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One saying I repeat like a broken record is, “Competition breeds excellence.” It is a sad saying because it usually means a product won’t get better until it finally has someone to compete against, which happened with EA Sports Madden NFL 25. In previous years, this game held the crown high as the only proper football game in the market. Due to that, it fumbled—more than once. Yet, with the release of College Football 25, Madden NFL 25 finally steps up its game to become the best Madden in years, albeit with the lack of splendor and immersion its college counterpart provides.
Leaving the lack of the “wow” factor aside, let me make something clear: the gameplay of Madden NFL 25 has never been better. As someone who’s played the series on and off, I can say the moment-to-moment plays and interactions on the field are on point. Reading the defense, performing a good pass or run, or even the kickoff are fantastic and easy to grasp. If that’s all you want in a Madden game, this one will be perfect for you. However, for those who have stuck with all yearly releases, this one won’t dazzle or surprise players looking for something brand-new.
Too Many Modes, Not Enough Immersion
One thing I’ll always be thankful for, especially in a sports game, is its many game modes. Do you feel like managing a team? Go ahead and create your coach. Are you interested in making a player and taking them through the NFL ranks as a potential superstar? You can do that as well. It’s always nice to see this freedom of choosing whatever path you want. However, after several yearly releases, you can add only so much to keep the experience fresh.
Take the Superstar mode, for example, and my favorite in EA Sports Madden NFL 25. As much as I loved seeing Chris P. Bacon return to the fray as a full-fledged 49ers player, it lacked that factor that gripped me in College Football 25. While the drafting sequence is excellent, and the small mini-games and practice segments add a bit of realism to the process, that’s as far as it goes. The following interactions are unrealistic, with dialogues I could never picture a coach or player saying.
Furthermore, the UI doesn’t help to make things better. The menu lag gets jarring after a while. In these game modes where off-field gameplay is important, having a lot of lag when transitioning from one tab to the other is a dealbreaker. In contrast, NCAA 25 had me playing Road to Glory until the unholy night hours; in Madden‘s Superstar mode, I could only handle a few matches before putting my controller down.
Sadly, this also applies to other game modes, especially Ultimate Team, which I could only handle for a few hours. Having quick matches to complete challenges and assemble your dream team is nice. However, when opening a pack is slower than performing a play on the field, you know there’s something wrong. Most of the time, I just went for a quick match against the CPU to satiate my need for some football goodness. The bright side of all this is that the on-field gameplay is the best it’s ever been.
Impactful On-Field Gameplay
Contrary to the off-field gameplay, which could be seen as an incomplete pass, the on-field moments are like the finest touchdowns ever. Regardless of the position you pick, playing a match is a smooth ride. Whether you’re throwing passes as a QB or finding a gap in the opponent’s defense as an HB, everything is extremely responsive.
Since I always play as an HB, the tackling system, added realism to catching the ball, and juke moves are something I enjoyed more than I thought I would. Most of these systems even felt smoother than in NCAA 25, which is odd as the UI for plays and a few camera angles are similar. Also, having the whole playbook at your disposal for you to try during matches is something anyone will love, as you can experiment with different strategies.
Beyond that, another commendable thing is the game’s improved AI. After playing so many matches as the 49ers and facing different opponents, I noticed all teams played differently. It might be a placebo, but hear me out. During some games, my usual running strategy worked. However, specific teams would bring a strong defense, forcing me to look for a different approach. This made the game feel fresh and challenged me more than in College Football 25. In NCAA 25, I would execute the same plays and score constantly. Here, I had to mix and match my tactics for every game.
However, the contrast of the game’s systems baffles me. On the one hand, the developers did a terrific job at truly making the ultimate football sim—speaking strictly about the on-field moments. On the other hand, you can’t see that level of care in the off-field gameplay. While those disappointed with how Madden 24 turned out will find amazing QoL features and smoother functions, I still feel this iteration needed more time in the oven. I understand the yearly release model, but sometimes, delaying things to provide a complete package is better. If the fan base is strong like the one for Madden, it’ll wait longer for a proper, polished, and consistent game.
Not My Ideal Football Fantasy
Immersion goes beyond the interactions in the Superstar mode, how great the draft board is, or how realistic tackling someone is. For a football sim to achieve authenticity, it needs more than systems on top of systems or top-notch graphics. It needs to capture the right atmosphere. Unfortunately, EA Sports Madden NFL 25 does not deliver in that area.
It may be harsh to compare Madden 25 with NCAA 25 so much, but it is unavoidable since they are direct competition. College Football 25 captured the college football player’s vibe perfectly. Madden NFL 25, however, feels like a ghost town in comparison. The graphics are realistic, and the player movements feel organic for once. But that’s it. Where’s the big entrance moment? Where is that in-depth commentary to make me feel as if I were inside the actual game? It must have missed its draft.
A Major Improvement, But Not Quite There Yet
EA Sports Madden NFL 25 takes many steps in the right direction to finally appease its fan base. However, it feels incomplete in many ways. Often, I thought it was a dichotomy as I played. How can the on-field gameplay be so great, but the off-field tasks feel like a chore? Why, if the graphics are the best we’ve seen in years, each game feels so hollow? Of all the high points this game has, which are many, it also has many pretty noticeable lows.
Ultimately, if all you’re looking for are quick matches that let you execute slick plays, this game is for you. However, it won’t immerse you or offer anything substantial to keep you around. Unless you’re a diehard fan, you will struggle to remain in one mode for over an hour. It is strange, really, because it has all the elements to be a successful game. However, their execution is not ideal, and the drawbacks sometimes overshadow the significant parts. Still, it is a promising landscape for Madden, and I’m curious to see how the next iteration will look now that there’s competition.
Review copy provided by Publisher.
EA Sports Madden NFL 25 (PC Reviewed)
EA Sports Madden NFL 25 certainly feels like a step up in many ways, but its lack of atmosphere and realism and many of its modes make it feel like a hollow experience.
Pros
- Top-notch visuals
- Browsing and executing plays is smooth
- On-field mechanics are responsive and engaging
Cons
- A lot of lag in the menus
- Certain off-field systems feel cluttered and overwhelming
