Madden NFL 21 Reviews
On the whole, Madden NFL 21 is an impressive title.
Marked more by its technical problems than by the improvements made this year, Madden NFL 21 is a clear step back in the franchise. Its news seems empty or just corrections of bad changes made in the past, while its qualities are essentially things that were already present in the previous game.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dedicated players are going to pick this game up no matter what, but it’s tough to justify a $60 purchase on a game that feels too similar to what we’ve gotten the past three-plus years.
Madden NFL 21 isn’t a bad game. It’s good, in fact. It just feels wholly unnecessary.
Considering that this could be the closest thing we see to "normal" football for a long time, Madden NFL 21 works. However, I can't shake the feeling that more could be done. Some things feel practically untouched. The create-a-player faces are still weird. Why can there be such a discrepancy in head sizes? Why can't I seem to port over the player I created in Face of the Franchise into a regular roster or at least have him available in regular create-a-player? The array of quarterback throwing motions still seems limited, and it pales in comparison to the way players in other sports games are so heavily signaturized. I still feel there's plenty of work to be done with this franchise, and that so-called "next level" we keep looking for can be reached. For now, I might tighten up my Yard skills, see what new decisions I can make in a new career mode, and beef up on my RPO mastery while I hope for more in next year's Madden outing.
Madden 21 takes a few shots down field but ultimately plays it safe - and in some ways, too safe.
It'll take years for Madden to truly become a standout sports game again, as the mediocrity has gone on for too long for massive change to happen overnight, but Madden 21 is a promising step in the right direction.
Madden NFL 21 is completely satisfactory for anyone who wants to learn everything about this sport.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Madden is the only option in the market for football fans but still it has some improvements over last years edition. The gameplay received a few tweaks with makes it feel somewhat fresh, but nothing to call home about.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I am always a sucker for sports games. Yes, they are mostly repetitive, but it is precisely that element that appeals to me. I don’t play exclusively in the sports genre, but if I ever want to escape into something, then its sports that I often turn to. It’s like a comfy pair of slippers or a warm blanket on a stormy winter afternoon. You can nestle down and go with the familiar. You know what to do, yet there are still variances, none more so than in an (American) football game.
Despite having a unique new game mode in response to the FIFA Tour, Madden NFL 21 has no content to justify its acquisition and the hefty price charged. For new players, who are starting now and do not care about the value, it may even be valid, but for those who came from the previous version the game is just an update.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The first and more notable introduction to the game series is The Yard. When you were a kid, you probably had a nice summer evening or two where you and a group of friends would go outside and play a round of flag football. The rules are different and the way you play is almost more unique, but the heart and soul of the game is very much the same. That is what The Yard is trying to tackle here. You play 6 vs. 6 and depending on where you play, the rules can be pretty different. Like the backyard football I played as a kid, once the play starts, defenders have to call out Mississippis before they can rush the QB. Depending on how you customize your team makes a big difference as well. Honestly, this mode is the saving grace that Madden 2021 has going for it.
Madden NFL 21 is a strange beast. It is the same fun football experience that millions of players have come to love, yet I still expected a little more from it. While it features refined gameplay and fun game modes, its lackluster story mode and plethora of graphical glitches don’t reflect what a game releasing this year should look like. The online modes will keep you playing through various simulation and customizable options, but most of this is just more of the same in comparison to what has already been delivered.