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. Aeonik
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Worst Sports Game ever I hate ea ea should go fthemselves ea are full off corrupt people
  2. Lilshawty
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Prolly one of the worst games I ever played tbh. Literally the exact same game as last year.
  3. Kschrader91
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. We just keep getting let down each and every year and this year is by far the worst yet and true slap in the face to us fans i do not recommend this game!… Expand
  4. Mrmotel
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    They just want your money there is no effort put into this game and you can tell right when you start it up
  5. Arctirius
    Aug 31, 2020
    1
    This game isn't really a Game more like an update with additional DLC. All they did was add the yard. It's pathetic how big EA is yet they release a bug ridden game year after year.
  6. Kittleson
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Wasted time by playing the early access version. Glitches in early access are a given but, the fact there are no substance added besides the yard which isn’t horrible but it’s built on micro transactions and nothing else. I’ll play madden 2015 it has more features.
  7. LennyBlack
    Aug 27, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a bad game which, given how deep we are into things simply should not be. This isn't a 'simulation football game' in any way. It's just a glorified cash grab by EA to take advantage of those who really don't know any better and love to kill money on card packs for Madden Ultimate Team. The game is mostly unchanged from last year's, apart from The Yard which I care to the sum of zero about. They hit you with that the second you boot up. I've been a Franchise Guy since way back when. It's what got me hooked to the game in the 00s and it's a big reason why I like so many others, are fed up with the hollowed out thing in front of us. This simply isn't worth even half the price tag they're asking for. It's just not. You can only resign players after Week 3 of the regular season which isn't even close to how it's done in real life. This was done better in the PS2 days, most notably Maddens 04-10. There's no discernible team logic by the CPU when it comes to drafting or free agency. The game has the worst stat tracking of any game out there, even worse than its PS2 counterparts and given that we're literally a year away from the first ones dropping on PS5, that's a very bad thing.

    As a gamer, Madden has been a part of my life for just about 30 years. I remember playing the very first Madden on Sega Genesis and playing it every year since. After Madden NFL 12, it was clear that EA was done with Franchise because they were all in with MUT and getting every dollar possible from that. In doing this, EA has cast aside a larger number of people who made that cash grab possible by buying the pre MUT Maddens and investing time into Franchise Mode.

    Relocation has gone untouched and while the UI has the best coat of paint ever, that's IT. It's insulting to me that it took EA this long to address what we've known for years now. That Franchise Mode is on blocks and needs major work. Yet even after giving a list of things they wanna do this year and moving forward, none of that was present at the jump. Not ONE. Superstar KO literally came out of the blue last year after Madden 20 dropped. This company has created 2 new modes before even pretending that they're interested in fixing ONE.

    Gameplay is still atrocious for a wannabe simulation football game. The game froze at odd points which led to me missing at least two kicks. This is unacceptable for a digital download. This is nothing more than a Copy & Paste of 20, with a decent number of updates & patches. Especially when you consider how many of these all but broke Franchise Mode (more like Season Mode since it's nowhere near Franchise Mode from its golden age from 04-12).

    21 to me, kickstarted what I've come to call Electronic Skim Milk age with the advent of Superstar X-Factor. See, EA somehow lost the ability of conveying the really great players in the game from the really good ones so they put this in. X-Factors bring Madden kicking & screaming into the Arcade realm, as badly as EA tries to keep it grounded in simulation yet fails miserably doing so. It's very noticeable especially when it comes to those edge rushers who are all but unguardable once their X-Factor's triggered. The cover guy can't fumble once his is triggered, which again, just defies all logic & is yet another sign of how much EA has truly lost it. Commentary isn't much to write home about & has gone off the cliff since they let Nantz & Simms walk. Which as irony would have it, is right about when presentation dropped off completely. With each passing year, Madden NFL 25 looks better because of how much worse these subsequent releases are.

    Madden NFL 21 is a terrible game. Not really sure it can be put any better than that really. It's the soul snatching low point for anyone who like me, loved Franchise Mode & finds this game virtually unplayable because of the piss poor gameplay on top of the most barebones Season Mode out there. Of all the major sports games, to me, Madden's the worst of them all.    … Expand
  8. RorySP
    Aug 31, 2020
    2
    It’s funny, I used to look forward to the new Madden game every year when I was a kid. The Madden’s of the mid 2000s were some of the my favorite games I ever played. I’m not sure exactly when it started, but the game has, in my opinion, finally deteriorated to the point where it’s unplayable. It’s essentially a roster update. They didn’t even bother to change anything but the color schemeIt’s funny, I used to look forward to the new Madden game every year when I was a kid. The Madden’s of the mid 2000s were some of the my favorite games I ever played. I’m not sure exactly when it started, but the game has, in my opinion, finally deteriorated to the point where it’s unplayable. It’s essentially a roster update. They didn’t even bother to change anything but the color scheme of the menu! It’s laughable. Pains me to say this, but NFL should look to get out of whatever exclusive deal they have with EA so they can find someone actually interested in making a good game. Kick Rocks EA… Expand
  9. Gouda_Cheeseyt
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Once again Madden 21 fails to cater to the franchise players and fails the community once again. They only care about the money from micro transactions so they willingly are running the company into the ground. Shame.
  10. edwardmcc
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Game is **** I don't understand how people keep buying this garbage? They literally take the same game from last year and make little tweaks here and their and resell it to you. The only thing that they actually put time into developing is my team where you piss away YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY on nothing. Because in about a year from now they will release another game same exact **** and youGame is **** I don't understand how people keep buying this garbage? They literally take the same game from last year and make little tweaks here and their and resell it to you. The only thing that they actually put time into developing is my team where you piss away YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY on nothing. Because in about a year from now they will release another game same exact **** and you will lose all your progress that you paid a tone of money for and have to do it all over again. This scheme they got going wont ever stop until the morons quit buying this **** I would say sorry for being a dick but im not the reason this **** exists is because of the people that keep buying this garbage. Hell if your that addicited to gambling go to a casino. At least you have the chance to win real money and not some fake digital **** that will be good for only a year at best.… Expand
  11. TCal91
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This game is awful, complete slap in the face to real football fans. I thought this was supposed to be a sim game, madden has surely forgot where it came from.
  12. cat_dix
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    The biggest update in the game is that the screen is blue. That is not an exaggeration. If I sign a player in Franchise mode, I can't even see where he played at before me. The amount of loss details in this game is astonishing and frankly the team that creates/works on this game in any fashion should be utterly embarrassed. #FixFranchiseMode
  13. Cafe43210o
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Pior jogo da história e melhor botar fogo em uma velhinha do que jogar isso
  14. Csmish
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Same old rewrap, this should be illegal and punishable under the court of law.
  15. brentonjb
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    The game play is quite literally the same as the last 2 years. It does not warrant a $60.00 purchase. The same issues persist year-after-year, and it's clear the Madden team does not invest in community feedback. It's honestly embarrassing that it takes twitter campaigns in order to see traction towards meaningful change.

    This is the worst madden, as indicative by the online scores and    The game play is quite literally the same as the last 2 years. It does not warrant a $60.00 purchase. The same issues persist year-after-year, and it's clear the Madden team does not invest in community feedback. It's honestly embarrassing that it takes twitter campaigns in order to see traction towards meaningful change.

    This is the worst madden, as indicative by the online scores and the public's resounding rejection of their work. I'm glad people like myself are finally voting with their wallets. It's clear that lead developer Clint Oldenburg and the Madden team do not have the talent, resources and understanding to make a good product, and it's time for a change.    … Expand
  16. deforjak
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is a $60-$100 roster update. The addition of a flashy new mode is nothing but a distraction from the fact that they’ve released basically the same product for the last several years. And, not to mention, there’s a massive customer base that only plays franchise mode, and that is by far the most neglected mode in the game.… Expand
  17. Cordeiro
    Sep 1, 2020
    0
    esse jogo para começo de conversa é da EA então como de costume, se voce quiser correr, tem que rodar uma roleta, isso é tudo
  18. Steamroller5
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Same crap over and over again, huge rip off again from ea Do not buy AT ALL, such a load of rubbish
  19. Nevora
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    #Fixmaddenfranchise FoF sucks, Franchise sucks, ppl play mut because franchise sucks while sucking their parents dry of money. It's a ptw game that shouldn't be. EA YOU HAVE EXCLUSIVE SIMULATION RIGHTS AND YOU CAN'T GET IT RIGHT AFTER HOW MANY YEARS!!!
  20. x_Rookie_x
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Barely any improvements from the last madden, not only to mention how horrible Franchise is..AGAIN
  21. NFLdropEA1579
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This is bad. The only improvement was in the gameplay and it still sucks bad.
  22. Qwerty419
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Series has gone down hill for years. Hits a new low because EA refuses to addresses critical issues. I didn't buy the game for 7 years. Was excited to get it and it has more issues than the last one I bought.
  23. taylptrsn
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This has to stop, EA has effectively released the same game with the same glitches and features for the last 6 years and consumers have just let them do it. Please give us a 2k made game.

    Edit: They are now giving out madden free game codes to dilute the reviews of angry paying customers
  24. RJPaxs
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Type, Delete, Type, Delete....I do not know where to fu$%n start EA....Reading all the other comments it should be clear to you. We are sick of the same game every year, not in the game play sense, I personally think game play only needs some easy adjustments to be enjoyable, but GAME MODES, AND CONTENT..... Please listen to what players want as far as FRANCHISE updates, STORY MODE updatesType, Delete, Type, Delete....I do not know where to fu$%n start EA....Reading all the other comments it should be clear to you. We are sick of the same game every year, not in the game play sense, I personally think game play only needs some easy adjustments to be enjoyable, but GAME MODES, AND CONTENT..... Please listen to what players want as far as FRANCHISE updates, STORY MODE updates and cut out so much of the micro transactions. I can literally type for hours im gonna stop and go cry in the corner, my expectations are always so high, luckily im a Bills fan so i get let down alot.… Expand
  25. dabridgez
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    I cannot describe my frustration against the Madden franchise for the past almost-decade in a succinct manner.
    I am 23 years old and can honestly say that for nearly half of my life there has been no decent product put out for people that wish to play a feature-filled, sports-sim Madden game. EA holds the license for a football sim-game yet they do absolutely nothing to make it more    I cannot describe my frustration against the Madden franchise for the past almost-decade in a succinct manner.
    I am 23 years old and can honestly say that for nearly half of my life there has been no decent product put out for people that wish to play a feature-filled, sports-sim Madden game. EA holds the license for a football sim-game yet they do absolutely nothing to make it more attractive to the large fan base that wishes more from it. Quite literally someone who wishes to buy this game could buy one from any of the past 3-4 years (being generous) and not miss out on any new features besides the arcade-y Superstar X factors. You could probably count on two hands the amount of "overhauls" they have done in the past 5 years with no expansion on creating teams, relocations, draft classes, scouting, coaching and coaching carousel, the list can go on and on.

    I try to be a positive person and refrain from complaining but I took the time this busy Monday to say this is honestly garbage and can't say I'd recommend this to anyone who is on the fence about updating from 20 to 21 or even any of the last 3 years of Madden installments to 21. A pure and utter waste of money by cash grab EA that once again shows they only care about making a profit rather than the opinions of football players and fans alike.

    Boycott Ea. #NFLDropEA    … Expand
  26. TheRealMe
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Somehow even buggier game than Madden 20 this game is 100% a scam and should be purchased by no one.
  27. Mbillman9
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When has doing the bare minimum been acceptable? Especially for the past 10 years. regressing year after year.. enough is enough, bring in competition. 2K learned how to make money through franchise mode, they listen to their fans, they change things up every so often.… Expand
  28. Cheonpoint
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Bring back 2k football. Just another multi billion dollar company saying **** you to the customers
  29. Smbj
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This game is really terrible, really bad, really horrible, stop making the game
  30. douglas_29
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Same as always. A few minor updates. I'm sick and tired of paying $60 for an update to rosters. The game glitches/lags constantly, even when not online. I can't even tell you how many PATs I've missed due to the thing glitching when the kick meter is moving. Computer is also constantly running into the kicker. Did an offline fantasy draft with my buddies last night and it createdSame as always. A few minor updates. I'm sick and tired of paying $60 for an update to rosters. The game glitches/lags constantly, even when not online. I can't even tell you how many PATs I've missed due to the thing glitching when the kick meter is moving. Computer is also constantly running into the kicker. Did an offline fantasy draft with my buddies last night and it created multiple save files, files were dated 1/1/1 0:00:00 AM. None of which contained our final rosters or teams. This game needs a ton of work on the development level still, it feels like a Beta. Hot garbage.… 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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