MLB The Show 21

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 42

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MLB The Show 21 is not the next-gen leap we were hoping for, but it’s another incremental step for the series, and an important one. The Show remains the best baseball sim available, and hardcore fans and Xbox owners who haven’t yet experienced the franchise will find plenty of fun.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 42

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 42

MLB The Show 21 is not the next-gen leap we were hoping for, but it's another incremental step for the series, and an important one. The Show remains the best baseball sim available, and hardcore fans and Xbox owners who haven't yet experienced the franchise will find plenty of fun.

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for MLB The Show 21

Critic Reviews

Score Distribution

42

Reviews

Average Score

100

Ranges

7/10

Richard Wakeling (GameSpot)

MLB The Show 21 maintains the series’ continued excellence on the diamond, but missing features and uneven additions hold it back.

April 20, 2021 |

Full Review

A solid home-run hitter, but not the baseball revolution we were hoping for on PS5 and Xbox Series X.

April 21, 2021 |

Full Review

4/5 stars

Matt Paprocki (GamesRadar+)

7/10

Sammy Barker (Push Square)

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.

April 21, 2021 |

Full Review

Richard Wakeling (GameSpot)

7/10 - (Read Review)

MLB The Show 21 maintains the series’ continued excellence on the diamond, but missing features and uneven additions hold it back.

Matt Paprocki (GamesRadar+)

4/5 stars - (Read Review)

A solid home-run hitter, but not the baseball revolution we were hoping for on PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Sammy Barker (Push Square)

7/10 - (Read Review)

**Read all 42 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (42 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Atomix	Rodolfo León	80 / 100	04-23-2021	MLB The Show 21 is another solid entry in the franchise, but some technical problems and little to none innovations make it one of the weakest in the whole series.	Read review
Attack of the Fanboy	Dean James	4 / 5 stars	04-16-2021	Being the most consistent annual sports franchise out there, MLB The Show manages to overcome the loss of a few key features to give players yet another reason to step right back into the batter’s box in MLB The Show 21.	Read review
CGMagazine	Dayna Eileen	7.5 / 10	04-22-2021	MLB The Show 21 is not an easy game to get the hang of by any means, but it manages to make the experience a good one whether you’re winning or losing.	Read review
Checkpoint Gaming	Sam Harkin	8 / 10	04-24-2021	As is the case with many annual sequels, MLB The Show 21 is an iteration and improvement over its predecessor. Having said that, if you bought The Show 20, I personally can’t see enough of a change to justify getting 21 in my opinion. There are improvements to the game modes that deserve praise, though I don’t know if it will keep me on the hook for a very long time. Having said that, both titles share some fantastic elements, such as the impressive depth of mechanical customisation, which by itself carries the game into high regard.	Read review
COGconnected	Rhett Waselenchuk	83 / 100	04-25-2021	Take me out to the ball game and leave me in the nosebleeds. I’m never coming back. MLB The Show 21 is a tremendous homage to a sport so many love. I know the Road to the Show regression will drive people crazy, and the bugs do continue to somewhat hinder my enjoyment. But this is all fixable stuff. What lies underneath is a beautiful simulation of baseball. Isn’t that what we came for?	Read review
Digital Chumps	Nathaniel Stevens	8 / 10	02-28-2019	MLB The Show 21 might not excel in vastly improving its overall package, but the smaller upgrades you do get make this game just as entertaining as it was last year. Next year will have higher expectations to meet.	Read review
Echo Boomer	Diogo dos Santos	Recommended	04-20-2021	MLB The Show 21 does a good job trying to teach the basics for those unaware with the sport, even with all the complex and saturated gameplay.	Read review
Forbes	Brian Mazique	7 / 10	04-18-2021	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.	Read review
Game Informer	Andrew Reiner	8.5 / 10	04-22-2021	Even without many new features, The Show impresses with its play and wealth of content. There’s something for everyone	Read review
Gameblog	Olivier Cortinovis	8 / 10	04-28-2021	Now available on Xbox, MLB The Show is still a fantastic way to discover and play baseball. This entry is still a very immersive experience, with a lot of things to do. And crossplatform is a great feature.	Read review
Gamerheadquarters	Jason Stettner	8 / 10	04-22-2021	MLB The Show 21 is another great entry in the series, expanding the platforms while also heading into the next generation.	Read review
GameSkinny	Mark Delaney	8 / 10	04-20-2021	MLB The Show is now multiplatform, so more players can see what makes it one of the best annual sports sims in the world.	Read review
GameSpot	Richard Wakeling	7 / 10	04-20-2021	MLB The Show 21 maintains the series’ continued excellence on the diamond, but missing features and uneven additions hold it back.	Read review
GamesRadar+	Matt Paprocki	4 / 5 stars	04-21-2021	A solid home-run hitter, but not the baseball revolution we were hoping for on PS5 and Xbox Series X.	Read review
GamingBolt	Alec Benner	8 / 10	04-21-2021	MLB The Show 21 does exactly what a sports sequel needs to do; it refines and expands on the best features of the predecessor, without taking away from what works.	Read review
Geek Culture	Jake Su	7.5 / 10	05-29-2021	Not exactly the all-star debut, MLB The Show 21 is still the frontrunner for the best baseball experience on consoles.	Read review
Generación Xbox	Abdon Ruiz	8.8 / 10	06-07-2021	‎It is a very entertaining game with which we are guaranteed countless fun moments. Because thanks to the implementation of MLB Show 21 to the Xbox Game Pass catalog, I’ve been able to try out a great IP that I hadn’t previously had any contact with. The excellent work that San Diego Studio has done for the next generation consoles, together with the extensive content that is always accompanied by an annual title with which new playable and graphical functions are added, allows us to say that the franchise is in its peak.‎	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Cory Wells	4.5 / 5 stars	04-20-2021	San Diego Studios continue to try and improve an annual product that already has a fantastic core with MLB The Show 21.	Read review
IGN	Gabriel Moss	8 / 10	04-21-2021	MLB The Show 21 isn’t the generational leap forward we might’ve expected following a new console launch, but it’s still the best baseball sim you can play on any platform	Read review
Impulsegamer	Paul Stuart	4.1 / 5 stars	04-24-2021	MLB The Show 21 on the PS5 doesn’t break what works…and with a new mode, pitching interface, cross-play, also improved load times and framerates. While it doesn’t specifically highlight the new console, it again plays a strong game of baseball.	Read review
INDIANTVCZ	Jakub Kadlus	7 / 10	05-03-2021	MLB the Show is an excellent title that’ll be enjoyed by all fans of the sport and even those who are unexperienced in it. It’s a beautiful example of how sports simulations should be made. However, this year’s only a small step forward and unfortunately it won’t bring much new content compared to last games.	Read review
Merlin’in Kazanı	Samet Basri Taşlı	70 / 100	05-02-2021	MLB The Show 2021 has somehow failed to absorb me, even though it allows even the most novice player to grasp and play the gameplay. At the time, I used to think I was playing baseball by hitting a tennis ball with a stick in my hand, but it could be because I had no interest in the sport. If you have the opportunity to try it, take a look.	Read review
New Game Network	Josh Hinke	68 / 100	05-06-2021	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.	Read review
Operation Sports	Kevin Scott	Recommended	04-21-2021	MLB The Show 21 is still sure to satisfy most baseball fans in at least one way, and I still believe it’s enjoyable enough to to win over some new fans at a time when baseball could definitely use them. But when you’re the “can’t miss” prospect, expectations are always high, and The Show does not always live up to those expectations this year.	Read review
PlayStation LifeStyle	Blake Grundman	7.5 / 10	04-21-2021	When you take a step back and look at the “big picture,” at least on paper, MLB The Show 21 is a success. That said, when it’s your first entry in a new console generation, the bar for success is admittedly quite low. For this reason, not to mention the meager distinctions between the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game, it’s fairly difficult to justify the extra expense of making the jump to next-generation hardware. That said, if you decide to take the plunge and pick up the PlayStation 5 version, you won’t be disappointed by the latest in a franchise that keeps knocking it out of the park.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Neil Bolt	8 / 10	04-20-2021	Not so much a true next-gen leap for MLB, but a cautious set of baby steps towards it. The presentation and gameplay remain strong, and the ability to be a two-way player in Road to the Show has freshened that mode up and made it more enjoyable than ever. MLB The Show 21 is another reliable entry in a strong sporting franchise, but it definitely needs a bit of a shakeup next time out.	Read review
PSX Brasil	Thiago de Alencar Moura	90 / 100	04-27-2021	MLB The Show 21 manages to bring with tremendous success the best sports simulator of the last generation to the PS5, using the power of the new console to deliver an almost flawless and mandatory experience for every baseball fan. The lack of big news draws attention, but it is not enough to affect what the game does best: simulate the sport.	Read review
Push Square	Sammy Barker	7 / 10	04-21-2021	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.	Read review
Rectify Gaming	Dave Rodriguez	8.1 / 10	05-02-2021	MLB The Show 21 provides fans on Xbox and Playstation a fantastic day out in the virtual ball park together.	Read review
Saudi Gamer	Unknown	7 / 10	04-15-2021	A fun baseball game that welcomes new and old players alike, and its most notable drawback is that the graphical improvements to the new generation did not live up to expectations.	Read review
Screen Rant	Cade Onder	3.5 / 5 stars	04-19-2021	MLB The Show 21 is yet another solid entry in Sony’s now multi-platform sports franchise. The consistent tweaks to how the game functions and its quality-of-life improvements each year have helped create a balanced, solid foundation for each iteration to improve on. 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.	Read review
Shacknews	Chris Jarrard	8 / 10	04-21-2021	AAA-quality baseball is now available to all console owners (please Sony remember the PC in 2022) and the sun is shining on virtual big leaguers who are down for crossplay. MLB The Show 21 is once again an incremental step, but still an important one for the series moving forward.	Read review
Sirus Gaming	Erickson Melchor	8 / 10	05-13-2021	All in all, I believe MLB The Show 21 is pretty good at showing us the in’s and out’s of the wonderful game of baseball. the very fact that the controls can be tweaked to the player’s preferences really shows that the series as a whole is very welcoming to players of any skill level. On top of that, the adaptive difficulty setting scales depending on how the player is performing on the field. Potentially making it so that it’s not too difficult or too easy at any given time.	Read review
Sports Gamers Online	Michael Straw	7 / 10	04-20-2021	MLB The Show 21 isn’t a bad game, but there’s a lot that needs to starting changing for MLB The Show to avoid becoming viewed by its fans in the same way as Madden NFL is by its.	Read review
The Games Machine	Marco Ravetto	8.3 / 10	04-29-2021	MLB The Show 21 lands on the new generation of consoles with a limited amount of changes compared to last season. Those who expected a revolution spearheaded by the PS5 and Xbox Series X\|S will be partially disappointed. That said, MLB The Show 21 is also an extremely refined title, full of options and fun, able to entertain those who want to face a few innings in total relax and also those who are looking for high-level competition.	Read review
TrueGaming	محمد البسيمي	8 / 10	04-22-2021	MLB The Show proves once again that it’s one of the best sport simulation out there.	Read review
Twinfinite	Ed McGlone	4 / 5 stars	04-21-2021	So while we wait for things like actual new-generation visuals, the return of Online Franchise, and other oft-requested features, appreciate the effort that went into making MLB The Show 21 cross-platform with seamless cross-play, the new stadium creator, and tweaks that went into making your favorite game mode a bit more enjoyable.	Read review
Washington Post	Mike Hume	Not Recommended	04-27-2021	‘MLB The Show 21’ is great for new Xbox users. What about long-time PlayStation fans?	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Leonardo Faria	7.5 / 10	04-30-2021	MLB The Show 21 isn’t just worth playing on the Xbox Series S and X out of novelty. It is a pretty good baseball game that’s shockingly accessible to people who know absolutely nothing about the sport, while being exactly what veterans and fans would expect from a yearly update of a sports franchise.	Read review
Wccftech	Nathan Birch	7.5 / 10	04-20-2021	While MLB The Show 21 is another solid entry in the series, the pitch to Xbox newcomers and those looking for a next-gen experience isn’t as strong as it could have been. Pitching, fielding, and existing modes get some welcome adjustments, but truly significant additions are thin on the ground and the series’ presentation is stuck in its tracks. Hardcore hardball fans and Xbox owners who haven’t experienced MLB The Show before should have a good time, but this franchise may be in need of a rebuilding phase within the next year or two.	Read review
We Got This Covered	Jon Hueber	4 / 5 stars	04-26-2021	MLB The Show 21 makes the leap to a new console generation and ushers in a game-wide refresh that has the storied franchise feeling new.	Read review
Worth Playing	Redmond Carolipio	8.8 / 10	05-20-2021	The Show has been one of the more consistently excellent and complete sports series for years, and MLB The Show 21 maintains that excellence as it steps into the next-gen batter’s box. The cover athlete choice of the aforementioned Fernando Tatis, Jr., is no coincidence, as the young star is being seen as one of baseball’s next big things, ushering in a possible new era of personality and Q-rating power that the game could sorely use. He can also do everything, and everything is what this series has offered to fans for years at a high level. Time will tell if there is yet another level to reach.	Read review

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About MLB The Show 21

Game Description / Storyline:

Experience faster, deeper and more intense moment-to-moment match action on the field, with a variety of game modes for all you rookie players and returning seasoned vets. Lead your Ballplayer to Road to the Show and Diamond Dynasty glory as a two-way star. Enjoy updates to Franchise and March to October modes which empower you to better make decisions for the future of your club. Face your friends with cross-platform play. Play as all-new Legends.

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