By now most of us know the drill when it comes to long-running video game sports franchises. Usually there’s a key new addition, but most of the aspects – and even some of the problems – still remain. But it’s always neat to see something refreshing added to the mix, making the game as a whole worth the investment – even if another one’s bound to come along next year. MLB The Show 23 continues to carry on the trend of being the go-to baseball game from Sony, even as it appears on other platforms. And while some modes are running the usual bases, it’s got more than enough fresh content to keep fans content over Opening Day weekend and beyond. Plus, that sweet new feature I talked about is well worth exploring, especially if you’re a fan of the sport’s history.

Batter Up
First off, it’s great to see MLB loaded with a ton of gameplay options. You can tweak pretty much everything however you wish, from being a power hitter to making your pitches absolutely asinine to swing at, depending on how you play. There are varying difficulty levels as well, so you can change things up depending on your skills.
What’s more, the game still feels like a natural winner. Some might still struggle with the depth when it comes to fielding, but not too much, and there’s always assists to turn to. The batting is
ferociously good, with different styles to choose from, and pitching is still excellent to learn and master, especially if you’re trying to earn those precious K’s.

As for modes, there are plenty. Franchise and Road To the Show make a return, allowing you to manage and perform with a player however you see fit. However, they could use a little bit of change to remain fresh, as they’re mostly just repeats from previous years. Diamond Dynasty is still a blast, however, and a must for collectors. (And thankfully, it steers clear of the “payout” formula that most 2K games have adapted to nowadays.)
But the winner here is Storylines, which tells a little bit of the backstory behind one of the lost eras in baseball. Bob Kendrick guides us through step-by-step of what occurred with the Negro Leagues, featuring a number of classic players that you get to take control of. It’s got stellar detail throughout, and is just as fascinating to watch as it is to play. It’s not often you see a sports game dig so deep when it can just cruise by on casual elements, so this is a welcome surprise.
And, as expected, most of the modes run smoothly online. The Nintendo Switch version does take a little bit of catch-up with its technical inferiority, but you can still get good matches going. Just be prepared to take on a few seasoned vets, because they’re out there.

Grand Slam In Presentation?
Like previous years, MLB The Show 23 continues to be a strong looker. The animations are razor sharp, especially on the Xbox Series S/X consoles, capturing every imaginable aspect you could about the sport. There are minor glitches here and there, but the game as a whole runs very smoothly. The Switch port is a little stunted in terms of performance, but still looks quite good considering the hardware at hand. So no one really has a “bad” version, as it were.

The commentary is good, albeit somewhat repetitive; and the sound effects capture the nature of the sport, right down to the good ol’ crack of the bat. The real treat here, however, is thesoundtrack, featuring a number of inspired selections that get you into the sport of the game. Really enjoyed how that came together.

Swing Batta!
You might be wondering why you should invest a good chunk of money into the MLB The Show again. Well, most of it will go towards the awesome Diamond Dynasty, as well as the wonderfully balanced gameplay and the exceptional Storylines mode. The visuals also pop to life and the sound is top notch too. There are minor quibbles here and there, but for a game that’s pretty much the only baseball sim in town, Sony’s, ahem, covered these bases rather well.

The Bottom Line:
MLB The Show 23 has one of its strongest outings yet, thanks to the awesome Storylines mode and tons of other features. Plus it’s a blast for all skill levels. So get your glove on and enjoy!