Backyard Baseball’s reboot is promising but barebones for its price, and it’s got card packs for some reason

I was thrilled when the Backyard Sports series was revived a few years ago, a sentiment shared by many of my peers who grew up with the brand.

During my childhood, I spent countless hours on the original Backyard Baseball titles for PC. The straightforward point‑and‑click mechanics evoke deep nostalgia, as does the ensemble of kids sprinting across playgrounds in a variety of sports, all under the guidance of the legendary Pablo Sanchez.

Pablo Sanchez returns in the newly released Backyard Baseball, which hit Steam today. Though the eagerly awaited title has been available for only a handful of hours, my excitement quickly faded upon discovering how skeletal and unfinished the current build feels.

The game still lacks online multiplayer, with in‑game menus merely hinting that it will arrive soon—a glaring omission for a 2026 sports title.

Given the uncertainty surrounding the functionality of online play, it is difficult to evaluate the game at this stage.

The core experience of Backyard Baseball centers on its season mode, where players assemble a squad, choose a whimsical nickname from a curated list, and customize the team’s palette. Throughout a full season, you face off against rival squads, climb the rankings, and strive for the coveted trophy. At launch, the title also offers Quick Play, Pick‑Up Game, Backyard Bash, Backyard Derby, and Wiggle (wiffle) Ball as additional modes.

Consistent with contemporary sports titles, the game features card packs that players can open for unlockables. The cards range from collectible items and stickers for customizing your character’s bat to coveted “kid‑era” versions of real MLB stars that can be added to your sandbox roster.

The inclusion of card packs feels somewhat superficial, as if the developers simply wanted to mirror the monetization model of other modern sports games. Thankfully, the packs are earned through in‑game currency rather than real‑money purchases. Still, the notion of “gambling” in a title aimed at younger players raises uncomfortable questions.

The title isn’t without merit. Its mechanics have been refreshed while preserving the nostalgic feel of the original. Players use the mouse to aim swings and pitches, click to execute, toggle batting stances with Z and C, and navigate the field with WASD. The controls retain a deliberately unrefined charm that echoes the original’s quirks, while the bright, cartoonish visuals run smoothly and look polished on PC.

Backyard Baseball has finally hit Steam, yet it still feels like a title still polishing its edges. The current $39.99 price tag makes it hard to recommend as is; a lower entry point—say $19.99 or $24.99—would have made the purchase feel more justified. Until the game receives significant updates, such as robust online play or additional content, many players might prefer to hold off or wait for a discount.

Fans can now grab the game on PC, and the studio plans to bring it to consoles later this summer. If the upcoming console launch arrives without an online multiplayer mode, it could leave many disappointed, as connectivity has become a staple expectation for modern sports titles.