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. AaronNAaronDuo
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This game is literally a roster update. The glitches are still here. The ignorance of big modes that make Madden a "simulation" game like Franchise Mode. The animations are bad. They don't care about any type of level of detail to the point where I think they don't even care about this game anymore and just try and make as much money off microtransactions.
  2. socosurf
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This is the worst Madden to date. I was shocked that they could make a game worse than Madden 20. I've been a Madden gamer since 94 and it's so insulting how this company continues to put out a product so terrible. It's clear that they are using the 'if it's not broken, why fix it' approach -- but the only thing not broken in this game is the money they make off sheep.
  3. OmniJuju
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    I made an account just to review this hot garbage of a game. Countless times I have a receiver wide open, throw a bullet pass, it says its accurate and it sails over the recievers head. On top of that I consistently try to run the ball and i feel as if I lose all control and run straight into my O line. #NFLDropEA
  4. MetaJohn117
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    No spoilers needed to tell you this is a direct copy of madden 20. Zero improvement. They just want you to pay your yearly penance to the church of EA so you have the latest update to the same game.
  5. treyjcbs
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Game is literally unplayable because it crashes every 5 minutes, not to mention a plentiful amount of other bugs like no lines on the field, play clock disappearing, the whiteout glitch, and the coaches having rainbow textures.
  6. Machinegunrob
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Constant glitches, slow loading screens, just another roster update with modes no one wants or asked for… Expand
  7. m1kemyers
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    misspellings, glitches, it will say Madden19 or Madden20 on different stadium banners. Complete lack of quality control throughout the product.
  8. marvelousmcgee
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Absolutely atrocious excuse for a game in 2020. I beg you not to buy this game.
  9. Awesomeman43218
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Are you ready for the best Madden game since madden 08!!?? You are??!! Well, too bad, let’s just play madden 19 with a colour change and a new game mode. Oh, wait, sorry that’s Madden 20. Or 21? You can’t even tell anymore. Just because the number goes up, doesn’t mean it improves.… Expand
  10. o0oDangerMan
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Same copy & paste game from last year. Horrible blocking AI, no improvement to franchise, a glitchy mess. Don’t waste your money.
  11. NFLdropEApls
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Spoiler alert! EA will never fix franchise mode because it will never bring in as much money as MUT, which they need to boost their sales so it looks like madden is a successful game when in reality it’s trash. That’s why they added BS cosmetics store for the yard lmaoooo EA is a joke. It’s the same thing every year we will never have a good Madden game under EA’s authoritarian rule andSpoiler alert! EA will never fix franchise mode because it will never bring in as much money as MUT, which they need to boost their sales so it looks like madden is a successful game when in reality it’s trash. That’s why they added BS cosmetics store for the yard lmaoooo EA is a joke. It’s the same thing every year we will never have a good Madden game under EA’s authoritarian rule and frankly the NFL probably doesn’t care enough to give the rights to someone else to make one until NFL players speak up about it too. #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA #NFLDropEA… Expand
  12. JiveTurkey11
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Until EA has competition this game will continue to be a dumpster fire. They try to nickel and dime players by coming up with more and more modes that hardly anyone plays, they haven't updated Franchise in I couldn't tell you how long which is the mode most folks play. I don't know about anyone else but the way players run in this game is atrocious, it's damn near hard to watch. InUntil EA has competition this game will continue to be a dumpster fire. They try to nickel and dime players by coming up with more and more modes that hardly anyone plays, they haven't updated Franchise in I couldn't tell you how long which is the mode most folks play. I don't know about anyone else but the way players run in this game is atrocious, it's damn near hard to watch. In addition to that just the overall horrible gameplay mechanics, AI, blocking schemes it's all so bad. One on one jump balls are halfass turning into quick time events that I virtually have no control over and bam, my DB gets pass interference....cool. Really wish the NFL would allow multiple publishers/developers. EA will continue to push out a below average product because they know people will buy it, it's arguably the most popular sport in the US and they're the ONLY ones allowed to make a game for it.… Expand
  13. dglad
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This game is beyond terrible. There is still graphics showing its Madden 19!! They hardly changed anything and the new game modes are terrible. It's a glitch fest and literally the same game that it has been for the past 5 years
  14. Nicko53
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    I’m done EA. This is garage and EA calls us clowns. Thanks for the memories, but you’ve destroyed all my faith in you.
  15. Mr2hunnit
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This game is garbage take the abilities out this is not football and the sound track is buns give more songs stop being cheap you’re already milking everybody for micro transactions
  16. Shekapetrov
    Aug 31, 2020
    1
    Madden 21 for Xbox one still has many of the predatory features that Madden has been using to squeeze as much money out of its user base as possible. It still has Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment which means that if you start winning numerous games online. Madden's algorithm will make you lose games automatically. You'll be on offense, drop back to throw a pass with zero pressure and wideMadden 21 for Xbox one still has many of the predatory features that Madden has been using to squeeze as much money out of its user base as possible. It still has Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment which means that if you start winning numerous games online. Madden's algorithm will make you lose games automatically. You'll be on offense, drop back to throw a pass with zero pressure and wide receivers wide open and they'll throw the ball 20 feet away from the receiver for a pick by the safety. Usually for a pick six. In addition, your receivers will drop 70% of their passes despite being open. All of this is to get you to buy better players so they can squeeze you. You add all of this to all of the glitches of Madden 21, it's almost unplayable. Franchise mode is a joke so don't bother. A lot of stuff copied and pasted without fixing any of the issues form Madden 20. Madden has zero competition. Therefore they will release whatever they want and you better like it. Good luck getting squeezed for every penny. This game has been uninstalled after 2 days of gameplay.… Expand
  17. Ajarch611
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This is absolutely garbage. My advice is do not waste your money. EA sports had how long to fix all the bug and improve the game play??? Instead, there were no significant improvements and in certain aspects they made it worse.
  18. GreatGig168
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    Never go out and buy this game and if any one gives this to you for Christmas you should burn it
  19. Thebrah
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    EA has done it again basically the same recycled game year after year. The one thing they added was lots of bugs so far anyways. Just save your money, maybe one day EA will clean up their act or a better company will step in.
  20. MayniaC
    Aug 31, 2020
    1
    This game is supremely underwhelming. ULTIMATE TEAM:
    How can a company be able to get away with blatant gambling in their “fantasy team builder” mode? To be able to compete, you have to pay money out of your own pocket.. There is no amount of grinding the mode to get even close to competing. So why not gamble and buy virtual card packs.. because EA is a money hungry machine.
    THE YARD: The    This game is supremely underwhelming. ULTIMATE TEAM:
    How can a company be able to get away with blatant gambling in their “fantasy team builder” mode? To be able to compete, you have to pay money out of your own pocket.. There is no amount of grinding the mode to get even close to competing. So why not gamble and buy virtual card packs.. because EA is a money hungry machine.

    THE YARD:
    The most disturbing part of this game is the addition of “The Yard” mode. This game mode lacks a tremendous amount of depth. What is the goal to “The Yard” you ask? Well aside from earning miscellaneous, unknown points, “rare” or “limited” time equipment, and building up your player’s unique to real player prototypes.. that’s about it. There is nothing else you can do with this player. It mimics NBA Live: The One.. they seriously love CTRL C and CTRL V over at EA.

    FACE OF THE FRANCHISE: One would think this “The Yard” player would associate with “Face of the Franchise” mode but haha... nope. I don’t even want to talk about “Face of the Franchise”.. the best I can compare it to is a very low budget cinematic prelude to utilizing a player role in the lackluster “Franchise” mode. FRANCHISE:
    Ah... “Franchise” Mode. This game mode, at one point, was the base of the Madden series. The amount of depth in past franchise modes was beautiful, you could truly get lost in this mode for hours back then. I don’t even know how to start with this game mode now. The only depth in this mode is the depth chart. This is the same game mode of the last 3 or 4 years.. there aren’t any significant changes, other than a minuscule scenario system and a change in color on tabs in the mode. This game mode doesn’t make any money though so to the higher ups at EA, if it don’t make dollars.. it don’t make sense. The problem with this is.. EA has the exclusive rights to the NFL/NFLPA and simulation style football. This core game mode could save the actual madden franchise... THIS is the true face of the franchise. I am pretty sure this does not emulate an NFL owners job in real life. Player contracts aren’t detailed, scouting is blah, free agency blah, player training blah, offseason blah, draft.. ok.. I guess... there is so much missing from this game mode. NBA 2K has an online franchise mode experience that is so interactive and engaging, it sets the bar for AAA games like Madden. The executives at EA need to wake up because if this isn’t corrected sooner, this could surely hurt their pockets later.

    GAMEPLAY:
    Lots of bugs.. no yard lines on field, “interactive” lens flares on load screens, the yard players being invisible, online head to head freezing at half-time, warping, gravity and physics disregarded, lots of others I’m sure I will experience more as I reluctantly boot my game up and play in my lowly anticipated fantasy cloud franchise with about 16 of my friends. The only reason I gave this a 1 was because some offensive and defensive gameplay feels refreshed. They need to have a toggle feature for celebrations.. I’ve done every celebration.. more than once or twice and I’ve been playing for about a week or so.. Ugh.. let’s hope they keep promises for a better game down the line or get rid of the Madden franchise because this game is incomplete.    … Expand
  21. loc92
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    NFL drop EA please NFL drop EA please NFL drop EA please NFL drop EA please NFL drop EA please NFL drop EA please NFL drop EA please NFL drop EA please NFL drop EA please NFL drop EA please NFL drop EA please NFL drop EA please
  22. walkswerve
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This is quite literally the worst madden I have ever seen. Possibly the worst sports game I have ever played. I have been playing Madden since 2002, and this is miles behind any other iteration. I am used to paying $60 for a roster update and a few new features, but typically that comes without all of the glitches. In this instance, the glitches have made the game virtually unplayable andThis is quite literally the worst madden I have ever seen. Possibly the worst sports game I have ever played. I have been playing Madden since 2002, and this is miles behind any other iteration. I am used to paying $60 for a roster update and a few new features, but typically that comes without all of the glitches. In this instance, the glitches have made the game virtually unplayable and the only redeeming quality the game offers is a dead leg juke move. They spent a year installing one new juke. Horrid. If I had not bought the digital copy the game would be returned today. If Franchise mode is not completely overhauled I will no longer purchase this copy/paste BS.… Expand
  23. Vayomayo
    Aug 31, 2020
    8
    I think the game and the Madden franchise is in the right direction, people say they didn't want the yard even though people were begging for something like it for a couple of years
  24. thirdgamer13
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    #NFLdropEA #FixMaddenFranchise

    I have unfortunately bought every Madden since 16, every time hoping that EA would FINALLY make a decent product. I will no more. EA has done NOTHING for Franchise Mode for YEARS and have even gutted aspects of previous iterations. They have ignored the requests of the Madden community for far too long. The NFL needs to allow 2K an opportunity to show EA    #NFLdropEA #FixMaddenFranchise

    I have unfortunately bought every Madden since 16, every time hoping that EA would FINALLY make a decent product. I will no more. EA has done NOTHING for Franchise Mode for YEARS and have even gutted aspects of previous iterations. They have ignored the requests of the Madden community for far too long. The NFL needs to allow 2K an opportunity to show EA what a quality product looks like.    … Expand
  25. Curtis206
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    16 years later and 2k5 is still better.

    I hope the NFL finally gets out of this exclusivity deal.
  26. emmitt18355
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    EA has taken the ONLY Football franchise and completely disrespected it . The last madden that was ay good was '08. Stop buying this piece of garbage and hopefully they'll stop making it in the next 10 years. Literally a clone from last year, they changed absolutely nothing in franchise mode. The Yard is a pathetic attempt to include new game modes to disguise their crap gambling gameEA has taken the ONLY Football franchise and completely disrespected it . The last madden that was ay good was '08. Stop buying this piece of garbage and hopefully they'll stop making it in the next 10 years. Literally a clone from last year, they changed absolutely nothing in franchise mode. The Yard is a pathetic attempt to include new game modes to disguise their crap gambling game (MUT). DO NOT BUY.… Expand
  27. Sgtcolen
    Aug 31, 2020
    10
    Idk why everyone is hating on this game it has everything we want the servers are laggy because everyone is on the game the new face of the franchise is better franchise it’s self is the same but otherwise they changed a lot about the game.
  28. dh2285kh
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    #NFLdropEA. This game is a sloppy repeat of past games, a $60 roster update.
  29. Pdt
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Been saying it ever since they invented MuT. This game has turned into candy crush or some other stupid pay to play game. So the $60-120 you spend still isn't enough for ea. No no no no no no they gotta milk you for everything they can take you for. A true American corporation. Disgusting. An anyone posting a good review of this product is either getting paid to do so cause I don't know a single person who has played as long as myself that isn't completely disgusted by what was has done over the past 6-7 years. Was is a trash company. Never buying anything from them ever again.… Expand
  30. Spice43
    Aug 31, 2020
    0
    You all know the story. Same game. Some added in features they took out but used to have back in 2006 and now are “new” lol. Terrible game. Pull the license deal. Such a disgrace. Even if this game was free to play it wouldn’t be worth your time.
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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.
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  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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