Review – MLB The Show 25

Since its launch in 2006, the series has been synonymous with excellence in baseball simulation. Developed by San Diego Studio, the franchise has consistently delivered authentic and immersive experiences to fans of the sport. Over the years, the series has evolved from a modest title for PlayStation 2 to become one of the most acclaimed and technically impressive sports games on the market, with each edition adding content and refining gameplay, graphics and game modes, remaining faithful to the essence of the sport.

Now, in 2025, the latest entry in the series, arrives at PlayStation 5 promising to further raise the quality standard that became the franchise’s trademark. This new edition brings a number of improvements and news that seek to improve all aspects of the gaming experience, with the difficult mission of breaking the reductionist stigma about the possibility of annual update through DLC.

The show needs to continue

I had the grateful opportunity to follow the last two years of the franchise, closely seeing the effort to renew themselves while seeking innovations to accompany the new generation of consoles and players. Starting with the graphics, MLB The Show 25 presents remarkable efforts to improve its presentation. The showtech system brought new animations that make the movements of the players more realistic and fluid, while the presentation of the game also received special attention with new sequences during the game that highlight players, teams and the league. Another interesting addition is first person camera mode, which allows players to experience the action directly from the athlete’s perspective. This feature can be activated or deactivated during the game, offering a new immersive dimension to gameplay.

We have news added in order to raise the game experience in MLB The Show 25 for a new level and we have already started leaving aside the Ultimate Team standard for an evolution in Diamond Dinasty. Welcome to Diamond Quest mode, which has been able to introduce RogueLike elements to the baseball field, making players go a board facing challenging situations, bosses and gaining rewards along the way. Like this? With the data, advantages and penalties are added to the journey for you to go through playing on the field and reach the final stadium, and can face a boss during a three inning match. All this to win packages and letters to create your team.

Road to The Show got even greater with the expansion that allows players to start their journey in high school and college through the new The Amateur Years. This addition includes high school and university baseball matches, each with its own atmosphere, from look to sound, being very well represented in its fields and environment, such as the characteristic sound of metal tacos and wire fences. To optimize the customization of your own athlete, the player’s progression system has been revitalized, offering more control over development and can customize advantages (with perks) and use an enhanced attribute progression system. In this way you can advance the style you want for the game you want to develop on the field, whether it is a pitcher, rebate, catcher or other balanced options.

MLB The Show 25 has also brought updates to traditional modes known as franchise and March to October, allowing you to have an even better experience for off -field decisions, with the front office Experience, the possibility of players to analyze their salary offer, reputation and perspectives, with Free Agency, doing part with motivation tracker, and big board to monitor movements and movements and plan your strategies.

Storyline mode returns to the third season focused on black leagues, allowing players to explore and relive significant moments of this important chapter in the history of baseball, mixing gambling with documentary. You will learn more about sports heroes less well -known sports and their amazing trajectories through a gaming experience that also seeks to offer informative content about baseball legends and their inspiring stories. However, unfortunately this mode has been losing space in the game and has only three names unlike the eight names of the last two seasons: James “Cool Papa” Bell, Wilber “Bullet Joe” Rogan and Norman “Turkey” Starnes.

STRIKE CERTEIRO IN GAMPLAY

MLB The Show 25 brought a series of gameplay improvements that improve the experience for both veterans and new players. I enjoyed trying out Ambush Hitting, a risk mechanics and reward that adds a strategic layer to the rebounds, inspired by real approaches of counters. Now your “attempt and error” as amateur allows you to try to predict the home Plate side where the pitcher will launch the ball. By hitting the forecast, the Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI) increases, facilitating contact and expanding the time window to an effective folding, but when making this forecast the PCI gets smaller and makes it harder to hit the ball, creating a balance between risk and reward.

In addition, a new home -robbed theft meter has been added and allows you to perform these spectacular plays more dependent on the player’s ability, making the attempt even more strategic and exciting. Even without realizing much difference during the matches, the defense system has also been improved with more realistic reactions of players, but often the movement animations seem artificial. This improvement was added only so that skilled defenders become even more valuable for integration with other management modes.

Several Quick Time events have been added to specific situations, such as performing a swim slide by stealing bases or quickly deciding where to throw the ball into complex plays. With the first -person camera option, MLB The Show 25 managed to take the player even more on the field at an immersion level we haven’t seen so far. Decision making, accuracy and speed emerge as main skills to increase the experience and making gameplay more fun, not to mention that baseball fans will be able to have a different game vision. Even though it diminishes the strategy factor, because it is all in real time, the satisfaction when performing amazing plays is the strong point of this novelty.

A detail for longtime fans like me, MLB’s cover art The Show 25 marks a significant change in the franchise’s history by presenting three players for the first time: Paul Skenes, Elly de La Cruz and Gunnar Henderson. This decision reflects San Diego Studio’s intention to highlight the future of baseball, celebrating the 20th edition of the game with a tribute to the young talents that are revolutionizing the sport. The choice of these three athletes is not casual. Paul Skenes, the pitttsburgh pirates throw, is the youngest winner of the National League’s New League award, while Gunnar Henderson of Baltimore Orioles, and Elly de La Cruz, from Cincinnati Reds, are two of the most promising league shorts, known for their offensive and defensive skills.

MLB The Show 25 represents a significant evolution for the series and, while still having room for improvements, especially in the graphic aspect when we analyze how the surrounding environment exists during the game, developers have been able to offer a more immersive and realistic virtual baseball experience than ever. Improvements in gameplay, expanded game modes and enhanced presentation demonstrate San Diego Studio’s continuous commitment to offer the best possible sports simulation. Whether you are a long -standing fan of the series or a curious newbie, MLB The Show 25 offers a rich and engaging experience that truly captures the essence of the American sport.