MLB The Show 25 – In-Depth Review

After four years of MLB The Show on the Nintendo Switch, it’s clear the game continues to push the limits of what Nintendo’s aging hardware can handle. Each annual release brings a host of impressive features to this hybrid console, making it a noteworthy contender in the sports gaming arena. Yet, it’s increasingly difficult to endorse it unless you’re strictly limited to playing on the Switch. Over the years, I’ve seen MLB The Show evolve brilliantly across all its modes, showcasing remarkable development skill and innovation. However, the game remains shackled by the limitations of its decade-old technology, which prevents it from reaching its full potential.

One of the game’s stellar attractions is the revamped Diamond Dynasty. This multiplayer mode lets you collect virtual cards, enabling you to craft your own team to face off in various competitions. Past iterations fell into complexity with multiple sets and seasons resetting collections. Thankfully, that convoluted system has been streamlined this year, offering a slower, but more fruitful path to formulating top-notch teams. This shift is a welcomed improvement.

Diamond Dynasty also introduces the inventive roguelike board game mode, Diamond Quest. As you roll the die and advance on the grid, it presents you with a mix of dynamic challenges—ranging from striking out batters to completing innings. While this concept is undeniably engaging and adds a refreshing twist, the experience is marred by the Switch’s long load times and lack of content diversity. Despite its engaging framework, the sluggish performance on the Switch saps some enjoyment out of it.

Turning to Road to the Show, where you can craft a player’s career, last year’s overhaul was notable, and it has only improved since. The narrative has been polished and now offers starting points in high school and college. Although it’s more promising than ever on the Switch, technical hiccups remain, echoing the console’s hardware constraints.

Franchise mode, a longstanding staple of sports games, has received a notable overhaul, offering a richer general manager simulation. Offering in-depth engagements with free agency, drafts, and other managerial aspects, it caters to those who love to immerse themselves in the numerical side of sports. The mode could benefit from clearer tutorials, as the learning curve can be steep, but once mastered, it’s thrilling to construct a team with such complexity.

While the Storylines museum modes launched in 2023 excited fans, this year they seem to offer more of the same. Even so, they continue to celebrate baseball legends from the Negro Leagues like Cool Papa Bell and Turkey Stearnes and promise new additions through future updates. However, the lack of unique content akin to last year’s Derek Jeter narrative is a minor letdown. Nonetheless, the rich Negro Leagues content remains a joy to explore.

For Switch owners keen on a licensed baseball game, MLB The Show 25 gets close to capturing the essence of baseball as crafted by its developers. But the hardware struggles to deliver the full experience. Hopefully, the next generation of Nintendo consoles will provide a better stage for MLB The Show 26, enabling it to shine even brighter.