Madden NFL 22 Reviews
Madden 22 is a ridiculously safe bet for EA. We’re hopefully on the cusp of getting fully dedicated next gen games that leave behind PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in favor of having a truly superior product, at least in the sports genre. Even though companies like Sony are betting on releasing crossgen AAA’s like Horizon: Forbidden West, it’s truly to fans’ best interest getting an evolutionary step when in comes to EA’s sports catalog, which as it stands in a unique position of being literally the only game in town and in result, is stagnant and tired. Will Madden 23 get over this hump? We’ll find out in twelve months from now.
As usual, Madden is best enjoyed with friends on Sunday mornings before watching games on TV, but most of what’s available beyond Exhibition mode feels like a downgrade from the same product released 10 years ago.
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.
Madden 22 bets on intelligent changes that perhaps fall a little short, but if they continue in the future they can be excellent. A title that I can not recommend for those who start in the franchise or in the sport for the number of elements it has and the little explanation of them during the game, but it is a title that I suggest to those who have already enjoyed Madden before, even in the version of the last generation being that here you will find interesting news and a new list of activities to invest many hours of life.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
Madden NFL 22 disappoints on several levels whether it is for its gameplay which offers virtually no change since last year or even in its visual aspect which is not worthy of the new generation. Not to mention that the Face of the Franchise mode offers no real interest in low impact dialogue and poor quality cutscenes. If you already have last year's edition, this edition is clearly not necessary!
Review in French | Read full review
Madden NFL 22, I feel, is the first Madden in a long time that has added something significant, with a few smaller additions as well, without taking steps backwards. The full revamp of the Franchise Mode is really great and finally something done for the fans that isn’t around MUT or selling packs. While there is still plenty of greed here and even an added way for them to sell even more MT’s, the focus on some single player aspects is appreciated.
Madden NFL 22 takes a step forward, but still has a long way to go. Although varied and extensive, the game doesn't seem very interested in attracting non-American audiences.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Madden NFL 22 definitely tries to get things right, but the lack of competition turns it into its own worst enemy. The rush to release a new game every year during a period in which game development takes more time than ever results in an incomplete and bug-filled launch. EA Vancouver skipped a next-gen version of NHL 20 to try to knock things out of the park with NHL 21 — maybe EA Tiburon should have done the same with Madden. If they do not learn from their mistakes, they might stumble into the same fate they have with their own NBA Live series.
I really wanted to like Madden NFL 22. After a hiatus from the franchise, however, I find myself facing the very same issues that made me stop playing the game in the first place after trying out this year’s iteration. These include a lack of significant changes to the gameplay as well as a host of game-breaking bugs and glitches. All in all, Madden NFL 22 probably isn’t as bad as some of the game’s more vociferous critics make it out to be. But “not as bad” isn’t exactly something to aspire to when you’re the only football game in town — or for any game for that matter. As a longtime player since the 16-bit days, seeing Madden stuck in neutral once again is a heartbreaker. Here’s hoping things get better as no one would like to see Madden make a comeback more than longtime fans such as myself.
Madden NFL 22 makes the same mistakes the franchise has had in recent years and its successes are not enough to reverse the score against.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Madden NFL 22 has brought even more realism with the ability to manage the coaching staff, a great option for those who follow every detail of their favorite franchise, and GameDay Momentum, very welcome additions after last year's "copy and paste". However, the game continues with the sameness of the other game modes, which had little or no change, and does not open the doors, at least in a more inviting way, to beginners or more casual players.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Madden 22 looks like a sort of transition edition: it winks at the next-gen but doesn't fully exploit its potential, adds interesting new features but doesn't fully rectify some old flaws. The gameplay is still very good, but we are partially disappointed by the lack of the quality leap we were expecting.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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.
When it's the only show in town, it's impossible to recommend alternatives. Madden 22 returns almost all of 21, but with some slight immersion and gameplay upgrades. Annoying bugs and gameplay question marks persist, as does the convoluted and highest barrier of entry control scheme. Still, veterans of the series – especially most skilled – will willingly dive in.
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.
As well as some smart on-field tweaks, Madden's marquee mode sees notable improvements after some notable neglect