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. TheSportsGuy98
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    This game is a horrible mess. This game tries to squeeze every penny out of it's loyal user base. This cash grab from EA Sports can make even die hard fans think twice this football season.
  2. Mac51
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Absolutely horrible game. Where is the depth and substance for franchise mode? Where is the innovation? This game is just a patch being sold as a entirely new full priced game. Madden has been the same for the past 5 years and people are just getting fed up with it now. EA has no excuses of putting out such a lack luster game. All you have to do is look at the older maddens like madden 9Absolutely horrible game. Where is the depth and substance for franchise mode? Where is the innovation? This game is just a patch being sold as a entirely new full priced game. Madden has been the same for the past 5 years and people are just getting fed up with it now. EA has no excuses of putting out such a lack luster game. All you have to do is look at the older maddens like madden 9 and compare the amount of depth you have in that game to madden 21. It’s just sad. Does anyone even play superstar KO. The yard has potential but desperately needs to have more added to it, maybe make it more like the park in nba 2k. The story mode is god awful, cliche and awkward at times. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.… Expand
  3. inoise
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Remember, this is the only game that is licensed to make an NFL Football SIMULATION game and they completely disregard the one game mode that is meant to simulate the NFL. EA is laughing to the bank with your money and they do not care one bit, their work speaks for itself.
  4. eushully
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    I did my part guys!
    Seriously though, this is just a 99% reskin with almost no effort whatsoever to innovate. When you have NO competiton, you are in no need to, god forbid, spend money on it. Most of the money, if any, went to microtransaction, which I hope dies a painful death.
    FU EA, for ruining many franchises throughout the years.
  5. Bobojr61
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Nothing else to say but this series needs so much change. I love football and it saddens me to see what they are doing with this franchise. The biggest joke of a game I’ve ever played and these guys are money hungry for ultimate team and now the yard lol what a joke. Would love to see what another company could do that actually improves on their product from a yearly basis. This game hasNothing else to say but this series needs so much change. I love football and it saddens me to see what they are doing with this franchise. The biggest joke of a game I’ve ever played and these guys are money hungry for ultimate team and now the yard lol what a joke. Would love to see what another company could do that actually improves on their product from a yearly basis. This game has legit been the same game with roster updates for what 15 years, pathetic.… Expand
  6. Emwlw
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Madden, as a concept, year by year, is truly one of the most shameful and disappointing things in all of video games. I mean, I am absolutely disgusted and I have been for years! EA does not deserve the NFL license. From the lack of genuine annual updates to the goofy gameplay, Madden is not worth your money. If you need your football fix, I suggest buying Madden 17 because there’s little-to-no discernible difference between that game and all of its successors. Do not buy!… Expand
  7. ColeNovak
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    It has been the exact same game for years and they didn’t touch franchise mode
  8. ttbeekman
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    It's so pathetic this is the only simulation football game on the market. Eventually this is going to catch up with the NFL when their name/game is so poorly represented every year.
  9. Tj_85
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    As a die hard football fan and someone who has bought this game year after year feeling disappointed just telling myself that it will be better next year or they will add this back next year but it doesn't this is my first time creating a account to review a video game because I'm sick and tired of it i always shake my head when I see people bash developers on sites because developers areAs a die hard football fan and someone who has bought this game year after year feeling disappointed just telling myself that it will be better next year or they will add this back next year but it doesn't this is my first time creating a account to review a video game because I'm sick and tired of it i always shake my head when I see people bash developers on sites because developers are people just like everyone else so i won't direct this to anyone in specific because i dont know any of you personally but please ea please for the last time find that place in your hearts that made you want to be developer find that inner kid in you that everyone has and make a change bring back some older features that were taken out bring some historic teams to play now that we can play with bring back the little mini comeback greatest games we use to have that we could make a great comeback you guys could have some old historic games that we could play and it could be a black and white grain filter for the game with no color and play as dick butkus or create a halftime show i could go on and on but I just want madden to be better in so many ways but its not at the moment or hasn't been for a while… Expand
  10. Wyattbrown
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    No change for yet another year, just the typical micro transaction grabbing schemes. It's about time the developers are held accountable
  11. UnshavedComb
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    This game is atrocious. Same game as Madden 20, which was a bad game. Franchise mode has been the same for years. All they added was pass rush moves and the yard
  12. RChase
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    EA needs to create a new football game from the ground up, ditching their animation based gameplay system (which in my opinion makes this game unplayable and extremely unrealistic) and develop a physics based system. This game is an embarrassment and honestly EA shouldn’t legally be allowed to sell it as a “Football simulation” because simply, it’s not.
  13. bamf_1026
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    This game is horrible. Do not buy. When 2K can make simulation football games, maybe then, EA will care enough to put out a halfway decent game. Madden 21 is a copy and paste of Madden 20. They couldn’t even provide us with updated loading screens, which may sound silly, but at least type something new about a superstar please. I spent 100 dollars on this game. Knowing what I know now, IThis game is horrible. Do not buy. When 2K can make simulation football games, maybe then, EA will care enough to put out a halfway decent game. Madden 21 is a copy and paste of Madden 20. They couldn’t even provide us with updated loading screens, which may sound silly, but at least type something new about a superstar please. I spent 100 dollars on this game. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have spent 13 dollars on this “brand new” game. Do not buy.… Expand
  14. 3456matt
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    The game is actually very boring and stale. “The Yard” is a counter to 2k getting a license but isn’t a very good counter at all. Franchise, well we all know about that. And Face of the Franchise is about one of the most cringe and stale things you could release in 2020. MUT is honestly turning into franchise we’re it’s the same thing every year which is gambling to get no value on theThe game is actually very boring and stale. “The Yard” is a counter to 2k getting a license but isn’t a very good counter at all. Franchise, well we all know about that. And Face of the Franchise is about one of the most cringe and stale things you could release in 2020. MUT is honestly turning into franchise we’re it’s the same thing every year which is gambling to get no value on the same cards every year. Why is Patrick Mahomes an 87 in MUT but a 99 in the real game, I’ll tell you why, money. And Superstar KO is quite literally a copy paste except they took teams out of the mode. Do not waste any more money on this game.… Expand
  15. Cj247
    Aug 29, 2020
    1
    Same game for the last several years, nothing new to the franchise mode! Hoping for 2k to eventually one day grab the nfl license!9
  16. xxazazelxx4k
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Total trash the same repackaged game year after year. The dev's never listen to there players year after year.
  17. menzy5
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    To most people, Madden 2004 was the best Madden. The year of production for that game (2002-2003), EA's net revenue was $2.48B. To those same people with a functioning brain, Madden 2021 is the worst madden (Impressively topping Madden 20 which topped Madden 19 which topped Madden 18, and so on). The revenue for the production cycle of Madden 21 is roughly $5.5B. In any logical world, howTo most people, Madden 2004 was the best Madden. The year of production for that game (2002-2003), EA's net revenue was $2.48B. To those same people with a functioning brain, Madden 2021 is the worst madden (Impressively topping Madden 20 which topped Madden 19 which topped Madden 18, and so on). The revenue for the production cycle of Madden 21 is roughly $5.5B. In any logical world, how does it make sense for a company to produce a game 1/15th as good one they made when they were worth less than half their current worth? Let's first be kind and talk about what Madden gets right
    Pros: NFL License, Graphics
    Now let's talk about the cons.
    Cons:
    1) Still somehow no in-depth stat tracking (can't even see where a player used to play)
    2) Drafting is stale. Not even close to enough immersion (college stats, injury history, personality, etc)
    3) Animation based gameplay is horrid. Physics don't properly exist at all
    4) Too many bugs somehow
    5) Can't create a custom team or custom uniforms
    6) All the relocation teams have been the same for like 6 years or so
    7) The SUPERBOWL feels just like any other game. Madden 15s reg season presentation trumps Madden 21 SUPERBOWL
    8) Lack of customization for characters: Not at all enough faces, no tattoos, weird CPU generated body types
    9) If you try to sim 10 years into the future to start your simulation, here's what you'll find: You have no idea what teams have been good/won the SB, every team is like a 65 overall, all the players are as generic and ugly as humanly possible with none having actual good overalls.
    10) Not just a lack of player stat tracking, but all types. Why can't you see league leaders for individual or team stats from any year other than the one you're in? Where is the option to click on a team and find out how their defense has performed in each category for the last 10+ years?
    11) Simulation is horridly inaccurate. Every QBs rookie year looks like (55%, 3500 Yards, 18:14 TD:INT) and then from there on out they throw 40 TDs and 7 INTs each year. Idk if EA knows this, but not all 32 QBs are Aaron Rodgers. WRs are very inconsistent. HBs either have 3.5 YPC and 1000 yards or 6.8 YPC and 1500+ Yards.
    12) Gameplay wise now: Stopping the run is far too easy against RBs and far too hard against QBs
    13) QBs, even the worst, usually have no problem posting 300+ yards and completing 80% of their passes
    14) Defenses will routinely be able to force 5 TOs/game but simultaneously allow 400+ yards
    15) Elite WRs seem to not matter
    16) Good and elite (sometimes even average or bad) TEs seem impossible to stop sometimes.
    17) It seems like whatever happened in the first offensive and defensive drive leads the game to script out the rest of the game to follow the exact same style. I've tested it out. First defensive drive I allowed them to march down the field and score a TD (they used heavy TE) and when replaying the game I forced a turnover on that first drive. In the one they used TEs a lot to score a TD, the TEs finished the game with 14 Catches for over 200 yards and 3 TDs (Ertz) and the game where I forced a turnover on the first drive, I ended up forcing 6 on the game.
    18) Ball trajectory and that type of stuff is still iffy at best.
    19) Slant routes CAN NOT be defended
    20) Back to immersion (which should be a huge priority in a simulation game), there are still no OCs, DCs, or any type of position coaches. There's also no stat tracking to see how a coach has bounced around and come to be a HC.
    21) Commentary is **** Too many things to say. It's just awful.
    22) Progression of players is either far too easy or far too impossible.
    23) Pass blocking for user teams is bad in a way idk how to explain
    24) The game doesn't even properly update rosters at all and when the next years schedule comes out, they don't update the game to allow you to play the next season because EA wants your money (:
    25) Update the news feed. Generic, repetitive, stale.
    26) Whoever wrote the dialogue for Face of the Franchise has the social experiences of an 11 year old who writes My Little Pony fan-fiction. So cringy.
    27) Trading is unrealistic.
    28) Ratings are bad. I know this is very hard to do, but it's blatantly clear that a lot of the ratings are made by dudes who don't watch any football at all.
    29) Contracts are way too bare bones. Add options for contracts to be for people who don't understand them or people that do; so you can decide if you want easy and stale contracts or realistic ones.
    30) All-Pro should be added along with some cool in-season updates to Pro Bowl voting.
    31) Better presentation. Literally every single game feels the same. At least add cool graphics like (This team is 5-0 in the last 5 matchups, the last game ended 28-24, etc, etc)
    I'm gonna run out of characters. I hate how terrible EA has treated consumers (especially franchise) so damn much that I just went full-blown incel weirdo and wrote this massive thing. This game SUCKS.    … Expand
  18. Rondo808
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Please dont buy! It hasn't got any new concept whatsoever yet it is really expensive
  19. Dirtyfacesmook
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Worst yet, it honestly the worst madden I’ve played nothing new nothing innovative same old bull
  20. Kidk
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    This game is Trash! Been trash! I can write a whole book on how terrible this game is so I won’t!!! The absolute worst Game Ever made!!!! PERIOD!!!!
  21. Shelbyja99
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Spoiler: THIS GAME **** SUCKS. EA should refund everyone who bought their **** game based on the lies told to the customers. **** the company and every product they’ve put out over the past decade. Madden 2021 is brought to you buy the same company that managed to botch not one, but two Star Wars games in three years. Honestly, it can’t be easy to make a star wars game that isn’tSpoiler: THIS GAME **** SUCKS. EA should refund everyone who bought their **** game based on the lies told to the customers. **** the company and every product they’ve put out over the past decade. Madden 2021 is brought to you buy the same company that managed to botch not one, but two Star Wars games in three years. Honestly, it can’t be easy to make a star wars game that isn’t enjoyable. They just buy the rights to things that people enjoy, like NFL and the Star Wars franchise and then put literally zero effort into a game knowing that people will still buy it because of the “madden” name. I would pay $80 for madden 09 with today’s graphics. I wouldn’t pay $5 for anything they’ve released since then. I straight up hope this travesty of a game causes them to lose money.… Expand
  22. outsider_0
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    As someone who has bought Madden literally every year since madden 09 to madden 21 I have first hand seen this game as well as EA as a whole steadily decline in quality for over a decade. I cannot excuse their bs anymore. The fact that EA is allowed an exclusive simulation license is a joke. EA has been getting farther and farther from "simulation football" for the entire time that I'veAs someone who has bought Madden literally every year since madden 09 to madden 21 I have first hand seen this game as well as EA as a whole steadily decline in quality for over a decade. I cannot excuse their bs anymore. The fact that EA is allowed an exclusive simulation license is a joke. EA has been getting farther and farther from "simulation football" for the entire time that I've been playing. They went from having 19 different sports franchises to 4 and now all 4 are broken trash because it's clear that microtransactions, extremely minor graphical tweaks, AND DANCING ANIMATIONS are more important to EA than adding any sort of depth or realism. The lack of detail is atrocious and the NFL, as well as any other sports league involved with EA, should be ashamed of the product they contuie to fail to deliver year after year while blatantly ignoring and blocking their community members, Football games need a new developer that actually cares about football.… Expand
  23. LegitPerson
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    This game is lacking any real aspects of simulation football and feedback from the players. THAT PAY FOR THIS GAME!!! Madden's have progressively gotten worse as it seems like a copy from the year prior. I cannot believe they expect us to believe this is a new game, as they hide bad gameplay behind flashy new features. NEVER BUY ANY NEW MADDENS UNTIL THEY IMPROVE THE GSME A TOJ.
  24. Nightmeer08
    Aug 29, 2020
    2
    Rating it a 2 because only 2 things have changed that makes this game worth buying. The yard is kinda cool, not really my thing but it’s not bad. Moderate changes to face of the franchise make it a little more worth playing. But that’s it, the rest of the game is literally copy and paste. And as someone who plays sports games every year, no other game copy and pastes like madden does. NHLRating it a 2 because only 2 things have changed that makes this game worth buying. The yard is kinda cool, not really my thing but it’s not bad. Moderate changes to face of the franchise make it a little more worth playing. But that’s it, the rest of the game is literally copy and paste. And as someone who plays sports games every year, no other game copy and pastes like madden does. NHL lately has been doing this, but madden has been going too long giving people the same game.… Expand
  25. kylexstreet
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    This game is an exact copy from last year. Updated rosters, playbooks, and coaches is the only thing thats new. Oh and face of the franchise and the yard. FRANCHISE IS THE EXACT SAME. DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID AND BUY THIS GAME.
  26. GetSchwifty678
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Complete trash, EA do better. This game is the exact same **** they put out every year. Save your $60. This game is worth $5 at most.
  27. gholla
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    No attention paid to detail by the devs and no resolve put in place to make Madden NFL 21 a better overall simulation football video gaming experience as opposed to its predecessors. The same copy and paste formula that has been used for years, and with it comes a new low for the Madden gaming franchise. There needs to be change, and a 0.4 user score of the game is an evident indicator.
  28. Jf517
    Aug 29, 2020
    1
    I always hear the whole "this is the same game with an updated roster" argument every year for sports games. It is absolutely true with this madden. Save your money, download an updated roster for Madden 20.
  29. Kingjon
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is the most abysmal excuse for video game since ET for the Atari. I am mortified that I spent money for MVP and then unwisely on a bundle, mostly just because my girlfriend wanted to see me open them. My team looks great on paper, but that's where it ends. Good luck trying to play online, unless you have time to restart the app, get locked out while matchmaking, restart the app just to have it lock up again. Both MLB the show and 2K21 provide a product that while is monetized at least works. I cannot stress enough to anyone thinking about buying this game to never buy this again, until EA decides to get their collective heads out of their own asses and provide a product worth paying for. This is something I was looking forward to in the midst of a pandemic but what I ended up with was a lighter wallet and a game that doesn't work . Thank you EA for the good memories but you left this life long fan extremely upset and disappointed for the last time. Oh. I did give you one star for making McCaffrey almost as nasty as he is in real life.… Expand
  30. JDLondon87
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    When one plays whisper down the lane, the original message slowly becomes fuzzy and unrecognizable to the original whisperer. Madden 21 is just that, it is the outcome of years of copy and paste. Each year becoming a little bit less, until you reach this milestone, where the game no longer even remotely resembles the product the NFL puts out. It over time has become fuzzy andWhen one plays whisper down the lane, the original message slowly becomes fuzzy and unrecognizable to the original whisperer. Madden 21 is just that, it is the outcome of years of copy and paste. Each year becoming a little bit less, until you reach this milestone, where the game no longer even remotely resembles the product the NFL puts out. It over time has become fuzzy and unrecognizable. If I were EA or The NFL I would be embarrassed.… Expand
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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.
    Read full review
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