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
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  1. Mechanix82
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Horrible game. With all the horrible football logic AI as always with no changes to franchise mode just more additions to micro transactions. Do not buy please hold EA responsible for this unacceptable game
  2. Dumbledore1
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    The blocking is abysmal, still no referees, the updates to franchise include taking two teams out and changing the UI to blue. No flags on late hits out of bounds. The game still has terrible animations, literally just threw a pass where the receiver beat the corner, the corner animates up to the receiver and the corner knocked the ball out. I had a play the other day where I fbped and myThe blocking is abysmal, still no referees, the updates to franchise include taking two teams out and changing the UI to blue. No flags on late hits out of bounds. The game still has terrible animations, literally just threw a pass where the receiver beat the corner, the corner animates up to the receiver and the corner knocked the ball out. I had a play the other day where I fbped and my online could have tackled the guy but they looked at home and didn't tackle him and the CPU ran it back for a touchdown. The AI can adjust but the user's AI is sometimes clueless. I love football but this is an abysmal game. There shouldn't be a license to make this video game, but it there Needs to be competition for a good game to be made. Please don't listen to some of these reviews that this game is good. There are good things about the game sometimes but a game grieved of any care to it and the customer base shouldn't be allowed to thrive. This day and age there are people who want equality and sure the video game isn't as important as actual people but the injustices that come from EA is enough.… Expand
  3. Mac51
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Absolutely horrible game. Where is the depth and substance for franchise mode? Where is the innovation? This game is just a patch being sold as a entirely new full priced game. Madden has been the same for the past 5 years and people are just getting fed up with it now. EA has no excuses of putting out such a lack luster game. All you have to do is look at the older maddens like madden 9Absolutely horrible game. Where is the depth and substance for franchise mode? Where is the innovation? This game is just a patch being sold as a entirely new full priced game. Madden has been the same for the past 5 years and people are just getting fed up with it now. EA has no excuses of putting out such a lack luster game. All you have to do is look at the older maddens like madden 9 and compare the amount of depth you have in that game to madden 21. It’s just sad. Does anyone even play superstar KO. The yard has potential but desperately needs to have more added to it, maybe make it more like the park in nba 2k. The story mode is god awful, cliche and awkward at times. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.… Expand
  4. Dimitrix_Wizard
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    This game is so bad that I made an account just to give it a review. Don't be like me who is addicted to sports games and buys them every year for 60$.
  5. Idontcareatall
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    This game is unplayable. Glitches that set your punter to Left Guard and D Tackle to WR, glitches that soft lock the initial loading screen, glitches that bug the AI play calling so they only run dive. This game is in an unplayable state and pedaling this type of trash as a $60 game should be illegal.
  6. Daveshu22
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Didn't change pretty much anything. Commentary, exact same, a few different x factors, menus are actually worse for MUT, comparing a new card to your current while viewing the pack reveal restarts the animation every time after loading for 3 seconds. Embarrassing effort....
  7. Randyc24
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Probably the worst madden ever. I didn’t have high hopes at all for this game, but I wasn’t expecting it to be this bad.… Expand
  8. Atrillathehun
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    The most half-assed game I've ever played or seen. Unbelievable how a company with EA's resources and 14 months time can put out a buggy mess that hasn't been updated or changed significantly in almost a decade. Save your money.
  9. Glutim
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Not worth it to support this game as the only way to really play most of the modes is with even more microtransactions than last year. Its the best "realistic" football game out there that still has bugs years in the making. If you're going to release a game that feels like an update how are there even more bugs? It's appalling to think that the result of more time on a game would continueNot worth it to support this game as the only way to really play most of the modes is with even more microtransactions than last year. Its the best "realistic" football game out there that still has bugs years in the making. If you're going to release a game that feels like an update how are there even more bugs? It's appalling to think that the result of more time on a game would continue to deteriorate the playability of a game. If you're looking for "updated" rosters with more problems than ever before, perhaps this is the football game for you.… Expand
  10. Supremereign
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    Don’t buy this garbage until they fix it if we don’t stop feeding into the EA money machine there will never be changes made to the terrible ea sports lineup and this madden is the perfect example of lack of innovation and care for customer it’s sole purpose this year is to milk micro transactions for the terrible arcade style football they have plagued the franchise with two years in a row
  11. AveragePanther
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    I have grown up with and bought every Madden since 06. I will not buy this one and am done with this franchise unless there are major changes made within EA. I suggest loyal fans such as me do the same. When you have an exclusive license agreement to make the only simulation NFL game you have a responsibility to create a good and fun experience encompassing what playing, coaching, orI have grown up with and bought every Madden since 06. I will not buy this one and am done with this franchise unless there are major changes made within EA. I suggest loyal fans such as me do the same. When you have an exclusive license agreement to make the only simulation NFL game you have a responsibility to create a good and fun experience encompassing what playing, coaching, or owning a NFL team is like. You can only hit the dab with Jerry Rice in the end zone so many times before you think why is this even a thing when the gameplay is trash and the modes have no depth to them or are basically arcade modes other than the micro transaction hungry ultimate team mode which has ultimately been the downfall of Madden and other sports games. EA and the NFL should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for allowing this once great title to fall this far. Call me a hater IDC at this point all I can say is I hope for a better future for Madden but have at this point 0 optimism.… Expand
  12. Mjdurso12
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    copy and paste of madden 20. Franchise mode is a disgrace. There's absolutely no depth. No innovation. So many simple features could be added. Contract negotiations outside of 1 year left. Front, equal, or back loaded contracts. Free agency where players care about more than just money and years. Scouting that gives more than just a few basic grades. Player positions like "edge". Its likecopy and paste of madden 20. Franchise mode is a disgrace. There's absolutely no depth. No innovation. So many simple features could be added. Contract negotiations outside of 1 year left. Front, equal, or back loaded contracts. Free agency where players care about more than just money and years. Scouting that gives more than just a few basic grades. Player positions like "edge". Its like they didnt even try.… Expand
  13. Coutin05
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Even worst thanks the year before. Not a single improvement int the franchise mode… Expand
  14. Chasefile
    Aug 30, 2020
    1
    Not even the decent gameplay can fix the all around problems this game has face of the franchise is horrible, ultimate team still the same thing, and poor franchise that mode is so lackluster it’s abysmal. We need change the life cycle of this game is slowly dying and it’s their on undoing that’s running it into the ground.
  15. Finzzy
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Awful $60 garbage I’d get a refund but jumping through EAs terrible customer service isn’t worth it.
  16. Platinum51
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    So I played the 10 hour trial of this game which gives you access to every mode. Skip this game and save your money for something else. If you played Madden 20, then you've played Madden 21. No changes have been made, the Ai is still broken, and franchise mode is still being ignored. The yard is pretty much NFL Street, but very bare bones in its current form. This game isn't worth $60,So I played the 10 hour trial of this game which gives you access to every mode. Skip this game and save your money for something else. If you played Madden 20, then you've played Madden 21. No changes have been made, the Ai is still broken, and franchise mode is still being ignored. The yard is pretty much NFL Street, but very bare bones in its current form. This game isn't worth $60, and hasn't been worth that price for quite some time. Its time for EA to give up the NFL license so football fans can play a good game.… Expand
  17. Jvinita
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Absolutely same game as Madden 20 which was garbage. Every year, this series goes further downhill in quality. The NFL needs to open up the exclusive license so that the consumer can once again have a good football game… Expand
  18. drunkintater
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    GameSpew "It just feels wholly unnecessary" - 70
    ZTGD "Madden 21 is the first time I have found it hard to recommend upgrading" - 65
    Bruh... If it's unnecessary, the score should be below 50. If it's hard to recommend upgrading, the score should be below 50. How realistic is it if all the players are warping into each other and not respect the character model. Don't spend any    GameSpew "It just feels wholly unnecessary" - 70
    ZTGD "Madden 21 is the first time I have found it hard to recommend upgrading" - 65

    Bruh... If it's unnecessary, the score should be below 50. If it's hard to recommend upgrading, the score should be below 50.

    How realistic is it if all the players are warping into each other and not respect the character model.

    Don't spend any money on this game. Save that money and buy NCAA14    … Expand
  19. Cjackbblack
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The worst part about this game is the fact that you know it's going to let you down, and some how it still disappoints you. Madden 21 is a slap in the face. For a game that is mostly untouched, it's easy to see why. This game is like when you copy your buddy's homework and just reword a few things so it's not the exact same, hoping your teacher doesn't catch on. It's like getting food in a drive through and they forgot your fries and drink, but the line is 20 mins and your lunch break is almost over so you have to take the L for the second time this week from the same restaurant. It's like spending your last 8 dollars on a perfect Carmel mocha latte then dropping it right after your first sip. EA sports has really let down a lot of consumers who've purchased the game, and fans who have decided not to this year.

    Where's the franchise improvements?
    Where are the gameplay improvements? Mechanics are always add but the gameplay isn't ever improved if that makes sense. Flat footed defenders, poor zone logic, poor screen blocking, poor animation logic, poor sideline, poor player movement, poor AI logic, poor run blocking logic, poor pass blocking logic. The list really does go on. The Yard, feels too familiar. Why? Because it's essentially the same game from Madden Arcade which released 10 years ago however now there are 6 players instead of 5. The games are far too similar but now it's worse because it uses the same games mechanics as the apparent sim version of Madden. The fact that a simulation football game and an arcade football game are played the same way on the same game with the same abilities (xfactors) is a very clear telltale that the game is really an arcade game.
    Face of the franchise is terrible, same commentary, same NFL rules? Why do we make decisions if they have virtually zero impact? Why would a coach tell the QB who just threw 9 touchdowns and 0 interceptions that he thinks he might need to change positions?

    Two glitch blitzes I've used since Madden 19 still work just fine. Terrible.

    I strongly recommend anyone considering buying the game to purchase a different football game. There are others without the license and though they don't compare graphically to Madden, if you support them now, they will have the resources to improve their game and help you enjoy playing football games again. The other option is to wait until you can get a used copy of Madden instead of buying it new and supporting EA for this debacle of a game.    … Expand
  20. Dlago19
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    EA simply doesn’t give a **** anymore. Franchise is untouched. Gameplay is horrible. X Factors are overpowered and unrealistic. Madden 12 had about 50 more features than this pathetic roster update. EA deserves to burn to the ground for releasing the same game every year non stop. Don’t buy madden 21. Download a roster update on madden 20. Prove a point. If you are retarded enough to buyEA simply doesn’t give a **** anymore. Franchise is untouched. Gameplay is horrible. X Factors are overpowered and unrealistic. Madden 12 had about 50 more features than this pathetic roster update. EA deserves to burn to the ground for releasing the same game every year non stop. Don’t buy madden 21. Download a roster update on madden 20. Prove a point. If you are retarded enough to buy it then don’t spend any money on ultimate team.

    Here’s some issues with madden 20 that went unchanged. Fade routes are in the game yet the game doesn’t let you throw the ball high enough for them to be effective, a fade is supposed to be a safe throw that can’t be intercepted, in madden that doesn’t exist, yet it was in NFL 2K8. No matter what speed a receiver is they can’t burn press coverage. QB throw accuracy doesn’t matter, at all. The QB will randomly throw a pass where the motion is normal yet the ball jets out at an unrealistic angle. The AI defense is brain dead. QBs will fumble no matter what, a dive will result in a fumble almost 80% of the time, so diving for the first or pylon is useless. Sliding in the NFL is to avoid injury, in madden it’s so your 99 carrying QB doesn’t fumble. Setting gameplay sliders for the cpu to 0 pass blocking and then having all 99 overall defensive lineman still won’t result in constant pressure. No matter what I’m franchise my defensive lineman that are edited to be overpowered aren’t that. Yet my 77 overall outside linebacker will get 10+ sacks a season. Coordinators are not in the game. They were previously but just aren’t now. Same with every other feature that made old madden great. 99 overall cornerbacks will get beat, fooled, and juked out by 70 overall receivers all game. Regardless of man or some coverage. I beg you to not buy this game. Help change madden.    … Expand
  21. garrettgodsey
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    I have been playing Madden football for 30 years and 13 years online. This is the worst game ever! I hate you EA and you just lost a fan for life
  22. bburgs
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    terrible game, want a refund. Face of the franchise was nothing that it said it was gonna be from the trailers, and the yard ain't even that fun to be honest. Maybe that's biased, but I would say this game had a lot of hype, instead it turned out to be a major disappointment. Too bad, because I'm still gonna play it. KMS
  23. Justtom71
    Aug 30, 2020
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There is nothing new here you haven't seen before. The yard is just another "backyard" football mode with nothing special happening, MUT is a wallet destroying waste of time, and Franchise continues to get no love. Face of the Franchise continues to show potential but railroads you and doesn't end up doing anything interesting. Save your money… Expand
  24. Nicknack420
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Game is full of bugs even though it's almost an exact copy and paste of past games... EA is a joke
  25. Chemdawg410
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Same as last year copy n paste the yard is a copy n paste field from madden 10 on the wii ea cares more about what they can monetize rather than try to add depth to there game its sad really #nfldropea evryone tweet that hashtag lets get the nfl to notice how mad we are about this garbage fire of a game!
  26. Madden21
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    This game is such garbage. I hope NFL rescinds EA’s license for this crap heap.
  27. azgx293
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    This game is horrible. Fix Franchise. the glitches make the game unplayable. Franchise is utter rubbish even in regards to previous years. It is utterly weak.
  28. tgun34
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    This is genuinely the worst madden I've ever played. I know we all joke about the "glorified roster update" but this is it. They rushed to make a game mode that isn't even remotely interesting, they made a bland cliche story line where literally nothing you say or do matters, and they neglected the fan favorite franchise mode. I'm wondering if they even listen to their fans in theThis is genuinely the worst madden I've ever played. I know we all joke about the "glorified roster update" but this is it. They rushed to make a game mode that isn't even remotely interesting, they made a bland cliche story line where literally nothing you say or do matters, and they neglected the fan favorite franchise mode. I'm wondering if they even listen to their fans in the slightest. Don't believe me? Go look at the Instagram comments. Absolutely insane. After playing at a friends house I will be buying 2k21 instead. Thanks for nothing, EA.… Expand
  29. 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.
  30. Koconn
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Come on most players play either franchise or Ultimate team, if you play ultimate I can’t really speak but I’m pretty sure it’s just a game of micro transactions and money grabs. For franchise we’ve been starved of any update in what feels like my whole lifetime as a 20 year old whose been playing for years. Even after getting #fixmaddenfranchise going to the point where they acknowledgedCome on most players play either franchise or Ultimate team, if you play ultimate I can’t really speak but I’m pretty sure it’s just a game of micro transactions and money grabs. For franchise we’ve been starved of any update in what feels like my whole lifetime as a 20 year old whose been playing for years. Even after getting #fixmaddenfranchise going to the point where they acknowledged it nothing changed they gave us the yard but it sucks and the hint was we don’t want new garbage we want improvements in the modes we used to like so never buying EA madden again… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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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.
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  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
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