Madden NFL 16

There are enough changes in a variety of places that make this the best offering the series has had in several years and should satisfy new fans, yearly players and those who fall somewhere in between.

Madden 16 builds on last year’s fantastic entry in the franchise, and while there’s more refinement here than revolution the improvements are meaningful, with the addition of Draft Champions a huge success.

Madden 16 is the definitive Madden experience, boasting new gameplay mechanics and features that change the game for the better. New and returning players will easily find something to love about this year’s iteration.

Many people complain that sports games do not change sufficiently on a yearly basis to warrant another purchase. That is far from the case with Madden NFL 16 as EA Sports and EA Tiburon have introduced some smart, brand new features that are integrated very well.

With impressive refinements made to the passing game and a significant bump in the visual department, Madden NFL 16 may just be the best entry in the storied franchise's history.

Madden NFL 16 is noticeably more challenging, but successes that feel earned are much more satisfying.

Madden NFL 16 truly is more than just a roster update as EA added enough new features to kick the game up a notch to another level.

Madden NFL 16 definitely streamlines the American football experience on the PlayStation 4 with its enhanced gaming mechanics, especially with the new catches and accessible in-game goals.

Madden NFL 16's new throwing and passing game ramps up the risk, reward, and realism in new, exciting ways.

Madden continues to improve upon its solid foundation with worthwhile additions like Draft Champions. Most importantly the offensive changes bring more strategy and depth to the core gameplay that makes this one of the more engaging Maddens in recent years.

Madden 16's gameplay is a great step forward for the series, but the progress of the game modes is less definitive.

The intro is poorly conceived, I believe, the loading times are still pretty ridiculous, and there are a few lingering gameplay issues (wacky occurrences can be prevalent) but aside from that, this is the best Madden entry we’ve seen in years.

Madden NFL 16 returns with a greater focus on receivers and quarterbacks, throw and catch the ball like you really want to throw it. The gameplay combined with the all new Draft Champions mode makes this the best football game over the last few years.

The on-pitch action and the game modes on offer present what is easily the best Madden package of this generation so far.

EA Sports has went all out to deliver changes to the core gameplay mechanics, resulting in an authentic football experience, with unparalleled levels of depth and complexity.

Overall, the gameplay for Madden NFL 16 has been refined, simplified and improved. It feels like it’s going back to a time where playing a football game was less of a chore and more fun.

While there are still some areas that could use polishing (like that commentary team – wake up, fellas), Madden NFL 16 continues to make strides with some strong gameplay change-ups and abundant online features.

A solidly-built, good-looking and immensely fun American football experience. Madden is only let down by a few engine gripes and the limitations of the sport it emulates. [Issue#262, p.72]

A rewarding entry in the series. [Nov 2015, p.107]

It’s still Madden as you know it, but thanks to an array of improvements to the passing and receiving game, Madden NFL 16 arguably represents the finest entry is the series to date.

If you have a passion for American football, there really is no better replication of the sport this well designed and executed.

It's an approachable game of football, still complex in myriad ways, but better at communicating those complexities than ever before.

Madden 16 is an authentic, challenging simulation that explores key facets of the sport in new ways and adds much to the experience in the process.

Madden NFL 16 is much better than previous ones adding tactical optimisations which benefit the game. The same is true of the rendering engine. It finally meets up to the expectations of FIFA in terms of content.

All in all, it seems as though Madden as a series won't be deflating any time soon.

It’s a good football game, but not an elite one.

With a greater focus on receivers/cornerbacks and a fantastic new Draft Champions mode, Madden NFL 16 represents a vast improvement over last year’s game in nearly every way.

Madden 16 has now begun to reflect on how the NFL has evolved, and despite its growing pains, the positives outweigh the negatives in this strong outing. Madden NFL 16 is a necessity for returning fans.

Madden 16 feels like it is geared around simplicity. None of the systems from other Madden games were taken out, but the core of the game has been shifted toward simple mechanics interacting with other simple mechanics. This is a breath of fresh air to me.

Madden NFL 16 takes another clear step forward this year, featuring some fantastic additions to the passing game and an excellent new mode. After being maligned for so many years, Madden now has a clear sense of momentum that should carry it through the rest of the generation.

With a focus on the fundamentals and an eye for simulation-style football, Madden NFL 16 maintains the franchise’s upward trajectory. Football fans have a solid title in their hands this season.

There’s not a myriad of changes this year, but what has been tweaked is noticeable and makes for a fantastic game of pigskin.

Devoid of any throwaway modes or game types that rely on nostalgia, Madden NFL 16 is both sensible and forward thinking. Its developers could have made a bigger deal about Super Bowl 50 or relied more heavily on the appeal of Hall of Fame players (who are available in Ultimate Team). Instead, EA Tiburon has focused more on fans’ diverse play tastes as well as making this one of the most welcoming Madden games in recent memory.

One of the things standing in EA’s way here is its penchant for introducing a game riddled with bugs and balance issues that need correcting in further updates.

Throwing, catching, and defending throws have seen some welcomed, long-ignored additions that get a couple yards closer to faithful simulation. You can decide if that's enough.