Madden NFL 21

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 29
  3. Negative: 2 out of 29
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Screen Rant
    Aug 29, 2020
    80
    EA hasn't birthed a whole new concept this year, but the game doesn't break what has been working all this time, even if it comes at the cost of feeling stale to series veterans.
  2. Digital Chumps
    Aug 28, 2020
    80
    Madden 21 is a great game that old and new players would be excited to play. New modes and updated features like Superstar X-Factor and The Yard have put youth into a veteran series. The way the players acted and how the games sound makes it feel like a real NFL game and in 2020 that is needed. While it still has flaws, it may be one of the best Madden games yet.
  3. Attack of the Fanboy
    Aug 27, 2020
    80
    Madden 21 as a whole may feel like a bit of a letdown compared to the past few years in some areas, but The Yard definitely helps to make it worth it for players that are interested in trying something a little different. With the free upgrade to the next generation version and the promise of treating Franchise like a live service as the season goes on, Madden 21 is likely still going to be well worth the purchase in the long run, even if you may be left a little dissatisfied at this point.
  5. Worth Playing
    Aug 28, 2020
    78
    Considering that this could be the closest thing we see to "normal" football for a long time, Madden NFL 21 works. However, I can't shake the feeling that more could be done. Some things feel practically untouched. The create-a-player faces are still weird. Why can there be such a discrepancy in head sizes? Why can't I seem to port over the player I created in Face of the Franchise into a regular roster or at least have him available in regular create-a-player? The array of quarterback throwing motions still seems limited, and it pales in comparison to the way players in other sports games are so heavily signaturized. I still feel there's plenty of work to be done with this franchise, and that so-called "next level" we keep looking for can be reached. For now, I might tighten up my Yard skills, see what new decisions I can make in a new career mode, and beef up on my RPO mastery while I hope for more in next year's Madden outing.

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2020

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
0.3

Overwhelming dislike- based on 5792 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 85 out of 5792
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 5792
  3. Negative: 5,673 out of 5792
  1. ShRekNAYSHUN
    Aug 26, 2020
    0
    An atrocious football simulation game. EA has greatly expanded the number of game modes in Madden over the past couple of years at theAn atrocious football simulation game. EA has greatly expanded the number of game modes in Madden over the past couple of years at the detriment to the depth and immersion of all modes in the game. This game added no features to its already anemic franchise mode and it features many bugs upon release such as rainbow colored coaches, players wearing the wrong college jerseys in FOTF, and blank fields that have no sidelines or hash marks, just to name a very select few. The Yard serves only as an excuse to monetize the game further. Face of the Franchise has a pathetically cringey story. Even Ultimate Team has atrociously laggy menus that make it completely unbearable to endure. Many gameplay and AI flaws from previous titles have continued into this one as well. You can only get so much fun from such broken gameplay. Please do not give EA $60 or more for this piss poor effort.… Full Review »
  2. Gametim
    Aug 26, 2020
    0
    Same game but actually WORSE. Gameplay is trash and scripted. The only things this game cares about are microtransactions. Spend your money ELSEWHERE
  3. EA_sux
    Aug 26, 2020
    0
    This game is straight up unplayable, somehow to an even greater degree than the previous few Madden titles. There is still no user control ofThis game is straight up unplayable, somehow to an even greater degree than the previous few Madden titles. There is still no user control of your players; they get pulled into animations depending on which predetermined outcome the game has scripted. Players still don't know football fundamentals, like how to run a route, cover, or block. In fairness, it's hard to learn football fundamentals when the laws of physics in your universe aren't even respected, and players routinely shift and warp through each other. There are more egregious and game-breaking glitches than ever before, but maybe a prospective buyer can overlook the awful and broken gameplay now that there are also more microtransactions than ever before. EA is no longer even trying anymore to hide its contempt for its customers.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »