Madden NFL 25

Madden NFL 25 looks gorgeous, has great attention to detail, and a game-changing physics engine, which takes the series to the next level.

Madden NFL 25 is far from the feat, but there is finally an improvement in one important area: gameplay and physics. If this is the way, in the coming years we could see the best version of the franchise in the next years. Of course, the presence of more content is desired, especially in terms of game modes and notable changes in modes such as Franchise and Superstar, but that would be naive knowing the slump from which the IP is emerging. In the end, and just condemning the constant and annoying Ultimate Team ads, we have a good football game for this year's season and that, in this case, is very good news.

Like an NFL team’s high new draft pick, Madden NFL 25 provides the franchise hope for the future with its great on-field gameplay, phenomenal presentation improvements, and streamlined gameplay modes, as long as it irons out the predatory microtransactions in the meantime.

Madden NFL 25 is a superior game to its predecessor, whether in terms of animations, artificial intelligence, menus or Career Mode. However, don't expect anything really new or innovative, just detailed coverage of the NFL with no surprises.

Madden 25 offers a really solid football package for those who missed previous entries. There are a lot of smart improvements to the running and defensive game, and the physics overhaul is noticeable. Madden 25 is a solid game with some much-needed mechanical improvements, but the modes feel largely the same as last year.

Football is played on the field and this is clearly where the development team focused with Madden NFL 25. The changes to the physics are meaningful and can create opportunities that weren't previously available in the series thanks to BOOM Tech. Getting a perfect hit with Hit Stick 2.0 can be satisfying thanks in part to sound of the pads and the visual cue. Receiver and defender interactions when going for the ball are engaging and the offensive line play is fantastic. The steps EA has taken to make Madden look and sound like Sunday are clear. The holdback comes down to the same experience with the modes in the game, albeit some surface level changes. The new broadcast options and the presentation updates help Madden NFL 25 to feel different.

Madden 25 is slightly better than Madden 24 in every way, but with only Franchise Mode and presentation truly noticeable upgrades. If you own College Football 25, feel will be familiar, and its rosters capable of import.

Improved on the field, with a gameplay that shows signs of an evolution that affects animations, attack and defense, Madden NFL 25 misses the mark when it comes to the game modes offered. Too few differences compared to last season, for an element that instead needs new proposals capable of bringing a burst of innovation that has been missing for too long now.

The experience in Madden NFL 25 is exactly what you'd expect: consistent gameplay, a presentation that mirrors real life, and game modes that allow football fans to fully enjoy the sport. However, comparisons with College Football are inevitable.

Madden NFL 25 is a consistently good entry in the annualized franchise, but it does little to push for the highlight reels.

Without any major changes other than a slight visual and physics update, Madden NFL 25 is still a great sports game. Even without direct competition, it delivers a complete experience for fans, and only for them.

While Madden 25 feels like a great improvement on last year's game, it still feels like much of its core is standing in place. While that leads to a feeling of "Maybe next year" that the series has fostered before, it's definitely a better game than last year's effort.

The comparison with College Football 25 could have been merciless for Madden NFL 25, but EA Orlando came out pretty well. To play it is arguably the best post-pandemic episode. Bringing it up to the level of the college football title requires fewer bugs, new ideas and a willingness to twist a winning formula.

Madden 25 emerges as a strong continuation of the series, combining stellar player models and environments with an overall improved on-field experience. It’s not perfect by any means, but when compared to Madden entries over the last ten years, Madden 25 easily sits at the top. Though, I understand that the bar wasn’t set very high in the first place. With College Football 25 being a ton of fun and Madden 25 taking a large step in the right direction, I can safely say that I’m excited for what’s to come. See you on the gridiron.

Madden NFL 25 truly does make some improvements over Madden NFL 24. That said, it is hard to give the game a glowing review when it isn’t even the best football game EA Sports has released this Summer. Anyone loyal enough to the Madden franchise to pick up the new version each year will definitely be pleased with Madden NFL 25, but the game isn’t a must-have by any metric.

Again, good moves – and Madden 25 is a good game. But it isn't a great one. And with a more fun football experience now housed in the same building, it's tough to see how that changes anytime soon.

Madden NFL 25 sticks to the tried-and-true formula that fans know well. While the football action remains solid, the lack of innovation might leave long-time players craving something new. It’s a dependable entry in the series, but it doesn’t bring anything groundbreaking to the table.

EA Sports makes some fun changes on the surface, but the more you play, the more you see all the same problems bubbling to the surface. I think this year's version is marginally better than Madden NFL 24, but not in any way that's going to matter to most fans. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to College Football 25.

It’s another year, another pretty mixed bag, even if it does feel like things might be trending in a slightly more positive direction. Here’s the thing though, like those Seahawks, things’ll only keep running in place unless Madden can offer some more meaningful change going forwards. Here’s hoping having the series’ cheeky sibling back on the block, with its marching bands and moral quandaries about exploitation, can help spur that shift.

Madden 25 is an apt representation of the broader games industry. The push for greater realism and immersion leads to some impressive achievements, but it comes at the expense of everything else, including a sense of ambition. Meanwhile, you’ve got EA College Football 25 over here with goofy mascots, over-the-top spectacle, and a greater sense of fun, and it isn’t afraid to do things differently in the pursuit of making play more interesting. There’s only so much you can do to make football play and feel more realistic, and once you reach that goal, you need to start looking elsewhere to make things worthwhile. Madden feels like it’s at that point, and I think for the sake of polish as much as creativity, EA needs to take more than a year between releases to get Madden back on track.