Sports games walk a fine line between tradition and innovation. Each year, developers tweak mechanics, refine animations, and add new modes to keep things fresh, but the core experience remains familiar. MLB The Show 25 continues this cycle, delivering another solid baseball sim with a mix of refinements and new features.
Developed by San Diego Studio, this year’s installment marks the 20th anniversary of the franchise. It introduces expanded career progression in Road to the Show, new mechanics like Ambush Hitting, and a redesigned Diamond Dynasty without Sets & Seasons. Franchise Mode also sees a revamped Free Agency system, while gameplay refinements improve batting, pitching, and fielding mechanics.
But is this enough to make MLB The Show 25 feel like a step forward, or does it lean too heavily on familiarity? Let’s take a closer look.
MLB The Show 25 details
Platform(s): PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch
Developer(s): San Diego Studio
Publisher(s): Sony Interactive Entertainment, MLB Advanced Media
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
New features and additions
Every new installment of MLB The Show brings adjustments to keep things fresh, and this year is no different. While the core gameplay remains familiar, MLB The Show 25 introduces a revamped Road to the Show, new mechanics like Ambush Hitting, and major changes to Diamond Dynasty’s structure.
Road to the Show expands to high school and college
This year, Road to the Show adds high school and college gameplay, letting you start your career earlier. Instead of jumping straight into the minors, you’ll play a few high school showcase games before moving on to a short college career. Choices during this phase impact your draft stock, adding more variety to player progression. While this addition helps flesh out the journey, it’s not a groundbreaking change—other sports games have used similar systems for years.
Starting in high school felt like a cool addition at first, but after a few games, I realized it’s mostly a short warm-up before jumping into the usual career grind. The college phase is a nice touch, but I found myself wanting a bit more depth—maybe a few extra games or a bigger role in my draft stock.
Ambush hitting changes the plate approach
Hitting sees a subtle but welcome tweak with Ambush Hitting, a new system that rewards predicting pitch locations before the ball is thrown. If you guess correctly, you get a small boost to contact and power. It’s a refined take on the old Guess Pitch mechanic, but integrated more naturally into gameplay. Some may find it minor, but it adds another layer of strategy to batting.
I tried Ambush Hitting a few times, and when I guessed right, it felt incredibly satisfying—especially on a hanging curveball that I sent into the stands. But when I guessed wrong? Let’s just say I didn’t look my best chasing a low slider.
Diamond Dynasty removes sets & seasons
One of the biggest shake-ups comes in Diamond Dynasty, where the controversial Sets & Seasons system has been removed. Now, you can build your team freely without worrying about cards becoming obsolete. This change makes long-term progression feel more rewarding, though the mode still revolves around grinding for top-tier players.
Weekend Classic and Diamond Quest add variety
To keep things fresh, Diamond Dynasty introduces two new sub-modes:
- Diamond Quest: A roguelike-inspired mode where you face off against AI teams, earning rewards through risk-reward decisions.
- Weekend Classic: A high-stakes multiplayer mode with exclusive rewards for top performers.
Both additions bring more ways to play, though they don’t drastically change the overall structure of Diamond Dynasty.
Refinements over reinvention
At its core, MLB The Show 25 remains the same smooth and technical baseball sim fans expect. This year’s refinements fine-tune batting, pitching, and fielding, making the action feel more responsive. While the foundation hasn’t changed, a few new mechanics bring subtle improvements to how games play out.
Ambush hitting and pitching tweaks
The biggest change to batting is Ambush Hitting, which rewards you for correctly predicting a pitch’s location. If you guess right, your PCI size increases, making contact easier. It’s a refined take on the old Guess Pitch system, but more seamlessly integrated. It won’t drastically change how you approach at-bats, but it adds another layer of strategy for experienced players.
On the mound, pitching mechanics feel largely the same, though AI batters react more realistically to pitch sequencing. If you rely on predictable fastballs, expect smarter adjustments from the CPU. This makes mixing up pitch types and locations more important.
Fielding feels smoother
Fielding sees some noticeable refinements, particularly in reaction times and throwing accuracy. The revamped throw meter makes arm strength and accuracy matter more, so rushed throws feel riskier. Swim move slides and improved tagging animations also help plays at the plate feel more natural and fluid.
A new first-person fielding camera offers a fresh perspective, though it feels more like an immersive novelty rather than a must-use feature.
AI improvements and G.O.A.T. difficulty
CPU-controlled teams react more intelligently to defensive positioning and baserunning, leading to fewer cheap outs and more strategic play. AI batters now adjust their approach based on pitch sequencing, meaning relying too heavily on one pitch type makes you more predictable. Opposing teams also steal bases more effectively and take smarter risks on the basepaths, making games feel less scripted and more dynamic.
If you’re looking for a real challenge, the new G.O.A.T. difficulty ramps things up to brutal levels. Pitching on this setting requires pinpoint accuracy, as mistakes get punished more severely. AI batters rarely chase bad pitches, forcing you to mix up your approach. On offense, timing windows are tighter, making it harder to get away with mistimed swings. Fielding and baserunning mistakes are also punished more harshly, leaving no room for errors.
I tested out G.O.A.T. difficulty, thinking I could handle it, and within three innings, I had struck out seven times and barely made contact. It felt like the game was actively mocking me. After a brutal scoreless stretch, I quietly lowered the difficulty—no shame in admitting defeat.
This difficulty is clearly designed for hardcore veterans, making every pitch, swing, and defensive play feel like a high-stakes moment. If you thought Legend difficulty was tough, G.O.A.T. takes things to another level.
A strong but familiar foundation
If you’ve played recent entries, MLB The Show 25’s gameplay will feel instantly familiar. The refinements make small but welcome improvements, but they don’t revolutionize the experience. If you were hoping for a major shift, this year’s gameplay sticks close to what works.
A sharper look, but not a huge leap
MLB The Show 25 looks a bit sharper, but it’s not a big step up visually.Stadiums and player models look slightly sharper, with improved lighting and more realistic animations, but the leap from last year isn’t drastic. The biggest visual improvements come from lighting adjustments and smoother animations. Day-night transitions look more natural, and stadium lights add depth to evening games. Player movements, especially in fielding and batting stances, feel more fluid, reducing the occasional stiffness seen in past games.
Crowd details have also seen minor refinements, but spectators still lack realism up close. Stadium signage can appear slightly blurry at times, which stands out given how often you see it while pitching. These small presentation quirks don’t break immersion, but they’re noticeable. A new first-person fielding camera offers a different perspective, letting you track plays from a defensive player’s point of view. While interesting, it’s more of a novelty than a game-changer, as traditional views still feel more practical. Broadcast elements have been tweaked slightly, with new camera angles and smoother cutscenes. Commentary includes some new lines, but repetition remains noticeable over longer sessions.
While the presentation feels a bit sharper, MLB The Show 25 doesn’t make a huge graphical leap. If you were hoping for a major upgrade, this year’s improvements are more about refinement than transformation.
Multiplayer modes: small adjustments, same core experience
Online and local multiplayer remain a big part of MLB The Show 25, offering a mix of casual and competitive modes. While the overall structure is unchanged, a few tweaks help refine the experience.
The biggest multiplayer update comes from Diamond Dynasty, which now includes Diamond Quest and Weekend Classic. Diamond Quest introduces roguelike mechanics, where you progress through a series of challenges with randomized rewards and boss encounters. It adds a different spin to team-building, though the core grind for top players remains. Weekend Classic adds a high-stakes competitive mode with exclusive rewards. If you enjoy ranked play, this adds another reason to keep coming back. Beyond these changes, Diamond Dynasty still follows the same formula, with card collecting, team-building, and online matchups being the main focus.
Online matchmaking remains fairly stable, with little noticeable lag during games. Up to eight players can compete online, and local multiplayer supports up to four players. One feature fans have wanted for years is still missing—online Franchise Mode.
While MLB The Show 25 refines online gameplay, it doesn’t introduce major changes to how multiplayer works. If you enjoyed last year’s competitive and cooperative modes, this year’s version will feel familiar—just with a few extra options to keep things interesting.
MLB The Show 25 delivers a solid entry with small steps forward
MLB The Show 25 continues the franchise’s steady evolution, offering refinements over reinvention. The expanded Road to the Show, new Ambush Hitting mechanic, and Diamond Dynasty changes make this year’s entry feel polished, but the core gameplay remains familiar.
I’ve played MLB The Show for years, and every new release makes me wonder: Is this year’s game actually different, or am I just upgrading out of habit? With MLB The Show 25, I found myself appreciating the small refinements more than I expected. The expanded Road to the Show had me reliving the pressure of high school showcases, even if the college phase felt a little short. Ambush Hitting was a fun experiment—sometimes I nailed the prediction, other times I looked like a rookie swinging at air.
The removal of Sets & Seasons in Diamond Dynasty is a welcome change, giving long-term players more flexibility in team building. Weekend Classic and Diamond Quest add variety, but don’t drastically change the mode’s core structure. Franchise Mode still feels like it’s waiting for a major overhaul, and Diamond Dynasty remains a grind despite the progression changes.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Gameplay refinements make pitching, fielding, and animations feel smoother. | Franchise Mode still lacks major improvements. |
| Diamond Dynasty removes Sets & Seasons, allowing for long-term team building. | Graphical improvements are minor, making the game look similar to last year. |
| Road to the Show now includes high school and college, adding more depth to career progression. | Diamond Dynasty remains a heavy grind despite progression changes. |
| G.O.A.T. difficulty offers a real challenge for veteran players. |
Gameplay remains as smooth and strategic as ever, with minor improvements to pitching, fielding, and AI behavior. G.O.A.T. difficulty offers a true challenge, but after a few innings of getting dominated, I quickly humbled myself back to a setting where I could actually hit the ball. Presentation is slightly sharper, with better lighting, smoother animations, and small broadcast enhancements, but it’s not a massive graphical leap.
Overall assessment of MLB The Show 25
Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 3.5/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Lasting appeal/Replayability: 4/5
Overall rating: 3.8/5 (76%)
If you’ve skipped a year or two, this is a great place to jump back in. If you’ve played recent entries, you’ll notice the small tweaks but might be left wanting more. While it may not reinvent the series, MLB The Show 25 remains one of the best baseball sims available.
