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. BeefSkittles
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Game is absolute garbage, writing a review on a all versions to make our voice heard #NFLDropEA
  2. 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
  3. Massis
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Fix franchise mode. Worst madden game of all time. Time for 2k to step in. Embarrassing
  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. 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!
  7. Madden21
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    This game is such garbage. I hope NFL rescinds EA’s license for this crap heap.
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. Wellis8032
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Same game since like Madden 17. Clearly they only care about Ultimate Team (which isn’t that good, it’s a micro-transaction nightmare). Franchise mode hasn’t improved in forever. Play NBA 2K MyLeague once and try to incorporate some of the things they do there, the blueprint exists, stop sucking at your job.
  11. 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
  12. 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.
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. tyson23p
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Not worth $60....this should be free to play actually!! I literally have 5 hours left on the Demo and its just unbearable to continue on with this product.
  17. JordyFighter14
    Aug 27, 2020
    0
    The game is horrible. The game in general is full of glitches and bugs like your coach changing colors, field lines disappearing, and the field, players and other things turn all white and are hard to see. Mut is still mostly the same, Franchise is only a roster update and no additions were made to it besides tweaks that would come in a midseason patch, FOTF has bad acting, and The Yard isThe game is horrible. The game in general is full of glitches and bugs like your coach changing colors, field lines disappearing, and the field, players and other things turn all white and are hard to see. Mut is still mostly the same, Franchise is only a roster update and no additions were made to it besides tweaks that would come in a midseason patch, FOTF has bad acting, and The Yard is glitchy and is at least partially microtransactions.… 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. 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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. gthobbes
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    So many bugs. Same stale gameplay, presentation has gotten even worse. Why are there no refs on the field? This is 2020 and I’ve seen what great sports games are like (NBA 2K, MLB The Show, PGA 2K, Pro Evo).
  23. Finzzy
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Awful $60 garbage I’d get a refund but jumping through EAs terrible customer service isn’t worth it.
  24. 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.
  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. Koala886
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Trash ass game. Buggy as hell. ......................................................
  27. Jakeywakey911
    Aug 30, 2020
    0
    Having grown up playing most of the NCAA series and Madden series, it’s sad to see how bad Madden and EA have gotten each and every year. Madden 21 is no better, this game is a straight copy and paste from Madden 20, madden 19 and madden 18 and so on.... and the greed instilled in this company is a joke. Gambling and looting microtransactions used to lure kids into buying useless cardHaving grown up playing most of the NCAA series and Madden series, it’s sad to see how bad Madden and EA have gotten each and every year. Madden 21 is no better, this game is a straight copy and paste from Madden 20, madden 19 and madden 18 and so on.... and the greed instilled in this company is a joke. Gambling and looting microtransactions used to lure kids into buying useless card packs, gameplay bugged down by animations and it physics based gameplay, and the same legacy issues we’ve dealt with in gameplay since the Xbox 360 and PS3 days of madden. These developers don’t care, they make fun of their consumers and call them “clowns”, they laugh at the score on this site and they continue to ignore the changes and requests of what the consumers haves asked for, for the last 10+ years. It needs to change. The game is terrible, the gameplay is atrocious, the lack of attention to detail is a joke... EA and Madden have become an embarrassment. Do not support this company and do not buy this game or any EA game for that matter. They don’t care... spend your hard-earned cash elsewhere on a company that listens to it customers and fan base, like maximum football.… Expand
  28. Boxies
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    This game is simply unfinished, and a reskin of last year. Their team that develops this must only be 10 people I assume, because we get absolutely nothing from them year on year.
  29. 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
  30. 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
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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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