Madden NFL 25
- August 15, 2024
- Tiburon
- 16h median play time
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Get on Epic Games Store
Get on PS Store"EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 25 and Deluxe Edition offer enhanced football gameplay with FieldSENSE™ physics, a variety of bonuses and virtual currency options. Pre-order to receive early access, player items, and strategy items. In-game purchases for additional virtual content are available."
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Gameplay enhancements, including improved tackling physics and smoother animations, make it feel more realistic than previous iterations.
- Franchise mode has received significant updates, including a revamped UI and new features that enhance the overall experience.
- The graphics and presentation have improved, providing a more immersive atmosphere that resembles an actual NFL broadcast.
- The game is plagued with bugs and crashes, particularly in Superstar mode, making it nearly unplayable for many users.
- AI behavior is inconsistent, with defenders often failing to react appropriately to plays, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The focus on microtransactions and Ultimate Team detracts from the overall enjoyment, with many players feeling that the game prioritizes profit over quality.
- gameplay211 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Madden 25 has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the smoother mechanics, improved animations, and realistic physics, while others criticize it for feeling sluggish, clunky, and riddled with bugs. Many long-time fans appreciate the minor enhancements and new features, but express frustration over persistent issues like AI problems and unresponsive controls. Overall, while there are notable improvements, the gameplay experience remains inconsistent and often feels like a rehash of previous entries.
“It has the smoothest gameplay mechanics and the most realistic animations ever implemented into a Madden game.”
“The gameplay feels very responsive, realistic, and smooth. The run game feels great, the passing game feels good, and the new physics make tackling and hit sticking much more satisfying.”
“Overall, gameplay is fantastic; franchise mode needs work.”
“Gameplay feels sluggish.”
“The gameplay is trash, the presentation is piss poor.”
“Gameplay is somehow 1 step forward 20 steps back.”
- stability123 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The stability of the latest Madden game has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, controller glitches, and various animation bugs that significantly detract from the gameplay experience. While some players have noted improved performance on certain platforms, the overall consensus is that the game feels unfinished and riddled with issues, making it nearly unplayable for many. Despite its potential, the persistent glitches and instability have led to disappointment among fans, who feel that the franchise continues to release games with unresolved technical problems.
“Runs great in handheld on my ROG Ally and also great performance on desktop.”
“Plays well, runs pretty smoothly, surprisingly no glitches or anything (that I've seen/encountered) with higher frame rates of 200+.”
“Looks great, runs great, plays great.”
“Not working, major controller glitches make the game unplayable.”
“Game constantly freezes or crashes in the middle of playing.”
“Game feels unfinished with multiple bugs and freezes.”
- graphics113 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant improvements over previous iterations, particularly in realism and detail. However, some users have criticized persistent glitches and outdated crowd visuals, likening them to older gaming systems. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered decent to good, they are not without their issues, and some players feel that the enhancements do not justify the game's price.
“I love this game... perfect graphics and great realism, nice tackling physics, great scoreboard, jumbotron, and commentary crews.”
“The presentation is top-notch, with better menus and the best graphics we've seen in a football game.”
“The graphics finally look like they should, the franchise mode is different enough and better than it has been in years.”
“Third, the graphics quality is like a 1995 Sega.”
“In 2024, it's frustrating that the crowd graphics still resemble something from the PS2.”
“The graphics are noticeably better than Madden 24, but overall the gameplay is the same old choppy mess we’ve gotten used to.”
- optimization53 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 28 % negative mentions
The optimization of this year's Madden has seen improvements over its predecessor, with faster menu navigation and better overall performance reported by some users. However, many players still experience significant issues, particularly on PC, including constant framerate drops and bugs, leading to a mixed reception regarding its optimization. While some users report stable performance on mid-range setups, others find the game poorly optimized, especially compared to other titles in the genre.
“This year's Madden has been optimized, increasing speeds between menus and progressing through each week in franchise mode.”
“There are two good sides about this game, the PC optimization is phenomenal, so thank you.”
“Performance has been really good, having only experienced a few stutters here and there.”
“However, the game is poorly optimized and you will suffer from constant framerate issues, no matter how far above the recommended specs of your PC setup is.”
“So to see this poorly optimized game is very saddening to me.”
“Horribly optimized for PC.”
- music36 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the inclusion of a nostalgic favorite and a more diverse soundtrack that includes rock music, while others criticize it for being predominantly rap and feeling like placeholder tracks. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some players considering it one of the best soundtracks in Madden history, while others find it horrendous and lacking in quality.
“Honestly the only decent part I've experienced so far has been the soundtrack, when I would normally just mute it entirely.”
“Bonus points: the soundtrack is also 🔥”
“Also, the best music a Madden has had for a while.”
“The overall music choice is awful and almost every song is just rap.”
“Even simple things like the music in a lot of spots felt like placeholder music.”
“The music, as always, is horrendous at best.”
- monetization29 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 45 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in the game has been widely criticized for its heavy reliance on microtransactions, particularly in modes like Madden Ultimate Team, which many players feel promotes a "pay-to-win" model. Despite paying a premium price for the game, users report being inundated with ads and multiple currencies, leading to a perception that the game prioritizes profit over player experience. Overall, the monetization approach is seen as predatory and a significant detractor from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Ultimate Team remains heavily focused on microtransactions, which could be a turnoff if you dislike pay-to-win elements or the grind of earning top players without spending extra money.”
“If you're buying for MUT or Superstar, just be aware that these modes are also broken, but EA will also try to squeeze your wallet with microtransactions for the trouble.”
“EA cares about in-game purchases, not the core game.”
“Even though I paid $80 for the game, they bombard you with MUT ads!”
“It's no longer about the single player experience; it's all about microtransactions and gambling.”
“The last time I bought a Madden game, it was Madden 22, and I decided that I wouldn't be buying them every year anymore because it is clear that EA just treats this game as a cash grab and won't update anything that doesn't directly make them money from microtransactions.”
- story28 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with players expressing frustration over the lack of engaging narratives and character development. Many feel that the storylines are either non-existent or poorly executed, leading to a disconnection from the gameplay experience. Additionally, technical issues and repetitive commentary further detract from the overall storytelling quality, leaving players disappointed with the current state of the game's narrative elements.
“One year that had a storyline to it, that was fun and enjoyable, but they already got away with that the last few Maddens.”
“For instance, if I don't sit my rookie QB, there should be a story that follows that, like the development points for him if he does sit.”
“This year's Madden, different story.”
“I swear I can create a better storyline in my head than the one that is being forced on me.”
“A story that does not match my personality whatsoever.”
“Same old story, same old Madden.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be time-consuming and tedious, exacerbated by laggy menus and server issues. While it is possible to achieve success through grinding, many feel that the game leans towards a pay-to-win model, requiring significant effort and luck to accumulate top-tier players.
“The menus lag on every action, making navigation tedious.”
“All of the modes are great, but it is a little pay-to-win. Still, it is possible to get good; it just takes a lot of time and grinding.”
“The servers seem a bit tedious, but that's probably just EA and the early access bugs.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often derived from its flaws, such as its pay-to-win mechanics and technical issues, which some players find amusing rather than frustrating. While the game is intended as a serious simulation, its shortcomings can lead to chuckles for those with a lighthearted perspective. Overall, the humor seems to stem from a mix of irony and the absurdity of the game's situation.
“You just might find yourself occasionally chuckling at a system that needs another year or two in the oven.”
“This could be a pro if you have a sense of humor about it like I do, but I put it here since the game is intended as a simulation.”
“The game is so pay to win it's funny.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its immersive qualities, with realistic crowd sounds and commentary that make players feel present in the action. Recent updates to stadium quality and broadcast presentation have further enhanced this experience, adding depth and specificity to the atmosphere of each venue. Overall, these improvements significantly contribute to the game's immersive environment.
“The atmosphere of the game has always been superb; when you play a game and you hear the crowd and the commentators, it really feels like you're actually there.”
“Two years ago I asked EA to improve the quality of the stadiums, and above all the atmosphere specific to each stadium.”
“If you care about the atmosphere of the game, these enhancements could make a difference in your experience.”
“The game features updated broadcast teams and a fresh presentation, which adds a new layer of immersion.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Players find the game's improved pacing and realism enhances its replayability compared to previous iterations, making it feel more engaging and playable. However, there are concerns about the overall quality and support from the developers, which may affect long-term enjoyment.
“Stay away from EA as they obviously don't care if their games and code are playable or not.”
