MLB The Show 25: An In-Depth Review

As MLB The Show steps into its fourth season on the Nintendo Switch, there’s much to admire about its ambitious presence on the aging console. It’s quite a feat to see such a fully-featured sports game running on the Switch, but recommending it without reservation becomes tougher each year unless this is your only option for some virtual baseball action. The game’s elements are truly spectacular. Over the four years I’ve monitored MLB The Show for Nintendo World Report, I’d say this is the sharpest the game modes have ever been. It’s commendable to see a developer consistently breathe new life into and enhance these modes. Yet, it’s a shame that all this excellence is weighed down by the out-of-date hardware of the console.

One feature that really stands out this year is the revamped online-only Diamond Dynasty. If you’re not familiar, this is the mode where you gather virtual cards to create a team and take on various challenges in single-player and multiplayer setups. In the past, this mode became a bit of a maze with different sets resetting throughout the year, often rendering your collections obsolete. Thankfully, that’s been reworked for 2025, although it feels like the process of assembling a top-tier team now takes a little longer. Overall, it’s a step in the right direction.

Another intriguing addition is the Diamond Quest, a creatively designed roguelike board game mode. You roll a die and navigate a grid, tackling challenges along the way. This concept is brilliant, offering a mix of quick challenges like getting extra-base hits or striking out batters, and longer ones such as scoring runs in a 3-inning game. While it’s a highlight in MLB The Show 25, it suffers on the Switch due to slow loading times. Eventually, the enjoyment gets overshadowed by the sluggishness, making it feel more like a chore. Though the lack of challenge variety plays a role, it’s primarily the load times taking the wind out of its sails.

The Road to the Show mode, where you craft your player’s career, saw significant improvements last year, which I mostly adored. This year, it’s refined further with tweaks to cumbersome story elements and the addition of high school and college starting points. Although last year, I felt this mode hadn’t quite hit its stride on the Switch, it’s now in better form, despite lingering technical issues due to the hardware.

Franchise mode is an area I’ve dipped into occasionally but have always enjoyed in sports games. While it hasn’t changed much over the past few years, the recent updates have made it much more interesting as a general manager simulation. With in-depth free agency and draft systems, if you’re into managing budgets and strategies, this could be quite addictive. Some of the tutorials could use improvement, as even someone versed in baseball’s offseason moves might struggle initially. However, once you get a grip on it, the experience of team-building as a general manager is immensely rewarding.

I’ve been a fan of the Storylines museum modes since they debuted in 2023, but this year they seem to be losing some of their initial spark. Nonetheless, exploring the histories of iconic Negro League figures like Cool Papa Bell and Turkey Stearnes is always fascinating. Sony has promised more Storylines through future updates, though the absence of something uniquely compelling like last year’s Derek Jeter feature is somewhat disappointing. Despite this, the existing Negro Leagues content remains impressive, even if it revisits past material.

For Switch owners looking for a licensed baseball game, MLB The Show 25 can satisfy that craving. While it reflects the franchise’s stellar gameplay design and rich variety in modes, it ultimately feels compromised on the Switch. Here’s hoping that the rumored Switch 2 provides a better platform for MLB The Show 26.