Introduction

Gather 'round, sports fans and couch potatoes! It's that glorious time of the year when MLB The Show graces us with its latest and greatest version—this time, it's the fancifully numbered MLB The Show 25. For my Xbox Series X/S enthusiasts, this installment promises to make you feel like the king of the diamond or just a glorified couch coach. Strap in as we explore the diamond this game presents while killing some serious time (and possibly an assortment of snacks) on the couch.

Gameplay

MLB The Show 25 takes players on an exhilarating journey through baseball's vast universe, starting from the chaos of high school games where you thought being a 'star athlete' meant juggling protein shakes and avoiding that one creepy gym teacher. This time around, they’ve added in the option to play for not one, not two, but EIGHT real college teams! Yes, you can pit your skills against iconic teams like LSU and UCLA, turning your dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player into a fierce reality. Or just a fantasy where you tell your grandmother how you brought home the 'championship' when really, you played from the comfort of your bean bag chair. As you navigate the glorious paths leading to the MLB Draft, the newly revamped Road to the Show mode keeps it as fresh as that pizza you left in your fridge for a week (but we don’t advise you eating it). The graphics are sizzling—like fries fresh out of the fryer—providing a lifelike experience that makes you wonder if you're truly watching a game or still sitting on your couch feeling 'athletic' while munching on snacks. The batting and pitching mechanics have undergone some delightful updates, transitioning from a labyrinth of buttons to a more intuitive control scheme that might actually help you put together a perfect game—before chucking the controller in frustration because you forgot to move the right stick. The fear of losing a crucial game by accidentally thinking the pitch button was the pause button? Deliciously realistic!

Graphics

Holy pixels, Batman! The graphics in MLB The Show 25 are good enough to make your grandma weep tears of joy. Stadiums are rendered with so much detail that you can almost hear the popcorn vendor yelling from Section 102. Player animations are smoother than your post-work snack routine, with lifelike movements that would make real baseball players question if they should retire early. There are typical jaw-dropping visuals—the kind that can turn a minor league game into an epic showdown of heroic proportions. Just don’t let the high-definition glory fool you into thinking you’ll actually get off the couch anytime soon. You won’t. You’ll be glued to that screen like a teenager obsessively scrolling through TikTok.

Conclusion

MLB The Show 25 provides an entertaining experience, blending realistic gameplay with just the right amount of humor to keep the spirits high during those frustrating reconstructions of your team’s season. It firmly secures its place as the staple baseball game, making it the go-to for die-hard fans and casual players alike. So grab your snacks, settle in, and prepare to debase Uncle Fred at the next family gathering by taking control of the world’s greatest baseball simulation. Overall, it hits a solid home run (thank you, thank you!) with an 8.5 out of 10. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I've got a season to simulate and snacks to consume—game on!

See Latest Prices for MLB The Show 25 on Xbox Series X/S on Amazon