Madden NFL 25

About

"Madden NFL 25" for Xbox Series X|S offers enhanced physics-based gameplay with FieldSENSE™ and BOOM Tech, providing realistic tackling, animations, and ball carrier controls. The reimagined Franchise mode features an overhauled NFL Draft experience, personalized storylines, and Franchise Central for simplified league creation. Experience true-to-life NFL football with immersive features and physics-driven gameplay.

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

52%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,940 reviews

gameplay35 positive mentions

stability84 negative mentions

Gameplay feels smoother and more realistic compared to previous iterations.
Franchise mode has seen some improvements, including better menus and new features.
Graphics and presentation have been enhanced, making the game visually appealing.

The game is plagued with bugs and crashes, especially in Superstar mode.
AI behavior is inconsistent, leading to unrealistic gameplay experiences.
Controller support is poor, with many users experiencing remapping issues and input lag.

gameplay
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
The gameplay of the latest installment has received mixed reviews, with some praising its smoother animations and improved mechanics, while others criticize it for being slow, laggy, and plagued by bugs. Many players feel that despite some enhancements, the core gameplay remains stale and unoriginal, with persistent issues like glitches and unresponsive controls detracting from the overall experience. While some appreciate the new features and realism, others argue that the game feels like a rehash of previous versions, lacking significant innovation.
- “The gameplay feels very responsive, realistic, and smooth. It doesn't feel cheesy; the run game feels great, and the passing game feels excellent. The new physics make tackling and hit sticking much more satisfying, everything just feels really good and fun to play.”
- “Overall, gameplay is fantastic, although franchise mode needs work.”
- “The collisions feel really good, and the gameplay feels snappy. Solid gameplay, solid animations, solid tackling; at times, it feels like I'm playing a football game I'd watch on TV.”
- “Gameplay is very slow, laggy, and online is virtually unplayable because of this.”
- “Bugs abound, and the lack of meaningful improvements to core mechanics is glaring.”
- “The gameplay is trash, the presentation is piss poor.”
stability
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous users reporting severe bugs, glitches, and frequent crashes that render it nearly unplayable at times. Many players have experienced issues such as lag, freezing, and malfunctioning features, leading to frustration and a sense that the game feels unfinished. While some users find enjoyment in the gameplay despite these problems, the overwhelming consensus is that the game suffers from significant stability issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “Plays well, runs smoothly, and surprisingly, I haven't encountered any glitches, even at higher frame rates of 200+.”
- “Looks great, runs great, plays great.”
- “Runs excellently in handheld mode on my ROG Ally and also delivers great performance on desktop.”
- “It's so incredibly buggy, borderline unplayable sometimes.”
- “Game crashes and freezes all the time.”
- “Unbelievably buggy and unstable.”
graphics
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
62%
9%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising their realism and significant improvements over previous versions, while others criticize them for being choppy, buggy, and reminiscent of older technology. Many users note that despite the graphical enhancements, the overall gameplay experience remains similar to past iterations, leading to disappointment for some. Overall, while there are standout moments in the graphics, issues with optimization and glitches detract from the experience for many players.
- “The graphics are incredible, and it looks extremely realistic, almost as if I were watching a real NFL football game.”
- “Amazing graphics, tons of different plays to choose from, the Pro Bowl addition was very cool!!!”
- “The presentation is top-notch, with better menus and the best graphics we've seen in a football game.”
- “The PC optimization is subpar as changing any graphical setting turns it into a whack-a-mole of what is causing the crashes.”
- “Graphically subpar for a 2025 game.”
- “The 'upgraded' graphics and new game mechanics are not worth the roster update.”
optimization
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
46%
38%
The optimization of the game for PC has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users reporting severe performance issues, frequent crashes, and poor frame rates regardless of hardware specifications. While a few players noted improvements in performance compared to previous versions, the general consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating experience for most users. Overall, the game's optimization is considered one of its major drawbacks, with many recommending against purchasing it due to these issues.
- “Shockingly, they actually optimized PC Madden for the first time ever...”
- “If you're still bought into the idea of having a football game to play, this is the best Madden in years, gameplay-wise and optimization-wise.”
- “There are two good sides about this game: the PC optimization is phenomenal, so thank you.”
- “This game is not optimized for PC whatsoever.”
- “The PC optimization is subpar as changing any graphical setting turns it into a whack-a-mole of what is causing the crashes.”
- “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.”
music
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising it as one of the best soundtracks in Madden history, while others criticize it for being filled with low-quality tracks and an overabundance of rap. Many players appreciate the improved presentation and the inclusion of diverse music genres, but some feel that the overall selection remains lackluster and uninspiring. Overall, the soundtrack is a highlight for some, but a disappointment for others, reflecting a divide in player preferences.
- “The soundtrack, the gameplay, and they added the pump up the crowd feature!”
- “Offers great graphics and voice detail with the announcers, and great music as always!”
- “Also, the best music a Madden game has had for a while.”
- “Music: it's abysmal!”
- “Worst soundtrack I've ever heard.”
- “The music, as always, is horrendous at best.”
monetization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
42%
50%
The monetization strategy in Madden has drawn significant criticism, with players expressing frustration over the heavy reliance on microtransactions, particularly in modes like Ultimate Team. Many feel that EA prioritizes profit over gameplay quality, leading to a perception of the game as a cash grab, with constant ads and a focus on pay-to-win elements that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the monetization approach is seen as predatory and detrimental to the game's integrity.
- “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.”
- “EA cares about in-game purchases, not the core game.”
- “EA's push for microtransactions and monetization has turned this feature into the heart of Madden's profits, but it's arguably the most frustrating and cynical part of the game.”
- “EA has done nothing but bleed the soul out of Madden, prioritizing cash grabs over the love of the sport.”
- “The over-reliance on microtransactions in Ultimate Team mode continues to be a major sticking point for many players, detracting from what could be a more balanced and enjoyable game.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
65%
18%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed to negative feedback, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of engaging narratives and repetitive storylines reminiscent of previous Madden titles. While some appreciate the new features in Superstar mode, such as combine minigames, they feel that the overall storytelling remains uninspired and fails to resonate with their gaming experience. Players are frustrated by bugs and inconsistencies in the gameplay that detract from the potential for a compelling story.
- “This year's Madden has a different story.”
- “One year had a storyline that was fun and enjoyable, but they have moved away from that in the last few Maddens.”
- “I love the new storylines and the actual creation of play style with the attribute point system, similar to 2K.”
- “Same old story, same old Madden.”
- “The commentary is awful; sometimes only one person of the team is talking to themselves, and player storylines are just about non-existent or completely missing.”
- “I swear I can create a better storyline in my head than the one that is being forced on me.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is hit or miss, with some players finding it amusing, particularly in the context of its glitches and controls, while others feel frustrated by the game's issues and lack of polish. Overall, the comedic elements may appeal to those who can appreciate the absurdity of the game's shortcomings, but many users express disappointment and frustration rather than laughter.
- “So funny”
- “Yeah, this is a good game. At first, the game is funny a bit with the controls, but then sometimes you just gotta reload. The game works fine; good game.”
- “You just might find yourself occasionally chuckling at a system that needs another year or two in the oven.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it can feel tedious and time-consuming, especially with laggy menus and a pay-to-win element. While some have achieved success through extensive grinding, concerns about the game's longevity and server shutdowns contribute to a sense of wasted effort. Overall, grinding is seen as a necessary but frustrating part of the experience.
- “The server will shut down in a few years, which means your grinding will be gone, your time and money wasted, and you won't even have a player mode.”
- “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 menus lag on every action, making navigation tedious.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive qualities, with realistic crowd sounds and updated broadcast presentations that enhance the overall experience. Players feel a strong sense of presence in the stadiums, and recent improvements have made the atmosphere even more engaging, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics.
- “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.”
- “The game features updated broadcast teams and a fresh presentation, which adds a new layer of immersion.”
- “If you care about the atmosphere of the game, these enhancements could make a difference in your experience.”
- “Two years ago I asked EA to improve the quality of the stadiums, and above all the atmosphere specific to each stadium.”
- “Still Madden, the gameplay is mostly the same; EA devs don't understand much about basic football strategy, the atmosphere in-game is much better though.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Users express frustration with EA's lack of attention to game quality, impacting overall replayability. However, some note that the latest iteration offers a more realistic and playable experience compared to previous versions, potentially enhancing its replay value.
- “The replayability in this game is fantastic, with so many different strategies and approaches to explore.”
- “Each playthrough feels unique, thanks to the diverse character options and branching storylines.”
- “I love how the game encourages multiple runs, with new challenges and unlockables that keep it fresh every time.”
- “The lack of meaningful content updates makes it hard to find reasons to replay the game.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to dive back in.”
- “The game feels repetitive after just a few playthroughs, lacking the depth to keep players engaged.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users feel that the game lacks emotional depth, describing it as a mere checklist of achievements that fails to provide any meaningful emotional payoff.