Another year, another chance for EA to nail the perfect ratio of fun and complex realism for its popular american football franchise. Madden NFL 21 doesn't reinvent the wheel in any significant way, but it does include a handful of small tweaks that go a long way toward making the game more inclusive for new players. Tweaks to the AI, animations and control mechanics make the gameplay notably more consistent than it has been in past years. On the other hand, the game engine is really starting to show its age in terms of graphical fidelity and framerate.

The often overlooked Tutorial has gradually been improving each year, while remaining under the radar since most seasoned players don't bother taking a look at this mode. Madden 21's tutorial is the best it has been in years due to its comprehensive and entertaining walk through of all necessary information about the game of football. New players will get a crash course on the real-world game and will learn by playing through various scenarios until they understand each concept. This is clearly built for those who are new to Madden and new to football in general.

Once players finish their education, they can jump right into the action. Exhibition mode is the same tried and true formula with a few added tweaks. Offensive players can now enjoy adjusted evasive moves, which are bound to the right stick. Jukes and spins are now easier to pull off with proper timing, while on the defensive side, Rush Moves make this essential half of the sport less boring than usual. In past games, there was a feeling of powerlessness during defense as AI controlled team mates would do all of the work. This time around, playing defense feels pretty good and isn't such a drag. Depending on the difficulty settings, the game feels much less like it's playing itself, and there's an overall improved sense of control on both sides of the ball.


AI feels adjusted in a way that improves immersion in other aspects, but does little for actual gameplay. In previous games, AI controlled players would sometimes perform actions that felt completely unrealistic. This year the human simulation feels notably more grounded. Players will crawl, roll, somersault, and bound around on all fours in an attempt to regain or maintain balance on the field. There were few to no clear over extensions or impossible movements. This doesn't change the game, but makes the whole package feel more realistic. If there's one element of this aesthetic still lagging behind, it's the crowd and fans that make it up, which still appear jarringly out of place under the bright sheen of the rest of the game's graphics.

In terms of game modes, Ultimate Team mode has shown a few improvements but overall still feels vacant of content. Specifically, the mode is improved by the removal of abilities restrictions. Last year, up to three teammates could be equipped with abilities in total. This time around, there is a set number of ability points which are able to be divided among the whole team. This allows the possibilities to be more dynamic while also making things feel more realistic. The lack of new content is still an issue that has not been resolved from last year, and the constant micro-transactions kill quite a bit of the fun, however, which continues to limit Ultimate Team overall.


Face Of The Franchise Mode clearly looks to be more important and dramatic than last year. Unfortunately, the mode falls short due to the performances of the characters on screen and lack of consequential actions. Players take control of a high school golden boy and guide their character through the trials of becoming an NFL player. The story itself is shallow and lacking any real gravity and it is let down by its horrifying motion capture work and character design. Nothing that is said feels believable, and after all of the speeches and the shouting, the player's actions don't make a difference to the story. For instance, miserable failures on the field will still result in scholarships because the plot demands it. Why give players choices to make if those choices are going to be ignored?

The clear bright spot of the package is the new mode, The Yard. The Yard is a 6v6 backyard football simulation that is a ton of fun. Playing online in this mode brings a level of fast paced excitement that is missing from the main game. There are far fewer limitations placed on players in this mode, which lets them call crazy plays and strategies that would otherwise not work on a full-sized field. This mode is also another way for newcomers to sharpen their skills without the added pressures of full teams online. If a player has a friend who has never played Madden, this would be a great first introduction. Players get to earn or purchase crazy and colorful cosmetics for their team as well, which is a fun addition to what is already an addicting mode.


Still, Madden 21 doesn't do much to stand out from past games. Altering a formula that works has proven to cause problems in the past, though, and what's present is a solid iteration. Face Of The Franchise is a good idea on paper, but has never been executed well. Ultimate Team is fun for the most part, but feels like a half-baked method of getting players to cough up more cash. The only things that work to the fullest in Madden 21 are the tweaks that make the simple game of football feel more realistic, and the addition of The Yard, which lets players reminisce on the old days of games like NFL Street.

This is a great time for new players to jump on board this admittedly very complicated game. This year's installment is easier to get into and easier to love, flaws and all. The most important thing is fun, and in that regard, the Madden team has nailed it once again. EA hasn't birthed a whole new concept this year, but the game doesn't break what has been working all this time, even if it comes at the cost of feeling stale to series veterans.

Madden 21 is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, and PC.