Madden NFL 22 Reviews

Madden NFL 22 is ranked in the 30th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
IGN
Top Critic
6 / 10.0
Aug 20, 2021

Madden NFL 22 takes a small and unimpressive first step into the Xbox Series X and PS5 generation, with even its better new ideas hobbled by poor execution.

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6 / 10
Aug 27, 2021

There's some mild improvement on last year's game but the Madden franchise still feels lost, with too little depth and too many bugs.

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Aug 20, 2021

Madden 22 goes for broke on improving Franchise mode after years on the backburner, and it mostly works, even as it comes at the expense of most other modes in a pandemic-struck year.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 19, 2021

The atmosphere enhancements are welcome additions, and the on-the-field action is largely sound, but Madden NFL 22 suffers from technical issues that hold it back

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7 / 10
Aug 20, 2021

With meaningful additions on and off the field, Madden NFL 22 marks a recent high point for the series, but technical issues get in the way.

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8 / 10
Aug 31, 2021

Madden 22 is a clear step up over last year's entry in the long-running series. Improvements to Franchise mode, gameplay enhancements that feel authentic, and a taut, competitive game of football all make this a year worth re-joining the roster for – assuming that they can get on top of the technical hang-ups.

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Forbes
Top Critic
7.8 / 10.0
Aug 20, 2021

Madden 22 is a significantly better game than Madden 21. The gameplay is smoother, franchise mode has more layers and MUT will remain a powerhouse. However, while each of the three areas deliver on one had, they each have a drawback. Also, modes like Face of the Franchise and The Yard fail to deliver in a way that moves the needle. The good outweighs the bad overall, and you’ll likely enjoy Madden if you’re a fan of the series. Still, it feels like we’re one year shy of delivering the kind of complete Madden release that really breaks new ground for the series.

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6 / 10
Aug 19, 2021

Madden NFL 22 is an upgrade from the last few entries in the series. The new momentum mechanic, addition of Quality/Performance Modes, and some changes to Franchise genuinely make it feel like a step forward. However, the game fails to skirt around some of the same issues that’s held it down for years. A poorly executed Face of the Franchise, and an Ultimate Team mode that’s pretty much more of the same stop the game from being the endzone celebration that it could be.

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 9, 2021

Madden receives a kicking each year regardless of what changes EA and Tiburon make. But it seems the developer listened a bit to the voices of dissent as what I am feeling here is a much crisper and user-friendly game than the buggy mess of last year. I will be playing this one throughout the season and very much looking forward to seeing how that pans out. Sadly, I cannot say the same for the Jets. But there is always next year.

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Aug 20, 2021

All in all, Madden NFL 22 is ultimately disappointing. Even after all these years, it still feels like EA is coasting on its exclusive rights to NFL simulation football.

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Aug 20, 2021

Madden NFL 22 features a revamped franchise mode, minor gameplay improvements and a successful story mode, but the NFL simulation is still growing stale.

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65 / 100
Aug 19, 2021

Madden 22 is a step in the right direction for the franchise. It gives everyone something to get excited about. However, they are a tad far away from being considered back to the heights of Madden in the late 00's early 10's. With time, Madden 22 could be considered the best in the past six years, but in its current state it can't be considered much better than 21. Promises only go so far, it's time to get on the field and execute the playbook.

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2 / 10
Aug 28, 2021
Madden 22 - Angry Review (& Angry Rant!) - YouTube video thumbnail
Aug 27, 2021

As well as some smart on-field tweaks, Madden's marquee mode sees notable improvements after some notable neglect

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Aug 20, 2021

With those yearly grievances aired, Madden NFL 22 is still a worthwhile pickup if you were on the fence. There's nothing that's painstakingly new in this year's release. However, next-gen technology elevates gameplay with more realistic player movements, while home field advantage is, finally, exactly that. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go draft Tim Tebow as my starting tight end.

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Aug 17, 2021

Madden NFL 22 injects some much needed improvements into a series that was dangerously close to growing stale. Coupled with some big changes to core modes, Madden NFL 22 elevates itself into one of the best from the long-running series.

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ZTGD
Top Critic
6.5 / 10.0
Sep 22, 2021

Let’s be realistic. For an annual sports franchise, it’s not necessarily practical to expect huge evolution year on year. It’s also fair to say that at a minimum, players should expect EA to deliver incremental quality of life improvements and make an effort to hone their overall experience of the game for the better. Whilst there is only so far the needle can be pushed year on year, the launch of a new Madden on next-gen systems presented EA with an opportunity to really raise the bar. That’s why it’s particularly disappointing that Madden 22 only offers stagnant content and, sadly, creative disinterest.

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6.7 / 10.0
Sep 2, 2021

Madden 22 is not a huge step forward in a series that needs to shift gears to return to its former glory. There is no shortage of interesting ideas, too bad that there are quite a few gameplay issues and that some game modes (Face to the Franchise, for example) are way too boring and uninteresting.

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3 / 10.0
Aug 20, 2021

Madden is a billion dollar franchise that has grown content. Thanks to its exclusivity deals, EA takes zero risks and fumbles each year providing us rehashed versions of previous entries. Madden NFL 22 is no different. Meager improvements are outweighed by series fatigue. Instead of focusing on giving us polished gameplay mechanics and an improved Franchise Mode, EA's focus is divided into unwelcome modes like Face The Franchise and The Yard leading to an overall incomplete and broken experience.

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85 / 100
Aug 19, 2021

It’s clear more time with next-gen hardware has paid off. Madden NFL 22 looks and feels like a step back in the right direction for the series. The core gameplay remains largely unchanged but almost every mode in this Madden experience sees a noticeable bump. Everything from the drastically improved facial animations to a robust new feature set in Franchise mode, Madden NFL 22 quickly erases the stench that Madden NFL 21 left at launch. It’s a complete experience and you could not say that last year. More updates and patches are coming but at this point, Madden NFL 22 is a rock solid purchase and one that should make the community and fans satisfied.

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