Review · Sports · PlayStation 4
MLB The Show 18
Reviewed: 21 May 2026
PlayStation 4
Sony Interactive Entertainment · 2018
Ludograph rating
Growth (BDS)
51
Risk (RIS)
19
Daily limit
90min
Age guidance
10+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.60 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.20 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.75 | |
MLB The Show 18 offers a realistic baseball simulation that enhances strategic thinking, spatial awareness, and hand-eye coordination. Players can develop emotional regulation by managing in-game challenges and learning from outcomes. The game provides a structured environment for understanding the rules and dynamics of baseball.
Design risks
| R1 | Compulsion-loop pressure | 0.27 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.28 | |
As an online competitive game, MLB The Show 18 carries a moderate risk of competitive toxicity. While the game itself has no direct monetization or manipulative compulsion-loop mechanics, the competitive nature can lead to frustration or negative social interactions in online play.
Content (not in risk score)
| R4.1 | Violence Level | 0.00 | |
| R4.2 | Sexual Content | 0.00 | |
| R4.3 | Language | 0.00 | |
| R4.4 | Substance References | 0.00 | |
| R4.5 | Fear / Horror | 0.00 | |
Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.
Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria
- DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
- GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
- ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.
These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.