MLB The Show 22

This year's installment may not swing for the fences, but its expansion to Nintendo Switch and refinement of gameplay lets it comfortably take extra bases. Technically, MLB The Show 22 features a few refinements to gameplay modes that previously existed in last year's play, sanding off rough edges and adding a few new items here and there. But it completes its expansion from Sony's systems by bringing in Nintendo's handheld to the fold, while allowing cross-platform play, cross-platform progression, and cross saves. It's incredible to put In work on building your squad in Diamond Dynasty or grinding through a game series for Road to the Show on a console, then transfer those files to the cloud and take them with you on the go without losing any progress. The process does have hiccups when you're setting things up to be aware of – You have to create an account on the game's website, indicate a primary system you'll play on, and sync any other device after the fact, or any substantive progress that you've made playing the game will appear to be erased. (Fortunately, it isn't, but the server confusion with the process can seem as though your work is gone until you get things straightened out). Another item that new Switch players will want to be aware of is that the Pro Controller really is the best way to play The Show, simply because Joy-Con thumbsticks aren't great. Between the precise movements required for Pinpoint Pitching, and the sharp movements for stealing bases, Joy-Con's just don't feel sturdy enough to stand up to the stress of the March to October, much less a few of the Mini-Season matchups. It's also unfortunate that Switch owners won't have access to the Stadium Creator feature, but maybe that can be added in for next year's version.

Speaking of the Mini-Seasons, this is an excellent addition to the Diamond Dynasty mode as you take your squad against seven other teams in an abbreviated 28 game (three-inning per game) season before leading into the playoffs and eventual championship. That's not to cast doubt on the Conquest or Showdown portions of this mode – they're still included and still fun, but Mini-Seasons feels like a great way of pitting your squad against rival teams, and also getting a sense of where you need to build or enhance your team. While the energy for your pitchers seems to drain at an impossibly fast rate in this mode, that's tolerable when you consider how quick the gameplay happens to be. It also factors into the refocused element of programs and progress, where virtually everything you do, from homeruns and strikeouts to simply getting on base, winds up completing goals and earning you players, packs, or credits for the in-game store. Past this, Road to the Show has chosen to not force players into selecting a two-way player (which is more of a generational rarity than a standard talent anyway). What's nice is that the video clips from Ben Gellman and other MLB connected commentators for this year don't feel as canned as last year's sessions. Instead, they feel more connected to actions you've done and progress you've made climbing from the minors to the major leagues. And while there's a new commentary crew, there's nothing fantastic or awful about the team of Sciambi and Singleton. If you're a fan of overexcited commentary, you might miss the trio of Vasgergian, DeRosa, and Plesac, but Boog and Chris do a solid job. You'll still hear repeated dialogue a bit more than you'd like, but it's a more laid back, conversational tone in their delivery. Overall, MLB The Show 22 doesn't reinvent the baseball game, but it never had to. It simply needed to refine what was there from last year and make the pastime more enjoyable, which it easily manages to accomplish with its improved play.