'Madden NFL 25' review: Yeah, it's a 'Madden' game

EA Sports Madden NFL 25 feels like a missed opportunity that could've been a timeless entry in sports gaming history, up there with NBA 2K11 and FIFA 13, had it been released in 2018. Instead, what we have is a slightly enhanced Madden 24, packed with layers of superfluous content that almost distracts from the game itself.

To be fair, I haven't seriously played a Madden game since 2017, so my perspective on the annual updates might be limited. But after diving into Madden NFL 25 with an early access code from EA Sports, I was struck by how much it captures the essence of what I always wanted from a Madden game. The interface is clean, the soundtrack energizes, the franchise mode has enough depth to keep you engaged, and the gameplay strikes a balance between authenticity and smoothness.

For someone who's been away from the series, it's a breath of fresh air — a showcase of how far the series has come. But if you've been following along year after year, Madden 25 feels like more of the same with marginal improvements. Is it worth the $70 price tag? It's hard to justify when you could instead hunt down a PS2 and NFL 2K5 for a fraction of the cost.

I played about 10+ hours of the game's various modes and my takeaway is the same as it's been with any Madden game I've ever played. Yeah, it's good, but man it could've been even better.

Madden 25 gameplay

The gameplay in this year's Madden is a more refined experience, a culmination of previous work by EA Orlando within the Frostbite Engine. When stacked against the recently released College Football 25, which emphasizes fast and flashy gameplay, Madden 25 adopts a more cerebral, methodical pace that captures the essence of the pro game. It genuinely feels like EA Orlando has perfected their use of the Frostbite engine’s animations.

Most of the changes in Madden 25 this year focus on refining and polishing the gameplay from Madden 24, with several key updates that enhance the overall experience.

First, you'll notice new solo tackle animations, more dynamic 50/50 ball interactions, and revamped blocking mechanics. The pass protection menu now allows you to see exactly who's being blocked on passing plays, and you even have the option to use the blocking technique of half-sliding your line, which provides for more nuanced protection schemes. Using the Hit Stick for tackles has become more about timing, with tight ends being notably tougher to bring down, and cornerbacks finding it nearly impossible to land a Hit Stick. However, the new "Boom Tech" feature, while a promising attempt at adding more natural-looking collision animations, has led to some glitchy interactions that could use some patching.

Stat graphics are shown more frequently throughout games, which adds to the immersion. The introduction of custom route stems is another welcome feature from CFB 25, allowing for more personalized and strategic route running.

Madden 25 delivers a lot of things in its gameplay, but "authenticity" may not be one of them. The commentary, in particular, feels hollow, lacking the soul and contextual richness that can elevate a sports game. What’s often missing from most sports titles, and Madden is no exception, is the casual, conversational tone that brings depth to the commentary. The kind of outside discourse and emotion that mirrors the intensity of an actual football game — which, let’s be honest, can be a bloodsport in its own right — is noticeably absent.

It’s a minor gripe, but the commentary doesn’t offer any unique or memorable calls during gameplay. Sure, they’ll remind you that CJ Stroud had a great rookie year, but where’s the excitement in hearing how remarkable it is to see Lions WR Jameson Williams catch three touchdowns and rack up 200+ yards years after recovering from an ACL tear and then a gambling suspension? That’s the kind of narrative that would make the commentary feel alive and connected to the game’s deeper stories.

In the end, the gameplay in this year’s Madden is fantastic, but it’s missing some of that intangible soul that could make it truly special.

Madden 25 Superstar mode

Immediately after booting Madden, I loaded up the game's Superstar mode. One of the cool additions now that College Football 25 is on the scene is that I can take my player from that game's "Road to Glory" mode and load him up in Madden.

Superstar mode is a bit lean on content, but compared to CFB 25, its initial moments are at least a bit more immersive. Where the college game asks you to pick a star rating and answer a few basic questions about your ideal playing environment, Madden takes a more hands-on approach. You’re put through the paces of the NFL Draft Combine, running the 40-yard dash, doing the bench press, broad jump, and even the shuttle cone drill. These mini-games can feel a bit like busywork, but they do add an immersive touch, making you feel like you’re actively shaping your player’s draft stock — performing well in the mini-games can increase certain attributes like agility or speed.

However, that sense of immersion quickly fades, and you’re left facing the familiar pitfalls of any "be the star" mode. After the draft, the experience devolves into a repetitive cycle of playing game after game, over and over, until you've either met all your objectives or grown tired of the grind and decided to walk away. The excitement of the early stages gives way to monotony, making it hard to stay invested for the long haul.

The mode's pacing grinds to a halt as EA Sports has introduced random cutscenes that trigger challenges and temporary attribute boosts for the upcoming game. For instance, your coach might call you in to ask whether you want to focus on short or medium passing accuracy this week. You make your choice, and the game sets up the relevant challenges. While it's a creative idea, it disrupts the flow between games, making the experience feel disjointed.

The issues don't stop there. The AI in this mode is perplexing, to say the least. The game promises that your Draft Combine performance will influence which quarterback-needy team selects you, yet I still ended up with the Atlanta Falcons. In reality, the Falcons had recently splurged on former Vikings QB Kirk Cousins ($180 million over 4 years) and drafted another quarterback with their top 10 pick just weeks later.

To make matters worse, because Superstar mode uses up-to-date rosters, the Falcons now have three quarterbacks on their depth chart. Their solution? Trade Cousins to the Los Angeles Rams, who already have Super Bowl-winning QB Matthew Stafford as their starter. It’s a bizarre, almost laughable outcome that underscores the mode's flaws and breaks any remaining immersion.

Madden 25 Franchise mode

In Madden 24, franchise mode introduced some genuine improvements that made the experience enjoyable throughout the year, Madden 25, however, has left me feeling a bit differently.

The draft presentation has undergone a complete overhaul in Madden 25. There's now a big board that shows all the teams within a round and who they pick, with Roger Goodell announcing each selection. You even get to see the player you drafted walking up to the stage to hold your team’s jersey, or if they’re not at the draft, it shows them receiving the phone call at home. After your pick, the game provides details on the true draft rank and gives backstory and analysis on the pick.

Scouting, however, remains unchanged from last year, aside from a new look for the prospect board. You can still sort players by Physical Attribute grades, Combine numbers, and Pro Day results. But these changes, unfortunately, are a major letdown. The scouting and draft sequences are painfully slow, and trying to skip through them only causes glitches that make the process even more sluggish.

While Madden 25 brings some interesting visual updates to the draft process and retains the solid scouting mechanics from 24, these additions are ultimately undermined by slow, glitchy execution and frustrating morale management. For example, I was prompted to address a potential position battle for RB1 between 68 overall rookie Sione Vaki and 84 overall Jahmyr Gibbs. Obviously, that wasn't going to happen when I said my entire team took a -10 morale hit —which seemed to drop some players’ overall ratings by 1 or 2 points for the entire season.

The potential penalties for making logical decisions in franchise mode and for saying the wrong thing during press interviews or when dealing with fussy players feel like a step back. I want an engaging and deep Franchise mode, and I'm sure a younger me would've loved this, but the me of today finds it all superfluous.

Is Madden 25 worth it?

Madden 25 is a mixed bag. On one hand, the gameplay feels better than ever, with smoother animations, more intuitive passing mechanics, and updated features like "Boom Tech" that add a layer of authenticity to tackles. The pacing feels more thoughtful compared to the flashier College Football 25, and for some players, that’s a welcome change. But while Madden nails the on-field action, it falters elsewhere.

Franchise mode, which saw genuine improvements last year, feels like a step back in Madden 25. The revamped draft presentation and scouting system, while visually interesting, are bogged down by sluggish execution and glitches. And the morale system can be downright frustrating, penalizing logical decisions with massive team-wide morale hits that can derail an entire season. Plus, the game’s reliance on playbook logic to dictate player performance still creates bizarre, unrealistic scenarios that ruin immersion in simulated seasons.

If you’re looking purely for improved gameplay mechanics, Madden 25 delivers. But if franchise mode or the overall experience is your priority, the game's flaws may leave you disappointed. It's a good game on the surface, but it lacks the soul and polish that could make it truly great. Depending on what you value in a football sim, it may or may not be worth the upgrade from Madden 24.