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. 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.
  2. 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
  3. ramenplug
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Needs effort literally thats all it needs... effort. EA doesn't care to make a good game.
  4. 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.
  5. Honcho_23
    Sep 3, 2020
    1
    They should’ve just ran a whole update to madden 20 for updated rosters, jerseys, stadiums, same game with more annoying bugs
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Thatmandarius
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Havent been able to play a full online game at all and i got the game on launch day.
  9. Raysrates
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Worst “simulation football” game ever. Especially because it’s just a copy and paste every year. Truly disappointed. #2Knfl
  10. KyleGP
    Sep 3, 2020
    2
    Unimproved gameplay makes for the repetitive tackles, glitches, and animations you have been accustomed to for the passed 4+ years. Blocking logic is maybe the worst it's been in years. Clipping is still overwhelmingly prevalent. Face of the Franchise is horribly cheesy and poorly written. Franchise mode hasn't even made a small step forward. The Yard is a new/different Superstar KO, whichUnimproved gameplay makes for the repetitive tackles, glitches, and animations you have been accustomed to for the passed 4+ years. Blocking logic is maybe the worst it's been in years. Clipping is still overwhelmingly prevalent. Face of the Franchise is horribly cheesy and poorly written. Franchise mode hasn't even made a small step forward. The Yard is a new/different Superstar KO, which neither have any barring on the core gameplay that so badly needs attention. Microtransactions are a cancer consuming every "new and exciting mode". I really could go on but I'm already tired of saying the same things every one else is saying. Really the worst thing about this game is that the developers have such a disconnect with the Madden fan base and do not care to hear input. They think people are over reacting and bombarding them with negative reviews. No. We are angry at the clear lack of effort and POS of a "simulation football" game we have been force fed because of an exclusive rights deal. Executives at EA need to put a little bit of that microtransactions money into creating a new engine. The fact that a football game uses a first person shooter as their base physics engine should be all we have to know about EA and their logic.… Expand
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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...
  14. 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.
  15. SiiLv3Rx
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    I created an account just to give this game a zero rating. That's how trash it is.
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. Madden21suxx
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    In the words of one madden 08 loving man, “this game blows”. Please innovate your damn game
  20. lg9
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Do not waste your money on this game career mode is absolutely busted brock osweiler was the starting qb for the other team in every one of my college and high school games and the story sucks. gameplay sucks, presentation sucks. True waste of money
  21. bpgbrooks
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Same BS that was in Madden 20. all they did was change the scoreboard and cover athlete DO NOT BUY.
  22. Isaac419
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This is a sad excuse for a simulation football game franchise is literally exactly the same EA has been doing this for years please do not buy this game we need the NFL to drop the EA monopoly
  23. patsRtheBEST24
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    #NFLDropEA #EndMaddenMonopoly Better off buying one of the older maddens to see what a decent football game is. This game is the same trash it was 7-8 years ago....
  24. Natedogg1
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    The gameplay is atrocious, nothing changed from the previous one, and I would rather play NCAA Football 2003 on the gamecube than play this poor excuse of a video game.
  25. Johnnyz6
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    I was so ecstatic for Lamar Jackson to be on the cover of Madden. However, this is the same exact game as every single Madden, and a roster update for those games would be just as good. After seeing all the free copies giving out is just disgusting.
  26. Millz50
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Just a lazy remake of last years madden. I have been a madden fan for over 10 years and I will not buy this one. I wish they would make a madden every 2 or 3 years but update it. Ea just wants everyone to play the PAY FOR PLAY “ultimate team mode” so they can have extra money on top of your 60$ you give them every year. Well not this year … Expand
  27. actionjackson10
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    As someone who has purchased and throughly played every Madden iteration since Madden 25, it's sad to see how poor the quality has become in a game I love so much. Madden 21 is a mess, there's no beating around the bush. It's clear that this game holds little to no importance in the eyes of higher-ups within EA, and that the developers of this game have no pride in their product. The sameAs someone who has purchased and throughly played every Madden iteration since Madden 25, it's sad to see how poor the quality has become in a game I love so much. Madden 21 is a mess, there's no beating around the bush. It's clear that this game holds little to no importance in the eyes of higher-ups within EA, and that the developers of this game have no pride in their product. The same bugs that plagued and nearly ruined Madden 20 for me are still present, the player movement ( that has been completely overhauled with the introduction of the new skill stick mechanics ) feels slow, unresponsive, and choppy. The game is programmed on the Frostbite engine, made for FIRST PERSON SHOOTERS, the same engine that FPS' don't even like to use. The game is animation dependent, and you'll oftentimes find whichever player you used being sucked into tackles or pick animations. You have receivers like Julio being mossed by 76 overall rookies, guards like SUPERSTAR Zack Martin being blown off the line of scrimmage consistently by players like Dexter Lawrence, quarterbacks like PATRICK MAHOMES throwing absolute ducks when under no pressure. Cheesy diving picks, poor QB throwing animations, unrealistic speed thresholds, superstar abilities that do little to nothing, a buggy Face of the Franchise mode where almost EVERYONE is drafted by the Bears, NO improvements to Franchise mode, NO offensive linemen development trait increases, a 'pay to win' mode in Ultimate Team (AS ADMITTED BY A PROFESSIONAL MADDEN PLAYER), and developers that simply don't care about their product. How anyone supports such a game is beyond me. I'm just mad I can't get a refund.… Expand
  28. Sk1pperPengu1n
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    You can't just keep pumping out the same product and expect fans to get excited. Franchise hasn't improved in years...and for those of who want a simulation from a game that claims to be a simulation game are disappointed everytime they buy a new version of the game.
  29. akaRybread
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Trash ass animations, I run man and my corner just stand there 5 seconds into the play… Expand
  30. SuperPanda
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Where do I start? This incredibly poor attempt at creating simulation football is yet another disappointment. A disappointment that has culminated in what is the most fair backlash any game could ever deserve. Madden 20– wait... I mean, Madden 21, (I mean, who cares? It’s pretty much the same game anyway) is the most cynical, derivative, unrealistic, and least subtle game Electronic ArtsWhere do I start? This incredibly poor attempt at creating simulation football is yet another disappointment. A disappointment that has culminated in what is the most fair backlash any game could ever deserve. Madden 20– wait... I mean, Madden 21, (I mean, who cares? It’s pretty much the same game anyway) is the most cynical, derivative, unrealistic, and least subtle game Electronic Arts has ever created, considering the circumstances.
    This billion-dollar corporation continues to monopolize the NFL simulation license and exploits a demographic of people who are incapable of restraining from impulse purchasing micro transactions. They leach off of gambling addicts and children that have no real understanding of the value of the United States dollar. It adds another game mode that will set precedent to make selling digital clothing in a sports game acceptable. It also allows EA to hedge their bets, or prepare themselves for the inevitable legislation that will FINALLY ban loot box sales. This game is so broken. From the clipping, warping, bugs, network issues, and downright AWFUL gameplay to the most awful writing in a story mode I’ve ever seen. There are no redeeming qualities. This game will never get better if people continue to defend it. #NFLdropEA
    #EndMaddenMonopoly    … 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.
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  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.
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  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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