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. DJBlazer
    Sep 14, 2020
    0
    Lazy copy paste game from last year, which was a lazy copy paste game from the year before. I totally get there was a world-changing pandemic that hit, but really guys, at least the other copy paste games seem to have added some stuff. This is just straight up copy paste. The new franchise mode, face of the franchise or whatever it is called, is phoned in, and they straight up use all theLazy copy paste game from last year, which was a lazy copy paste game from the year before. I totally get there was a world-changing pandemic that hit, but really guys, at least the other copy paste games seem to have added some stuff. This is just straight up copy paste. The new franchise mode, face of the franchise or whatever it is called, is phoned in, and they straight up use all the assets from last years game, it seems like just a retelling of Madden 20. The old franchise mode, or classic franchise, is just the same as before. Everything is the same. Nothing has changed.… Expand
  2. Linden17
    Sep 14, 2020
    0
    I had to write my first review because of this game....I REALLY REALLY tried to like this game but there are too many issues that you cant ignore after awhile. You can tell the developers were forced to rush out a broken game before the start of the season for $$$ and will be patching it continuously throughout the year. Franchise is EXACTLY the same. Game play feels slightly differentI had to write my first review because of this game....I REALLY REALLY tried to like this game but there are too many issues that you cant ignore after awhile. You can tell the developers were forced to rush out a broken game before the start of the season for $$$ and will be patching it continuously throughout the year. Franchise is EXACTLY the same. Game play feels slightly different but not complete. Face of Franchise is SUCH A PROMISING mode, it has LOADS of potential. The NFL is a league of drama and they had a real chance here. The mode is fun but very broken. First off, before the 1.08 patch, you were ALWAYS drafted to the Chicago Bears if you chose to be drafted. This was the first indication of an issue but i let it go. The goal for each game was so ridiculous at times. I had one game where my goal was to score 6 TD's. It was my 2nd year as a starter, and the coach wanted me to score 6 TDs?? This mode feels like a half-hearted attempt at mashing together Road To the Show and March to October from the MLB the Show series. I really liked how you could play 1-3 games per season and still progress. I liked how you could decide which players your team could sign or trade at certain points. I liked how you decisions affected the team, like sitting during a playoff game instead of triyng to fight through an injury. My teammates didnt think i was tough and lost faith in me. It all felt true to life. I was truly excited with this mode. I decided to start a brand new Face of the Franchise and see what different options i could unlock. Right away, Again drafted by the Bears, then the story repeats itself to a T. There was no difference in any decisions they all led to the same outcome. If you decide to leave the Bears and leave it up to fate, you ALWAYS end up on the Houston Texans. I can go down a list of all the small things broken in this mode. I wish there was a faster option to skip all the cut-scenes and games rather than waiting or super sim. When your drafted, you dont know when your picked. When you go to your card to look at the round and pick you were taken, its wrongly written. The draft pick number showed as pick 511. There's many more but im not gonna waste anymore space on it. Its a broken mode but has so much promise. EA could really capture the drama of the NFL but continues to miss.

    Gameplay is a huge problem. While i feel the gameplay is much more open and fluid than years past, the game has so many bugs it ruins it. Some plays you feel the frame rate stutter so it throws off your timing. Stat overlays show up blank or with random numbers. Dont bother with the sliders that come with the game. If you play on all-Madden, its nothing but cheese. Your recievers will drop open passes, your defenders will continue to miss tackles. You will not be able to break tackles, Your quarterback will throw passes off target randomly with no pressure on you. I played a game as the ravens and as LAMAR JACKSON, i was unable to scramble away from defensive ends and get the edge. I had D-Lineman catching up to Lamar like it was no issue. The Quarterback scrambling needs to be overhauled and this year with LJ as the cover athlete would have been the perfect year. Im truly disappointed in this game. While i felt at moment smooth gameplay, it was instantly ruined with some kind of bug or issue to remind me im playing an EA title with no outside competition on the market. Another gameplay issue which im still BAFFLED by is running RPO's. I know it was introduced in last years game. I remember trying to run it in Madden 20 and everytime receiving a penalty for an Ineligible receiver downfield. Your lineman are programmed and get sucked into the defender in front of them. This play each time would force the Center or Right Guard down field block a linebacker. I figured this was broken last year and it was new, so i ignordd this part of the playbook. Low and Behoid, i try to run an RPO this year in Madden 21, and THE SAME EXACT THING EACH TIME. THEY NEVER FIXED THIS HUGELY REPORTED ISSUE. I was actually amazed at how easily this company ignores bugs. I cant fathom how they ignore their customers every year and continue to hold a monopoly on the NFL.

    The Yard was the only mode given any attention. Its all about money to EA. Developers need competition to bring out the best. Its a real shame that in our lifetime, we were teased with a perfect football game, ESPN 2k5, and now handcuffed to this garbage everyyear. I still find myself popping in 2k5 to really enjoy a football simulation game.

    Bottom Line, If your into gimmicks and bells and whistles, not into actual football, or dont want to play 11 v 11 like a football simulation should be; The Yard is the perfect mode for you. Otherwise save you money. NFL PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DROP EA. #NFLDROPEA    … Expand
  3. ItsPritiAss
    Sep 19, 2020
    0
    It's basically Madden 20 only it got worse this time:

    The gameplay is completely unrealistic and always scripted with very poor animation. So it can often happen that a tackle animation is carried out, although the defender is still stuck in a block of an O-Liner or WR, and this then slips through the O-Liner just so that the tackle animation works, which is simply illogical . The    It's basically Madden 20 only it got worse this time:

    The gameplay is completely unrealistic and always scripted with very poor animation. So it can often happen that a tackle animation is carried out, although the defender is still stuck in a block of an O-Liner or WR, and this then slips through the O-Liner just so that the tackle animation works, which is simply illogical .

    The physics has nothing to do with realism or a football simulation. One can also say: the players do not understand the basics of football.
    In addition, the game has more bugs and glitches than ever before in a Madden title. And unfortunately you can also see that EA makes zero effort to improve / repair the game, let alone to feed Madden with new features (Classic franchise untouched for 8 years).

    This year's Face of the Franchise mode is hideous, filled with bad animations / interactions of the characters, with gruesome voices and the story itself just doesn't make any sense!

    The only thing that shows potential in this game is this year's The Yard mode, but this is also often not playable at the moment (the playing field turns white, as if aliens are ruling the world). If it works perfectly, it's also a lot of fun, but then it's a lot like arcade.

    This is by far the worst Madden I've played in the last decade. Do yourself a favor to not buy this crappy game! EA doesn't earned it for this ****    … Expand
  4. Anonym015
    Sep 15, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. the history is **** no Google grafics not good fisic and the rating from the players is ****… Expand
  5. KaydenL
    Sep 16, 2020
    0
    Why EA. If you're on here and thinking... I wonder If all these people on here are hating on madden just because they're just trying to be cool? No. N-O. I will get straight to the point. I have played every madden game from Madden NFL 13 to Madden NFL 21. This game is flat out not good.. With numerous glitches, repetitive commentary, and the unending microtransactions, this game is not aWhy EA. If you're on here and thinking... I wonder If all these people on here are hating on madden just because they're just trying to be cool? No. N-O. I will get straight to the point. I have played every madden game from Madden NFL 13 to Madden NFL 21. This game is flat out not good.. With numerous glitches, repetitive commentary, and the unending microtransactions, this game is not a copy and paste of last year, it's worse. I pray that you go take your 60 bucks and donate it to a homeless shelter or something because this game is not worth your money.
    #EndMaddenMonopoly    … Expand
  6. Warrior05
    Sep 16, 2020
    0
    This company should not be allowed to make video games at all, Electronics Arts are just a money greedy company that shows no effort to make a quality product for its customers and year after year give you the same game with no creativity just the same exact garbage excuse of a sports game.
  7. Gopicolo
    Sep 16, 2020
    0
    Uma piada padrão EA totalmente reciclado dos outros jogos. As únicas novidades são pagas
  8. Lionblaze321
    Sep 16, 2020
    0
    I feel tremendously disrespected by EA to continue to sell the same game with updated rosters every year. They only seems to add features into the game that can generate more revenue like micro-transactions. Why does there need to be four, FOUR currencies in the new game mode which doesn't even feel like football. Nothing has changed since madden 20 except for my ever-increasing dislikeI feel tremendously disrespected by EA to continue to sell the same game with updated rosters every year. They only seems to add features into the game that can generate more revenue like micro-transactions. Why does there need to be four, FOUR currencies in the new game mode which doesn't even feel like football. Nothing has changed since madden 20 except for my ever-increasing dislike for EA. I just want football and no one else is allowed to make these games. Something must be done.… Expand
  9. Sixstringmartin
    Sep 16, 2020
    0
    This is what greed brings. This is the product you get when the company is only concerned with loot boxes, card packs, in game currency, digital clothes and game modes like MUT and the yard, that are only created to suck even more money out of the fan base after paying $60 for a game or over $100 for an extra special edition that has extra special stuff. I hope Madden never recovers. IThis is what greed brings. This is the product you get when the company is only concerned with loot boxes, card packs, in game currency, digital clothes and game modes like MUT and the yard, that are only created to suck even more money out of the fan base after paying $60 for a game or over $100 for an extra special edition that has extra special stuff. I hope Madden never recovers. I hope they lose the NFL license so we can finally have an opportunity to get a good simulation football game.… Expand
  10. Bushtrimmer87
    Sep 16, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Terrible. They really don't need nfl exclusiveness anymore. Ea a shame to the nfl, a shame to the videogame industry. They might as well get into the slot machine business. It's companies like ea that kill the industry. I can definitely see ea releasing another et game.… Expand
  11. rebluze
    Sep 16, 2020
    0
    This is atrocius its the same game from last year please do not buy this game spent your money on another game like Ys or something like that
  12. Maddentrash
    Sep 17, 2020
    0
    This game is just the same exact game as last year. But they slap a new cover and call it good
  13. Youngrod
    Sep 17, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This the same game all over again. Madden continues to copy and paste the same things. The same problems everyone has been talking about is still in the game. I don't recommend anyone to buy this piece of **** game… Expand
  14. iTzBRAFF
    Sep 17, 2020
    0
    EA refuses to update the best part of a "simulation football" game. The franchise mode has gone untouched for multiple madden entries now, and EA only wants to focus on the microtransaction piece of the game, (no surprise there considering EA only wants your money and doesn't care about their product.) Any simple research can prove EA has copied and pasted elements of madden 19 and 20 intoEA refuses to update the best part of a "simulation football" game. The franchise mode has gone untouched for multiple madden entries now, and EA only wants to focus on the microtransaction piece of the game, (no surprise there considering EA only wants your money and doesn't care about their product.) Any simple research can prove EA has copied and pasted elements of madden 19 and 20 into this one. EA continues to add new modes when they can't even fix/update the current ones. NFL please listen and drop EA.

    Big slap in the face to everyone who paid extra to play the game 3 days early to give thousands of copies of the game for free on launch because they needed to boost the crap review that they rightfully earned. No refunds, no nothing. Just a "thanks for your money, loser."    … Expand
  15. cuddy07
    Sep 17, 2020
    0
    Where do we even start. This game is beyond a disappointment. Honestly shameful that the nfl is okay with ea making products this terrible. Madden hasn’t been good since madden 13, but this is truly a new low. Ultimate team is an online casino. Gameplay is buggy and animation based, not to mention plays nothing like real football. Franchise mode is literally franchise mode since madden 17.Where do we even start. This game is beyond a disappointment. Honestly shameful that the nfl is okay with ea making products this terrible. Madden hasn’t been good since madden 13, but this is truly a new low. Ultimate team is an online casino. Gameplay is buggy and animation based, not to mention plays nothing like real football. Franchise mode is literally franchise mode since madden 17. Axis football, a game coded by one person, has a deeper franchise mode and more customization than any madden since madden 12. New mode is another way to monetize the game, and isn’t very fun. #EndMaddenMonopoly so we can have good sim football games, not this garbage.… Expand
  16. Vikingsfan
    Sep 17, 2020
    0
    Worst game I’ve ever played. EA should refund everyone that has purchased this piece of crap.
  17. Sea24n3
    Sep 17, 2020
    0
    Ima get to the point, people are playing nfl 2k5 other than this game. That game came out in 2005. This game came out 2020 August. Game has too many glitches. The preview trailer shows so many cool things about the yard and fixes and amazing stuff. So i got the MVP version. $100 to EA for a game i havent played for 2 weeks
  18. DawgPound32
    Sep 18, 2020
    0
    Been playing since the 90s, every year. You've finally broke me EA. The gameplay has regressed terribly. The game mechanics are completely different than even last years model. You've ignored your customers for over a decade. Franchise mode is a complete joke and couldn't be more unrealistic. We've been clamoring for a realistic franchise mode for years, yet every year you solely focus onBeen playing since the 90s, every year. You've finally broke me EA. The gameplay has regressed terribly. The game mechanics are completely different than even last years model. You've ignored your customers for over a decade. Franchise mode is a complete joke and couldn't be more unrealistic. We've been clamoring for a realistic franchise mode for years, yet every year you solely focus on your microtransaction ultimate team mode. You improve graphics for realism yet you ignore realism on the field. You focus on ultimate team weekly yet haven't touched franchise mode in years. You finally did it!!! You've pushed away your longest standing fans in droves and I'm finally following suit. You earned this ZERO rating, not just with this regurgitated trash that you pushed out with a new logo this year, but by completely lighting the small amount of faith that we had left in you on fire. This rating has been earned by you over the last 5, maybe even 10, years. I will not buy another copy.… Expand
  19. XSHIMMYX
    Sep 19, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When you see 2019 logos and your guy can’t carry a ball without glitching it makes sense he’s rusty.......wait, no he’s a professional that can carry a ball better than I can carry my baby. It’s broken and it’s trash. EA needs to stop sucking on its own teet and take a page out of the cdpr playbook! And actually give af!… Expand
  20. alexbmoura91
    Sep 19, 2020
    0
    Series has just gone downhill for the last 10 or so years.
    its always the same game with very lazy cover ups and bad gameplay
  21. Max1234
    Sep 19, 2020
    0
    This game is a copy and paste. And guess what the copy came from a dumpster fire so please don’t buy this dumpster fire if I was 5 bucks it would be good but sense ea wants to milk the cow we are never gonna get that #NFLDROPEA
  22. SaadMirza
    Sep 19, 2020
    0
    Very very lazy game. It seems like EA has lost interest in making sports games now and they still have balls to charge you this game 60$ when you can buy older versions which are way better than this one for 10$. Hope they get bankrupt.
  23. ThatDudeLite17
    Sep 19, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Honestly, madden has just become a copy paste game with roster updates and stat changes. This year, we have a new game mode that is absolute garbage and adds nothing to the game. The only redeeming quality of the game is...you guessed it, nothing. Complete waste of $60.… Expand
  24. Apprenta
    Sep 19, 2020
    0
    80$can waited to download, launched the game and got told my account can’t access any service to the game for a ineligible account and ea help was obviously no help don’t recommend buying any ea game due to the bad ea servers
  25. soullessone
    Sep 20, 2020
    0
    I made a metacritic account just to throw the necessary hate towards EA. madden 20 was already a wreck but somehow they made 21 even worse, get rekt EA
  26. Thehomie890
    Sep 20, 2020
    0
    This is by far the worst game EA has came out with, knowing they have competition coming up with 2k their master plan was to add “The Yard” and that thing flopped horrible. You have EA now having MUT tournaments and releasing cards that are impossible to buy unless you spend thousands of dollars on. You no longer are able to play the game for free and be comfortable playing online. Meta isThis is by far the worst game EA has came out with, knowing they have competition coming up with 2k their master plan was to add “The Yard” and that thing flopped horrible. You have EA now having MUT tournaments and releasing cards that are impossible to buy unless you spend thousands of dollars on. You no longer are able to play the game for free and be comfortable playing online. Meta is now running 3 down line Allen and safeties as linebackers, and your O line can’t block a safety. Game is not fun and you have to rely on animations to win. No skill in this game. No one is original running their own schemes because the game is so broken everyone runs the same formation and play because they are simply BROKEN. FIX THE GAME!!!!!… Expand
  27. Hammerhead1470
    Sep 21, 2020
    0
    I’ve had this game for less then 24 hours and already regret it. Not only are there no new features, the game has become unplayable. The menu shouldn’t freeze when you cut a player, and a wide receiver shouldn’t be able to warp through a pack of ten players for a touchdown. EA says it’s AI improvements are game changing, they definitely are. The AI knows your every move, and even better isI’ve had this game for less then 24 hours and already regret it. Not only are there no new features, the game has become unplayable. The menu shouldn’t freeze when you cut a player, and a wide receiver shouldn’t be able to warp through a pack of ten players for a touchdown. EA says it’s AI improvements are game changing, they definitely are. The AI knows your every move, and even better is the fact they the AI will never punt, even if they are inside their own 40 or inside field goal range. I’ve never regretted buying a madden until now. I’m just gonna go play some NFL 2K5 and some NCAA 14 until madden decides to focus less on its micro transactions and more on the fan base that has been behind them for years.… Expand
  28. bobbobbob234444
    Dec 14, 2020
    0
    Played the free kickoff version. THIS IS NOT SIMULATION FOOTBALL. if this is the game they want to make fine, but release the exclusive rights to an NFL simulation game so those of us who want to play a realistic, deep, engaging football simulation can.
  29. yogisha
    Sep 22, 2020
    0
    DO NOT BUY. Extremely buggy, full of loot boxes, my aunt bought the game for me, I hate her guts!
  30. Apcosta09
    Sep 22, 2020
    0
    Didn’t do anything to franchise or creation center. I can’t even play the rest the of the game because I have **** internet where I live. You used to get crass of completely different teams which made you want to unlock all the cards with different challenges on single player. Now they only do cards in ultimate team so they can make money and everyone uses the same damn players to out gameDidn’t do anything to franchise or creation center. I can’t even play the rest the of the game because I have **** internet where I live. You used to get crass of completely different teams which made you want to unlock all the cards with different challenges on single player. Now they only do cards in ultimate team so they can make money and everyone uses the same damn players to out game the game. Madden completely disregarded everything that made this game great in the early 2000’s. MAKE MADDEN GREAT AGAIN.… 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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