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MLB The Show 22 is released, and critics have gotten a lot of time playing it by now. Here are what the MLB The Show 22 Review Scores reveal.
MLB The Show 22 Review Scores – 80 on Metacritic
MLB The Show 22 received a Metacritic score of 80 on the PS5.
We're back yet again with another entry to one of the longest-running franchises portraying America's favorite pastime. MLB The Show 22 returns and this one is a good one – a typical outing for the MLB: The Show franchise.
MLB The Show 22 is the first in the series to be built with current-gen hardware in mind, so this game will fully utilize the current-gen features of both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X. However, that has mostly been the focus of MLB The Show 22 – there have been no dramatic changes or mind-blowing innovations to be found here. Just a cleaner, prettier, and better-running baseball game that baseball fans would enjoy.
This year's outing fares better compared to last year's MLB The Show 21 but is overshadowed by the slightly higher score of MLB The Show 20, which might make fans think twice about upgrading. But the 4K resolution unlocked for this game truly makes the action pop out on your screen. The game's better graphics thanks to this makes you appreciate more the added realism to the game, and allows players to make the most out of MLB The Show 22's extensive and dynamic arena editor.
MLB The Show 21 was the first game in the series to bridge over to Microsoft, as the rivalry between Sony, the publisher of this game, and Microsoft had mellowed down over the years, which led to a Sony logo appearing on an Xbox game for the first time. Meanwhile, MLB The Show 22 is the first game in the series to be published for the Nintendo Switch. That version of the game is a bit rough around the edges, but it's functional at the very least, with the game's action letting you forget about the game's horrendous graphics. Players have noted present but minimal slowdown and frame drops from the Switch version of the game.
This is also the first game in the MLB The Show series to not feature Matt Vasgerian as part of the commentary, marking an end to a 16-year streak. He gets replaced by newcomers Jon Sciambi and Chris Singleton, who provided extensive voice work for this game, recording thousands of lines and hundreds of hours worth of commentary for MLB The Show 22.
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The highest score that MLB The Show 22 received was 4.5/5 Stars from Attack of the Fanboy. Their review reads: “From the gorgeous visuals that transport you directly to the field, to the stellar controls, you won't find another sports game out there that will captivate you quite like this one. Feeling the roar of the crowd swelling up as you continue to rack up points, to the way that your players will express their emotions on the field, this is a sports title that other developers of the genre should take notes from.”
Another high grade came from GamersRD, which gave the game a 9/10. Their review reads: “MLB The Show 22 adds this well made ambitious co-op mode that offers us a new way to have fun with the online community. With this graphical enhancements and some improvements to Road to the Show mode, This game is still a good choice for baseball lovers.”
Just like we noted earlier, MLB The Show 22 focused more on improving the little things to help make it better than the previous outings, but it lacked any significant changes or improvements. This was noted by Impulse Gamer, which gave the game a score of 4.2/5 stars. In their review, they say: “If it ‘aint broke…update the sound and graphics, and port it to the Nintendo Switch, I suppose. Which pretty much describes Sony’s approach to MLB The Show 22 (‘MLB 22) on the PS5, a minimalistic albeit beautiful upgrade over last year’s already strong version.” They summarized their review, saying: “Another strong outing, but only a small upgrade from MLB The Show 21.”
Not everything's all praise though, as other reviewers like Wccftech only gave the game a 6.5 review score, calling the game “uneventful.” Wccftech's review reads: “MLB The Show 22 is one of the most conservative annual sports titles I’ve played in some time. Aside from a few minor mechanical tweaks and a handful of ancillary features like online co-op and new commentary, this is essentially the same game we got last year. It’s a shame because the franchise’s core gameplay remains rock-solid, but it’s increasingly difficult to ignore its lack of ambition. Those new to the series can add at least a point to my score, but longtime fans aren’t getting much to cheer for.”
Conclusion: Is MLB The Show 22 a Homerun?
The answer is no. If you already have MLB The Show 20 or 21, MLB The Show 22 is not a necessary upgrade. It does offer a lot of small improvements, however, making it the sure pick if you're looking into entering the MLB The Show franchise right now. Its arrival on the Nintendo Switch is arguably its highlight, as it now has a larger market to sell to. But for the current fanbase, there's little reason for them to upgrade or update. But it's on Game Pass on Day 1, so there's that also.
It's a fun game but not worth the upgrade. It's a great game to start the series off to. However, the game's overall quality is overshadowed by its lack of luster and innovation. Last year's entry introduced so many new things that it still feels even fresher than this newest entry. It's a great game, but so was MLB 21, so there's very little incentive to buy an improved replica.
