How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 86 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 77 | 114 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 63 | 180 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 7h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (30)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 85
“MLB The Show 19 is another addition to the series that improves on all of its aspects and provides full quality of life updates and some interesting new modes. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“MLB The Show 19 doesn’t appear all that enticing on paper, but step up to the plate and its gameplay is still pretty much unparalleled. The significant improvements to fielding mean that the series now excels in every discipline, while additions like March to October provide an entertaining way to play in short bursts. Diamond Dynasty is arguably the best card collecting game on the PS4, and despite some dry commentary, the overall presentation is borderline obsessive with its sheer attention to detail. The biggest disappointment comes in the lack of meaningful additions to Franchise mode, but this is still a feature rich option even if it has been left largely untouched. Simply put, Sony San Diego’s hit yet another homerun.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“Each incarnation of The Show I've played has been better than the last, and MLB The Show 19 keeps pace. I do wonder, however, if there is a "next level" coming for the series or if we're content to accept a layer or two of steady improvements for the next few editions. I'll take it. After all, it's a long season.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Despite the lack of innovation in Franchise Mode, MLB 19: The Show excels when it comes to the sheer variety of single-player content on offer, while significant improvements to fielding round out the on-field package, making this one of the best baseball games ever. ”
read full review ↗ - 90
“MLB The Show 19 continues to reinvent the game of baseball. A handful of additions, along with tweaks to existing modes, make for an excellent entry in this long-running franchise, one that shouldn't be missed by newcomers and long-time fans alike. ”
read full review ↗ - 85
“MLB The Show 19 still offers some fun baseball gameplay that’s both engaging to learn and rewarding to master, yet it isn’t too different from what’s come before.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“MLB The Show 19 stands apart from last year’s entry largely because of the excellent new March to October mode that brings a refreshing way to play through a whole season quickly. Playing through iconic events in baseball history in the Moments mode is hit or miss, but it’s a welcome addition nonetheless. Fielding is improved thanks to new player ratings and complementing animations, but overall the core gameplay is quite familiar. Sadly, Road to the Show, Franchise, and Diamond Dynasty, while still great modes, don’t turn the wheel.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“MLB The Show 19 continues the series’ slow march of progress, though with a bigger step this year than last. Moments and March to October offer fresh ways to experience the outstanding gameplay, complete with the refinements on the defensive side of the ball.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“MLB The Show 19 is hands down the best baseball experience in current generation of consoles. With its level of polish and availability to all players, it might be one of the best overall sports games on the market.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While Madden and NBA 2K give you increasing amounts of control over individual player progression and continue to incorporate role-playing managerial elements into their gameplay, The Show 19’s Franchise mode remains stale. ”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Overall, MLB The Show 19 shows that San Diego Studios isn’t sitting on their butts doing nothing to improve the player experience. They are still making this game better and better each year. This year’s game brings more refined game modes, a more engaged baseball experience, and it does enough to stay fresh. It isn’t perfect, but it’s damn near it.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“If you want a true-to-life baseball experience, this is almost certainly it. But when you get so close to doing everything right, what you do wrong stands out more. With MLB The Show’s track record, I have no doubt that, come MLB The Show 20, they’ll fix the niggling little issues that prevent MLB The Show 19 from being a truly great game, but for now, those issues still exist, and they’re what prevent the game from making the jump from very good to great.”
read full review ↗
PLAY Zine
Push Square
Worth Playing
GameSpot
We Got This Covered
Digital Trends
IGN
Screen Rant
Digital Chumps
Gaming Age…and 18 more tracked reviews.