Review · Sports · PlayStation 4
MLB The Show 17
By the LumiKin editors
Reviewed: 01 May 2026
PlayStation 4
Sony Interactive Entertainment · 2017
LumiScore
68/100
Good
MLB The Show 17 is a sports game that fosters strategic thinking and spatial awareness through realistic baseball gameplay, with light social risk in online play.
Growth (BDS)
54
Risk (RIS)
7
Daily limit
120min
Age guidance
E10+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.70 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.20 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.65 | |
MLB The Show 17 offers a highly realistic and personalized baseball experience, fostering strategic thinking, spatial awareness, and hand-eye coordination through its immersive gameplay. The 'Road to The Show' mode provides an engaging RPG-like career progression, while 'Retro Mode' offers nostalgic fun. The game encourages learning and transfer of baseball knowledge, and its competitive online play can develop emotional regulation and sportsmanship.
Design risks
| R1 | Dopamine pressure | 0.07 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.17 | |
While generally low-risk, MLB The Show 17's optional online multiplayer component introduces potential for competitive toxicity and interaction with strangers. As a sports simulation, it primarily features male representation. The game's inherent replayability and 'Year-To-Year Saves' feature, while convenient, could encourage extended play sessions, though it lacks manipulative dopamine mechanics or monetization pressures.
Heads up
- Monthly spendTypical real-money spend by engaged players: $0–0/mo.