Time To Go Back To School?
HIGH This is the smoothest, most visually appealing Madden to date.
LOW Not enough changes to modes and features.
WTF Is the physics model really called “BOOM Tech”?
“Maybe next year.”
Fans of gaming’s most venerable sports series have said these words each September for the better part
of a decade. I should know, I’m one of them.
This year, the Madden NFL series takes another incremental step forward. Improvements are there.
Enhancements are there. And Madden NFL 25 is often stunning visually. But will that be enough for
jaded players?
First, I need to address the $69 elephant in the room — many football gamers just invested in EA
Sports College Football 25 and from what I can gather, they’re enjoying the immersion, pageantry, and
true-to-life detail the title offers. After a few weeks of enjoying the pomp and circumstance of the
college game, a new NFL title might feel a little flat and faceless, even though Madden is arguably better
than ever.
I’ll start with the most important factors — Madden NFL 25 is gorgeous. Player models inch ever closer to
leaving the uncanny valley, with noticeable improvements in animations, both when controlling a player and on NPCs throughout the field. Unlike previous editions, the juke moves and leaps aren’t overly exaggerated to excite players. Rather, they’re more accurate to a player’s real-life abilities and playstyle. For a change, I didn’t find myself trying to have stocky RBs attempt to leap for circus catches — that isn’t their game, and EA Sports brings reality to life once more.
In turn, Madden NFL 25 just feels… intuitive. In past editions, the complicated thumb gymnastics often
made it difficult for casual fans to make the most of the title. Some would call it “arcade-like” but as an
increasingly middle-aged person, I never felt overwhelmed by the streamlined control scheme. I even
took my skills online more than a few times. Now, I didn’t even come close to winning these matchups,
but I felt more competitive — an accomplishment in itself.
The audio offering is a bit of a mixed bag. While I enjoyed having multiple commentary teams joining
stalwarts Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis, the new pairings pale in comparison to the veterans. The
new voices have far fewer original comments and seem to repeat themselves more than usual.
One of the big knocks against Madden NFL 25 so far has been its notable lack of new modes and features. In my opinion, this is great news. So many prior Madden titles were buried in marketing lingo and fabricated buzzwords. This year, it seems like the developers chose to fine-tune the existing game and make good on past promises. I applaud this level of commitment — by and large, it works. And in the
case of Franchise Mode, it far exceeds its predecessors.
I have long lamented the decreased attention given to Franchise Mode, but this year the mode is
arguably the biggest highlight. From the moment players dive in, they enjoy a refined (but in-depth)
management experience, allowing them to control as much or as little of the team as they want. While
some people might want to keep their focus on the field, those who dig deeper will be rewarded with
expanded scouting, detailed coaching mechanics, elaborate player and team builder, and even a “Coach
Carousel” feature that lets users modify coaching staffs for better results. As a result, team morale and
player development become more active parts of the experience.
Superstar, the story-driven narrative mode, largely succeeds by taking a “less is more” approach. For starters, EA delivers new rewards, themed programs, and the ability to transfer an avatar’s style and skills across Ultimate Team Franchise and live game modes. In an even nicer touch, a successful graduate from College Football 25 can find their way to Madden’s NFL Draft Night, creating a tremendous feeling of continuity and reward.
Despite all of the above, the mode’s story and interaction have been (mercifully) pared back to basic
interactions, press conferences, and text conversations. It’s hardly the most immersive storyline, but it
far surpasses maudlin, overdone underdog stories. For that, I’m thankful.
Ultimate Team is… well… Ultimate Team. But, to be fair, EA has expanded the offering to include
updated H2H rankings, AI-driven solo seasons, and other new ways to put your best 11 to work. It’s still
a microtransaction bonanza, but kudos to the developers for trying to inject a wealth of new content
into a previously tired mode.
Other than these leaps forward, most of the other advancements live under the hood. Improved FieldSense controls on both offense and defense, more impactful hits from the BOOM Tech stick controls, more powerful Momentum Meters, and a litany of tweaks to menus and presentation. Again, those who believe the hype on the game box might not be impressed, but I was.
Also, longtime readers of Gamecritics know we take accessibility very seriously. EA Sports has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to implementing accessible controls into its titles, but Madden NFL 25 is the best example yet. Customization options include the ability to adjust icon size, text size, colorblind modes, and several control schemes designed to accommodate individual needs.
On a broader scale, the game also includes more detailed tutorials and guides to help new players learn
the ins and outs of various gameplay mechanics. This ensures that even those unfamiliar with the
Madden series can jump in and enjoy the experience. Kudos across the board, to all involved with
making this happen.
Online, Madden NFL 25 performed admirably. Last year’s laggy menus are a thing of the past, replaced
by snappy lobbies, short wait times, and virtually no latency on decent broadband connections. Oh sure,
the rage quitters and play spammers are still out in force, but at least they won’t be whining about lag
and balance issues this time around.
At this point in the review, most fans are likely wondering one thing — is Madden NFL 25 worth the money this year? The answer is undoubtedly “yes” as long as you didn’t also just purchase College Football 25. Even with the vast improvements Madden NFL 25 has on display, it’s fundamentally very similar to its undergraduate counterpart, and its professional atmosphere isn’t always as enjoyable as a collegiate gameday.
For those who’ve spent a month immersed in the pageantry of the college game, it might be hard to
get excited for a less unique version of that same title. But for those who have waited a few years for an improved, upgraded football experience, the new Madden will be a revelation.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Disclosures: This game is published by EA Sports and developed by EA Orlando. It is available on XBO/X/S, PC and PS4/5. This game copy was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the XBX.
Approximately 11 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was not
completed. Approximately 4 hours of play were devoted to online multiplayer.
Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated E. This is a realistic representation of full-contact
professional football. Some tackling animations and injuries may concern some parents.
Colorblind Modes: Colorblind modes are available in the Game Settings menu.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: Madden NFL 25 features subtitles, speech-to-text, and numerous
tactile feedback features in all modes. (See examples above) The game is easily playable without sound and is fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: No, the game’s controls are not remappable.
When not writing for Gamecritics, Brad spends his days as a managing editor, handling content that is far less complicated than the RPGs haunting his dreams each and every night.
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