Madden NFL 23 Reviews
Even with the introduction of the new FieldSENSE technology, and updates to Franchise mode, Madden 23 is a disappointing entry into a franchise that seriously needs to reevaluate everything from the ground up. As a diehard Madden fan since my youth, I desperately wish that EA would straddle down and say enough mediocrity is enough. Sadly, it’s hard to say that day will ever come.
The foundation for an excellent entry to the Madden series is here. EA & Tiburon just need to patch up some glaring game breaking bugs. As it stands, Franchise Mode is practically unplayable and for me that is the essential component of Madden. Fans of Face of the Franchise, The Yard and Madden Ultimate Team may find some enjoyment, but it doesn't last long. Under the assumption that the issues get fixed in upcoming patches, Madden NFL 23 has potential to be the best entry in recent memory.
Madden NFL 23 honors its namesake in nearly every facet of the game, but the highly-touted FieldSense is overcomplicated and detracts from what should have been a fun and heartfelt tribute to the great John Madden.
The latest entry in the Madden franchise manages to keep the core elements that made the saga great and introduces solid new features that might not be game-changers now, but they could surely become that in the future.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Madden NFL 23 has good fundamentals and fun gameplay, but the game-as-a-service elements and micropayments end up affecting the final producto.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
After two years to forget, Madden NFL seems to have embarked on the path of redemption, with a playable tribute to the great John Madden.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Coach Madden spent years meeting with the game’s developers to ensure the authenticity of a product that bears his name. As they honor his legacy in “Madden 23” and the games to come, they’d do well to remember: If it’s in the game, it’s in the game. If it’s not, get it out.
Madden NFL 23 is an improved game when compared to Madden NFL 22, but that isn't enough to make it good.
Stripping away the flash with a bigger focus on the core basics, Madden NFL 23 feels like a breath of fresh air. It's still a series lacking an identity right now, but this year's entry is the course correction the series has desperately needed.
Maybe a release every other year with DLC and roster updates in between? You can still charge for that stuff. My greatest sadness is that this product makes me anxious about what EA Sports College Football will be like. If it's anything like the new Madden, it'll be a decent time on the field and a slog in the dynasty mode, with everything geared toward getting players to pay for digital trading cards.
If you are a seasonal fan of Madden, you will feel like Madden NFL 23 is a step in the right direction with new features to experience and updates to preexisting game modes and features. At the end of the day, this game is meant to appeal to football lovers who want to have the most realistic NFL experience.
In short, Madden 23 has progressed on the field this year in terms of providing improved presentation and gameplay (when judged as a whole) but still can't get out of its own way in terms of certain legacy-defining issues that have been with the series for years now.
Combined, Madden 23 – especially with Free Form Passing – is certainly different from Madden 22, but not necessarily all that better. It still struggles in being accessible to most, with the bar for control schemes and required knowledge of American football far too high. On-screen help is still minimal, AI generated assistance limited, and fun factor almost non-existent. It's obvious the Madden series made a sharp turn toward competitive gaming and Ultimate Team a few years back, with zero regrets.
Madden NFL 23 is the best of the last several entries, but by lacking the overhaul it really needs, it only achieves so much.
Madden NFL 23 is the best entry in the franchise in the past 10 years, but with such a low bar to clear and EA effectively having no competition, it can feel too similar to prior games to warrant the hefty $69.99 price tag.
Madden NFL 23 takes a few good steps forward, but seems to forget other aspects that will hopefully be addressed in the future.
Madden NFL 23 is a game that does quite a bit to make on-field play more fun than in years past. And even with its shortcomings, it’s finally starting to turn into the game fans have been hoping for some time.
Like a scratched record, then, we end our review of Madden NFL 23 like we have the last few releases. That’s by saying that with its numerous incremental improvements, it’s the best Madden yet. But as ever, unless you’re an ardent fan who knows the series like the back of their hand, it’s an inessential purchase if you have last year’s offering. Or perhaps even the one before that. In terms of what’s actually new here, there’s very little. And even less of monumental value.
Madden NFL 23 does some things right and delivers a good experience on the field. However, it is marked by problematic game modes and a number of bugs and technical issues that playing it is frustrating and disappointing, even for the most passionate fan of the sport.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Madden 23 unfortunately delivers another lukewarm experience that isn't saved by its new key features.