Axis Football 2021

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 119 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • optimization
Axis Football 2021 Game Cover
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Axis Football 2021 is a football simulation game offering an immersive NFL-inspired experience. Gameplay features include deep franchise mode, playable pre-season, regular season, and championship games. With advanced AI, realistic physics, and customization options, players can create their own team and compete for the top spot.

Play Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 119 reviews
gameplay11 positive mentions
stability7 negative mentions
  • The franchise mode is deep and engaging, offering extensive customization options and management features.
  • The game has shown significant improvements in gameplay mechanics, including smoother animations and better AI behavior.
  • The developers are responsive to community feedback and continuously work on enhancing the game, making it a solid alternative to mainstream football titles.
  • The gameplay still suffers from numerous bugs and issues, including poor AI decision-making and inconsistent player animations.
  • Graphics and overall presentation feel outdated compared to other football games, lacking polish and refinement.
  • Many players experience crashes and performance issues, making the game frustrating to play at times.
  • gameplay59 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the smoothness and improvements in animations, while others criticize it for being laggy, glitchy, and reminiscent of older titles. Many users express a desire for further enhancements, particularly in on-field mechanics and realism, suggesting that while the foundation is solid, significant work is still needed to compete with established franchises like Madden. Overall, the game offers a decent experience for franchise mode enthusiasts, but the gameplay itself remains a point of contention.

    • “Gameplay is good and smooth!”
    • “For the one game I was able to get into and complete, I will admit they definitely improved the gameplay and it is smoother, with more animations and better logic.”
    • “Each year they make strides and improve the game mechanics and gameplay.”
    • “Then when I got to the gameplay, the game was so laggy and slow. I have a gaming PC, and even when I lowered the settings to the lowest possible, it was still unplayable.”
    • “Gameplay is honestly unacceptably bad.”
    • “The major gameplay hangups for me are still catching and pass defense animations, and blocking animations, both of which are still stiff, robotic, and largely unreadable.”
  • graphics27 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally considered average to below average, with many reviewers noting that they lag behind competitors like Madden in terms of quality and animation fluidity. While some appreciate the accurate team representations and improvements in certain areas, the overall consensus is that the visuals are not top-tier and may deter casual gamers. However, players who prioritize gameplay over graphics find the visuals acceptable, emphasizing the importance of underlying mechanics and features.

    • “But the graphics are great for just playing football!”
    • “The in-game graphics are average to above average.”
    • “This ain't the big boy madden, but the players look good, the animations have improved a bunch this year and they have added in-game graphics (for example, I notched a 40+ yard run and was pleased to see a popup big run and my RB did a little chest pump celebration. That was real cool).”
    • “The graphics are a little rough and the animations are stiff, but the franchise mode is outstanding and puts Madden's franchise mode to shame.”
    • “Not very good from a graphics or simulation standpoint.”
    • “Just don't expect AAA animations and graphics.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some users report significant performance improvements and a more refined experience with reduced bugs, others experience persistent performance issues even on high-end PCs. The addition of new stadiums and enhanced AI contributes positively to the game's overall performance, but the optimization still leaves room for improvement.

    • “The team added several new stadiums, optimized stadiums from 2020 to run better across all consoles, and improved lighting to create more realistic environments.”
    • “The game is more refined and optimized than ever before, the AI is more intelligent than ever before and the AI can finally nail the game out!”
    • “It is well optimized and a ton of bugs were removed that had plagued the series, and the customization has long been a part of the series and helps discern the game from others where customization is limited to a handful of options.”
    • “Performance issues, even on high-end PCs.”
    • “There is no excuse for the performance of this game in this day and age.”
    • “The franchise mode is the real star in Axis Football, but there are big improvements in other parts too, such as lots of new character animations and performance increases.”
  • stability7 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent freezes and crashes reported, particularly during franchise mode. While some users appreciate the creative aspects and intuitive scouting system, the overall experience is marred by glitches and a lack of animations, leading to frustration during gameplay.

    • “Maybe it's my computer (2020 iMac with 40GB RAM), but the game freezes or crashes far too often.”
    • “Yet every time I edit a team in franchise mode, the game freezes at 70% on the game load screen.”
    • “The creative aspect of the game might be good, but I could care less when the actual gameplay is this bad and buggy.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with some users praising the fantastic soundtracks, but there are concerns about the limited number of songs, with some suggesting that more variety would enhance the experience.

    • “The audio - the soundtracks are fantastic!”
    • “I would definitely have enjoyed 5 songs; perhaps in the next version we’ll get a handful of songs again.”
    • “The music is pretty good; however, it sounds as if there are only two whole songs.”
    • “I would definitely have enjoyed 5 songs; perhaps in the next version, we’ll get a handful of songs again.”
    • “Coming across Axis games, it's an ugly duckling turning into a swan song that is taking place before our very eyes.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy in Madden has been heavily criticized, particularly for its reliance on microtransactions and perceived lack of effort in annual updates. Many users feel that the game's approach to monetization has become excessive and detrimental to the overall experience.

    • “All without microtransactions.”
    • “I get that Madden has microtransactions, and they are lazy with updating the game every year.”
    • “But they have consistently dropped the ball over the last 3-5 years, especially with the microtransaction issues; they have completely lost their way.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the franchise mode to be more engaging and less tedious compared to other games, particularly praising the improved and intuitive scouting system that enhances the overall experience.

    • “The franchise mode in this game is just plain more engaging and feels less tedious.”
    • “Also, the scouting system is far less tedious and far more intuitive than the buggy, confusing hot mess the other guys just added to their game.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users highlight that the game offers plenty of replay value, suggesting that players can enjoy multiple playthroughs without losing interest.

    • “This game offers plenty of replay value.”
    • “Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, making me want to dive back in.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
  • story1 mentions

    The story draws inspiration from the classic David and Goliath narrative, emphasizing themes of underdog triumph and resilience against overwhelming odds.

    • “It harkens back to the old David and Goliath story.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Axis Football 2021

Play time

7hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
5-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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