Madden NFL 23

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"Madden NFL 23" introduces the FieldSENSE Gameplay System, enhancing realism with animation branching technology and user control mechanics. The game features 360° Cuts for more freedom and fluidity in ball-carrying, as well as Skill-Based Passing for increased passing accuracy. The Hit Everything feature redefines tackling, offering authentic results on every play.

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

Reviews

54%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,107 reviews

gameplay62 positive mentions

stability428 negative mentions

stability
436 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and a plethora of glitches that severely impact gameplay. Many players have experienced game-breaking issues, particularly in franchise mode, where saves can become corrupted and gameplay can halt unexpectedly. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," with little improvement from previous iterations, leading to a consensus that it is not worth purchasing.
- “Runs great”
- “I love this game, Madden will always be one of my favorites, runs great on my PC”
- “The gameplay is entirely decided on what animation you get, there's a fifty-fifty chance the game just freezes after a franchise game, saves have been corrupted for no reason at all, and so much more.”
- “Players frequently warp through each other, the physics engine is utterly broken, and the game often freezes or crashes, leaving you staring at a loading screen as if it's mocking your decision to buy this abomination.”
- “This game is riddled with glitches and repeatedly refuses to maintain connection to the servers despite my stellar internet connection.”
gameplay
342 mentions
18 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Madden 23 has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players citing numerous bugs, glitches, and a lack of innovation compared to previous iterations. Many users express frustration over the absence of next-gen mechanics on the PC version, leading to a stagnant experience that feels outdated and riddled with issues. While some players appreciate certain aspects of the gameplay, the overall consensus is that it suffers from poor execution and a lack of meaningful improvements.
- “I love this game even though I rage quit sometimes, but overall great gameplay.”
- “I loved everything from the great graphics to the insane gameplay and user control. 10/10 would buy again.”
- “The gameplay this year feels great!!”
- “The gameplay is entirely decided on what animation you get, there's a fifty-fifty chance the game just freezes after a franchise game, saves have been corrupted for no reason at all, and so much more.”
- “There are more bugs than gameplay, the graphics are stagnant, the announcers are as repetitive as ever, and of all things the game has actual advertisements on every loading screen.”
- “Gameplay is trash, buggy, just plain trash.”
graphics
307 mentions
27 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with some players praising them as stunning and realistic, while others criticize them as outdated and lacking next-gen features, particularly on PC. Many users express disappointment that the graphics have not significantly improved over previous iterations, with some describing them as low-tier or reminiscent of older consoles. Overall, while there are moments of appreciation for the visual quality, the consensus leans towards a need for substantial upgrades and fixes to graphical issues.
- “The graphics are stunning and the gameplay is so realistic.”
- “I loved everything from the great graphics to the insane gameplay and user control. 10/10 would buy again.”
- “This game is super fun; it has super realistic graphics and is super fun to see all the animation. Highly recommend.”
- “From the clunky menus to the uninspired graphics and animations, it's painfully evident that this game was not given the time or care it needed to be a worthwhile addition to the series.”
- “The graphics suck and the animations are so outdated for a game released in 2022.”
- “Madden 23 graphically is no different than Madden 2019, and that is sad.”
story
78 mentions
23 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment in the "Face of the Franchise" mode, citing a lack of depth and numerous bugs that hinder gameplay. While some appreciate the improved graphics and minor story elements, others feel that the overall narrative experience is repetitive and underdeveloped compared to previous installments. Many users recommend avoiding the story mode due to its unplayability and technical issues.
- “Graphics are sharp, and there is more of a story to it than in previous editions.”
- “Storyline within Face of the Franchise is really good.”
- “Face of the Franchise was actually pretty neat, with less cutscene boredom but still had some story, and I liked the whole five-year vet concept instead of the typical Friday Night Lights ripoff.”
- “The story mode is unplayable, and after reaching out to EA, the only response I have received was that they are working on a solution for story mode for a game that is not even the latest edition.”
- “Face of the franchise is complete crap and lacks any real story this time too.”
- “Franchise mode and any kind of 'my player' or 'story mode' is highly neglected.”
monetization
75 mentions
3 % positive mentions
15 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in Madden 2023 has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab by EA, with players expressing frustration over the prevalence of ads, intrusive microtransactions, and a focus on Ultimate Team at the expense of overall gameplay quality. Many reviewers feel that the game prioritizes profit over player experience, leading to a frustrating environment filled with glitches and repetitive content, making it difficult to enjoy the game without spending additional money. Overall, the sentiment is that the game's monetization practices detract significantly from its value and enjoyment.
- “I know people are unhappy with the MUT, player packs, and the monetization of video games.”
- “Because I am okay with spending money on microtransactions, but I'm not okay with buying random packs and going through that process to waste money on stuff I don't want.”
- “The sad truth is that Madden 2023 feels like a soulless cash grab by EA, a company that seems more interested in squeezing every last penny out of its loyal fanbase than delivering a quality gaming experience.”
- “It's bad enough that Ultimate Team is literally just loot boxes in a full-priced game, but as someone who refuses to even partake in that, it's extremely frustrating to have 3 back-to-back pop-up ads as soon as I launch the game and any time I try to navigate the menu.”
- “Quality has gone down and monetization has gone up.”
optimization
50 mentions
16 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
44 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players reporting severe stuttering, crashes, and graphical bugs that hinder gameplay. While some users noted improvements over previous versions, many expressed frustration with the lack of significant enhancements and the overall poor performance, particularly on PC. Overall, the game is criticized for feeling unoptimized and clunky, with many recommending older titles instead.
- “Overall, I was happy with the performance, hitting 60fps pretty much all the time.”
- “You'll also notice that the matches themselves are more optimized.”
- “This is the peak performance upgrade that we definitely needed.”
- “Same shit every year and poor PC optimization.”
- “Terrible game for PC, not optimized at all and crashed several times.”
- “The new Madden has constant stuttering and lagging that makes it completely unplayable.”
music
38 mentions
21 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users criticizing the limited selection, which heavily favors rap and lacks variety, particularly in rock or classic football tracks. While some players found the soundtrack to be somewhat enjoyable or experimental, the overall sentiment is that it pales in comparison to previous installments like Madden 04 and 06. Additionally, technical issues related to music playback have also been reported, further detracting from the experience.
- “EA got a little experimental with the soundtrack on this one, but I ended up enjoying it.”
- “The load times are short, the music slaps, and playing on all-madden-competitive isn't too absurd to enjoy.”
- “And in Madden 22, if you were the Saints, you got a cool song every time you scored a touchdown.”
- “Crap soundtracks that will never compare to Madden 04.”
- “The music selection could be a whole lot better.”
- “At least you could have some rock or metal or even some old school football music, but instead we get rap and more rap.”
humor
24 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny due to its absurd gameplay and unexpected bugs, while others express frustration over its flaws and the overall experience. Many reviewers appreciate the "so bad it's good" aspect, enjoying the nonsensical elements and the game's ability to provoke strong reactions, even if those reactions are often negative. Overall, the humor seems to stem from both the game's quirks and the players' exaggerated responses to their frustrations.
- “Doesn't deserve the hate, I like this game a lot better than 2022, but EA has a sense of humor and made PC old gen.”
- “This game makes absolutely no sense to me and it's honestly hilarious at this point.”
- “Normally, these games are guilty pleasures for me to enjoy the so bad it's good story and the hilarious gameplay that is nonsensical.”
grinding
18 mentions
6 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic commitment. Many express frustration with the lack of meaningful rewards and poor execution, particularly in menu navigation, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, concerns about the game's monetization strategies and the perceived indifference of developers further exacerbate the grinding issue.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This can be a long and tedious task.”
- “It's painfully obvious the devs don't care about anything other than farming money from MUT.”
- “Stats don't track some weeks so you don't earn your rewards for grinding the game!”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Madden '23 effectively captures the emotional highs and lows of sports, allowing players to deeply feel the impact of both failure and hard-earned victory. Longtime fans have expressed strong emotional connections to the game, with some even moved to tears by its introduction.
- “Madden '23 not only allows the player to feel the emotional impact of failure, but the true nature of achieving a well-deserved victory.”
- “I've been playing Madden since '07, and I can say I almost shed a tear when I saw the intro.”
replayability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Reviewers express disappointment in the lack of replayability in the current NFL game, suggesting that previous versions like Madden 15 offered a more engaging experience. This sentiment highlights a perceived decline in the game's ability to provide enjoyable and repeatable gameplay.
- “Madden 15 is way more playable, and that's sad.”
character development
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in this game has received significant criticism, particularly regarding the character designs, which are described as outdated and unappealing, reminiscent of low-quality models from older games. Reviewers express disappointment in the lack of realistic representation, suggesting that players who value character development may want to avoid the PC version.
- “The character designs in this game are terrible, reminding me of how Madden players looked on the Madden 12 Wii version. These character models barely look like real people most of the time, and it's just hard to look at sometimes. At least in other games, they looked like real human bodies.”