MLB The Show 25 Review – The Ultimate Baseball Experience

(image credit: San Diego Studio)

A Grand Slam for Baseball Fans

The long running baseball sim is stepping up to the plate once again, and MLB The Show 25 is swinging for the fences with its most ambitious installment yet. This year’s game is a celebration of 20 years of The Show’s dominance in the sports gaming world.

MLB The Show 25’s cover shines with three of baseball’s brightest young stars: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh’s flame-throwing ace; Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati’s electric shortstop; and Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore’s rising phenom and reigning AL Rookie of the Year. Their game-changing talent embodies the speed, power, and energy fueling this year’s installment.

This year’s edition pushes the franchise forward with brand new gameplay mechanics, a deeper and more strategic Franchise Mode, and a more immersive Road to the Show experience. MLB The Show 25 is shaping up to be the most authentic and feature rich entry yet. Whether you're a seasoned vet looking for a challenge, a franchise builder craving realism, or a newcomer eager to craft your own path to the big leagues, this game promises to deliver the most complete baseball experience ever.

(image credit: San Diego Studio)

New Gameplay Features: More Control, More Realism

Baseball is a game of feel, and MLB The Show 25 brings every pitch, swing, and play to life. The additions of smarter mechanics, deeper strategy, and more natural movement make the action on the field look and play like the real thing.

• Ambush Hitting: Batters who study the pitcher, anticipate their tendencies, and time their swings accordingly will have a greater chance to make solid contact. This new system brings real-life mind games to the plate, rewarding players who recognize fastball counts or sit on hanging curveballs. Gone are the days of relying purely on reaction time—now, strategy plays a bigger role in the batter’s box.

• G.O.A.T. Difficulty: Looking for the ultimate test? The new Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) difficulty is designed for players who have mastered Hall of Fame mode and need an even steeper challenge. Pitchers will work the corners with surgical precision, batters will lay off borderline pitches, and AI-controlled fielders will react just like their real-life counterparts. If you think you’ve got what it takes, step up to the plate, but be ready to grind.

• Enhanced Animations: Fielding has never felt more fluid and natural. Adding hundreds of new animations makes diving catches, leaping grabs, and home-run robberies feel more intuitive. Outfielders now take more realistic routes to fly balls, infielders showcase smoother transitions on double plays, and catchers have improved framing and blocking mechanics. Every movement is designed to better reflect the athleticism and instincts of real-life MLB players.

Franchise Mode Overhaul: A Front Office Revolution

For years, MLB The Show’s Franchise Mode has been the ultimate playground for armchair GMs, but MLB The Show 25 takes team management to the next level with the all-new Front Office Experience. This overhaul brings more depth, unpredictability, and realism to make every decision more strategic and immersive than ever before.

• Dynamic Offseason: The offseason finally feels alive. Big signings set the market, shifting contract demands as teams scramble to adjust. Rebuilding clubs play it smart with short-term deals, while contenders go all-in to land game-changing talent. Stay flexible because if you stick to one plan, you might watch your top targets sign elsewhere.

• Player Motivation System: Money talks, but it’s no longer the only factor in free agency. Players now weigh multiple elements before signing deals.

  • Team Prestige: Is your franchise known for winning, or are you in a rebuild? Elite veterans might prefer a shot at a ring over massive paydays.

  • Market Size: A big-market team like the Yankees or Dodgers might attract superstars more easily than a smaller-market club, even if the contract offer is similar.

  • Championship Potential: Players want to win. If a team is in contention, they may take a slight discount to chase a World Series rather than signing with a bottom tier squad.

With these game-changing additions, Franchise Mode now feels more dynamic, strategic, and true to real-life team-building. From constructing a dynasty to leading an underdog to the top, every move you make in MLB The Show 25’s Front Office Experience has a ripple effect, keeping you on your toes in the most immersive franchise mode to date.

(image credit: San Diego Studio)

Road to the Show: A More Personal Journey

For years, Road to the Show has been the heart of MLB The Show’s single-player experience, giving fans a chance to create their own baseball superstar and rise through the ranks. But MLB The Show 25 is making this journey even more immersive by expanding the player’s career path, adding new levels of depth and customization that make every choice and every performance truly matter.

The Amateur Years: The Road Begins Before the Draft

For the first time in the series, your player’s journey doesn’t start in the minor leagues. But it begins before the draft, giving you full control over how you build your legacy from day one.

• Start in High School or College: Dominate local competition in high school and attract scouts early, or take the college route, competing in a tougher environment while developing your skills against elite talent.

• Draft Combine & Showcase Events: Once you’re ready to take the next step, prove yourself at the Draft Combine, where your performance in hitting, pitching, and fielding drills directly influences your draft stock and potential signing bonus.

• Scouting & Interviews: Team scouts break down your game, sizing up your strengths and weaknesses. Pre-draft interviews reveal how well you fit their plans. Shine, and you could be a top pick, but struggle, and you’ll have to climb your way up from the later rounds.

Path to 99 Progression: Shape Your Own Superstar

Once drafted, your journey is far from over. The Path to 99 system in MLB The Show 25 completely overhauls player development, giving you more control than ever before in shaping your career.

• Dynamic Attribute Growth: No longer confined to rigid archetypes, your stats progress based on in-game performance, allowing you to develop naturally as you gain experience.

• Expanded Perk System: Build your player your way with new perks and abilities—whether it’s clutch hitting, sharper reactions, or something in between. It’s your game, your style, your path to greatness.

• Two-Way Player Evolution: Always wanted to be the next Shohei Ohtani? The two-way player feature has been refined, letting you truly balance both hitting and pitching without limitations.

With these enhancements, Road to the Show in MLB The Show 25 allows you to craft a unique baseball story from high school dreams to big-league stardom. It makes every step along the way feel personal and rewarding.

(image credit: San Diego Studio)

Fresh Voices in the Booth: A More Immersive Broadcast Experience

Commentary has always been a crucial to MLB The Show’s authenticity, and MLB The Show 25 is making a game-changing addition with longtime San Francisco Giants PA announcer Renel Brooks-Moon. Her voice is baseball. Her passion, energy, and deep game knowledge bring The Show to life, making every moment—from Spring Training to the World Series—feel even more real. In addition, the commentary system has received a major upgrade.

• More Organic In-Game Banter: The commentary team now reacts more naturally to key moments, with smoother transitions between calls and less repetition.

• Enhanced Player and Team Insights: Get deeper stories and analysis, from rookie breakouts to veteran milestones, with historical comparisons that make every game feel like a true broadcast.

• Dynamic Stadium Chatter: Crowd reactions and PA announcements are more varied and reactive, bringing ballparks to life in new ways.

Final Verdict

MLB The Show 25 launches a no-doubt moonshot. With its most ambitious gameplay upgrades yet, a fully revamped Franchise Mode, and an even deeper Road to the Show experience, this year’s installment cements itself as the definitive baseball sim.

New mechanics like Ambush Hitting and G.O.A.T. Difficulty add layers of strategy and challenge, while the Front Office Experience revolutionizes team management with dynamic free agency and player motivations. Road to the Show’s expanded career path, starting in high school or college, makes your journey to the big leagues more personal than ever. And with a fresh broadcast team adding new life to every play, the immersion is second to none.

MLB The Show 25 delivers the most authentic, feature-rich baseball experience yet, making it a must-play for any baseball fan.

Don’t just watch baseball, live it with MLB The Show 25, the most immersive and feature-packed installment to date. Ready to hit a home run? Secure your copy through my Amazon affiliate link!