Madden NFL 21

About

Madden NFL 21 is a football video game that lets players control their own NFL legacy. The game features a new generation of NFL players, who are leaving their mark on the league. By playing the game, users can change the game and define their own path to greatness. The game is available on multiple platforms, but the platform and release date are not specified in the description.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,642 reviews

gameplay61 positive mentions

stability286 negative mentions

The graphics and visuals are impressive, providing a more immersive experience.
Gameplay mechanics have improved, making it more enjoyable for casual players.
Face of the Franchise mode offers a fun storyline and character progression.

Franchise mode lacks depth and has not seen significant improvements over previous years.
The game is riddled with bugs and glitches, causing frequent crashes and gameplay issues.
Ultimate Team is heavily focused on microtransactions, making it a pay-to-win experience.

stability
291 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
98%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and frequent crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players have experienced issues such as freezing during loading screens, gameplay interruptions, and unresponsive mechanics, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction. Despite some users noting minor improvements or fewer glitches than in previous versions, the overwhelming consensus is that the game remains highly unstable and poorly optimized.
- “It's an enjoyable experience and I experienced little to no glitches.”
- “Runs great, no bugs and looks great.”
- “Great game - no glitches like I keep reading about; I guess they must have been patched out before I started playing.”
- “This issue still exists in newer Madden editions, so beware before buying. Check independent message boards (Steam, Reddit) for any unsolved glitches. Don't trust the EA website; they label this issue as 'solved,' but it's not fixed in any update or newer edition, and no solution has ever been provided.”
- “The game constantly freezes on load screens; my biggest problem is that.”
- “The game is super buggy and continues to crash over and over again.”
gameplay
270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
64%
13%
The gameplay in the latest Madden title has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it feels similar to previous iterations, lacking significant innovation or improvement. While some appreciate the fluidity and graphics, others criticize the game for being riddled with bugs, glitches, and unrealistic mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is described as decent but plagued by persistent issues, making it a hit-or-miss for both new and returning players.
- “The gameplay is fluid, it's easy to play and maneuver your player through the field.”
- “Great quality gameplay.”
- “Gameplay is better and I think the game is simply overall better than Madden 20.”
- “Absolutely no innovation, constant bugs and glitches, frustrating unrealistic gameplay as usual.”
- “The gameplay is clumsy, the animations are not realistic and kind of annoying.”
- “The gameplay flaws that have persisted for years due in part to the entire game being solely animation-based cannot be overlooked.”
graphics
176 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
10%
The graphics in Madden NFL 21 receive mixed reviews, with many players noting incremental improvements over previous iterations, yet expressing disappointment in the overall quality and consistency. While some praise the visuals as impressive and immersive, others criticize them for being outdated, buggy, and not significantly enhanced compared to earlier versions. Overall, the graphics are seen as a highlight for some, but many feel they fall short of expectations for a modern AAA title.
- “The graphics are pretty amazing, especially in comparison to my last Madden experience, and they run well on my system and really work well in the game.”
- “The graphics are great and the gameplay is similar to how I remember it, but there is no true coaches mode anymore or at least that I could figure out making it very much just a video game and not a strategy game.”
- “The graphics are impressive, and player models are way more accurate than in Madden 19.”
- “The graphics haven't improved, the AI is somehow worse, and attention to detail has been thrown out the window.”
- “The graphics of the campaign mode look like they are 10 years old.”
- “The graphics are terrible (YouTube some videos of Snoop Dogg in the game. Terrible graphics).”
story
165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
58%
24%
The "story" aspect of the game, particularly in the "Face of the Franchise" mode, has received mixed to negative feedback from users. Many players find the storyline to be clichéd, poorly written, and lacking in depth, with unskippable cutscenes and minimal impact from player choices. While some appreciate the attempt at a narrative-driven experience, the overall execution is often described as cheesy, glitchy, and frustrating, leading to a lack of immersion and enjoyment.
- “Very detailed game, great gameplay and the story/career mode is awesome.”
- “The face of the franchise story mode can be very addicting and fun to play since you can create your own character from high school all the way to the Hall of Fame.”
- “I was especially taken back by the surprisingly coherent storyline in the face of the franchise mode, as well as the really detailed and flawless script by the commentators during the regular NFL matchups.”
- “Face of the franchise has annoying un-skippable story scenes.”
- “The story mode is garbage and ultimate team mode is confusing.”
- “The face of the franchise story sucks, like really really really sucks.”
music
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
53%
32%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing the soundtrack as terrible, repetitive, and dominated by hip hop, which does not resonate with a significant portion of the audience. Users express a desire for more variety and the option to customize their music, lamenting the loss of classic rock and metal tracks that were once a staple of the series. Overall, the consensus is that the current music detracts from the gaming experience rather than enhancing it.
- “The game runs smoothly with no problems, great design, music fits the situations at each moment.”
- “The soundtrack is great, the visuals are great, the new mechanics are spectacular as well.”
- “However, the music is actually pretty awesome and the gameplay was really good from the point of view of someone who hasn't played 2K in like 15 years.”
- “The music is awful and couldn't find a way to disable some songs, so turning the volume down will have to do.”
- “The soundtrack is absolutely atrocious; you couldn't put together a worse soundtrack unless it was John Madden chewing for 18 hours straight.”
- “The music of the game has to be the worst not just in Madden or sports games but in the whole gaming industry of video games.”
monetization
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
38%
57%
The monetization strategy in this game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, heavily relying on microtransactions and advertisements that detract from the overall experience. Players express frustration over the pervasive nature of these microtransactions, particularly in modes like Ultimate Team, which many feel prioritize profit over gameplay quality. Overall, the sentiment is that the game feels designed to extract money from players rather than provide a fulfilling gaming experience.
- “Truly not interested in the least, as it seems like typical EA gambling/lootbox microtransactions, but this aspect of the game isn't at all that invasive nor integral to the experience overall that it warrants any type of outrage.”
- “Mut is amazing and not that hard to get a good team without buying microtransactions.”
- “The game is a bit heavy on microtransactions though, technically it's not pay-to-win, but subliminally it really is.”
- “The whole game is literally run on microtransactions.”
- “This company has made it clear they will make no effort to improve the game but instead fill the game with advertising and push people to pay microtransactions after already paying north of $80 for the game itself.”
- “Ultimate team is still a soulless, pay-to-win cash grab.”
optimization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
20%
63%
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including crashes, stuttering, and inconsistent frame rates, particularly on PC. Despite some praise for its design and atmosphere, the game is described as buggy and poorly optimized, making it nearly unplayable for many players. Overall, it appears that the game's performance does not meet the expectations set by its high profile, leading to frustration among users.
- “The game runs smoothly with no problems, great design, music fits the situations at each moment.”
- “Pros: is fairly well optimized in that it doesn't run as hot as Madden '19 did.”
- “The only good thing about the game is the optimization that comes with any EA title... this game plays well on any hardware configuration.”
- “This game is buggy, terribly optimized and the menu lag is ridiculous.”
- “The game can't even run properly; I'm not talking about bad frame rates or optimization, I mean there is a 75% chance you won't even load to the main menu.”
- “This game has crashed 9/10 times opening the game and has terrible optimization for mid to low end PC builds.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
95%
The grinding aspect of Madden Ultimate Team (MUT) is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and heavily skewed towards a pay-to-win model, where players feel compelled to spend real money to remain competitive. Many users report spending countless hours farming cards with minimal rewards, leading to frustration and boredom, while offline modes like franchise receive less attention. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant barrier to enjoyment, with players often feeling that their time could be better spent elsewhere.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel well-earned.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics encourage exploration and experimentation with different strategies.”
- “Madden Ultimate Team challenges are tedious and inconsequential, as it always comes down to pay-to-win for the credits to outsnipe the bots for elite high OVR players.”
- “You spend countless amounts of your 6 free hours of daily play farming stupid cards on the marketplace, not even playing football.”
- “Obviously, EA makes MUT uber tedious with low rewards to force you into taking the shortcut of buying packs... cha-ching goes the cash register.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often derived from its absurdities and glitches, with players finding amusement in the ridiculous storylines and the frequent server issues. Many reviews highlight the cheesy nature of the "face of the franchise" mode and the comical situations that arise from gameplay inconsistencies, such as exaggerated loading times and mismatched sound levels during practice sessions. Overall, while the game aims for a serious football simulation, its flaws and quirks provide a source of unintentional humor for players.
- “The storyline for my career was ridiculous in a funny way to start off.”
- “The 'face of the franchise' is so cheesy it made me laugh out loud a few times.”
- “Scores and wins/losses to fit the story, which can create pretty funny situations.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it infinitely replayable due to features like ability loadouts, others criticize it for a lack of variety in gameplay and a repetitive story. Many agree that the initial experience is enjoyable, but the limited options for different playthroughs diminish long-term engagement.
- “Replay value (8/10)”
- “✅ Infinitely replayable (or almost)”
- “- The yard ability loadouts; it's a good idea for head-to-head matches to have different abilities to level up and experiment with, which makes replay value higher.”
- “Good graphics, bad game in terms of replayability.”
- “I haven't bought a Madden game since Madden 15, and that game is more playable than this one.”
- “You can only play as one of three offensive positions, and the story is always the same for all players, giving no pretense for replayability.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its realism and immersive qualities, enhanced by great graphics and music, despite some optimization issues. Reviewers appreciate the engaging environment, which effectively captures the essence of football, even amidst gameplay glitches. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the game.
- “Thankfully, you can do this and the graphics, controls, and atmosphere are great.”
- “It has a really nice atmosphere, gameplay, and awesome music, but lacks optimization.”
- “I love the changes, the atmosphere the game creates, and with Corona 1984 on the rise, this may be the only football we really get.”
- “The atmosphere is nice, but the game lacks optimization.”
- “I love the changes, but the atmosphere the game creates feels overshadowed by the current events.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the game's mechanics, particularly regarding player control and ball handling, which detracts from the emotional investment in gameplay. Despite these issues, some still find enjoyment in offline modes, indicating a mixed emotional response to the overall experience.
- “One example was I threw to Cooper on a slant wide open and I did a possession catch and he caught it and fell to the ground for an incomplete pass as when he hit the ground without anyone touching him he decided to just let go.”