Madden NFL 21

 Xbox One
User Score
0.5

Overwhelming dislike- based on 1047 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 1047
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 1047
  3. Negative: 1,006 out of 1047
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. JackRH
    Aug 30, 2020
    4
    The game has been the same for years now and as a football fan and a fan of sports games it sucks how similar the games are all the time. It really shows how little EA puts into it but they still make millions from updating rosters in Madden and NBA 2K but Madden especially. The NFL shouldn't drop EA yet because I'd rather have something then nothing but they should make EA actually work.The game has been the same for years now and as a football fan and a fan of sports games it sucks how similar the games are all the time. It really shows how little EA puts into it but they still make millions from updating rosters in Madden and NBA 2K but Madden especially. The NFL shouldn't drop EA yet because I'd rather have something then nothing but they should make EA actually work. I really hope the game is better next year and if it isn't I'm not wasting my money on it .… Expand
  2. Rhoads81
    Aug 30, 2020
    4
    It’s a shame this game was released in its current state. I have never seen a game this buggy before, period. The showstopper bugs are obvious and everywhere, yet they rushed it out instead of delaying the game to fix these egregious defects. Entire teams disappearing from the field. Crashes left and right. Just play training mode or the yard for 10 mins and you will run into major obviousIt’s a shame this game was released in its current state. I have never seen a game this buggy before, period. The showstopper bugs are obvious and everywhere, yet they rushed it out instead of delaying the game to fix these egregious defects. Entire teams disappearing from the field. Crashes left and right. Just play training mode or the yard for 10 mins and you will run into major obvious bugs that detract from the experience. Shame on EA’s management!!! I feel sorry for the team working on this because you know they wouldn’t have wanted to release it like this.… Expand
  3. salamalama
    Sep 1, 2020
    4
    Game is literally a copy and paste of every single previous Madden. Videos of glitches and examples of old banners being used. My issue is the game is so choppy. It's like I'm playing on a wireless connection with someone from Africa using a dial up internet connection when I'm just playing local play. The game is garbage and not even sure how it mage it passed Q&A.
  4. eastjacket
    Sep 18, 2020
    4
    The positive guy at the top has gotta be trolling lmao. But it’s not quite as bad as others say it is. It’s a red rating, to be sure, but once you learn the mechanics (which, admittedly, make no sense, but I still have fun now I’ve learned them) it’s playable. That said, I only play online. It would take a multiple digit number of dollars to get me to play against the computer, it isThe positive guy at the top has gotta be trolling lmao. But it’s not quite as bad as others say it is. It’s a red rating, to be sure, but once you learn the mechanics (which, admittedly, make no sense, but I still have fun now I’ve learned them) it’s playable. That said, I only play online. It would take a multiple digit number of dollars to get me to play against the computer, it is incredibly boring. I did a solo ultimate draft to level up a little and all I had to do was play one handed and call the same play every time while scrolling on my phone, and when I did pay attention, I wanted to kill myself it was so boring. I could go on, but those are the main points I wanted to make… Expand
  5. Bluceipher
    Aug 30, 2020
    3
    It's Madden you can't expect much same thing every year but what really made me mad is I can't use my last name Hurst in story mode because it said it is a profanity and EA wouldn't tell me why.
  6. zeroice007
    Oct 2, 2020
    3
    I am not going to sugarcoat this like i did last year. I didn't think Madden could get worse. They didn't touch Franchise but so called let out a map for next year and possible fixes this year and that's only because the community as a whole is fed up but after this year that resentment will grow because the bad gameplay and errors and glitches have spread across the whole game for theI am not going to sugarcoat this like i did last year. I didn't think Madden could get worse. They didn't touch Franchise but so called let out a map for next year and possible fixes this year and that's only because the community as a whole is fed up but after this year that resentment will grow because the bad gameplay and errors and glitches have spread across the whole game for the core is terribly bad. The game was not even fixed from common errors from its predecessor. Its just a bad game, attention to detail is horrible and that ace of the Franchise mode is horrible its story is pathetic to say the least. I am not even going to explain this debacle look it up on you tube there are many videos on this. Even if somehow you do try this mode good luck it might not even load or work correctly anyway ton of glitches etc. MUT isn't touched at all except for the color and design of the cards lol. You couldn't even get what you purchased as promised at launch. They have patched it on day one but seriously. The Franchise is just pathetic nothing added, in fact they actually took some features out believe that or not. They have a new game mode that preys on microtransactions but you can atleast earn it thru game credits but alot wont they will just purchase the equipment for a price. Now on that mode Franchise has been asking or additional customization but they can do it only in the yard lol A true slap in the face to Franchise players. This game is just bad on alot of levels . Its not worth 60.00 let alone 99.00. In all my dreams i didnt think it could get worse. Its like they dont care. But 2K is coming and EA they are laughing at your game . You have a simulation license and dont use it. Why have a simulation product if you dont plan to use it. We have no simulation choice yet but that will change because this game is just pathetic. The core is broken and that effects each mode. Fix the core issues and you cant even do that. Even if you didn't add anything i would probably forgive you if you fixed the core issues and then laid out a map to next year. We have this year and your excuses are getting old and its a shame that a game 14 years old still has better core play and features than a current generation game of 2021 A 1.5 would be generous but im feeling generous so i give it a 1.because i dont believe its lower than a 2.0 I waited a few more days to see if i could edit this and make it a higher rating but it has gotten worse more bugs and glitches i couldn't believe it So i have to give it a one because no game deserves a true 0 while they are working on it lol. But it has to be rated 0 because EA seems to not even ask or assistance if their devs cant do what guys on pc can do in hours and that a fact. I scratch my head on who could give this a 10??? No way in the world you could rank this game that. 10 is perfection and there are no facts to justify that score lol. Even if i like it i couldn't give this any more than a 5. There are so many issues in this game and its not even upgraded in terms of overall features lol. I will edit this again when they make a patch to franchise and then that will be my final edit . Well its October and they have patched this thing so much granted it has a very long way to go but it has gotten better so i will adjust my rating . Waiting for the franchise updates in november and i will rate it again… Expand
  7. Sonicmafia420
    Aug 27, 2020
    3
    While I like the gameplay changes and the game feels more realistic as you play it, the game still feels like an unfinished product. While madden 21 might be a good overall video game, it isnt a good football simulation game. Franchise mode hasn't been touched, which is unacceptable. Although I am glad that ea did make promises to improve the mode
  8. Flashaguiniga
    Aug 27, 2020
    3
    Pretty much same game as last year. As a franchise player I am deeply disappointed with literally no improvements to this game mode other than a different color scheme and the audacity to just label it as "classic franchise". That title alone makes it feel like they knew backlash was gonna come from that decision. I've been a MADDEN supporter since 96. I think this is the last year I buy it.
  9. Prophet_Priest
    Sep 3, 2020
    3
    As a longtime fan of the Madden Franchise, I have a would not recommend this title. For offline or franchise play, the game is notoriously abysmal, and both notable online mods include microtransactions the further inflate an already inflated annually-recurring price tag. Even the new Yard mode, generally acclaimed as a welcome and wuality addition, includes microtransactions.TheirAs a longtime fan of the Madden Franchise, I have a would not recommend this title. For offline or franchise play, the game is notoriously abysmal, and both notable online mods include microtransactions the further inflate an already inflated annually-recurring price tag. Even the new Yard mode, generally acclaimed as a welcome and wuality addition, includes microtransactions.Their necessity (being mostly cosmetic) is as irrelevent as their presence is blatantly greedy and detestable.

    However, my greatest disappointments are in the gameplay. I agree with the general sentiment that this year's changes are mostly good, but problems that have consistently frustrated persist. My personal biggest gripe is an unintelligble ball placement mechanic for passing. Ball trajectory is far too low, especially for medium or deep bullet passes, and ball placement is totally incosistent, making for far too many baffling and infuriating interceptions (particularly from underneath the route). A noticeable change occurred a few installments prior that lessened linebackers' ability to jump; while this helped reduce some ridiculous interceptions, it was merely a bandaid. Ball placement and trajectory are wrong and need badly amended. Compensating by adjusting defenses' abilities does not suffice. In addition, wide receivers generally remain useless in contested throw situations, and putting the ball in the air is overall unsatisfying. It honestly felt better to play last year.

    These issues, taken together with the lazy improvements the game has seen from year to year, make clear that EA Sports is more concerned with cultivating a cash cow than developing a rewarding user experience.    … Expand
  10. TankerFury1812
    Sep 5, 2020
    3
    I first experienced Madden the Christmas of 95 and boy was I ecstatic! Controlling my New York Giants and taking them to the Super Bowl. 25 years later...That feeling of joy has yet to be reciprocated. We’ve all seen the YouTube reviews and trending hash tags but everyone’s experience is different. For someone who experienced a completely immersive and offline experience in olderI first experienced Madden the Christmas of 95 and boy was I ecstatic! Controlling my New York Giants and taking them to the Super Bowl. 25 years later...That feeling of joy has yet to be reciprocated. We’ve all seen the YouTube reviews and trending hash tags but everyone’s experience is different. For someone who experienced a completely immersive and offline experience in older platforms, I honestly expected more out of today’s generation of major companies like EA. Features that, I think, make a complete NFL Franchise experience, still haven’t been added (back). Game play mechanics masked by added coaching adjustments. Unrealistic, arcade like scenarios and animations that frustrate the everyday Franchise player. Features and options being added to game modes a majority of ya really don’t care about....except the fact they’ve been added, to game modes...that we don’t care about. The money you’d expect me to spend buying shorts for my created character in The Yard, I’m buying in real life. I’ve made the mistakes of buying packs on MUT after being burnt out grinding challenges and playing 99 OVR Teams in a pay to win environment. I buy the game because I enjoy the game of football. Because I enjoy getting together with the same 32 guys that try to ignore the fact that this game has been crumbling over the years but there’s no other way to experience simulation style football. EA execs are suffocating any chance for exceptional games to hit the market to allow the right experience model to hit the shelf. Madden 21 was EA’s standard money grab. Whether you’re a deep league player like myself or a first time Madden player, I would wait until November to purchase this game. That’s when we expect EA to release “new” features to Francine that should not have been removed in the first place. #FIXEA… Expand
  11. bradysknee
    Aug 30, 2020
    2
    Mildly entertaining, bug-ridden and full of inconsistencies. The football gets knocked around like a volleyball. It's just not a good game.
  12. tomtom1315
    Aug 30, 2020
    2
    I don’t even own a xbox but hey im just here for my daily madden hate. EA please give up your game is trash.
  13. xxxA3xxx
    Aug 28, 2020
    2
    It’s the same game as last year, hopefully we see improvements on next gen but as I have it on PC i don’t expect that because PC would have the improvements already, only dope new mechanic is the ballcarriers reaching the ball out for the goal line, first now or pylons
  14. josda_
    Aug 26, 2020
    2
    Madden 21 is an uninspired copy-and-paste mess. Do yourself a favor and do not purchase this year's edition.

    To start, EA's shiny new game mode, Face of The Franchise, is written extremely poorly and often leaves the player confused and unsatisfied. Also, it is riddled with bugs. For example, in some games, the white field paint will not load. Next, In every play-through I've done, I    Madden 21 is an uninspired copy-and-paste mess. Do yourself a favor and do not purchase this year's edition.

    To start, EA's shiny new game mode, Face of The Franchise, is written extremely poorly and often leaves the player confused and unsatisfied. Also, it is riddled with bugs. For example, in some games, the white field paint will not load. Next, In every play-through I've done, I always get drafted by the Bears.

    Moving on to franchise, it's the same and has been copy-pasted from Madden 20 to Madden 21. This includes bugs like the "Hold A to Reorder" bug when scouting players. There are zero new features to be happy about, mostly because there are zero new features. Franchise mode's only hope is that EA is truthful and completes the checklist of items they said that they'd add to the mode in the next two years. With the company's track record, I'm not hopeful.

    Next, we have The Yard. This is EA's attempt to combat 2K's new licensed arcade football game which will release in 2021. Honestly, it's fun. The mode feels arcade-y and a little bit like NFL street. You can customize your own avatar and play together with your friends or on your own. It is a little buggy, but it is a game mode that can be built upon.

    One of Madden 21's only redeeming qualities is its game play, which is better than last year's version. One of the few things that EA has done right in the last few installments is improve the game play. It's fluid, fairly satisfying, and not as animation based as Madden 20.

    If you play Madden purely for the simulation franchise aspect, there is zero reason to purchase Madden 21. If you play it for the game play, wait for the game to go on sale. This is not a product worth 100, 80, or 60 dollars.    … Expand
  15. OzzJackdaniels
    Sep 4, 2020
    2
    The good- Gameplay has improved. It still has the same legacy issues as previous maddens. The yard looks like a fun mode. Of course micro transactions are involved. I haven’t been able to see if I can grind yet because the mode is riddled with bugs.

    The Bad - Franchise is the same as the past 5 maddens. If you are new to madden you might enjoy it. I’ve been playing madden since 96. The    The good- Gameplay has improved. It still has the same legacy issues as previous maddens. The yard looks like a fun mode. Of course micro transactions are involved. I haven’t been able to see if I can grind yet because the mode is riddled with bugs.

    The Bad - Franchise is the same as the past 5 maddens. If you are new to madden you might enjoy it. I’ve been playing madden since 96. The mode lacks any innovation. Half a season in and veteran madden players will get bored. Superstar KO and Face of the franchise are a waste of resources.

    The ugly. The main mode in madden is Ultimate team. The mode itself is fun. Team building,coming up with a scheme and team to play H2H can be enjoyable. The insane amount of microtransactions are horrible. If you want to build a team and compete get ready to spend. $100 a week will keep your team competitive. Maybe. It’s almost like EA ignored all others modes to drive traffic to ultimate team so the player base can spend away. And I would be wary of what streamers and “pros” have to say. They are more concerned with the money made from streaming and coin selling to form an honest opinion about this game.

    If you have never played madden before you might like madden 21.
    If you are looking for franchise mode with depth go buy NFL2k5 because it’s not happening this year. Again.
    And if you plan on playing MUT it’s going to cost you the same price as a next gen console to keep up. Or you can go no money spent and play for 40 hours a week. And after that you will have to buy an ebook from some hack that learned how to manipulate the CPU. EA will double down on the microtransactions by lowering odds on packs and making it impossible to build a team for free.

    Only the sight gameplay improvements make this game worth buying. And I mean worth getting on sale for a quarter of the price.    … Expand
  16. SteelConfidence
    Aug 27, 2020
    2
    I almost never review games but Madden 21 finally broke me. I primarily play franchise mode and I already knew coming in that no major changes were made to the mode despite promises from EA so I wasn’t surprised by same carbon copy mode we got. Just disappointed not even the scenario engine was updated or changed. However I took a chance on the game because I do enjoy career modes in gamesI almost never review games but Madden 21 finally broke me. I primarily play franchise mode and I already knew coming in that no major changes were made to the mode despite promises from EA so I wasn’t surprised by same carbon copy mode we got. Just disappointed not even the scenario engine was updated or changed. However I took a chance on the game because I do enjoy career modes in games and the yard looked like it would be a fun addition when me and some other franchise users weren’t doing our leagues. I’m it’s current state I can not recommend this game to anyone. The gameplay does feel better, controlling RB feel tighter and best it has in years but it’s so glitchy it’s unplayable. I’m career mode I went to select the Titans and they had the Viking logo for everything. The yard me and a friend couldn’t even finish a game without the servers crashing or game freezing. Finally caved and returned the game after I scored a TD, chose my celebration just to watch the CPU pick up the ball and return it the other way for a TD if their own. Which of course counted where mine didn’t. It’s not a 0 because it is playable but very little gameplay improvements, no change to franchise mode and full of glitches and bugs in the two new modes don’t earn this game anymore than a 2. If your a big madden guy or football fan just wait until EA ultimately puts this game on sale for $15 in the next few months. You thank me later.… Expand
  17. MVDAVISJR
    Aug 27, 2020
    2
    The only reason the game isn't a 0 is because it functions as the developer intended. Madden has all but taken out skill gap and actively dissuades users from learning actual football. Animations are the name of the game . NOT PHYSICS. Which leads to horribly scripted games. From a football standpoint this game is terrible. Formations do not matter unless you are like in a bear againstThe only reason the game isn't a 0 is because it functions as the developer intended. Madden has all but taken out skill gap and actively dissuades users from learning actual football. Animations are the name of the game . NOT PHYSICS. Which leads to horribly scripted games. From a football standpoint this game is terrible. Formations do not matter unless you are like in a bear against a 5 man spread. Other than that. Its about dumping money into MUT packs inorder to BUY your wins. If you don't spend money you are constantly facing GOD TIER teams who cheese and spam the same plays as they know they have a better overall player.

    This concept goes against how football works in real life. The better team doesn't always win, in fact very rarely does the odds on Vegas favorite ever win the super bowl outside of the cheating patriots.

    There was a day when my uncles and dad could jump on and play with me and do well in all madden because their football knowledge was far superior to mine. and even though they had feet for thumbs they were more than competitive. Those days are long gone and probably will never return. Please do not buy this game or support this company    … Expand
  18. Colonial
    Aug 28, 2020
    2
    With only very minuscule, albeit positive, gameplay changes from Madden 20, EA continues to release the same game year after year with none of the career modes fleshed out. NBA 2K and MLB The Show blow Madden out of the water in every conceivable way in terms of a career/dynasty experience. Even some of EA's own games like NHL are vastly superior. EA Tiburon has absolutely no desire toWith only very minuscule, albeit positive, gameplay changes from Madden 20, EA continues to release the same game year after year with none of the career modes fleshed out. NBA 2K and MLB The Show blow Madden out of the water in every conceivable way in terms of a career/dynasty experience. Even some of EA's own games like NHL are vastly superior. EA Tiburon has absolutely no desire to create anything but a cash cow.… Expand
  19. Snow407
    Aug 30, 2020
    2
    Too many bugs and its basically the exact same game. When will EA actually put any effort into this franchise. Face Of The Franchise is boring and doesn't add anything to the game and franchise mode is still a joke.
  20. Adam100707
    Dec 31, 2020
    2
    Always get sucked sideways into animations that bull me in opposite direction I'm going and keep me from getting to the ball carrier. Controlled player rarely attempts to catch the ball when I press catch button. Hit stick only works half the time. Everything is delayed. I have to juke 5 to 10 yards before he actually attempts it. This is not even in multi-player mode. This game sucks
  21. Grammy89
    Feb 12, 2021
    2
    Same as the year before but worse mut rewards. EA doing everything they can to pump more $$$ out of users.
  22. AgentICE
    Aug 29, 2020
    1
    Having diverted their development teams to a new mode called The Yard, Knockout KO, a kid-focused game featuring rappers as players, and Face of the Franchise, a half-baked story mode that offramps into a regular franchise, and renaming Franchise to "Classic" Franchise, the fine folks at EA seem more hellbent on microtransactions so much so that they are veering away from their contractHaving diverted their development teams to a new mode called The Yard, Knockout KO, a kid-focused game featuring rappers as players, and Face of the Franchise, a half-baked story mode that offramps into a regular franchise, and renaming Franchise to "Classic" Franchise, the fine folks at EA seem more hellbent on microtransactions so much so that they are veering away from their contract with the NFL to

    provide "simulation football". Franchise mode has been left wilting in the wind with few updates over the last 10 years. Along the way, EA has lost focus on its core fan base in order to milk every penny from their customers. #FixMaddenFranchise trended nationwide in Twitter. Buyer Beware if you are a fan of simulation football.    … Expand
  23. Bensonian
    Aug 27, 2020
    1
    I think that it is important to note that I have been playing Madden since 06, so I am not new to the frustration of the game's updates feeling un-inspired. Nevertheless, Madden 21 is a new low for the franchise. The beloved franchise mode that so many play exclusively was given nothing but a refresh, while I like the graphic packages that they have added, it doesn't make the experienceI think that it is important to note that I have been playing Madden since 06, so I am not new to the frustration of the game's updates feeling un-inspired. Nevertheless, Madden 21 is a new low for the franchise. The beloved franchise mode that so many play exclusively was given nothing but a refresh, while I like the graphic packages that they have added, it doesn't make the experience any different. Madden is aware that this mode has been criminally underserved, and I would hope that this will bring changes. Beyond the non-existant changes, Madden has done nothing to convince it's players to continue to buy new iterations. The best way that I could describe this is by saying that the cash grab Yard mode and MUT are a disgusting sign of the times, I do not mind that they exist, but it is pitiful that these are the only things that get any type of update. Madden must start over in 22 if they hope to retain the fans like me that have been around for so long.… Expand
  24. wch4383
    Sep 8, 2020
    1
    Animations and movement are the improvements this year. the Yard is fun with friends for about two days. Otherwise, the game still has major clipping issues on WR/TE routes. Face of Franchise is a bug filled mess, including with the actual football gameplay aspects. AI doesn’t react to qb scrambles until they are 7 yds up field. Franchise is the same old same old boring franchise, with aAnimations and movement are the improvements this year. the Yard is fun with friends for about two days. Otherwise, the game still has major clipping issues on WR/TE routes. Face of Franchise is a bug filled mess, including with the actual football gameplay aspects. AI doesn’t react to qb scrambles until they are 7 yds up field. Franchise is the same old same old boring franchise, with a few new bugs. Ratings are not based is reality to last football season. It is a disappointment because with next gen coming, players want more than just graphics… Expand
  25. Rickytron
    Aug 30, 2020
    1
    Just playing 1 hour in the free 10 hour play if you have the EA app, made me so bored. I don't play MUT cause it sucks and don't care for my career or the new backyard play mode cause i'm sure it'll suck. Every NFL fan plays madden for the franchise mode which is what i play but Madden isn't made for the fans anymore its made for casual players. The only thing that has improved in theseJust playing 1 hour in the free 10 hour play if you have the EA app, made me so bored. I don't play MUT cause it sucks and don't care for my career or the new backyard play mode cause i'm sure it'll suck. Every NFL fan plays madden for the franchise mode which is what i play but Madden isn't made for the fans anymore its made for casual players. The only thing that has improved in these games since 2010, 10 years! is the graphics and not by much, the gameplay on offense is the most improved but when there are so many things wrong with the game it's just pointless. the presentation sucks! that new intro before you play the actual game shows a simulation gameplay cut of the game you're about to play....what? why? and it's the same one in every game, if they really put at least 50% of effort into presentation in all aspects of the game they could get away with all the other stuff but its like they just stuck their finger into a jelly jar and rubbed it on the bread and they said "there's your presentation" The players on the sidelines look like ps2 models, all the cut scenes are the same and boring the play by play commentators have the audacity to say "Ok i guess we're skipping the halftime show OK" like what the F are we missing? it sucks! its annoying that they add that audio comment in there, . this game is only fun playing while you're listening to the 2002-2009 madden sound track and remembering the better times. cause even the soundtrack sucks now, i guess they can't afford to get another genre of music in there besides rap or mumble rap whatever it is, the music sucks too! use the nfl films music??? dont you have the effing license?… Expand
  26. Mdan1424
    Aug 31, 2020
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Well what can I say, I am completely disappointed by the turn out of Madded 21. I saw so much potential from many years back, like create a team possibly coming back, or franchise actually letting you design a stadium and uniforms like 2K does in its NBA Series. Might I add that, they are far superior then Electronic Arts when it comes to sports games. EA has completely dropped the ball on this game, just rereleasing Madden 20 with new rosters and one new game mode called The Yard. The yard is sort of a backyard football type of vibe where you play to earn credits. Which in turn you can use to buy gear for your character. When I played a few games, which mind you were not easy, I noticed I would only get a few hundred credits here or there. Now not to worry, because EA has brought in microtransactions to save the day! Making all the clothing that is actually desirable completely out of range for the casual player to actually get anything worth while, EA expects you to pay for Credits which in turn you can use to buy your favorite article of clothing. It's mostly just a Cash Grab for EA, just like the past few years have been with every Madden game released from Madden 13 forward. Another "new" mode, which is just a rebrand career mode, is Face of the Franchise. Face of the Franchise isn't bad, but it honestly just feels rebadged from last year, some of the most crucial parts of your career, like choosing your new position, isnt even voice acted. Now they did try to take a step forward with you continuing your career after the draft. But it has you skipping alot of your games throughout your career. The most I've ever played in one Season is 4 games, two of them against your rival, and then two in the playoffs. Honestly it's just thrown together last minute and isn't really worth picking up if this is the mode you are after.

    Ultimate team is again the main focus of the game, mainly because EA wants you to buy packs to improve your team. Trust me when I say this, its exactly like Madden 20, but with new paint splashed around everywhere. They really want you to be in this mode, because they want your money more then your satisfaction, and honestly, after being ignored for years by EA, they dont deserve it.

    I'm not going to go into detail about Franchise mode, mainly because it's exactly the same as last year. Nothing has changed in Franchise mode except for the paint scheme.

    Gameplay is the same as last year, with some improvements that I can say have taken my frustrations away. Everyone knows about being sacked even though you threw the ball to your receiver. They finally added a throw out of sack animation to the same, and that has relieved alot of frustration from playing the game for me. It's just the first release so there are alot of glitches, as to be expected, but they didnt do alot to fix them in Madden 20, so I dont expect those to go away anytime soon in 21.

    Honestly, this game let me down, there was some positive, but alot, and I mean ALOT, of negatives in Madden 21. I'm giving this game a 1 out of 10, because it was just rebadged from Madden 20, 19, 18, 17, yeah you get the picture. I wont be buying another Madden game again. If 2K gets rights to start making NFL Simulation games, you best be sure, I'll be over there trying to get my hands on that copy.    … Expand
  27. DenimChicken91
    Aug 26, 2020
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game could have been a patch update from madden 20. EA has gotten lazier every year. I hope this sad excuse of a game serves as a serious wake up call… Expand
  28. 99rlingham
    Aug 27, 2020
    1
    I’ll give you 1 because the graphics never disappoints imo but dawg, WE KNOW you guys (EA) are mentally and physically capable of making great games but, Madden is years behind and the game is flat out dog dookie and cat piss. Like are you guys afraid of putting so much into franchise mode and in the game in general to a point you guys run out of things to sell to the consumer? is that theI’ll give you 1 because the graphics never disappoints imo but dawg, WE KNOW you guys (EA) are mentally and physically capable of making great games but, Madden is years behind and the game is flat out dog dookie and cat piss. Like are you guys afraid of putting so much into franchise mode and in the game in general to a point you guys run out of things to sell to the consumer? is that the reason why you guys take **** out of the game and try to promote as a new feature 2 years later? JUST DO WHAT 2K is doing and make a Mypark type game mode you don’t need to take **** out the game all the time!! and that The Yard ain’t cutting it that **** is wack as hell man. EA time is ticking!! **** y’all gonna burn!!. Get your **** together!!. Oh can you discount the game too.… Expand
  29. HouseBlackfyre
    Aug 27, 2020
    1
    I'm going to give this a 1 because it's not totally unplayable, however the amount of bugs and glitches in this game that have made their way over from previous Maddens significantly decreases the chance I play more than the trial 10 hours or come anywhere close to spending $60+ on this game or its upgraded editions.
  30. Shrip
    Aug 27, 2020
    1
    As far as what I've seen, the game is filled with graphical bugs and game bugs, more than there usually would be by a mile. The franchise mode had NO new features, and Ultimate team isn't that different, the new game mode isn't that fun. The soundtrack is terrible again, no variety in music. The face of the Franchise is the WORST story script writing of ANY game I've played.

    Natural    As far as what I've seen, the game is filled with graphical bugs and game bugs, more than there usually would be by a mile. The franchise mode had NO new features, and Ultimate team isn't that different, the new game mode isn't that fun. The soundtrack is terrible again, no variety in music. The face of the Franchise is the WORST story script writing of ANY game I've played.

    Natural gameplay: it's ok, still bad animations that dictate plays and bugs are filled still issues. Some mechanics they added into the actual gameplay work out alright but overall 4/10
    Soundtrack: Mostly rap songs that aren't even good, no other genres to freshen up the music, probably only one or two ok songs total. 0/10
    Franchise: nothing added, still lacks depth after constantly losing feature after feature 3/10
    The Yard: quite fun gameplay but terribly limited, a bug-filled mess. 4/10
    The face of the Franchise: the only good thing about is I could choose my Huskers, but if this were a movie, it would be worse than ANYTHING released, expectation wise and execution wise. 0/10
    Ultimate team: nothing fresh, gambling simulator for children should be illegal or come with a warning for parents. 2/10
    New Avatar thing: Didn't even know we were getting this and actually found it to be pretty neat, they added a lot to face customization, but they still need good face scan. Overall it was nice. 7/10
    Overall expectation and what was delivered. -5/10
    Overall score 15/80 with a 5 point deduction for not listening to buyers
    10/80-->1.25%--> FInal score is a 1 out of a possible 10.
    Up for worst game of 2020, this better be AngryJoes #1 for worst game, cuz I seriously don't know a worse game.    … Expand
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

93
#93 Best Xbox One Game of 2020
4
#4 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. GamingBolt
    Nov 1, 2020
    70
    Madden NFL 21 is as fun and realistic as every Madden game, especially in its new “The Yard” mode and its increased focus on superstars, but its stagnation in gameplay innovation and established modes makes it sometimes difficult to distinguish its improvements over previous games.
    Read full review
  2. TheSixthAxis
    Sep 14, 2020
    60
    Madden 21 has the components to be a solid, if utterly by-the-numbers entry in the franchise. However, a raft of bugs and glitches serve to undo the game’s atmosphere at every turn.
    Read full review
  3. GameCritics
    Sep 10, 2020
    75
    Given the sheer depth of the title, this Madden NFL 21 review could theoretically go on for another 1,000 words but there’s a good chance most readers already know whether or not they plan to invest in another season of tried and true NFL gameplay. Make no mistake, Madden NFL 21 is the best rendition of football this generation, and is A solid experience for anyone who takes the plunge — it just comes down to whether or not the new features warrant another purchase for regular fans.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »