation of baseball and mostly of the MLB. From the outstanding sound design, to the announcers or the MLB Network coverage, everything makes you feel that you’re in a ballpark or watching a real MLB game on TV. Next Gen features such as fast loading are a big deal. It makes it even more disappointing that the game only comes in English.
  10. New Game Network
    May 7, 2021
    68
    What's always been good about the franchise is still good here, but when it comes to making the next-gen leap, The Show 21 can't quite cut it. Series die-hards will likely enjoy the real-world rule changes, but if you're picking up the game for the first time in a while, last year's entry is as good as this one.
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In Progress & Unscored

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  1. 3DJuegos
    Apr 29, 2021
    As the first next-gen entry of a long-lasting baseball franchise, which has set the bar so high over the last few years, MLB The Show 21 constitutes a bit of disappointment. Beyond the stadium creator, the game’s contribution towards modes and presentation is minor, not to mention a few irritating problems on the online front of the experience. If you are a fan of MLB that has never played a baseball game, this is as good as it gets, especially on Xbox Game Pass. If you are a veteran, you might as well wait for a few patches or a sale.

Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2021
31
#31 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2021

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
4.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 163 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 163
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 163
  3. Negative: 95 out of 163
  1. RTTSisbroken
    Apr 19, 2021
    0
    The career mode, Road to the Show, has been butchered for The Show 21. The new Ballplayer mechanic they've added to integrate the mode withThe career mode, Road to the Show, has been butchered for The Show 21. The new Ballplayer mechanic they've added to integrate the mode with the online card collecting one is terribly executed and the progression system and badge loadouts are currently bugged and broken.

    You can no longer have multiple unique characters to play through their professional careers. You are forced into a contrived narrative where you are a two-way prospect even though such players at a high level are absurdly rare. You will have to pitch and play a fielding position before you are actually allowed to choose the role you want. You get to choose your starting three pitches only once and then you're stuck with them, across all saves, until you get to a training session. And there is no feasible way to have a junkball pitcher and a flamethrower with vastly different repertoires going at the same time. The only way you can select different pitches is one at a time through training. And talking about pitch selections, knuckleballs have been completely ripped out of the game. They don't play nice online, so offline modes get to suffer and be limited by that.

    The two-way player mechanic is poorly shoved into the same old mode with no thought to revamp it or balance player progression. It is very easy to be so low in attributes and overall that your team will move you to a different position and then not know what to do with you. Then every game you attempt to play will have your character subbed out in the very first inning without playing anything and then you have to start all over again. The different loadouts you have so "your ballplayer can do it all!" is also horrifically bugged so that if you are trying to be a two-way player the game can't properly switch between them.

    I'm not opposed to the new progression system. I'm not up in arms about the fairly blatant attempt to get more microtransactions. But the stripping of popular, common-sense features in RTTS that limits player creativity and enjoyment is not good. And there was very little to no transparency on a lot of it in the pre-release materials.    … Full Review »
  2. Blakemaher
    Apr 19, 2021
    4
    Really disappointed about this game. Tons of bugs in RTTS including player development and the player buildout thing. Trying to have a pitcherReally disappointed about this game. Tons of bugs in RTTS including player development and the player buildout thing. Trying to have a pitcher and hitter as the same player is a nightmare, cool idea but execution sucks. The create a stadium is the dumbest thing I’ve seen in a while. The features they say makes the new game cool make the game suck. Wait and get it for cheap or wait till next year or who knows maybe they will actually work hard and put out an update that makes the new features work well and make the game kinda cool.… Full Review »
  3. TheGamerWes
    Apr 19, 2021
    4
    RTTS is the worst it has ever been, progression is heavily dependent on upgrading your archetype but the progression is completely broken andRTTS is the worst it has ever been, progression is heavily dependent on upgrading your archetype but the progression is completely broken and won't track 9/10 games. I played 2 full seasons in Double-A working on getting promoted and never even upgraded my archetype to silver despite the requirement being plate appearances. I re-signed before my 3rd season as a Triple-A starter and never saw a Triple-A game the entire following season. I had to force simulate multiple seasons to get my base overall high enough to be promoted due to this issue. The game in it's current state is completely built around DD and SDS' attempt to force micro-transactions. If you don't want to play RTTS then by all means get the game. If you wanted to play offline and enjoy working your way up to the majors DO NOT BUY THIS GAME, it needs major improvements and if it doesn't receive them this game will be no better than the copy paste sports games by EA. This game was a huge downgrade from MLB20 and a huge disappointment and waste of money for early access to what feels like a beta game. The gameplay is fun when it's working as intended, but in it's current state it's just an annoying pointless grind to nothingness, I'm not a fan of DD and I don't plan to play it, it being forced on me to try and progress my character in what should be an offline mode is just a blatant laugh in the face of all MLB fans looking to have a good time solo. DD is the only mode which is working mostly fine and tracking stats. Servers have been abysmal but I'll give it a pass since this is the first year of this series being on multiple consoles and seeing an increased amount of server stress.… Full Review »
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