I’m breaking all my established rules for these lists, but like, whatever. This is baseball we’re talking about. Baseball is full of weird quirks and cheating is part of the game, so just go with me here. Oh! And please keep in mind I haven’t ventured into the PS5 generation of gaming yet, so this “all-time” list stops at the PS4 generation.
Honorable mention: All those old 8-bit “classic” baseball games
Do you remember Baseball Stars, or maybe Baseball Stars II? Oh, they’re classics! How about R.B.I. Baseball, or R.B.I. Baseball 2? They’re classics too … but are these old games actually any good? For me personally, no, they aren’t good. I never liked their simple, unrealistic pitching controls, where wizard-like pitchers manipulated the ball in mid-air. These games also had finicky controls and terrible AI, and all the other arcade-style clones were even worse. But hey, they popularized baseball video games, and if I didn’t mention them at all, I’m sure some grumpy baseball fan would email me angrily about it 😉
Another honorable mention: World Series Baseball (Sega Genesis era)
Sega Genesis
Released in 1994-1997 by Sega
In 1994, Sega had the crazy idea that baseball would be better if pitchers were more like humans, choosing a location and a type of pitch before throwing it, and they moved the camera down low, right behind the plate. For a moment, World Series Baseball was far and away the most realistic baseball game there was. Unfortunately, the games still stunk. They were slow and drab. But make no mistake, this series revolutionized baseball video games, pushing them away from silly arcade nonsense and toward a genuine simulation of the sport.
Review: World Series Baseball
One more honorable mention: The Bigs (series)
PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360
Released in 2007-2009 by 2K Sports
Of all the games that attempted to soup up baseball with over-the-top, hyper-realistic style, The Bigs and The Bigs 2 did it best. The games looked great, moved fast, and had creative gameplay wrinkles.
Review: The Bigs 2
11. World Series Baseball ‘98
Sega Saturn
Released in 1997 by Sega
World Series Baseball ’98 is the one 32-bit baseball game that I’m putting on the list. Not only did it manage 3D graphics that weren’t a total eyesore, but it had bits of gameplay depth that other games of its time were missing.
Review: World Series Baseball ’98
10. R.B.I. Baseball (PS4 era)
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Released in 2014-2021 by MLB Advanced Media
I wasn’t exactly itching for a modern-looking update of the 8-bit style of baseball video game, but that’s what I got, and I ended up kind of liking it. These games feel sort of cheap and lazy, to be honest, but I think that’s what some people like about them.
Review: R.B.I. Baseball 2016
9. High Heat Major League Baseball 2004
PlayStation 2, Xbox
Released in 2003 by 3DO
This game is almost like a “happy accident.” It doesn’t seem like it should be good — it’s dumbed down and it’s also ugly — but the stupid thing is fun to play. If you want simulation baseball without the depth that usually comes with it, High Heat 2004 is worth a go.
Review: High Heat Major League Baseball 2004
8. World Series Baseball 2K3
PlayStation 2, Xbox
Released in 2003 by Sega
This one’s another surprisingly fun baseball game from the early PS2/Xbox days. While it’s not the most sophisticated game ever, it’s easy to pick up, smooth-moving, nice-looking, and fairly realistic.
Review: World Series Baseball 2K3
7. Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball
Super Nintendo
Released in 1994 by Nintendo
Remember my complaints about those old-school NES games? Well, this game was very much the same, except it had stylish presentation that blew everything else out of the water. It was also extremely fast-paced, and its pitching wizardry was toned down a bit. If you want to play a decades-old baseball game, this is the one.
Review: Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball
6. MVP Baseball 2005
PlayStation 2, Xbox
Released in 2005 by EA Sports
EA Sports totally retooled their baseball game in 2003, changed the name to MVP Baseball, and unveiled a game with a level of depth never seen before. Three years in, MVP Baseball 2005 won over the hearts of baseball geeks everywhere. It’s got impressive depth, energetic action, and an expansive franchise mode. Unfortunately, the series was interrupted by legal nonsense involving the 2K company and it had to drop the MLB license, then finished up with two college baseball games before calling it quits.
Review: MVP Baseball 2005
5. Major League Baseball 2K13
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Released in 2013 by 2K Sports
This is the very last in 2K’s long-running baseball series, and it’s better than people give it credit for, with sparkling looks, snappy controls, and a million options.
Review: Major League Baseball 2K13
4. Super Mega Baseball (series)
PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Released in 2014-2020 by Metalhead Software
This silly-looking cartoon game is good for some care-free laughs … and it’s also one of the best baseball simulations ever! What?! Yeah, it really is. Under the cartoon paint is a deep and detailed engine with an inventive approach to baseball gameplay.
Review: Super Mega Baseball 2
3. MLB The Show (PS2 era)
PlayStation 2
Released in 2006-2011 by Sony Computer Entertainment
After years of struggling with its simply-named “MLB” series, Sony rebranded to “The Show” in 2006, just in time for their games to mature into the best baseball simulations anyone had ever seen. The Show stood above the competition with the cleanest graphics, the most lifelike action, and the most user-friendly interfaces, but the key element was its mastery of pitching-hitting duels. The Show made you think over the strategy of every pitch, it made you want to hone your eye at the plate, and it rewarded your long-term investment.
Review: MLB 10: The Show
2. MLB The Show (PS3 era)
PlayStation 3
Released in 2007-2016 by Sony Computer Entertainment
It’s just like the previous generation, but with even better graphics, better gameplay, more options, more modes, and more online stuff. If Sony hadn’t already established itself as the king of baseball video games, they shut down the competition during the PS3 days with a dominant three-up, three-down inning.
Review: MLB 13: The Show
1. MLB The Show (PS4 era)
PlayStation 4
Released in 2014-2024 by Sony Computer Entertainment
What did I just say? Better graphics, better gameplay, more options, more modes, more online stuff? Well, no surprise, it’s a clean sweep, because the PS4 era of The Show comes with it all, and it’s the best baseball video gaming experience I can imagine. The series continued getting better and better, little by little, and each version seems to scratch even more of my baseball-loving itches.
Review: MLB The Show 21
Published October 24, 2024