MLB: The Show 22 is part of a Major League Baseball-themed video game series initially launched in 2006. Sony Interactive Entertainment is marketing the product developed and produced by San Diego Studios. The latest installment is one of 17 individual titles from the popular MLB: The Show series, which was the follow-up to the 989 Sports Major League Baseball series. The original series consisted of nine titles from 1998 until 2006.
This popular new single-player/multiplayer game was released in April 2022 across multiple platforms, some of which include the Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, and at many of today’s most reputable video game review sites, it has an above average score.
The question being asked here is, how close to real-life baseball is MLB: The Show 22?
How good is MLB: The Show 22?
The MLB: The Show 22 video game from San Diego Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment is regarded by the majority (more than 80% of the people who have spent time playing the game) as one of the greatest baseball-themed games ever made. However, some video game aficionados have raised doubts and aren’t amazed by this latest edition. Gameplay is still being hailed by many as the most authentic of any baseball-inspired video game out there today, and, in many ways, the game is just as realistic as real-life baseball.
Compared to previous versions in the franchise, there have been very few changes made in how the players hit and pitch. People have noticed that it has become harder to hit pitches far outside the zone, and accuracy is also slightly off. This has been designed to mimic real life and help promote pitching strategies. The camera angles are fantastic, and the 3D animated sequences as you play the games are as true to real life as modern technology allows, both of which are accompanied by fantastic sound effects and impressive background audio.
In short, this latest installment has not let the franchise down. If you like playing baseball for real, playing any of the other previous MLB: The Show baseball games, or betting on baseball games, then the chances are that you’ll love playing this new game too.
Best Baseball Games of All Time?
MLB: The Show 22 is just one of several baseball-themed video games ever created. Some of the other most iconic baseball video games from the past thirty years that you may also want to keep an eye out for include the following:
- MVP Baseball 2005 (available on Playstation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, PC, and PSP) and released in 2005
- MLB: The Show 20 (available on Playstation 4) and released in 2020
- All-Star Baseball ‘99 (available on Nintendo 64 and Gameboy) and released in 1998
- MLB Slugfest 2004 (available on Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, and Playstation 2) and released in 2003
- Wii Sports [baseball] (available on Nintendo Wii) and released in 2006
- Baseball Stars (available on NES – Nintendo Entertainment System) and released in 1989
Other honorable mentions include Earl Weaver Baseball (1987, available on Amiga, MS-DOS, and Apple II operating systems), R.B.I. Baseball (1987, available on NES), Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball (1994, available on SNES), and Backyard Baseball (1997, available on Mac and PC). You also have Cyber Stadium Series – Base Wars (1991), Bases Loaded (1987), MVP 06: NCAA Baseball (2006), and Mario Super Sluggers (2008), to name just a few hit titles.