The Highest Rated MLB The Show Games, Ranked

The MLB The Show series is undoubtedly the most successful baseball gaming series on the market. It’s difficult for any game to deliver consistently well-received releases every year. Yet, MLB The Show has done so repeatedly, with releases being well-received by fans of the sport and the game every year.

With the hotly anticipated release of MLB The Show 25 on the horizon, let’s look at some of the best releases in the series’ history and their ratings with critics and gamers alike.

The Highest Rated MLB The Show Games

MLB The Show 18 

Average Metacritic Score: 82

When it was first released in 2018, MLB The Show 18 was well-received by players and critics alike. While it didn’t introduce any new modes or features, the game polished and refined many existing modes and features, giving new and returning players a great experience that competes with some of the later releases in the series despite graphical and gameplay improvements.

MLB 09: The Show 

Average Metacritic Score: 82.33

MLB 09: The Show significantly improved the franchise and career modes from the previous installment. Those two game modes are some of the most played, so players were rightfully excited when they got their hands on the game. Significant improvements were also made to the animations and reactions of the characters in the game, giving it a fresh new feel compared to the previous installment. These improvements earned MLB 09 some excellent reviews, including a 90 on Metacritic for the PS3 version.

MLB 06: The Show 

Average Metacritic Score: 83

The first installment of the franchise was released in 2006. MLB 06 received great reviews and was loved by baseball and gaming fans worldwide. It introduced incredible game modes, such as The Show Mode, a career mode that allows players to live out their dreams of becoming pro baseball players. As the first game of this marvelous series, MLB 06 will always hold a special spot in the hearts of many fans.

MLB The Show 20 

Average Metacritic Score: 83

MLB The Show 20 introduced new fielding and hitting mechanics, as well as new features in the Diamond Dynasty mode, which players enjoyed. The game was also the first installment in the series to feature fully licensed minor league baseball players, complete with their names and player faces. These additions, along with others like authentic stadium ads, made this iteration the most immersive and realistic release in the franchise at the time.

MLB The Show 23 

Average Metacritic Score: 83

MLB The Show 23 introduced the much-loved “Storylines” game mode. This game mode featured the Negro Leagues and allowed players to enjoy legends like Jackie Robinson, Buck O’Neil, and more. The game also had an extensive playlist with a long list of incredible songs from different genres of music. MLB The Show 23 won the 2024 D.I.C.E award for sports game of the year. 

MLB 08: The Show 

Average Metacritic Score: 84

MLB 08 saw arguably the most significant graphical and visual improvement from a previous installment. There were no new game modes, but the existing modes were so greatly improved, that MLB 08 was head and shoulders ahead of any other baseball sim at the time. MLB 08 also introduced more detailed stats with the “Progress Batting Performance” and “Batter/Pitcher Analysis” features. These additions gave the game a more realistic feel.

MLB 10: The Show

Average Metacritic Score: 85

MLB 10 is arguably one of the best releases in the series. While the gameplay remained the standard MLB style we all love, specific introductions set MLB 10 apart from its predecessors and some of its successors. Most notably, the catcher mode — a game mode that puts you in the perspective of a catcher, where you have to call the entire game — was a notable addition. Another noteworthy addition was the “Home Run Derby,” which players certainly appreciated.

MLB The Show 16 

Average Metacritic Score: 85

MLB The Show 16 introduced a new naming convention for the series, and with it came a few improvements and additions that players enjoyed post-release. Conquest Mode, Battle Royale, Showtime, and a new and improved batting camera were all introduced in this title. It was also the last game in the franchise to be released for the PS3, marking the end of an era for the series.

MLB The Show 17 

Average Metacritic Score: 85

One of the most popular game modes in the MLB The Show franchise is the Road To The Show mode — a career mode that puts you in the shoes of a pro baseball player rising through the ranks and achieving great things. MLB The Show 17 significantly improves this mode by giving it more of a story feel with “Pave Your Path,” which presents cutscenes and decisions that give more life to your career in the game. 

MLB The Show 19 

Average Metacritic Score: 86

MLB The Show 19 introduced a plethora of new additions to the series. “March to October” allowed players to relive huge moments in MLB history. Additionally, there were significant improvements made to defensive gameplay, as well as updated mechanics and improved animations. This game also introduced new categories for pitchers and batters, giving individual players a unique feel whenever they’re in action. Several legends were also added to the game. Ultimately, MLB The Show 19 saw some of the most extensive additions and improvements the series had seen to that point.