The One-Team Dynasty Continues
HIGH Deep simulation has never been more accessible.
LOW The visual presentation occasionally removes users from the experience.
WTF Some of these player faces are rougher than Angel Hernandez’s umpiring.
Before diving into the amazingly deep and engrossing simulator that is Out of the Park Baseball 25 (OOTP 25), I must explain one thing — I am a Linux user, which automatically puts me at a disadvantage for PC gaming. However, the OOTP series has historically been Linux- (or at the very least, Steam-) friendly. Unfortunately, in the interest of full disclosure, it never quite jibed with my computer during this review.
With that said, all of the technical hiccups I endured were absolutely worth the trouble because OOTP 25 is an unbelievable simulation that should be experienced by sports fans, sports gaming fans, strategy gaming fans, RPG fans, and enthusiasts of anything remotely enjoyable. Gamers who have never tried an OOTP title should buy this immediately, and those experienced with OOTP should still consider an upgrade.
For the uninitiated, let me explain. OOTP 25 is the latest installment (the 25th, actually) of this revered baseball team management series. Fans of other series should look to their favorite title’s franchise management mode as an example, but then abandon that connection because OOTP 25 is far deeper and more involved in every aspect.
OOTP 25 is played in an almost turn-based format, with the gameplay centered on situational decision-making, rather than action-based baseball. The default setting is to watch the minimalist on-screen graphics play out the “live” portion of an at-bat, trimming the pitch-by-pitch drudgery that chased many fans away from the diamond.
That said, all (and I mean all) aspects are customizable. Users can create their own teams, leagues, players, rules, and more. They can also choose to intermix MLB teams with KBO (Korean baseball) rules. If they want to recreate historical seasons, it’s all there with note-perfect statistics, stadiums, and the rest. The experience is left entirely up to the player.
In recent years, OOTP 25 has ramped up the graphical fidelity a bit, so the onscreen action more closely matched what the simulation text was explaining in each play. Still, spending time on OOTP’s graphics is missing the point — the tiny 3D sprites and janky animations are there as an approximation of the gameplay, not a focal point. The development team has done a nice job improving things, but no one will confuse this with a console sports experience.
(I should also mention the “Retro Visual” modes which add a nice throwback flair to the graphics by overlaying a filter that emulates different TV presentations from years past. While this doesn’t fix the limited graphics, it’s a neat throwaway feature that speaks to the devs’ sheer love of the sport.)
Rather than leaning into graphics as most other series have done, OOTP 25 makes visual strides by significantly improving the user interface. The sleeker, more organized management dashboard eliminates the ‘hunting and pecking’ that pervaded previous editions, making navigation between team management, scouting, and organizational budgeting smoother than ever. While that may not seem significant to newcomers, I assure you this streamlined approach reduces the learning curve by a notable margin.
This is relevant because previous editions of OOTP were admittedly a bit cumbersome and menu-driven. However, the simulation aspects were always accurate and true to reality. In short, Barry Bonds didn’t lay down bunts, Cal Ripken didn’t take days off, and Jacob deGrom didn’t pitch full seasons. There’s a reason OOTP is the only game ever to win Metacritic’s PC Game of the Year Award twice… it’s pure realism.
Likewise, the new in-game tutorial system is a welcome addition, not only for series newbies but also for crusty ol’ series vets who didn’t realize certain actions were possible, even after a decade of enjoying OOTP titles.
This is hardly where the upgrades end, though. The game’s new Dynamic Evolution system allows the world to evolve in realistic ways, including changes in league rules, structures, economic factors, and even innovations in player training and health management. Each year, fans witness how our national pastime evolves, and OOTP 25 ensures users will continue to experience it as they simulate well into the future.
Also, teams now each have a player development complex, where they can send players to work on fundamentals in the offseason and spring training. Here, fans can identify weak spots in a player’s approach and work to improve them for the coming season. I wasn’t expecting much year-over-year improvement for some of my younger prospects, but was pleasantly surprised to see marked changes in performance.
OOTP 25 also bridges the gap for more casual gamers with its new Drive for the Pennant mode. Those who want to bypass the day-to-day grind can now take charge of an MLB team in 2024, only facing pivotal moments of the season. This could mean deciding on controversial trade offers, making a tough call on a tiring pitcher throwing a no-hitter, or benching a popular player amid a slump. It’s a perfect halfway point that lets players enjoy making those big decisions without endless micromanagement.
Though I didn’t spend much time with some of the minutiae editors, I should acknowledge that OOTP 25’s level editor is robust, allowing for the finest of details in ballpark creation. Users can now adjust the dimensions of every part of the field, select specific building materials, and even adjust seat colors to their liking.
Multiplayer has been a mixed bag for me thus far, even when I waited a few weeks after the game’s launch in order to give it a fair shake. While servers have been reliable and the online community has been welcoming, I’ve struggled to maintain connections and have been booted back to the lobbies on multiple occasions. Having successfully played OOTP online in the past, I chalk this up to Linux compatibility and nothing more. Gamers should feel confident that any bugs will be worked out in the future by the development team.
There is no point in writing a grand sweeping summary since I opened this review with the key takeaway. OOTP 25 remains atop the sports simulation pack by giving users unprecedented control over their management experiences. While action-oriented users might need a little adjustment time for this type of sports gaming, this series continues to redefine what “immersion” means in digital experiences.
Score: 9 out of 10
Disclosures: This game is developed and published by Out of the Park Developments. It is currently available on PC, MacOS, Linux (via Steam) and iOS (as OOTP Go). This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on PC (Steam for Linux.) Approximately 40 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was not completed. Approximately 4 hours were devoted to multiplayer modes.
Parents: At the time of review, OOTP 25 was not rated by the ESRB, but previous editions in the series have consistently been rated E. This is a detailed baseball management simulator that relies largely on text prompts to advance through a season and contains nothing suggestive or inappropriate for children.
Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: All dialogue and game action is presented via onscreen text. There are some atmospheric ballpark sounds and an experimental play-by-play announcer, but they are not required for successful gameplay. OOTP 25 is fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: The game makes good use of a standard keyboard, but while certain interface buttons are customizable, the controls are not remappable.
When not writing for Gamecritics, Brad spends his days as a managing editor, handling content that is far less complicated than the RPGs haunting his dreams each and every night.
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It’s also on Android as OOTP Go we well.
Some more tied bits, thus game also has one of the largest mod communities I have ever seen. People that make historic 3d stadiums and uniforms that automatically update as teams got new stadiums or uniforms/logos, you can customize files and bring back team names that were erased from MLB history. This game is a modders dream from using real photos for players profiles, making your own uniforms for your own fictional leagues. There is just so much you can do in this game.