BOOM! Another year, another roster update?
BoomTech, Switch Stick, Storylines, Oh My! EA Sports made quite the splash this year releasing the first College Football game in a decade. Just about a month later, EA Sports is back in the game with Madden 25. This yearly release always receives criticism for being a roster update with a few new features. With College Football 25 being such a fresh take on the genre, and featuring so many revamped features, expectations are high for a refreshed pro level football experience. After all, College Football was a touchdown in terms of fast paced, and deep level gameplay and coach management. Surely, Madden 25 should advance naturally right, right? Let’s take the rock downfield and see if this game is worth leaving the college team to play.
It’s In The Gameplay
Madden 25 contains the same play modes fare players have come to expect in the game. Ultimate Team, Franchise, Superstar Mode, Quick Play, and Training Camp. There’s also a Creation Centre and the big new feature, importing your player from College Football into Superstar Mode.
I think the very first question players will have is, what is the biggest change from Madden 24 to 25 aside from graphics, rosters and Superstar Mode using College Football 25 created players. The answer is in the game modes and there’s quite a few to dive into.
Franchise and Overall
Madden 24 and most iterations before have always had pacing issues with menus and cutscenes. Expectations were low, but the loading and simulation screens were pleasantly more snappy than last year and after a few short moments, Franchise mode had begun.
The menus and UI received significant overhauls making it a breeze to navigate through. But Madden isn’t just about looking pretty, it’s still the only Pro Football game available. Jumping into gameplay, it’s immediately clear that Madden 25 is a different game than Madden 24. Players start with the new kickoff imposed by the NFL for this season. Kicking has also been changed to match the new College Football 25 mechanic. EA has done an excellent job to make players feel the difference between the pros and College. There’s also new Dynamic Storylines which place more agency on decisions made throughout playing. Promising something in a presser directly influences your team, and it can be quite a fun gamble to make. The decisions I was making felt l like I was playing an RPG more than any other Madden before. This seems natural, as Football is always about strategy but these new mechanics felt natural and well crafted. It’s a whole new way to play and helps justify the yearly price tag this time around.
In Madden 25, gameplay is slower, but not sluggish by any means. Players feel heavier in weight class and hits rumble the controller more vigorously. I chose The Raiders for my franchise mode, and the accuracy on the way Davante Adams rushes up the field was exciting to watch. Player details are much clearer and face models look less gamey. This is the flashiest franchise mode yet. The updated coaches playbook for the team was nice to see, and cutscenes between the plays seem to match the team.
Practice is key. I was pleased to see the progression from College Football 25 present in Madden as well. Playing through the mini game like practice exercises provided boosts to players that were game changing. If I practiced before one game and ran the plays vs not at all, the difference in simulating the game or playing was night and day. It’s clear that this is a deep mode for players wanting the full career mode experience.
Managing trades and building the ultimate franchise still needs some work though. Some of the suggestions were completely unrealistic. For example, one of the very first trade suggestions involved offloading Alexander Mattison for a different HB. The Raiders just signed this player… odd to suggest trading him right away. Maybe Madden 25 knows something Raider Nation doesn’t know? Other than a few small details like this, Franchise Mode felt faster, and more detailed.
Superstar Mode
Much like College Football 25, players can create a player and choose a position to play from the wide array of QB, HB, WR, LB, and CB. The creator is deep and players can even import their created character in College Football 25 to Madden 25. The connectivity of these two games makes it worth while for avid football fans to make the jump to the pros. Players can decide where their player ends up. I chose the Raiders for my RB but creating my QB made things interesting. I allowed the simulator to pick where I went and it really made a difference how I did in the combine.
The choices, dialogue, and career paths still felt as cheesy as Madden 24 though. Not many improvements are here, and I’m not sure they ever will be. If you’re playing Madden 25 for the story, you’re playing the wrong game. That being said, if a game mode exists, it would be interesting to see some more Drama.
The story has clearly been sacrificed on favour of the superstar online modes and going head to head with other players to build your custom NFL Superstar with cool digital gear. I’m not a fan of battlepass online gameplay, but if you are, this is well made system and the swag is worth getting. Going to the store, it definitely made me want to play to build up my points to grab the futuristic looking gear. The simulation football game definitely gets the arcade like makeover here.
Other Game Modes
Madden Ultimate Team (MUT) isn’t a portion I focused on much for this review because the system here hasn’t changed enough to really comment on. The biggest comment to make here, is that the cards are not enticing at all. The designs are bland and the animations feel rushed when pack opening. Many players spend their money in MUT and while it’s fun to together the best team possible, it just didn’t feel as exciting to play as Franchise Mode. It’s also cheaper to play a franchise mode as you do not need to worry about points and can make some fun trades to build your ultimate Franchise.
Presentation
The new BoomTech system helps hits look and feel bigger. The Switch Stick mechanic helps players customize their defensive approach as well. It was a high risk/high reward system that added to the overall presentation of the game. For instance, after putting double coverage on a X-Factor loaded receiver only to have the opposing player see it coming and not use their planned hot route really changed the game for me. This almost feels like the deep strategy football game players have always wanted. The biggest problem is the commentary and world building here.
The best example of inaccurate commentary came during the combine. Doing the 4 yard dash, I had a perfect take off just messed up the long run and got a terrible time. The commentary was “he just couldn’t get going right off the top there.” I was like… “but I did get going right off the top there.” In a game that is so deep with immersion and strategic decision making, I almost would rather not have any generic commentary at all.
Finally the same gripes every year with glitchy ball catches still exists here of course. After about 10 hours, I am pleased to say I didn’t see enough glitchy moments to warrant a full complaint… but if it’s physics based gameplay being toted here, it’s inexcusable to have a player bat the ball out of the air, and have it phase through the back of the intended receiver for a catch. I leaped off my couch during multiplayer in anger. But it’s just a game… Right?
Madden 25 Game Review
Summary
If you’re looking for a Football game with deep mechanics, immersive decision making, and customizable players and rosters, Madden 25 isn’t the game players need, it’s the game players deserve. There will always be something to complain about here, because there is no best football videogame contest. It’s just EA Sports. However, this year feels like a great improvement overall and definitely worth the price of entry. So jump in, and play both College Football 25 and Madden 25. It’s a great year for gaming football fans on all levels.
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