Madden NFL 21

 PC
User Score
0.5

Overwhelming dislike- based on 361 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 361
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 361
  3. Negative: 345 out of 361
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  1. Patmoamagaman11
    Mar 1, 2022
    1
    Devs have suck to new lows with this trash. Buggier and glitchier than all hell. This series has been on a serious decline for the last ten years. I didn't care too much about buying a new one every year when it was some solid gameplay, but the devs are so lazy and clearly don't care at all anymore. They just want to milk us fans. Thanks Obama!
  2. ANTtheKNEEEE
    Nov 23, 2021
    2
    I know we always say the game is the same. Madden 20 to 21 was the worse case of this. The bugs were the sames, there were even assets that said madden 20 in madden 21. Very depressing. :/
  3. E_Tacklebery
    Nov 18, 2021
    10
    I liked the game. It tightens up. As a lover of such games, I have nothing bad to say.
  4. DrD00m
    Aug 29, 2021
    0
    Game is broken. That's what you get if you keep giving EA money. They don't give a damn. Don't buy EA games!
  5. Mudamir
    May 21, 2021
    0
    EA in his mind: Money money money money money money money money money money money
  6. Gman1984
    Apr 22, 2021
    0
    To play this game on PC I was required to install an app called EA Desktop, the app is nothing short of a complete abomination that crashed my PC multiple times, prevented me from playing the game without constantly freezing my PC with no error messages or anything else to help me.

    Please, boycott this company. Don't buy anything from them, all they have is monopoly over sports    To play this game on PC I was required to install an app called EA Desktop, the app is nothing short of a complete abomination that crashed my PC multiple times, prevented me from playing the game without constantly freezing my PC with no error messages or anything else to help me.

    Please, boycott this company. Don't buy anything from them, all they have is monopoly over sports licenses, we must be a lot better than this.    … Expand
  7. zombox5000
    Apr 22, 2021
    2
    The only changes this game has made in the last five years are slightly better graphics. Until this edition, I hadn't played a Madden in 5 or 6 years. I might as well have not bothered. It, literally, is the exact same game with the exact same flaws. It has a terrible roster management system. The game actually cheats, which you can test by calling audibles and watching how the gameThe only changes this game has made in the last five years are slightly better graphics. Until this edition, I hadn't played a Madden in 5 or 6 years. I might as well have not bothered. It, literally, is the exact same game with the exact same flaws. It has a terrible roster management system. The game actually cheats, which you can test by calling audibles and watching how the game automatically swaps top the best possible defense for the play you just called, then does it again and again. You can watch DB's actually teleport to your QB's pass, clearly 20+ yards in movement in the time it takes your pass to travel 10 yards. The game is bad and EA needs to lose this license.… Expand
  8. delaware80
    Apr 16, 2021
    9
    Madden NFL 21 is a really good game because of amazing graphics, realistic pressure on the line of scrimmage, authentic football player abilities and a lot of customizing if you are only playing a game against CPU with your preferred teams. The biggest weakness is the boring face of the franchise an MUT scrap. Madden 21 is like Madden 20: funny but repetitive.
  9. Ecamsan007
    Apr 7, 2021
    0
    Playing this game I can definetly tell that the developers never actually spent any time playing this game themselves. If they did they would not release this garbage. Did no one at EA play one franchise mode? It won't stop signing players even though the assist is off. Cornerbacks catch better than wide receiversToo...? Suoersim is broken too, it will randomly jump to a different downPlaying this game I can definetly tell that the developers never actually spent any time playing this game themselves. If they did they would not release this garbage. Did no one at EA play one franchise mode? It won't stop signing players even though the assist is off. Cornerbacks catch better than wide receiversToo...? Suoersim is broken too, it will randomly jump to a different down different yards to first and screw me after my team makes a big stop. If I close slow to go back to medium or fast mode on super sim 100% of the time it will just jump to a alternate version of what could've happened and it is always a situation that screws me. I'm sure the developers, if they were to read this wouldn't even understand the bug I'm pointing out because like I mentioned l, they very obviously don't care about their own game enough to play it for themself and see these very large very obvious game breaking bugs they released. Madden is always a game I remember fondly but this is sad to see where it's headed.… Expand
  10. GamerJosh0137
    Mar 20, 2021
    0
    Madden 21 is quite frankly the punchline of a bad joke. EA should be ashamed of this nonsense. I get that they get most of their billions from the idiots that purchase thousands of dollars worth of micro-ts, and that's totally fine with me honestly. I wont shame a company that is genius at finding ways to take money from idiots, I would do it too but for those of us that have beenMadden 21 is quite frankly the punchline of a bad joke. EA should be ashamed of this nonsense. I get that they get most of their billions from the idiots that purchase thousands of dollars worth of micro-ts, and that's totally fine with me honestly. I wont shame a company that is genius at finding ways to take money from idiots, I would do it too but for those of us that have been playing madden since the start deserve more than recycled assets. If it wasn't for the starting menu and HUD I would have thought I was still playing madden 20. People that give this game a good score sincerely make me sick because they don't realize that they are totally enabling this **** Seriously stop going out of your way to make excuses for this **** You are making the industry that many of us love much much worse. I understand not wanting to get mad because that would mean admitting you are an idiot for buying a turd but we are all in the same boat. I freely admit I was an ABSOLUTE idiot for buying this turd.… Expand
  11. pyrocatnip
    Feb 11, 2021
    0
    The gameplay can be fun at times, but it is also full of glitches and crashed more often than not. EA continues to churn out essentially the same game every year with very minor improvements. Madden has stagnated for years and this game continues to show that off completely. The game has a STRONG focus on micro-transactions in Ultimate Teams. If you do not want to play MUT, well, that'sThe gameplay can be fun at times, but it is also full of glitches and crashed more often than not. EA continues to churn out essentially the same game every year with very minor improvements. Madden has stagnated for years and this game continues to show that off completely. The game has a STRONG focus on micro-transactions in Ultimate Teams. If you do not want to play MUT, well, that's too bad because Madden 21 does not offer much more than a super shallow Franchise mode, a stupid Superstar KO mode, and the Yard.

    You can try to play a franchise, and it can be fun, but in the end it does becomes extremely repetitive and mind numbing.

    Madden 21 does do a few things right:
    1. Being able to run down gameclock is a nice feature
    2. Being able to create a playbook from existing playbooks is good, but it would be better if there was an option to create your own plays, at least for offline.

    The worst part is that EA has a total monopoly over official NFL football games, as well as exclusive broadcasting rights with ESPN. Unfortunately, the presentation in 21 is the exact same as in 20. Madden 21 also does not have a very good career mode. The one it does have it stupid, and shallow. Sure, you can put your player into a franchise mode, but that is absolutely not a fix. At that point, you are playing franchise mode with a code of player paint. Playing through the college games is kinda cool, but the whole face of the franchise mode just drags on. Madden 21 franchise mode is not at all detailed enough to be a compelling play for more than a few hours. Features from past games are still absent and there is no depth to this game mode at all.

    If you do not want to waste thousands of dollars to play the only really competitively viable mode in this game, then that sucks because that is really the all the games has. Sure, MUT is cool in theory, but the fact that EA has put such a high emphasis on this game is the real problem here. The fact that ONLY EA can make a fully licensed football game is a disgrace to say the least. There is absolutely nothing new about this game whatsoever. It is literally just a roster update that costs full price.

    If you haven't bought a Madden game in a while, and cannot get your hands on good past Madden games, maybe buy Madden 21. And if you do, DO NOT BUY MADDEN 22. Just buy one and keep it for long time. Otherwise, you will be continuing to line the pockets of EA executives who only care about preying on children in MUT. Or you could buy one of the older Madden games from Origin. Just whatever you do, do not encourage EA to continue thinking that the current model is somehow okay. We need to stop buying these games every year and not use MUT anymore. If we do that, maybe EA will change, and maybe Madden will get better.    … Expand
  12. FusselMusic
    Jan 17, 2021
    0
    Imo, the game stayed the same on PC since it came back for Madden 19. I get it, microtransactions make them boatloads of money every year. But I just dont get why they dont invest into their products. Also it's stupid that the PC version didnt get the "next gen update", even tho the update seems to have made it worse. Gameplay is fine, but if I have to pay 60 bucks for the same game threeImo, the game stayed the same on PC since it came back for Madden 19. I get it, microtransactions make them boatloads of money every year. But I just dont get why they dont invest into their products. Also it's stupid that the PC version didnt get the "next gen update", even tho the update seems to have made it worse. Gameplay is fine, but if I have to pay 60 bucks for the same game three years in a row, the third deserves the 0.… Expand
  13. Maddensucks69
    Jan 9, 2021
    0
    EA is absolutely the worst developer of simulation football games. Sponge Bob square pants? Are you **** kidding me? Who in the **** ever wanted that garbage in a madden game? Who in gods name makes these decisions? Go **** yourself EA
  14. ImJustHonestMe
    Jan 4, 2021
    0
    I pity you if you play this game regularly. I had a hard time enjoying *any* part of this game. Franchise mode feels barren and empty, the yard is a flashy boring-after-5-minutes type game, MUT is glorified gambling for children, and the actual gameplay? I cannot tell you how many times I have tested a 99 overall qb (the best you can get) throwing to a 99 overall wr against a 70 overall cbI pity you if you play this game regularly. I had a hard time enjoying *any* part of this game. Franchise mode feels barren and empty, the yard is a flashy boring-after-5-minutes type game, MUT is glorified gambling for children, and the actual gameplay? I cannot tell you how many times I have tested a 99 overall qb (the best you can get) throwing to a 99 overall wr against a 70 overall cb and having animations, not skill or ratings, decide the matchup.

    Madden 21 is a joke of a game when it comes to competitive human vs human matches because of how little your skill or knowledge of the playbook matters when facing one another. It matters if Madden 21 decides you get the correct animation or not.

    I pray that EA get's its exclusive license removed at this point, because without competition this game series will and already has become ****    … Expand
  15. Red727
    Dec 31, 2020
    2
    To be honest i fell half guilty giving this game a 2/10 and the only reason this isn't a 0 is because of the yard and changes in D linemen mechanics otherwise its just a slightly polished version on madden 20 with slightly better graphics a better face of the franchise and cool but useless dances oh and not to mention you have to be online to play MUT the yard superstar KO (these ones areTo be honest i fell half guilty giving this game a 2/10 and the only reason this isn't a 0 is because of the yard and changes in D linemen mechanics otherwise its just a slightly polished version on madden 20 with slightly better graphics a better face of the franchise and cool but useless dances oh and not to mention you have to be online to play MUT the yard superstar KO (these ones are expected) but also face of the franchise and i believe cloud save mode for franchise so if you have a bad internet connection enjoy playing franchise with not up to date rosters and exhibition… Expand
  16. Duckylol
    Dec 30, 2020
    0
    Madden 21's Franchise Mode is one of the most awful things I have ever seen the game is a scam and its pay to win please do not buy this.
  17. Tim0thy
    Dec 22, 2020
    5
    Im Just the only mixed review here, never played the game. Review must be 75 carac
  18. slam4
    Dec 13, 2020
    0
    EA does not deserve the license to make NFL games anymore. If you purchase this game, you are contributing to the problem
  19. MikeWill2424
    Dec 4, 2020
    0
    Just a joke of a game. Terrible EA high ups broke Kraelo... the best community manager in the sports gaming world.
  20. BlackWidow
    Nov 18, 2020
    4
    As many did, I tried this game on the "free weekend" and I was not impressed at all. I played it for about 5hrs or so and quit. Bugs, glitches, occasional lag, and promised features were broken or missing. To me it looked like all EA did was copy Madden 20, and slapped a Madden 21 cover on it. Yeah, what a joke.

    Since the initial release, patch updates have fix some things, and new    As many did, I tried this game on the "free weekend" and I was not impressed at all. I played it for about 5hrs or so and quit. Bugs, glitches, occasional lag, and promised features were broken or missing. To me it looked like all EA did was copy Madden 20, and slapped a Madden 21 cover on it. Yeah, what a joke.

    Since the initial release, patch updates have fix some things, and new features have been added to franchise mode, but the game is still buggy, glitchy and lags here and there. "Face of the Franchise" is total garbage. The story is so bad, it's laughable. A five year old could have written something better.

    Franchise Mode is decent enough, but still needs work. Too many bugs. Not enough options.

    The graphics are pretty good, weather effects during games is actually very nice, and the crowds are beginning to actually look like real people. But seriously, I think that's all the game has going for it right now. Graphics and a few odds and ends.

    In closing, there have been worse Madden games, but 21 is not as good as it could be, and should have been. I'll play it when I get bored. That's about it. I give it a 4 for effort.    … Expand
  21. jlstimme
    Nov 10, 2020
    0
    I am so sick of trying to find a balance of sliders/settings to actually get a realistic football game out of this crap. The sim engine itself is garbage and has bugs that haven’t been patched in years. Franchise mode (Only reason I bought the game) has no depth and hasn’t been changed at all! Now EA is promising to go back and add some features to franchise mode. These features aren’tI am so sick of trying to find a balance of sliders/settings to actually get a realistic football game out of this crap. The sim engine itself is garbage and has bugs that haven’t been patched in years. Franchise mode (Only reason I bought the game) has no depth and hasn’t been changed at all! Now EA is promising to go back and add some features to franchise mode. These features aren’t even that good and should have been included at launch. Not to mention they’ve been very vague on the time table for these changes.

    As someone who owns Madden 17-21, I feel like I’ve been really ripped off by EA and their scramble to add new features will not change that. This is why no one should have exclusive rights to these sports games. Last Madden I ever purchase!    … Expand
  22. BroCody
    Oct 4, 2020
    0
    Has not improved what so ever. Awful glitches, unrealistic player movement, awful AI blocking, and near impossible to pinpoint a pass to make real life catches yet this is supposed to be a football simulator. Never in my life have I seen seen a linebacker dive from the other side of the hash marks to block a **** pass. It's like I'm facing off against superman. EA should lose the right toHas not improved what so ever. Awful glitches, unrealistic player movement, awful AI blocking, and near impossible to pinpoint a pass to make real life catches yet this is supposed to be a football simulator. Never in my life have I seen seen a linebacker dive from the other side of the hash marks to block a **** pass. It's like I'm facing off against superman. EA should lose the right to make madden after never improving this game.… Expand
  23. Sea24n3
    Sep 17, 2020
    0
    Ima get to the point, people are playing nfl 2k5 other than this game. That game came out in 2005. This game came out 2020 August. Game has too many glitches. The preview trailer shows so many cool things about the yard and fixes and amazing stuff. So i got the MVP version. $100 to EA for a game i havent played for 2 weeks
  24. calaford
    Sep 15, 2020
    0
    Complete trash. 100% copy of the previous year. Zero focus on improving FRANCHISE mode in a game that has a license for football SIMULATION. But all the focus is on MUT and the YARD that aren't simulation and focus on microtransactions. Complete joke! Come on NFL - #dropEA #EAneedscompetition Every year we all have hope - and every year our hopes are dashed by a greedy company with zeroComplete trash. 100% copy of the previous year. Zero focus on improving FRANCHISE mode in a game that has a license for football SIMULATION. But all the focus is on MUT and the YARD that aren't simulation and focus on microtransactions. Complete joke! Come on NFL - #dropEA #EAneedscompetition Every year we all have hope - and every year our hopes are dashed by a greedy company with zero interest in improving the game.… Expand
  25. ItsPritiAss
    Sep 15, 2020
    0
    It's basically Madden 20 only it got worse this time:

    The gameplay is completely unrealistic and always scripted with very poor animation. So it can often happen that a tackle animation is carried out, although the defender is still stuck in a block of an O-Liner or WR, and this then slips through the O-Liner just so that the tackle animation works, which is simply illogical . The    It's basically Madden 20 only it got worse this time:

    The gameplay is completely unrealistic and always scripted with very poor animation. So it can often happen that a tackle animation is carried out, although the defender is still stuck in a block of an O-Liner or WR, and this then slips through the O-Liner just so that the tackle animation works, which is simply illogical .

    The physics has nothing to do with realism or a football simulation. One can also say: the players do not understand the basics of football.
    In addition, the game has more bugs and glitches than ever before in a Madden title. And unfortunately you can also see that EA makes zero effort to improve / repair the game, let alone to feed Madden with new features (Classic franchise untouched for 8 years).

    This year's Face of the Franchise mode is hideous, filled with bad animations / interactions of the characters, with gruesome voices and the story itself just doesn't make any sense!

    The only thing that shows potential in this game is this year's The Yard mode, but this is also often not playable at the moment (the playing field turns white, as if aliens are ruling the world). If it works perfectly, it's also a lot of fun, but then it's a lot like arcade.

    This is by far the worst Madden I've played in the last decade. Do yourself a favor to not buy this crappy game! EA doesn't earned it for this crap!    … Expand
  26. tjgreen
    Sep 14, 2020
    0
    Laughable is the only word to describe how bad this game is. Clipping on every play, huge bugs and glitches, the field doesn't even load constantly. PLEASE DO NOT BUY!!!!!!!!!
  27. cannon303
    Sep 11, 2020
    0
    Madden really hit its stride in the 2004-2008 era. Hit Stick, Precision Passing, Truck Stick/Highlight Stick. They raised the skill cap of the game, making it more enjoyable for advanced players.

    Madden has since devolved into a shameless cash grab, no better than a mobile game. It constantly pushes you to start playing the pay to win microtransaction laden MUT mode. It's sad to see    Madden really hit its stride in the 2004-2008 era. Hit Stick, Precision Passing, Truck Stick/Highlight Stick. They raised the skill cap of the game, making it more enjoyable for advanced players.

    Madden has since devolved into a shameless cash grab, no better than a mobile game. It constantly pushes you to start playing the pay to win microtransaction laden MUT mode.

    It's sad to see a beloved franchise, one that holds an EXCLUSIVE NFL simulation license, stoop to this level.

    Don't support this dumpster fire of a game. Cancel Madden.    … Expand
  28. technikz
    Sep 11, 2020
    1
    So this is gonna be a realistic review not something that people are going to say just to make this game look bad because I am a fan of Madden and have been one since I was young but this game will make you wish for another gaming company.

    Graphics: I am getting about 50FPS which is really good but not great compared to NBA2k21 where I am getting 64+ fps. Character creation has been the    So this is gonna be a realistic review not something that people are going to say just to make this game look bad because I am a fan of Madden and have been one since I was young but this game will make you wish for another gaming company.

    Graphics: I am getting about 50FPS which is really good but not great compared to NBA2k21 where I am getting 64+ fps. Character creation has been the same since 19, the only difference is the hair which isn't great to be honest. but besides that it okay, not good but okay.

    Gameplay: This broke my heart the most. Bad decision making within the AI to just weird things happening such as my QB is on the ground and he still was able to pass the ball. Not one Football players stretches their arms out to loss yards so I not sure what that is all about either and it happen to me twice at the first down marker. Defensive adjustments are not adjustment. Only players that seem to adjust were the secondary. DL adjustment were not great and several times I was blocked by someone that was already blocking, just the OL dude slide over while at the same time blocking another player. Tackling has gotten better but AI logic for the secondary is still trash. several times my player didn't stretch out to even attempt to INT the ball. This also happened on the offensive side of the ball as well. The was overthrown and hit the other WR that was standing looking at the ball hit him in the chest.

    Overall: Madden 21 is banking on people playing The Yard which is fun but will not keep people interest for long. AI is horrible and the graphics need a face lift. This should have been a $20 DLC for Madden 20.    … Expand
  29. SHIIIFTy_K
    Sep 10, 2020
    0
    If you desperately need to play a football video game then play the last one you bought. Don't waste your money. Game is a POS.
  30. YouWereAMistake
    Sep 10, 2020
    0
    Copy and paste. Needs to focus on fixing the issues plaguing the game every release instead of releasing new garbage that nobody asked for.
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. PC Gamer
    Sep 9, 2020
    68
    2020 marks the third year Madden has been back on PC since the franchise's prodigal return to the platform in 2018. The novelty hasn't worn off for me yet. There is still something inherently weird and exciting about playing such a console-targeted franchise on my desktop; to type in my player's name and college with a keyboard. But that won't sustain many players for long. Madden is desperate for some new ideas, so let's hope some of 21's more exotic ventures foreshadow a more substantial rebuild in the future.
    Read full review
  2. Jeuxvideo.com
    Sep 3, 2020
    70
    In short, it's a drive where the saga has lost ground.
    Read full review
  3. PC Games
    Aug 28, 2020
    70
    Objectively speaking, Madden NFL 21 is not a bad game. It is a realtistic representation of the NFL, maybe even the best American football simulation out there. However, it lacks innovation on so many levels that players, who already own its predecessors, will really struggle to find a reason to pay another 70 bucks for it.
    Read full review
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