Madden NFL 21

 PlayStation 4
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
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  1. italianSauce
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    This is the hottest piece of garbage EA has ever released! I could polish a turd and make it look better than this steaming pile of manure. Everything has stated the same or gotten worse. They added a new game more with The Yard and guess what? It's littered with microtransactions. No surprise there! Do yourself a favor NFL, and give EA some competition. Whats the worst that can happen? EAThis is the hottest piece of garbage EA has ever released! I could polish a turd and make it look better than this steaming pile of manure. Everything has stated the same or gotten worse. They added a new game more with The Yard and guess what? It's littered with microtransactions. No surprise there! Do yourself a favor NFL, and give EA some competition. Whats the worst that can happen? EA makes a better product and then everyone makes more money!… Expand
  2. Badman420
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    More than half the game doesn’t even work correctly, complete waste of money and time
  3. RickytheRockett
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Haven’t bought a madden game since 17. Bought madden 21 and not a thing has changed. Madden gameplay is just broken it doesn’t work. To top this off it’s advertised as a “simulation football game” and it’s not!!! Madden has been and will always be an arcade style football game. The game can’t even do a proper fade route. Ball physics are trash. Yes they fixed the 20 feet lb/cb int jumpsHaven’t bought a madden game since 17. Bought madden 21 and not a thing has changed. Madden gameplay is just broken it doesn’t work. To top this off it’s advertised as a “simulation football game” and it’s not!!! Madden has been and will always be an arcade style football game. The game can’t even do a proper fade route. Ball physics are trash. Yes they fixed the 20 feet lb/cb int jumps BUT EVERYTHING in the madden games for two decades now feel scripted beyond belief. From sacks, ints to fumbles all scripted. Not to mention you still can’t challenge plays I have yet to see myself able to make a challenge. Only time I’ve seen a challenge is when the game decides to do a booth review. Still no refs on the field also. They brought back simple gameplay motions and make it seem as if it’s “new” such as defensive line player movements. Bruh these things have been in football games for years. You know a game is bad when 1 nfl2k5 a almost 20 yr old game is still better than any madden game in the past two decades. Want something more recent try all pro football 2k8 gameplay in both these games are better more in depth than any madden game not to mention these two games are true simulation football games. Once 2k comes back I will never buy another madden. Madden 21 was my last one. #bringback2kfootball #nfldropea #madden21 DO NOT BUY… Expand
  4. Davi6492962
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Bugs and glitchs this only gets worse every year ea Just thinks about get more more and more money easily
  5. Fourthandfoles
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    I thought this was an NFL Street reboot, and i was wrong. It's worse than said XB1 title
  6. ajstyles11
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is the worst **** game ever made. Terrible controls and even worse graphics. As well as button lag throughout the game even the main menu. I do not recommend this game at all

    Edit**
    Months later and this is still the worst game you could ever get besides Cyberpunk, but you can’t do anything to stop a **** running the ball. Throw out of sack is the dumbest **** I’ve ever seen. ****s run one coverage and you can’t get the time you need.to beat it because you get sacked within 3 seconds. The player movement is horrendous still and I feel like they made it worse because ****s hate next gen so they said let’s **** up old gen to make them move and spend more money. WR still don’t go for the ball when I’m single coverage so it’s an interception every time. Trash ass ****s just sit and throw streaks to Tyreek or Hollywood brown and there’s zero you can do to stop it. 0/10 one of the worst games of the year by a terrible company    … Expand
  7. twentyone_babs
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Same game every year, cash grab, microtransactions, bugs, glitches. EA are the most disgusting company out there.
  8. Jeoki
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Game is so bad. It's more like a buggy update than an actual new game. EA has ignored fans for years and it shows after not playing Madden since PS3 days. How did the game get worse since then. Why is franchise mode worse/neglected. Do you guys even care at this point because how can a game that does not really change get worse over the years lol.
  9. kjb_lovinlife
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    I'm not going to buy the game. I watched gameplay and played at a friend's. I miss, so dearly miss the Madden that I grew up on and am tired of this crap EA tries to shove down our throat. #NflDropEA
  10. trulldevin
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Get off your ass NFL and fire these clowns. How is this game even legal? Hopefully we see change soon. Go to Twitter and contribute to the cause. #nfldropea #fixmaddenfranchise
  11. Ethan017
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    I only bought this game because my friend insisted that I do because we went off to college and he wanted something for us to be able to do while we were apart. Sadly I can’t even play with my friend thanks to all the glitches and bugs and how poor the overall controls are. I was already not happy about spending 60 dollars on this game as I know it’s simply a roster update with terribleI only bought this game because my friend insisted that I do because we went off to college and he wanted something for us to be able to do while we were apart. Sadly I can’t even play with my friend thanks to all the glitches and bugs and how poor the overall controls are. I was already not happy about spending 60 dollars on this game as I know it’s simply a roster update with terrible graphics, but now that I’ve seen the final product I’m even more mortified at the fact I put a penny down on this monstrosity.… Expand
  12. JonathanG
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Nothing has changed year after year with madden. Just a roster update with a new mode no one asked for. Franchise hasn't be touched. Face of the Franchise is a complete joke. Ultimate team is a pay to win. Everything on the game is a copy and paste from last year. #NFLdropEa #FixMaddenFranchise
  13. Ariptic
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Same game! Been playing it since launch and the only thing different is that there are way more glitches.
  14. tylergibby
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Told myself after Madden ‘20 that I was done - however, as a Ravens fan I was happy to see Lamar on the cover and decided I’d buy the game to support my guy. Bought the game, installed it, updated it & turned it on. Went to go claim my Lamar pack for MUT and was forwarded to ‘The Yard’ and my game froze. My first experience with the game & it did not get much better because then I startedTold myself after Madden ‘20 that I was done - however, as a Ravens fan I was happy to see Lamar on the cover and decided I’d buy the game to support my guy. Bought the game, installed it, updated it & turned it on. Went to go claim my Lamar pack for MUT and was forwarded to ‘The Yard’ and my game froze. My first experience with the game & it did not get much better because then I started to actually play the game and realized that the game not only did not improve over last year but it actually got worse. This game would not even be good by PS3 standards. EA has ruined this franchise & the fact that they are profiting off of Lamar’s likeness makes me sick. This is it for me. I am done. Not only with Madden but with EA all together. This company is a stain on the video game industry & if the NFL wants to maintain its reputation as a premier product they will cut ties with this lazy, greedy, uncreative, untalented group of losers. Goodbye & good riddance.… Expand
  15. austinalexan
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    This game improves upon nothing of last year or even the years prior. It's literally just a roster update
  16. Tedteddy06
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Electronic Arts had done it again. No effort at all. A copy paste of previous Madden . Broken and glitching, But give me your money for ultimate team packs that is not even worth expending your time and money. EA doesn’t care about the game and consumer, they just care about their wallets. DO NOT EXPEND YOUR MONEY ON THIS GARBAGE!
  17. Tbo
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    EA I hope your corporate greed destroys your company. You copy and paste the same game every year...thanks for really looking out for the consumers!
  18. SavageSullly
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    This game is worse and worse every year. Its sad because I love the mut game mode and want to play, but the slow and poor quality of this game makes it torture to put the time into. I bought it with hype of the NFL season coming, and days after release they are just handing out free copies. Where my free copy or my money back or least an update that makes this worth playing. Where is the content?
  19. Th3bigreddog
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Absolute monopoly and absolute garbage. Go figure. The gaming community demands better practices from EA.
  20. sdmac20
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    They can’t keep getting away with making the same game every year. #NFLDropEA
  21. BiggestT67
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    If I could go lower I would. There isn’t much to say about this absolute crime disguised as a video game. It is not a simulation football game. This product doesn’t come close to resembling anything that you might see on your TV set on Sunday. This shallow disaster put forth even less effort than many of the previous “titles” if you can even call them that. Franchise mode is exactly theIf I could go lower I would. There isn’t much to say about this absolute crime disguised as a video game. It is not a simulation football game. This product doesn’t come close to resembling anything that you might see on your TV set on Sunday. This shallow disaster put forth even less effort than many of the previous “titles” if you can even call them that. Franchise mode is exactly the same as a year ago with ZERO updates. Micro transactions are overpriced and everywhere. The game isn’t even pay to win anymore as micro transactions are so expensive and offer so little return that players will put themselves in debt trying to field a good MUT team. The lack of care or effort of any kind on electronic art’s part is disrespectful to their consumers not only do they not care about their product, but they do not care about you the buyer. They understand that their time with this exclusive license is limited and so they are trying to milk every last penny out of their players while they still can. There is a distinct lack of effort and enthusiasm and it is a mockery to the NFL. Want my advice? Boycott this game and give it as much negative publicity as possible. Maybe the nfl will take notice and save their image. I rather doubt it. Hoping for sunnier days ahead in the world of sports gaming.… Expand
  22. Sharpieguy
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Awful, has been awful, still is awful, we need a new company making this game. It is the exact same performance for the last 4 years and only a few minor tweaks have been made to askew us away from this bad product EA feeds us every year. Not to mention the gambling microtransaction ridden ultimate team mode is a sorry excuse for a title main staple. Embarrassing
  23. Patrickb20
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Worst game I have ever played. They riddle the game with micro transactions and previous assets from earlier games.
  24. Eg25
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I haven’t played madden or bought madden since 6 years ago I’m a big nfl fan and the reason I stop playing was madden 2014 wich was by far the worst madden ever so this year I was like hey madden looks pretty good I think imma buy so I did buy it and payed 60$ plus 50$ for adds and stuff the first few minutes the game felt great but after the first hour I realized how bad this game was it had so many bugs and the gameplay isn’t bad but it didn’t felt that different from the last madden game I played I’m here to say don’t make the mistake I made don’t buy this game it’s not worth it I have no idea why ea sports exists fifa is the worst game ever and I should of known better before buying madden and realizing that this is a monopoly game they just want your money for a … Expand
  25. Keegan23
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Madden 20 wasn’t the best but it was playable. Madden 21 isn’t even that. The common saying that this game is just a roster update every year would be a compliment to this years game. This looks and feels like a beta to the beta to the beta. Terrible game.
  26. Aubins
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Even if this game was free, I probably wouldn't take up HD space for it. I miss 2K NFL games.
  27. WMiller81
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Embarrassing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  28. BuzzerBeater365
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    The bugs and glitches ruin the game. Also, the fact that it is super laggy online is awful. Mut squads shotgun formations will glitch you out
    and make it so the qb cant move. An embarrassment of a billion dollar company.
  29. Mikey6080
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Complete garbage. Barely an update to the last game. Stop giving this company money for lazy work and sloppy games. Don't throw your money away.
  30. Javel123
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Same stuff every year ea needs competition do not buy this game its a waste of time. Filled with bugs and re used animations 60$ for a roster update nothing else
  31. Hsans
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    This it this worst madden game I have ever played. I wish I could throw it out at this point. There’s absolutely no improvement whatsoever to the franchise, and the EA developers could care less about their consumer base. They only want to line their pockets. The NFL needs to drop them ASAP and sign on a company who wants to revive franchise mode. EA if you’re reading this: YOU ARE A JOKE!!!
  32. Tmacmac1979
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    EA...congratulations on being an EPIC fail and proving once again the only thing you care about is bleeding out the consumer of their money. I played the first ever madden on the computer in 1989 and have played since 2020. Once upon a time madden was worth while to play, the franchise mode although not as deep as nfl 2k5 was still leaps and bounds better than what we have today,EA...congratulations on being an EPIC fail and proving once again the only thing you care about is bleeding out the consumer of their money. I played the first ever madden on the computer in 1989 and have played since 2020. Once upon a time madden was worth while to play, the franchise mode although not as deep as nfl 2k5 was still leaps and bounds better than what we have today, everyone has been begging and pleading for you to give us a game that is truly immersive, fun and challenging. Instead we get buggy, glitchy, micro transaction filled garbage experience year in and year out, what’s worse is you guys clearly don’t care because your the only NFL simulation footBall game in town and those who will want a better franchise experience, we’ll good sirs and ladies you don’t matter, because MUT and pay for The Yard customization is who We are now and we like it. Monetization at its very best. Your Twitter responses clearly show how much you care about your consumer and The Youtuber influencers don’t say anything well because they know you won’t give them early access codes, yet they will complain when animations screw them over and over again. We have been asking for better because you are an Triple A developer who delivers crappy gameplay, with glitchy, buggy animations, the lack of attention to detail, the shameless implementations of micro transactions, a franchise that is copied and pasted over and over and over again with “0” updates or features added. We have been pleading with you EA to make things right and make us feel that our voices are being heard by you. I have defended you for years and since 2015 I can no longer do so. You have truly shown what a true monopoly looks like and that the NFL also doesn’t care as long as you make them money. Until this is fixed and we get a game that is truly worthy of its namesake I will no longer be buying your **** games and will be dropping 0 scores year after year after year until you fix this mess and ask that everyone consider doing the same. Sincerely The Legit Madden gamer since 1989.

    PS-Clint The offensive line blocks exactly the same way you did when you were in the NFL...Sooooo realistic sir. #NFLDropEA #FixTheFreakinFranchise #DropClint #WeDeserve better    … Expand
  33. adhanneman
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Madden is a sorry excuse for being the holder of the only "simulation" football game. Its entirely unrealistic and devoid of any depth. Franchise mode has been ignored since 2013 and this year is no exception. New additions like The Yard and Face of the Franchise are awful. The acting, storyline, and feel of Face of the Franchise is god awful and sorry, I legitimately can not believe aMadden is a sorry excuse for being the holder of the only "simulation" football game. Its entirely unrealistic and devoid of any depth. Franchise mode has been ignored since 2013 and this year is no exception. New additions like The Yard and Face of the Franchise are awful. The acting, storyline, and feel of Face of the Franchise is god awful and sorry, I legitimately can not believe a billion dollar company created it. The Yard is a new mode EA sports can use to take more money from the consumer through microtransactions. Please, do not buy this game as it is a waste of your hard earned money.… Expand
  34. Hugh_johnson
    Sep 7, 2020
    0
    I was going to skip out on going through the hassle to create a meta critic account just to give the game a zero, but when I saw that they gave thousands of free copies away, when I pre ordered the game for 100 dollars with my hard earned money. I was already frustrated but that infuriated me. They did it all in a attempt to not let the nfl see the #nfldropea and to wash it all away withI was going to skip out on going through the hassle to create a meta critic account just to give the game a zero, but when I saw that they gave thousands of free copies away, when I pre ordered the game for 100 dollars with my hard earned money. I was already frustrated but that infuriated me. They did it all in a attempt to not let the nfl see the #nfldropea and to wash it all away with spamming free copies to people that will also be not educated on sports gaming and have more of a chance to give the game a higher rating… Expand
  35. MeNamesReid
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    It’s pretty disappointing the laziness in this game year after year. From spelling mistakes in the menu, to game breaking glitches, lack of modes FROM OVER A DECADE AGO! Madden has so much potential, football games in this generation of consoles could do so much and give us options to make the game even better for the consumer. I would like to create my own team and build it to a dynastyIt’s pretty disappointing the laziness in this game year after year. From spelling mistakes in the menu, to game breaking glitches, lack of modes FROM OVER A DECADE AGO! Madden has so much potential, football games in this generation of consoles could do so much and give us options to make the game even better for the consumer. I would like to create my own team and build it to a dynasty in a deep and fun franchise mode, but no, instead my option is to pay money in ultimate team. I will gladly buy this game year after year if we seen real change and have the players more creative options and depth. I will miss old madden, and I can only hope we see this game get better in the future. #EAdropmadden… Expand
  36. ElijahM70
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Madden could be so much better than it is. The amount of features they’ve taken out of this game. Especially Franchise mode is beyond ridiculous. They need to get some developers who actually know football and make a game that’s realistic to actual football. That’s what fans want. And quite frankly we haven’t gotten that since the late 2000’s. And while you are at it EA. how about youMadden could be so much better than it is. The amount of features they’ve taken out of this game. Especially Franchise mode is beyond ridiculous. They need to get some developers who actually know football and make a game that’s realistic to actual football. That’s what fans want. And quite frankly we haven’t gotten that since the late 2000’s. And while you are at it EA. how about you actually make the soundtracks good again. This game is glitchy and just hot Garbage. also micro transactions are as rampant as ever. Just bring back the old days of madden and football games.… Expand
  37. Noahnoahnoah
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    I made an account just so that I can say that this is an inter garbage game. Company doesn’t care about anything but money and I hope I see they day when I watch EA crumble.
  38. ktutegypt
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Hey EA! Want a normal score?
    Fix the terrible, gameplay-breaking bugs that repeat every year. Maybe use a more appropriate game engine than Frostbite?
    Add crossplay. It’s 2020.
    Remove the endless grinding and money grubbing. You shouldn’t have to pay more to play, after you’ve already paid for the game.
    Just in general- care more about how the game plays, not just how it looks.
  39. Twistedrlty95
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Honestly I signed up for Metacritic just to leave a review for this game because of how terrible it is. Simulation football is not playing as the Chiefs and being able to throw a TD pass to Tyreek Hill every time no matter what defensive scheme or adjustments you run. Simulation football is not the game deciding what happens with animations that break the game. EA needs to dropHonestly I signed up for Metacritic just to leave a review for this game because of how terrible it is. Simulation football is not playing as the Chiefs and being able to throw a TD pass to Tyreek Hill every time no matter what defensive scheme or adjustments you run. Simulation football is not the game deciding what happens with animations that break the game. EA needs to drop Frostbite, in fact EA in general doesn't deserve to have the NFL simulation license. If they advertised this as an arcade football game I'd believe them more. Please do not buy this game not even on sale unless it's under $10, even that much is a hard sell for me.… Expand
  40. FranCan
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Waste of money. The same game every year. In fact this game isnt even 60 dollars microtransactions make the game cost way more.
  41. Bmeans
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Game is worse than last year by far. Defense is shoddy and unpredictable. Offense overpowered. Glitchy
  42. Mattygoblue
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is just a mobile pay to win game at this point. Franchise is still ignored after years and years, of fans begging EA to fix it. When games 15 years ago are way ahead of a game that is coming out today, there is an absolute problem. Don't even get me started on gameplay..… Expand
  43. LINO01
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Same game every year. Sad story. Don’t buy it. EA needs to work harder for our money. Sad sad.
  44. LudaKris28
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    The worst iteration of the game in years. The animations/physics are clunky, the face of the franchise mode is terribly written and lazy, and the defensive AI is so bad that it is tough not to give up 30+ points a game. Bought the game to play franchise mode with 3 friends and between the bad AI, bugs, etc we have given up after a week.
  45. simba_ysp
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    This is just ass, lol. we need to do something EA gotta realize you can’t scam ppl like this
  46. Ad-Astra-
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    The NFL needs to end this license and find a better developer. EA and MADDEN continue to make a mockery of its fan base by releasing literally the same game every year. The most lazy and corrupt game franchise in history. Any critic that is saying we are over reacting and that this is a great game is nothing more than a fraud, liar and sell out. This game is a joke and i returned my copyThe NFL needs to end this license and find a better developer. EA and MADDEN continue to make a mockery of its fan base by releasing literally the same game every year. The most lazy and corrupt game franchise in history. Any critic that is saying we are over reacting and that this is a great game is nothing more than a fraud, liar and sell out. This game is a joke and i returned my copy for refund because i am sick of this franchise and i no longer support EA or MADDEN. Last time i buy this copy and paste garbage.… Expand
  47. Kimjongun2007
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Fix the game ea. Every year it's the same thing There's still bugs and glitches that need to be fixed. The microtranacations are terrible. Ea fix your game.
  48. HDBlackHippo
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    $60 roster update, no changes to franchise. Bugs, and lots of them. Espn 2k5 was leaps ahead of this garbage.
  49. Your_
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    This game is horrible. There is no reason for the game to be this bad. Who play tested this. Did no one actually make sure that this game was even functional. Don't waist your 60$ and boycott EA.
  50. TacoTruck1877
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Do yourself a favor and buy an xbox 360(about $80) and nfl 2k5($10), it's the price of two new maddens and better than anything since it came out
  51. VibeAudit
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    #NFLDropEA this game is terrible. The abuse of compulsion to trick lifelong Madden Players into emptying their pockets for a relevant team in the only half ass game mode is getting disgusting. You put every new feature behind a pay wall, exclude customization to the yard, and just blatantly don’t care about GAMEPLAY. The engine sucks. The fluidity, motion, and reactivity of players is hot#NFLDropEA this game is terrible. The abuse of compulsion to trick lifelong Madden Players into emptying their pockets for a relevant team in the only half ass game mode is getting disgusting. You put every new feature behind a pay wall, exclude customization to the yard, and just blatantly don’t care about GAMEPLAY. The engine sucks. The fluidity, motion, and reactivity of players is hot **** EA. I swear to god that NFL 2k5 had more authentic movement and physics. This game is it for me. I haven’t had fun on madden in 4 years.… Expand
  52. Grifter1462
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Flat out garbage. NFL Drop EA. Do not waste your time. I’m going to return it and get madden 18 for a dollar at GameStop. Worth more than this.
  53. dazad001
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    After waiting 12 years for Madden to at a minimum bring the franchise back to the quality it was in 2008... at a minimum. I have lost faith in Madden & the NFL and have just bought a PS2 and Madden 2008 because I know that EA has a group of individuals making Madden who have never watched, played or had interest in football or video games at any point in their life. How sad. I hope noneAfter waiting 12 years for Madden to at a minimum bring the franchise back to the quality it was in 2008... at a minimum. I have lost faith in Madden & the NFL and have just bought a PS2 and Madden 2008 because I know that EA has a group of individuals making Madden who have never watched, played or had interest in football or video games at any point in their life. How sad. I hope none of the makers of madden or EA have children they are teaching these values to. I hope EA goes bankrupt and anyone everyone who agreed to charge money for Madden 21 should at least go to court for misleading the customer and selling a counterfeit product that is Madden 12 with updated rosters.… Expand
  54. Xaut
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Same old **** Fix Franchise mode and forget the dumb **** like the yard. Ugh.
  55. Savagematty
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Spoil alert: this year’s Madden is an even bigger heap of flaming hot trash than last year. How that’s even possible is beyond my logic or understanding.… Expand
  56. DebonairGaming
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Thank GOD I was able to play this game for free with the EA PlayPro. All EA games are going downhill and Madden has pretty much gone the furthest. If we were racing to the bottom of the barrel for worst game ever, Madden may have just hit pay dirt. I have a Upper-Mid tier Gaming PC and this game wont run on it. I have a 250mbps internet speed with $200 into my modem and router. I try toThank GOD I was able to play this game for free with the EA PlayPro. All EA games are going downhill and Madden has pretty much gone the furthest. If we were racing to the bottom of the barrel for worst game ever, Madden may have just hit pay dirt. I have a Upper-Mid tier Gaming PC and this game wont run on it. I have a 250mbps internet speed with $200 into my modem and router. I try to play the "Face of the Franchise" mode, and the game crashes to the main menu (5 times now) when I'm in the middle of the high school game. Now tonight, I thought I'd try to give it one last chance, and what do I get? The game freezes every time I try to load the last auto save before the game started. Tried it 3 times, froze every time. Thank you Madden for continuing to give zero sh*ts about your customers. I will NEVER by another EA game because their brand basically means Early Alpha as that's the state in which most of their games release. I love sports games, but MLB the Show is the only one that delivers quality game play and features that work. 2k and EA can both go kick rocks, you've ruined sports games for me and thousands of others.… Expand
  57. Mkalil
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Horrendous game. 0 content. It’s a fantasy card game at this point loosely based around the NFL. Don’t really get why they keep their license as players in the cards represent nothing of real life players. They’re made up by EA to bring in money.
  58. Miketraum86
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Spoiler alert!? If you’ve been playing Madden since at least 2014-it’s the SAME DAME THING. Cheap, generic, non-immersive. F*CK MADDEN & EA! Until this game undergoes a complete revamp and completely unrecognizable...won’t get a nickel from me! And I speak for the majority.
  59. Miniburger14
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Worst Madden I have ever played!!! Way too many glitches and a complete waste of money. #NFLDROPEA
  60. jginge02
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Madden 21 is the biggest joke of a game. EA Sports should be ashamed of themselves for even attempting to sell this game as a finish product. My first impressions of the game were as such:
    -It is an incomplete game
    -it is madden 20.5 - Franchise mode remained unchanged for the 5th year in a row, most game developers improve their game, EA seems to take stuff away until they find a way to    Madden 21 is the biggest joke of a game. EA Sports should be ashamed of themselves for even attempting to sell this game as a finish product. My first impressions of the game were as such:
    -It is an incomplete game
    -it is madden 20.5
    - Franchise mode remained unchanged for the 5th year in a row, most game developers improve their game, EA seems to take stuff away until they find a way to monetize it
    - You can’t play one game without experiencing one of their many game-breaking glitches

    Overall impression: DON’T BUY THIS GAME!!! This is the worst game EA Sports has produced ever! I’d rather play any other madden game, and I would have a blast doing it. EA needs to improve their game significantly.    … Expand
  61. Jose101010101
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Madden 20 is the worst madden I’ve ever played, I’m a big mut guy and I’ve never seen how you got to spend 1000 bucks on this game to be competitive, last years game was bad but you could compete with a team of you just grinding the game and now since the meta is man coverage and speed you literally can’t win with a lower team. The gameplay is at its lowest #nfldropea
  62. LuuTim59
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game might actually be the worst game I´ve bought. It´s not even that Franchise did not get any update, i would be okay with it if the gameplay feels good again. But the game just feels the same like last year and maybe even worse.

    The story of Face of the Franchise is atrocious. You have a starting QB with a serious heart condition? Good, put him at WR so he can get hit more. You and the Guy with his illness go to same college, he has to go to the hospital during the Championship Game. So you win the Natty, he´s in the hospital and guess what: He´s going to be the starter next season.

    Besides the story, how about the uniforms for your High School Team? Well EA just puts the same uniforms in as if you move your team in Franchise. Those are in the game since I started playing with Madden 25.

    Now you buy this game for I think 70€ to see that EA gives out free keys like Oprah. As EA I would simply be embarrassed to put out a game this bad. If 2k ever gets a shot to make a NFL game it will be better, there is no doubt in my mind.

    If the NFL even looks at this for 5 minutes they have to overthink whether or not EA is the right company. A company which puts out an unfinished game, promotes playing with serious injuries/illnesses and basically loughs at customers and people with honest feedback:    … Expand
  63. Bingosemooch
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    NFL needs to drop EA sports. They haven't improved the game in years and somehow made it worse this time around. This isnt last years game with better graphics, it is a slap in the face to sports fans and gamers alike
  64. Rookiekeeper
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Ripped off ... Game has 'Madden 20' and ' 'Madden 19' logos all over the stadiums, pretty much telling you how much effort the devs have put in. Franchise is still ass ... Its pretty much Madden 15 ... Dont buy!!!!!
  65. ReturnOfTheBeam
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Me and my G Izie play this everyday on that Paid 2 Play yadigg It has its flaws and not alot has changed. #DropEA NFL its time to give it back to the BITTY you heard Z
  66. DrSize711
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. same game as Madden 2010...........the only thing that has changed is the rosters and they are even slow updating the rosters...… Expand
  67. Ninerz4lyfe
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Terrible game. Another half ass effort by EA. Just give up the license already let 2k and other companies take a crack at it. Unfortunately Madden is no longer the super fun game it used to be, it's just a buggy ass trash game with once again no improvements.
  68. agooding21
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Awful game in the once great Madden series. The game is lacking features that were a staple of the franchise back in the PlayStation 2 days. Sad to see the selfish greed of EA has taken a once great football game, and turned it into a madden ultimate team focused money pit, for the few people that enjoy this poor excuse for a “simulation” football game.
  69. iCreate
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This game is so bad that I have created a Metacritic account solely to give this game a 0.

    Mind you, I have been playing Madden since I was four years old. Madden 06 on the PS2 was the first that I remember playing with my dad in the apartment we had. Those times were great; if it weren't from those games back then, I might've never had that love for football that I have now. However,    This game is so bad that I have created a Metacritic account solely to give this game a 0.

    Mind you, I have been playing Madden since I was four years old. Madden 06 on the PS2 was the first that I remember playing with my dad in the apartment we had. Those times were great; if it weren't from those games back then, I might've never had that love for football that I have now. However, that was then, and now is now. to quote the great Angry Video Game Nerd: "This game **** sucks."

    I'm sure that everyone and their parents know that Madden 21 is essentially a get rich quick scheme of a game created by EA. Re-used assets, game-breaking glitches, and the same damn animations are what you are going to get if you purchase the game. Obviously, it seems that the developers at EA do not care about having a realistic football simulation, which is what Madden was and is supposed to be. Rather, they only care about making money, whether it be from Ultimate Team or The Yard, EA's attempt at rivaling 2K's attempt at a non-simulation NFL game that has not been released at the time of this review. And who can blame them? As many people have said before me, "without competition, people get lazy."

    What I have typed above has been said over and over by the (currently) 3,420 negative reviews of this game on Metacritic, as well as on online forums, YouTube, Twitter, and even by trusted gaming news outlets such as IGN. Many people have thankfully listened to the harsh criticism this year, and as such, most people have decided to not buy the game this year. In response, EA is currently trying to give free copies of Madden 21 away, not trying to take criticism from the people who are actually spending money on this garbage.

    Personally, I believe that EA has had too many chances to right their course to avoid where they are now. We know that EA refuses to listen to our take on the game and how it can be improved upon, or perhaps they just don't care. Who knows; Madden 22 might just be Ultimate Team only, and the rest of the game will be a static image of the executives giving us the middle finger. The Madden ship isn't just sinking: the ship is on fire, it's being raided by pirates, everyone has dysentery, and the developers are being currently being hit-sticked by Bobby Wagner. The only way we can fix this is if the NFL terminates it's exclusive rights contract with EA Sports. I don't know how they can do it, but they better.

    I will not be buying Madden this year, and I should not have bought Madden 20. I will being going back to Madden 18; I have a Cleveland Browns Franchise that is in the year 2047 and I will enjoy what little time I have left with Matt Keenum, Emmit Smith III, and the rest of the gang until the servers shut down later this year.

    To summarize, please do not buy this game. EA dropping the ball is a complete understatement. Play an older title on your Xbox One or PS4, or perhaps you can go out of the way and purchase an Xbox 360/PS3 or an OG Xbox/PS2 to experience a good Madden. Maybe Madden 06; when times were simpler.

    #NFLDropEA    … Expand
  70. B-Web
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Spoiler alert, this game sucks. I made a metacritic account just to give this game a 0. Do you want to know how to play madden 21 for free? Just continue to play madden 20 and then play The Yard on mobile. This game is a carbon copy aside from a few minor things and new abilities. Same elementary coding from the early to mid 2010s, animation and RNG based gameplay. Players still glitch through each other, There’s no AI to speak of because they do not adapt. PA crossers can beat most defenses if not user controlled. Imagine a real NFL team running the same play 40 times a game; I think after the second or third time, they’d adjust. Face of the franchise is the most shallow career mode in any sports mode aside from regular franchise. The writing is so cringy, I’d rather watch Scott’s Tots and Dinner Party from The Office than listen to the dialogue and the joke of a plot this game offers. One of the nicknames you can have for your team is “Super Duper Dub Club.” Really? I had to turn my PlayStation and go outside after I read that. The forced chemistry between Tommy Matthews and your character is bad enough to make me want to be sick. The guy was a jerk the entire game and then, because he has a bad heart, you were forced to build some stupid friendship with him. “That guy is your brother” no Reggie, he was mad that I told coach about his crappy heart And benched him. He then switches to receiver and then follows me to college STILL trying to win back his QB role. It’s just stupid, unrealistic, and boring. MUT is the same as last year and the year before that, etc. It’s a casino that kids use their moms credit card to buy packs. If you liked MUT before, you’ll like it this year and vice versa; again, this game is a copy paste. The Yard is the only bright spot and even then it’s just meh. EA monopolized the NFL Simulation license and then makes a strictly arcade based game mode. It’s just weird to me. They should focus on fixing gameplay and their simulation modes before adding a backyard football mode. Ffs, if you are going to make it so nobody else can compete with you in a specific field, you should have to have it damn near perfected and it could not be further than that. Franchise mode is shallow and stupid. The trade logic is ridiculously bad and I get bored after a season or two. All in all, I hope this is the worst madden ever rated so EA will hopefully be forced to fix their game. … Expand
  71. jrockefeller3
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Same game as it was 5 years ago. Glitches everywhere. Disconnects online when I have an uber fast ETHERNET connection. **** EA games. Zero effort put into the game in the last half decade and the entire business motto is microtransactions for bums to beat you who don't even understand football. If I could give this game a negative rating I would. NFL needs to drop EA so 2k can make thisSame game as it was 5 years ago. Glitches everywhere. Disconnects online when I have an uber fast ETHERNET connection. **** EA games. Zero effort put into the game in the last half decade and the entire business motto is microtransactions for bums to beat you who don't even understand football. If I could give this game a negative rating I would. NFL needs to drop EA so 2k can make this game properly.… Expand
  72. augyrocks
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This game is the last straw for madden for me. I have bought every madden sense madden 06 and every year it gets worse for my favorite mode. The last good madden was 10 and the last ok madden was 13, All I want is a good franchise mode that is a simulation game because that is what your license is EA. You may not care EA but you lost a loyal customer. I can not wait for the 2k game in aThis game is the last straw for madden for me. I have bought every madden sense madden 06 and every year it gets worse for my favorite mode. The last good madden was 10 and the last ok madden was 13, All I want is a good franchise mode that is a simulation game because that is what your license is EA. You may not care EA but you lost a loyal customer. I can not wait for the 2k game in a couple years.… Expand
  73. Delta7681
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    EA hasn't improved the series in years, even before going to an engine that really isn't optimal for a sports game. Scripting plays and animations is terrible. They just don't put the work in to the game, usually resulting in a "madden journey" as one of the devs say. I didn't buy a game to have it be "finished" throughout the year after release. Nevermind the fact it isn't ever reallyEA hasn't improved the series in years, even before going to an engine that really isn't optimal for a sports game. Scripting plays and animations is terrible. They just don't put the work in to the game, usually resulting in a "madden journey" as one of the devs say. I didn't buy a game to have it be "finished" throughout the year after release. Nevermind the fact it isn't ever really finished because it's so broken from the start. I will not buy madden anymore until EA loses the exclusivity to a simulation football game, when they don't make a SIMULATION football game. "The Yard" isn't simulation, MUT isn't simulation. Madden is and has been trash for years.… Expand
  74. RyanDastardly
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    EA refuses to do anything ground breaking anymore with their games. If I had to compare EA to a crappy gaming company. EA is the new LJN! This game is complete garbage I will not be investing into any EA game until I see a change.
  75. Orlandop94
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Absolutely terrible. Honestly pissed off that my wife bought me this as a surprise and now cant even get a refund. It's a copy and paste of the last 3 games which is NOT OK. How can you sell this to consumers and BLATANTLY lie about updates and additions that never come to fluition. EA is a terrible company who has absolutely no respect for its customers and dont even try to provideAbsolutely terrible. Honestly pissed off that my wife bought me this as a surprise and now cant even get a refund. It's a copy and paste of the last 3 games which is NOT OK. How can you sell this to consumers and BLATANTLY lie about updates and additions that never come to fluition. EA is a terrible company who has absolutely no respect for its customers and dont even try to provide quality experiences. This is the last madden I buy until SERIOUS game engine/ franchise changes happen.… Expand
  76. lwiddico
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Glad I rented this year and didn't buy. I will be joining the group of people boycotting. I am currently playing ncaa 14 on ps3. And I'm not even a college football fan but ncaa 14 is way better than madden 21.
  77. PepoTheGreat
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Spoiler alert you spend 60$ and it's worst than madden 20. Go play some 2k5 and pray NFL drops ea.… Expand
  78. Jleggette1420
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This **** is worse than 2k I will never spend money on another copy and paste madden game again
  79. Alexgaud
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    The worst football game I've ever played, and I played last years madden as well
  80. StephFinesse
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Glitchy, matchmaking fails just about every online game. Played a game where everytime I tried to do a passing play my QB ran backwards until he got tackled and fumbled. Icons wouldn’t come up.
  81. Abomb55
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Heard people describe this as they “polished a turd” referring to difference between Madden 20 and Madden 21 but they actually took a dump on a turd cos it’s the same game just noticeably worse
  82. ramenplug
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Needs effort literally thats all it needs... effort. EA doesn't care to make a good game.
  83. mmcfadd2
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    EA is at least consistent... Madden continues to be arguably the worst sports video game on the market. Extremely glitchy, limited franchise/creation options, terrible gameplay and physics. EA should be dropped immediately for such garbage quality.
  84. iamawsome080
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Basically the same game as madden 20, with a fresh coat of paint on it. The Yard seems like it's fine but the pride and joy of the game seems to be Madden Ultimate Team (MUT). The mode, that still costs $60 to access because you still have to buy the game, is targeted towards children to spend a bunch of their parents money on free to play game mechanics that is extremely pay to win. AndBasically the same game as madden 20, with a fresh coat of paint on it. The Yard seems like it's fine but the pride and joy of the game seems to be Madden Ultimate Team (MUT). The mode, that still costs $60 to access because you still have to buy the game, is targeted towards children to spend a bunch of their parents money on free to play game mechanics that is extremely pay to win. And even if you pay thousands of dollars for the best team,which very well might be a conservative estimate, in a few months new cards will be released that make what you had before irrelevant, or the next madden comes out and makes everything obsolete again, requiring you to buy the game again and spend more money to get a good team again, starting from scratch. Franchise mode saw almost no changes. All they did was a roster update and made the new playoff system to be accurate to real life. If that's the mode you're buying it for, stick to madden 20 or go back to madden 08 or something like that. Overall, if you are buying madden 21 for franchise mode, don't bother. If you are buying it for MUT, i question your financial choices, but it's the same thing every year so go for it. If you've been playing it for years you know what your getting into. If you are playing the game for superstar KO and The yard, i'd rate the game a bit higher. They are arcade like modes and from my understanding, they are not pay to win. You can pay for cosmetics in the yard only as far as i'm aware. If those modes are all you're interested in, and you're really interested in them, you can justify buying the game and treat all the other modes as a bonus. I know the overall score I posted this is a 0 because i am a huge fan of franchise mode and think MUT is a waste of money, but if you want the arcade like game modes and that's what you're buying it for i would give it either a 5/10 or a 6/10. The arcade modes are fine but not great. I know there are a ton of reviews and since this one is overall negative it will get buried in the vast sea of negative reviews, but i hope at least someone finds this review helpful. Take care!… Expand
  85. Superman79
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    copy and paste. Same game as last year only with more glitches. The yard was ok got boring fast
  86. Feykid
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    same b.s as last year. Fix franchise! The game could have simply been an update to the last madden, instead EA again is trying to steal your money.
  87. talamance
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    In the simplest way possible. This game is absolutely god awful and I hope EA loses every right to creating NFL video games. They are not good, never were and they continue to get even worse.
  88. bragg1831
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    so this game hasn't been good for some time now . I skipped madden 19 and got 20' and was disappointed in my decision last year that I won't be buying a madden game for a LONG TIME until they fix the issues and actually innovate . Clint Oldenburg has to go also . Hes a embarrassment to not only madden but the NFL itself. If the NFL doesn't change course with madden, I will start boycottingso this game hasn't been good for some time now . I skipped madden 19 and got 20' and was disappointed in my decision last year that I won't be buying a madden game for a LONG TIME until they fix the issues and actually innovate . Clint Oldenburg has to go also . Hes a embarrassment to not only madden but the NFL itself. If the NFL doesn't change course with madden, I will start boycotting them also. Enough is enough .… Expand
  89. Thatmandarius
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Havent been able to play a full online game at all and i got the game on launch day.
  90. Raysrates
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Worst “simulation football” game ever. Especially because it’s just a copy and paste every year. Truly disappointed. #2Knfl
  91. lrobinson1723
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    As I’m sure you already know, the game is littered with microtransactions. MUT is a joke cash grab, the new mode doesn’t work, franchise hasn’t been touched in years, graphics are the same as always, need I say more? Don’t do this to yourself, save your money. #NFLdropEA
  92. eaisveryverybad
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Geez madden 12 has a nice new cover lmao. so many bugs like the jerseys, franchise sucks, lets play pokemon oops no its ultimate team
  93. DSolis
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    joke of a game and another EA copy and paste, rip off, spit in the face and as always, money hungry! A true blunder and embarrassment of the NFL brand...
  94. ReeceB25
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This game is just really bad. EA needs to fix their game, they can do much better. The NFL should just drop EA or not keep it as a monopoly.
  95. JerryBeKillin
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    I loved madden long as I can know I’ve been playing Madden since madden 25 I even started going back to playing Madden 2005 2006 and 2007 and my friend bought madden 21 this year and it was a huge disappointment on the first day the game kept crash and second day the game kept crash on the third day the game kept crashing the presentation is horrible the franchise mode is bad as usual theI loved madden long as I can know I’ve been playing Madden since madden 25 I even started going back to playing Madden 2005 2006 and 2007 and my friend bought madden 21 this year and it was a huge disappointment on the first day the game kept crash and second day the game kept crash on the third day the game kept crashing the presentation is horrible the franchise mode is bad as usual the good reviews of this game all haven’t played madden long enough everyone complaining loves football not madden… Expand
  96. SiiLv3Rx
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    I created an account just to give this game a zero rating. That's how trash it is.
  97. EndMaddenMonopo
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    this game is an absolute embarrassment to the NFL and football in general. EA has somehow managed to make this game worse than games from 10+ years ago. absolutely terrible 0/10 #EndMaddenMonopoly
  98. Tybknockout
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    To put it simply, there is not enough improvement here to warrant a $60 price tag even remotely, and when I cite improvement, I’m not citing improvement from Madden 20, I’m citing improvement from Madden 17. Still littered with bugs, still horrendously modeled, still wildly inaccurate to not only the NFL, but the game of football as a whole. Franchise mode remains untouched with a UI thatTo put it simply, there is not enough improvement here to warrant a $60 price tag even remotely, and when I cite improvement, I’m not citing improvement from Madden 20, I’m citing improvement from Madden 17. Still littered with bugs, still horrendously modeled, still wildly inaccurate to not only the NFL, but the game of football as a whole. Franchise mode remains untouched with a UI that is abhorrent compared to the likes of NBA 2K’s MyLeague during even its worst years. The Yard is a novel idea for a free to play side project, but Madden’s bottom of the barrel gameplay inhibits it from reaching its true potential. Had EA attempted to make The Yard more akin to Blacktop in 2K, with a playable roster of legends to mix and match (instead of leaving them behind a paywall in Ultimate Team), they might’ve really had something here, but instead they created another micro transaction fueled game mode with enough sparkly, surface level “features” to blind the unsuspecting casual buyer. There is no depth to this game or any of its modes. The most fully fleshed out game mode is, of course, Ultimate Team, but even that remains largely the same concept from years past and hides its best features behind a paywall unless you want to either grind your heart out (which the aforementioned monotonous gameplay makes no easy task) or run a mediocre team relative to the big fish. The only slight credit I can give EA is toward their improvement of the create a player, but even that must be taken with a bucket of salt given that these improvements aren’t applicable to every mode (see “create a coach” in franchise), that they were only made to cash in on some of that MyPlayer dough, and that even still, it drastically pales in comparison to 2K’s create a player in even its worst iteration. Tl;dr Do not buy this game, do not support EA, this is the same product we’ve gotten for years, and they clearly are not listening.… Expand
  99. A_Sauritch48
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Terrible way too buggy, no franchise updates whatsoever, complete copy and paste… Expand
  100. Madden21suxx
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    In the words of one madden 08 loving man, “this game blows”. Please innovate your damn game
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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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
  1. PLAY! Zine
    Oct 8, 2020
    40
    Madden NFL 21 is another blatant recycling of last year’s edition of the „simulation“ of the American football. Sadly, most of the modes remained the same. Gameplay received a few minor tweaks, and in the end it still persists as a cash grab not worth anybody’s time.
    Read full review
  2. LevelUp
    Sep 14, 2020
    70
    Madden NFL says goodbye to a generation with more questions than answers and with an uncertain perspective on what may happen in the years to come.
    Read full review
  3. Impulsegamer
    Sep 9, 2020
    70
    For NFL diehards, there remains hundreds of gaming hours at your disposal in Madden 21. These same diehards – much like players of EA’s NHL and Sony’s The Show – will be left with the impression they’ve played this game before, however.
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