Madden NFL 16

 PlayStation 4
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 198 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 89 out of 198
  2. Mixed: 42 out of 198
  3. Negative: 67 out of 198
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. DunkonMadden
    Aug 30, 2020
    1
    Most recent Madden to get a non-zero rating from me. Still an absolutely horrible game, barebones, dry, and has no substance. EA, should be ashamed.
  2. Spartan91
    Dec 5, 2018
    2
    Not an american football fan, so just looking at this as a game. It is entirely pointless, one of the worst things i've ever played.
    You don't actually influence the game, have fun sitting back and watching things happen without you. Watch tons of unskippable cutscense that are supposed to make it feel like you're watching a real game. Surprised EA hasn't put Commercial breaks in there.    Not an american football fan, so just looking at this as a game. It is entirely pointless, one of the worst things i've ever played.
    You don't actually influence the game, have fun sitting back and watching things happen without you. Watch tons of unskippable cutscense that are supposed to make it feel like you're watching a real game. Surprised EA hasn't put Commercial breaks in there. Just let the number generator do it's work and pretend like you're doing something.
    And instead of buying this, you might as well watch one. There is nothing good about this game. Luckily I picked it up for barely any money.    … Expand
  3. Greenhunter17
    Sep 28, 2017
    8
    Madden 16 may just be another repeat, but with its stunning visual graphics and game play, still brings us a quality American Football Game that fans of the series should enjoy!
  4. ITZZZPERRY
    May 22, 2017
    8
    Madden NFL 16 is another fantastic iteration of the series. Everything has been more refined, allowing for the tightest gameplay yet. My friends and I spent a lot of nights playing this one.
  5. Gamercritic777
    Mar 21, 2017
    7
    Always good fun. Sadly rubbing banding very obvious in this game as well. I guess all sports games have it? Be the best QB all through the season to then suddenly throw 5 INT's per game. Really? Especially when the nearest opponent is 30 feet away when your WR is about to make the catch. Overall enjoyable.
  6. BillaryClinton
    Aug 17, 2016
    2
    Madden 17 is a cool game, I think. I love the part when the aliens come down and grab Gronk and make him their intergalactic champion. That doesn't avtually happen, but think about how cool that would be! I rate this game 12 stars out of 14 loaves of bread
  7. MaxPayneIsGod
    Jun 28, 2016
    9
    Now THIS is what a sports game should be. I haven't played a Madden properly since Madden 05 on PS2, the last one I owned was Madden 08 so obviously the technological and gameplay advancements are astronomical. Its not only the progress this series has made over the past decade, its the pure fun to be had playing the game.
    The sheer volume of things to do in this game is huge. Draft    Now THIS is what a sports game should be. I haven't played a Madden properly since Madden 05 on PS2, the last one I owned was Madden 08 so obviously the technological and gameplay advancements are astronomical. Its not only the progress this series has made over the past decade, its the pure fun to be had playing the game.
    The sheer volume of things to do in this game is huge. Draft Champions is easy to pick up and play for a quick game, Franchise is streamlined and offers multiple options and paths to take your team to the Super Bowl, even the training mode and Gauntlet are fun.
    This is my first foray into Ultimate Team and I've got to say I'm loving it! BUT it did take me a while to grasp how it works. This is my only gripe with this iteration of Madden, for newcomers MUT can be quite intimidating especially because there is very little within the game to guide new players. It took a fair bit of trial and error, and ALOT of perseverance to understand how MUT works. From the little things like: "your team WILL suck at first" to the major things "WTF? Does it mean by Contracts Expiring?" - All it needed was a little explanation, omitting explanations was a huge oversight.
    I was put off MUT at first because it looked like an overcomplicated mode but once you put the time in there's a hell of a lot to get stuck into.
    The game as a whole has 100s of hours of A+ Football action and I'm wrapped I picked it up. Sure there are some insanely unrealistic on-field catches and other anomalies but it doesn't take away from how complete a game this is.
    Not quite perfect but very close    … Expand
  8. CharlieScott
    May 26, 2016
    7
    Positives
    + Smooth, fun gameplay
    + Skills trainer teaches actual football concepts + Draft Champions is a fun little side game, given meaning by providing ultimate team rewards Negatives - Only real game play difference seems to be the WR vs DB dynamic which turns competitive games into each team taking turns throwing lobs to their best WR. - Still too many cheese "money plays"    Positives
    + Smooth, fun gameplay
    + Skills trainer teaches actual football concepts
    + Draft Champions is a fun little side game, given meaning by providing ultimate team rewards

    Negatives
    - Only real game play difference seems to be the WR vs DB dynamic which turns competitive games into each team taking turns throwing lobs to their best WR.
    - Still too many cheese "money plays" that are impossible to stop regardless of defense called
    - Connected franchise continues to lack the spark of other sports games' career modes
    - AI logic still missing simple football concepts e.g. Receivers often will be wide open in a zone, but instead of "sitting down" as real WR are taught, they continue to run around the field, leading to poor throws
    - Momentum on passes towards the sidelines still carries the receiver out of bounds even if he catches it with five yards of space between him and the sideline
    - Same recycled commentary. Wouldn't it be better to hire two actors to get a more natural, varied commentary rather than pay Simms and Nantz for the same tired lines?

    Overall
    Madden continues to be a fun letdown every year. As the only game in town, there is no pressure to fix issues so if you're a huge fan like me, you're stuck with hoping EA decides to make the obvious fixes every year instead of throwing in another useless mechanic that unbalances the game. I'll buy it every year and enjoy it, but it is frustrating to see seemingly simple problems go unfixed for years at a time.    … Expand
  9. Kiyo
    May 13, 2016
    1
    I don't know anymore, what is madden about, Why does it exist? Honestly the game is a mess, keep in mind the only other Madden game i have played was Madden 08 and Madden 13. And I can tell you my favorite mode is the mode in which you are the nfl player, I play online alot but the fact is most of the 500+ hours I spent in game were fun. But in truth after madden 16 I just got sick of it,I don't know anymore, what is madden about, Why does it exist? Honestly the game is a mess, keep in mind the only other Madden game i have played was Madden 08 and Madden 13. And I can tell you my favorite mode is the mode in which you are the nfl player, I play online alot but the fact is most of the 500+ hours I spent in game were fun. But in truth after madden 16 I just got sick of it, it may be long overdue but the games mechanics are so broken that it basically is unplayable to play it as a legit sim of football. I like realism, so I made a qb and set the game time per quarter to 15 minutes, I play and manage to get atleast 700 yards per game and 80000 yards per year. That is something that I shouldn't get. Now alright, that makes me legendary qb right? HA! I have 234 legacy points after twenty years in the league, Im a failure despite being a 20 time probowler 18 time MVP and 60 time NPOW. Da Faq?… Expand
  10. Jakerex
    Mar 28, 2016
    0
    More of the same from EA. Not much has changed with this game in the last decade. Same rehashed garbage year after year. Shoddy route-running AI, poor blocking, and constant forced replays and close up views of players dancing and celebrating that it forces you to watch.
  11. jsoileau14
    Mar 24, 2016
    9
    started with Tecmo bowl and now were here with madden 16. I have played and owned every year just about and to me i think its the best Madden to date. Huge improvements from 15 with new defensive and offensive mechanics to work with. It feels real and plays real.
  12. mazucritic
    Feb 7, 2016
    9
    As a first time player of the Madden franchise, I must say the amount of content in this game is unparalleled throughout other sports video game franchises. The fact that there are over 300 solo challenges in Ultimate Team makes it all a bit overwhelming at the start. But, the game guides you well throughout various objectives and a fantastic, thorough and rewarding tutorial system thatAs a first time player of the Madden franchise, I must say the amount of content in this game is unparalleled throughout other sports video game franchises. The fact that there are over 300 solo challenges in Ultimate Team makes it all a bit overwhelming at the start. But, the game guides you well throughout various objectives and a fantastic, thorough and rewarding tutorial system that really helped me learn how to play while having fun. There may only be three main modes but they all have a tremendous amount of content but are also well streamlined for the beginner and simple if need be. The career mode for example has a handy "Things To Do" tab that helps you do the necessary things in between games quickly and without tedious navigation. The new Draft Champions mode is a fun way to play and easy to grab a hold of as well. The gameplay itself is solid in my opinion, and pretty realistic as well. There are some issues with the AI, as is to be expected, but notably less than in some competing sports games. I understand if some people feel this game does not meet some standards met by previous installments, but for me, as a beginner, this is a terrific game, and certainly convinces me to shell out some cash for Madden 17 as well.… Expand
  13. Inxcredible
    Jan 17, 2016
    0
    Worst madden ever. The animations are great madden franchise is ok but the game play is terrible. I've been playing madden since madden 2004 and after this year I'm done with madden . They bought all the rights so they have no competition, which = a **** game. the players are way too hard to control, th Qb in the pocket is unresponsive and running the ball more stupid than ever before. whoWorst madden ever. The animations are great madden franchise is ok but the game play is terrible. I've been playing madden since madden 2004 and after this year I'm done with madden . They bought all the rights so they have no competition, which = a **** game. the players are way too hard to control, th Qb in the pocket is unresponsive and running the ball more stupid than ever before. who ever the engineers are,that have been making the last 3 maddens, should be fired. their just stealing our mine every year. This is the only video game I play and sadly I'm officially done buying madden.… Expand
  14. DontbuyfromEA
    Dec 30, 2015
    1
    I just have to say that the critics reviewing games don't spend enough time with them. It's like a car getting an initial quality award but costs the most down the road. I had mixed hopes for this game, and after seeing it on sale during Christmas, I gave in. I have put probably 20 hours into playing this and these are the issues I have.

    User controlled receiver gets melded to the CB    I just have to say that the critics reviewing games don't spend enough time with them. It's like a car getting an initial quality award but costs the most down the road. I had mixed hopes for this game, and after seeing it on sale during Christmas, I gave in. I have put probably 20 hours into playing this and these are the issues I have.

    User controlled receiver gets melded to the CB and the CB drags him across the field. Unacceptable.

    Running back has clear lane up the middle but takes off to the left or right and runs straight into the defense. Unacceptable.

    I drop my user controlled receiver back for a screen pass and he stares at the sidelines. Unacceptable.

    User controlled player catches ball five yards in bounds and the controls are so sluggish that he continues to run straight and goes out of bounds. Unacceptable.

    Franchise team goes 9-7 and I get awarded the legacy award for going undefeated. Unacceptable.

    Popup shows up on screen during game saying back on track. completed three passes in a row. It's was three straight run plays. Unacceptable.

    Owner franchise. Build new stadium. Do you get to pick the stadium or it's features like you used to? No, of course you don't, because this is an EA game and they take stuff out as time goes on and gives the people who only want online more junk. The rest of us can apparently suck it. Unacceptable.

    Players constantly trip over and get tangled up together. Unacceptable.

    A player on my team got a touch down and got high fives by the other team. What? Unacceptable.

    These are just some of the too numerous to keep track of glitches, misses, lack of wanting to put out a good game directives from EA. I shouldn't be surprised. This is every game they put out. The last time i really enjoyed a good football game was ESPN NFL 2k5. That was the year before slEAzy got a monopoly on NFL licensed games. That was the last time there was a good NFL game. It's high time for this monopoly to end. The user reviews for this game are still averaging a little high, but that is because there are a lot of fan boys out there that refuse to admit how awful some things are. Oh, don't mention these issues on the EA forums. They will ban you in less than ten hours.    … Expand
  15. IownYou
    Dec 22, 2015
    6
    Madden NFL 16 is a buggy game with a mountain of legacy issues that the Tiburon development team have been carrying over since Madden 06, which should be no surprise since this game is still carrying code from that atrocious build that went into development 10+ years ago.

    The number of simulation aspects missing from the game are anger-inducing considering Tiburon's mantra of developing    Madden NFL 16 is a buggy game with a mountain of legacy issues that the Tiburon development team have been carrying over since Madden 06, which should be no surprise since this game is still carrying code from that atrocious build that went into development 10+ years ago.

    The number of simulation aspects missing from the game are anger-inducing considering Tiburon's mantra of developing the "most realistic simulation football game ever". But when you read the Twitter tweets of WWE auditioner Rex "Come at me bro!" Dickson, Clint Oldenburg and other Tiburon devs, you begin to realize why this game is missing so many things; it's because they don't care.

    When you peruse some of Oldenburg's tweets, you'll see him tell fans that something we see on Sunday is not in the game because they are "only concerned with simulation football". However, he doesn't seem to have a grasp on the realization that his comment is a contradictory statement since you can't claim to care only about simulation football when you at the same time disregard aspects of what makes a video game reflect what we see on Sunday's. 2K didn't develop their football games that way, they simply put their hands in the dirt and put these things in the game without complaining and without contradictory doublespeak, but anyone who knows anything about game development knows that the big divide between EA Tiburon and 2K Sports is that 2K is and always has been more talented and more driven as a development team than EA Tiburon and the final products have reflected that reality.

    -----

    If you read my review of Madden NFL 15, then I guess what you can take from this is that the game is on a cycle of taking 1 step forward and two steps back, and the team developing it is largely oblivious to it or are really good actors. Either way, Madden NFL 16 is one of the least technologically advanced games in sports gaming, running on clunker code that dates back to the late PS2 era with animations that are fit for the 1st gen PS2 era, with AI best suited to the PS1 era. Madden is going nowhere. It's still a fun game, but it's neither technically sound, fundamentally based, or refined the way a game that's been in continuous development since the 80's SHOULD be. What Madden is instead, is a spectacle of what a culture of complacency, lack of competition, and general development ineptitude produces.

    Expect more of the same in Madden NFL 17.    … Expand
  16. GreenMachineG
    Dec 9, 2015
    6
    Yet another Madden game. It's good fun, and has crisp clean gameplay. Madden rarely disappoints, but I have noticed this game allows for a lot more crazy plays than older titles, and it makes it feel a little too over-the-top crazy at times. Still hoping for a Madden with a little more in-depth Dynasty/Campaign mode, but that's coming from an RPG lover who actually enjoyed the old NFL HeadYet another Madden game. It's good fun, and has crisp clean gameplay. Madden rarely disappoints, but I have noticed this game allows for a lot more crazy plays than older titles, and it makes it feel a little too over-the-top crazy at times. Still hoping for a Madden with a little more in-depth Dynasty/Campaign mode, but that's coming from an RPG lover who actually enjoyed the old NFL Head Coach games.

    7.0/10    … Expand
  17. aadms
    Nov 27, 2015
    6
    A score of six is definitely better than the last Madden games which have ranked near zero for the last eight years. I recommend it because of the sound, graphics, and game atmosphere that is presented in this iteration. The graphics alone are worth the jump to "next gen".

    But.................this game still needs more love and polish before it can become a good football game. Starting    A score of six is definitely better than the last Madden games which have ranked near zero for the last eight years. I recommend it because of the sound, graphics, and game atmosphere that is presented in this iteration. The graphics alone are worth the jump to "next gen".

    But.................this game still needs more love and polish before it can become a good football game. Starting with animations; it's not fluid enough to make you feel like they're actual players. They still look like lumbering robotrons. The next-gen in this case would be to make the players have more realistic motion. Another thing is realistic crowds. While there are more different types of fans in the stands, when you're blowing a team out, the stands are still packed full cheering away in the waning minutes of the 4th quarter like its the Super Bowl. Plus, there are no cutscenes of fans reacting, no weather conditions, nor any special recognition if your team is playing in the post season. These add up to a very weak season presentation.

    Next, Franchise Mode: Franchise mode still sucks because it cares little about the feel and atmosphere of a football season. Commentary in "tweets" is all you get about what is going on in the season. And if you constantly choose alternate uniforms for your team to wear for each game, that's the only "tweeting news" you get for your team. It's stupid. You can't make new players for the draft, and you can't customize uniforms except switch around helmets and jerseys. Customization of players and characters continue to be woeful inadequate as you can only choose from the same damn twelve character models you have to choose from that we've had for the last ten years. Worse, they decided that you'll be tied to either a specific head coach, or just a player, and not the entire aspect of the team for the franchise mode; so it shouldn't be called franchise mode but Coach or Player Mode. Finally, you can't select other teams' games to play them during the season. Your stuck selecting if Home or Away teams win. This is another step back in franchise mode.

    Bottom line: Best Madden game since 2005 in the fact it took a huge jump in graphics and sound and game atmosphere, but needs to take the "next-gen" step in animations, bring back customization. They also need to get back to creating a fun and engrossing franchise mode that lets you play the franchise and not just get stuck with one head coach or player. Yes, I got stuck being Jim Caldwell and there was nothing I could do about it. If 2k was allowed to put out their own version of NFL football, I'm sure they still would blow this EA iteration away    … Expand
  18. homer4president
    Nov 18, 2015
    6
    The game is an huge amount of fun in the fantasy draft mode because your teams are closely matched. The ultimate team mode would be amazing if it were not such a blatant cash grab by EA. Also be prepared for overly long frequent load times.
  19. taroko
    Oct 16, 2015
    0
    Of course EA puts out the same garbage sports game every year, add a guy to the roster and charge $60 all over again. Would it really hurt anyone to buy last year's version in the bargain bin for $10?
  20. Beeb1
    Sep 23, 2015
    0
    In my opinion this game is awful in some areas. For one the ai is always going to make amazing plays and the one handed catches are ridiculous. Honestly the game looks exactly like 15 and it seems glitchy at times. If there was another option out there i would never purchase another madden title. Bottom line this is a big letdown to a lifetime football lover.
  21. brandoncargill1
    Sep 17, 2015
    0
    Edited since the update:

    So I am not sure if I am playing the same game as the other people on this site, but this game is pretty bad. So if you want to see the ego stroke for EA, fine. If you want to hear actual reason not to buy this game, here it is my take. You cannot skip cut scenes, which prolongs gameplay. Long load screens... Very unrealistic, the new WR/CB system makes    Edited since the update:

    So I am not sure if I am playing the same game as the other people on this site, but this game is pretty bad. So if you want to see the ego stroke for EA, fine. If you want to hear actual reason not to buy this game, here it is my take.

    You cannot skip cut scenes, which prolongs gameplay. Long load screens... Very unrealistic, the new WR/CB system makes virtually every throw catchable, despite the coverage. If you throw deep to your number one WR, he will catch the ball in double coverage. EVERY TIME. (This glitch has been semi-repaired. Your WR will still catch it, meaning he will get both hands on the ball. However, the ball will be "popped out" and often times the ball is sent floating into the air for 2 secs.)

    When you kick a field goal, the kick glitch will apply every third kick. ( This glitch has been fixed, although still may happen rarely) When your kicker makes contact with the ball, the ball will fly straight to the sidelines. Terrible menu's: The franchise mode menu's got an overhaul, and it can very complicated. If you are an owner, be prepared to go through three menu's to make a trade. If you are playing "My player" and locked into the QB position on ALL-MADDEN, be prepared for lots...and lots... and lots... of wide open drops by your WR's. If the play is simply thrown to a wide open WR over the middle, the ball is often dropped. However if your WR is covered by 3 men deep, no worries, the ball will be caught....

    Same applies to defensive play. If your DB or Safety is in prime position to make a play on a deep ball, your DB will allow the WR to catch the ball. However, if your DB is two steps behind the WR on a short or intermediate route, he will do a cartwheel block on the pass.

    If you are playing My Player with a lock on the QB position, your offensive line will fail to block for a whole second before releasing the DT. However, if you are not playing My Player, this will not apply to you as much, so have fun throwing for 8 touchdowns. :)

    Now for online play, if you are facing a opponent who continually throws the ball to the slot WR on streak, the only play that will stop him will be COVER 4... that's right. The soft spot is in front of the free safety, above the linebackers. Man coverage, Cover 2, and Cover 3 will not work. You will need to drop back 4 players to stop that one man. (This glitch has been semi-repaired as well. Man coverage will put a stop to this, but the patch now effects the run game.)

    The run game online is a pretty simple glitch to stop. If your opponent does a HB dive or pitch, he will initially run straight then bounce out to the outside. Your LB's and CB's will over pursue and immediately run too deep behind the line. This will allow your opponent to run five yards backwards, while bouncing to the outside, and then turn up field for a very unreasonable gain in yardage. Your defensive players will not stay disciplined in their positions, and will not be able to take the appropriate pursuit angles. Same thing applies to kickoff's. Run straight and to the short side of the field, then run backwards and to the long side of the field, and I guarantee you will return a kickoff or two. You're welcome in advance.So, that will be helpful to some.

    On a positive note, the team building aspect is interesting. You will have goals to accomplish on each drive that benefit yourself, and your team. The patches will only apply to online franchise gameplay, and not to your offline franchise. Be prepared.

    The drills are a major waste of time, and entirely too long. In what you could learn in 3 plays, the game makes you attempt the plays 10 to 20 times, so that you really learn what you are doing. These act as mini games to unlock Ultimate Team cards, which are useless if you do not enjoy ultimate team.

    The gameplay, tackling system, and running are basically the same. The hitstick will still cause a fumble EVERY time the running back runs up the middle (this glitch has been semi-repaired), and running is still often stopped at the line despite your opponents playcall. Bubble screens still do not work to outside WR's. End around plays still do not work to outside WR's. PA passes on 3rd down often are for a major loss, and take too long to develop.

    The EA competitive engine is still there. If you are beating an opponent badly, the game will give the opponent an advantage by adjusting the game sliders. This allows the opponent to come back and keep the game competitive. This aspect should've been removed in Madden 25, but is still there today. Really frustrating when your opponent is mediocre, but still is hanging in there for no reason. Anyway, that's all I feel like typing, I hope I can at least give some realistic expectations for potential buyers.    … Expand
  22. Beckner2
    Sep 16, 2015
    8
    Cpu QB AI should be smarter still.When you fall in snow, you leave a big indentation, not just their feet. Could've done more. The coach should call plays threw QB's mic in helmet, which would come through controller speaker.Turn it on or off.
  23. ZombieCo
    Sep 15, 2015
    0
    Same problems as the last 15. I wish we had 2K games to make these guys earn that 60$ they charge for this TV dinner quality game every year. It really is sad that people still buy it.

    Dont fall for these fake reviews from the "critics" on here.
  24. Methatswho7520
    Sep 15, 2015
    6
    Ok so let me get this straight, One receiver makes one awesome play now the entire league can make super spectacular catches???
    It really gets annoying when you're trying to play defense, get to 3rd and long, then here comes super speed and super catching ability out of no where from mediocre receivers! it happens every game! i feel like the defense has gotten more slower and unresponsive    Ok so let me get this straight, One receiver makes one awesome play now the entire league can make super spectacular catches???
    It really gets annoying when you're trying to play defense, get to 3rd and long, then here comes super speed and super catching ability out of no where from mediocre receivers! it happens every game! i feel like the defense has gotten more slower and unresponsive than ever, while they do gang tackle which is cool, it seems like most of the time there are way too slow to keep up with anybody my dbs constantly getting beat on long throws even when the ball is dropping right in front of them, but somehow the receiver makes a one handed grab with one or sometimes 2 defenders covering! its making me sick! I do like how the game looks and sounds but so far thats about it! please make it a lil more believable, I like seeing spectacular catches but lets tone it down! and lets let the corner backs be able to actually make a play on the ball, not just tipping it up in the air. I'm giving it a 6 bcus I am a madden fan, but if they're gonna make this into the throw bombs all day game why bother playing seriously, I would have hated if I spent 99 bucks like some ppl did.    … Expand
  25. moss2chappy
    Sep 15, 2015
    9
    This years game of madden is a huge step in the right direction. The gameplay has added a ton of new options on both sides of the ball give the user the ability to make adjustments and changes to match what you see in the NFL. Draft Champions game mode added a new experience to the game and if your a fan of MUT or fantasy football this mode will likely intrigue your interest as well. TheThis years game of madden is a huge step in the right direction. The gameplay has added a ton of new options on both sides of the ball give the user the ability to make adjustments and changes to match what you see in the NFL. Draft Champions game mode added a new experience to the game and if your a fan of MUT or fantasy football this mode will likely intrigue your interest as well. The gameplay & visuals has made a significant jump in progress from previous years. This year's game is the most fun I've had with Madden since 2009. This could go down as one of the best versions of the game in it's history and is a strong indicator that the current development team is moving towards simulation football.… Expand
  26. Jarbear28
    Sep 12, 2015
    4
    If you're looking for a realistic football game, then do not play Madden 16. If you've played football on any level you would know that the game is not realistic and not fun. The game is the same thing with minor tweaks every year, and every year the creator of the game says "this one will be better". Well I'm sick of it, madden is ruining what football is and isn't giving other companiesIf you're looking for a realistic football game, then do not play Madden 16. If you've played football on any level you would know that the game is not realistic and not fun. The game is the same thing with minor tweaks every year, and every year the creator of the game says "this one will be better". Well I'm sick of it, madden is ruining what football is and isn't giving other companies (2K) a chance.

    EA Sports needs to scrap Madden as whole and restart with a new director and new staff. I feel like the game was created by people that didn't play football and don't know how the sport is. It bugs me that EA Sports can release the same game every year with an updated roster. This game feels empty with no love put into it.    … Expand
  27. Paakaa10
    Sep 12, 2015
    8
    In spite of the animosity directed at EA SPORTS for their Madden NFL franchise and its status as the only officially-licensed NFL game, the story of the series since the debut of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One has been of continual improvement year-over-year. With Madden NFL 16, the on-field product has continued evolution and the overall mode offerings have become more focused, but theIn spite of the animosity directed at EA SPORTS for their Madden NFL franchise and its status as the only officially-licensed NFL game, the story of the series since the debut of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One has been of continual improvement year-over-year. With Madden NFL 16, the on-field product has continued evolution and the overall mode offerings have become more focused, but the cornerstone Connected Franchise Mode continues to get short shrift and deserves more attention than it has been given.

    On the field, Madden NFL 16 offers a few new tools to separate itself from the past few titles. After a defensive-focused effort last year, this year's game offers new control modifiers for quarterbacks to have more control over passing. Using L1/LB or L2/LT and the passing icon, or tapping a passing icon twice, has the result of a high pass, low pass, or touch pass respectively. In addition to greater depth to pass controls, interactions between receivers and defenders has been given significant attention; receivers can now use X/A, Square/X, or Triangle/Y to trigger a possession, run after catch, or aggressive catch depending on the route and situation. Defenders can also choose to play the ball or play the receiver in coverage. The result is a system where the passing game feels more in user control on both sides of the ball than any Madden NFL game in recent memory. Now there is legitimate strategy to be found when deciding what catch is right for a situation, or deciding whether the risk of playing the ball on defense and going for the reward of an interception is the right move when covering a game-changing receiver. It takes getting used to in terms of re-learning how to trigger catches and defensive attempts, but the result is a much more strategic set of interactions.

    The running game has gotten much less press, but it has seen nice improvements as well with regard to contextual awareness for the ballcarrier; in Madden NFL 16, the runner is much more aware of where teammates are and has a nice contextual spin move to clear through traffic. Defenders also benefit by a re-tooled gang tackling system, especially in the run game, and it can be great to watch multiple defenders converge on the ballcarrier to take them down and clean up the tackle. There are still some issues with regard to players tangling up together in the post-play, but in all it's significantly toned down from the early days of Madden NFL's physics system.

    While the game's graphics continue to improve in subtle ways, the broadcast presentation still needs some work to catch up to the rest of the package. Photographers and cameramen now dress appropriately for the games and have specific bib colors to denote their task, but aside from the addition of some love-or-hate stat bubbles after plays, the majority of the broadcast remains all too similar to fans buying the game each year. Commentary doesn't seem to repeat as much as in recent years, but this may be due as much to another year of new lines being recorded as anything else.

    Connected Franchise Mode offers improvements like the ability to sim specific results in an online league (a long-requested tool) as well as streamlined and more logical college scouting, but it also introduces a Dynamic Drive Goal feature which is nice in theory but has some struggles in practice. For example, if you turn the ball over on offense and the booth overturns the call and gives you the ball back, you will fail your active drive goal on offense and be stuck with a defensive goal (since the game thinks you're on defense) and you'll obviously be failing that goal too since you can't achieve a defensive result with the ball. Most frustrating from a broadcast perspective is that these drive goals show up in an ESPN BottomLine style display, just reinforcing that years removed from NCAA Football's demise, we're still left without studio updates or any greater league context in Madden NFL 16's CFM. Even the CFM menu hides league news and notes more than recent years. It's frustrating to see CFM continue to go without features enjoyed years ago in the college game.

    Madden NFL 16 does offer a new mode in Draft Champions, which is essentially a "free-to-play" version of the popular Madden Ultimate Team where players draft a team of stars over 15 rounds to create a team for four games. For those not wanting to invest significant time or money into MUT, this is a nice middle ground. Players can go against the CPU or peers for these games.

    MUT, Skills Trainer, and The Gauntlet are all still present, with similar offerings as would be expected from recent Madden history.

    Madden NFL 16 sees solid improvement on the field in meaningful ways, but CFM still remains weaker than other modes in the game, especially with regard to unfortunate bugs plaguing the mode at release. For Madden NFL 17 to work towards instant classic status, intentional gameplay refinement and CFM "catch-up" should be prioritized.    … Expand
  28. Eclipsing_u
    Sep 12, 2015
    10
    much improved game play and the new draft champions pushes it to a new level , everyone complaining about the gameplay of madden 16 obviously should avoid this game its the same basic setup for 10 plus years now you cant play so dont bother ,,,,
  29. dougas2
    Sep 10, 2015
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Absolute garbage. That pretty much sums up this game.

    Here are the Pros: the graphics are stunning. The soundtrack is varied, yet can wear on you pretty fast.

    Cons: Too many to list. I'll ty to list a few here.
    1. The new WR/DB mechanic means that your WR will catch the ball about 90% of the time provided you use one of the catch types (aggressive, RAC, Possession)
    2. The AI will find a way to score no matter what. I was up by 21 points going into the fourth quarter against the AI on All-Pro. I thought I had the game won. Nope - the AI threw deep routes and connected every single time. My DB's were either caught way out of position or the AI receiver made the catch then broke the tackle. My DL suddenly was getting tossed around like a bunch of rag dolls. When I did get the ball back I wasn't able to move downfield at all. My OL missed blocks, my WR's dropped wide open passes. Since the OL missed blocks my RB had nowhere to run.

    Here's Stafford's stat line from two different games: 211 yards 1TD, 10-19, 11.1ypa, 36longest pass, 52% completion rate. That was from an All-pro game that I lost by 3 points.

    Here's Stafford's stat line on PRO level after the latest update: 405 yards, 3 TD's, 17-18, 22.5ypa, 52longest pass, 94% completion rate. Now mind you I dropped down a level just to test out this garbage pile of a game and was absolutely shredded by the same team. My DB's were beat on EVERY single play. I lost that game 38-33. How is it that I can come within 3 points on All-Pro mode and hold Stafford t0 around 200 yards, yet I drop down a level, play the same game using the same team and get ripped apart?

    3. The menus are total garbage. Why do I have to jump through three different menus just to complete a trade? If you want to upgrade your coach you have to jump through two menus.

    4. Load times are long. When you start the game you'll be waiting at least 3 minutes (depending on your internet speed) while the game downloads roster updates, community play recommendations, play calling data and probably several other things I'm forgetting.

    5. Everyone keeps talking about 'drive goals'. However, I have not seen this feature once on the PS4. I play franchise mode for the most part, so either that was left off the PS4 version or it's not in franchise mode.

    6. When you first load the game you're forced to play pivotal moments of Superbowl 50 between the Cardinals and the Steelers. This would have been ok had EA decided to make it a tutorial. However, it is nothing of the sort. It's unneeded and unwanted.

    All in all this game is total garbage. I can not recommend the game if you're a football fan. You'll find it frustrating and will most likely be trading it in at your local GameStop for a better game.    … Expand
  30. theburitodude
    Sep 10, 2015
    0
    Hike. Throw ball deep to Calvin Johnson. Mash the triangle button while ball is in air. Another 50 yard completion. This is basically what Madden has become. If you are looking for a complex football simulator do not get this game. The developers have really catered to the "casual audience" as it plays more like NFL Blitz. It has also gone down the same route mobile gaming has gone, if youHike. Throw ball deep to Calvin Johnson. Mash the triangle button while ball is in air. Another 50 yard completion. This is basically what Madden has become. If you are looking for a complex football simulator do not get this game. The developers have really catered to the "casual audience" as it plays more like NFL Blitz. It has also gone down the same route mobile gaming has gone, if you want to succeed at MUT you better be ready to fork out cash because the grind to unlock new better players is overwhelming.… Expand
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best PS4 Game of 2015
48
#48 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2015
63
#63 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
  1. XGN
    Oct 26, 2015
    85
    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.
    Read full review
  2. Play UK
    Oct 25, 2015
    80
    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]
  3. GameCritics
    Oct 12, 2015
    95
    The sheer immersion of Madden NFL 16's gameplay makes this the best football video game since the series's salad days, and the most improved football experience since NFL Gameday first graced the PS1.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »