Madden 25 Review: Latest Expert Analysis on Upcoming NFL Video Game

The highly anticipated release of Madden NFL 25 is nearly upon us, so football fans everywhere can barely contain themselves.

While there are plenty of fans and gamers out there who buy Madden on a yearly basis regardless of what features have been added and what changes have been made, it is always encouraging to see positive reviews in advance of the release.

Plenty of experts across the Internet have weighed in regarding Madden's silver anniversary, and they have largely been very happy with EA Sports' latest smash hit. The reviews are quite likely to get even better when the XBox One and PlayStation 4 versions of the game are released in November, but there is a lot to like about the XBox 360 and PS3 editions until then.

Here is the latest analysis from some of the top video game experts on the web as Madden's rabid fanbase eagerly awaits Madden 25 hitting the shelves.

Jack DeVries (IGN)

There is no question that IGN is one of the foremost authorities on video games of every genre, and the site produces a comprehensive Madden review on a yearly basis. Jack DeVries handled the review this year, and he had plenty of good things to say about Madden 25. 

DeVries is especially impressed with the lengths that the developers went to in order to clean up little issues from last year's edition. He claims that the character models are better than they have ever been, and he is extremely happy about the attention to detail with regards to the tackling system.

Another gameplay improvement that DeVries mentioned is the Precision Modifier in the running game. DeVries believes that running the ball is far more rewarding this year, as star backs such as Adrian Peterson can pull off some special moves in terms of jukes, spins and hurdles. In addition to the gameplay, the modes are very similar to what EA Sports delivered last year, but there have been some changes that add to the experience, according to DeVries.

Owner Mode appeals to DeVries, as it allows gamers to take full control of a franchise, including setting prices on tickets and concessions. It also facilitates the relocation of teams, which can be especially fun for gamers who don't live in an NFL city.

Along with those changes, all of the best aspects of Madden, including Ultimate Team and Connected Franchise, are back. With all of that in mind, DeVries graded Madden 25 an 8.5/10 and said that it's "beautiful and plays great."

Mike Suszek (Joystiq)

Much like DeVries, Mike Suszek of Joystiq says his main focus when it comes to Madden 25 is improved gameplay.

While the bells and whistles are certainly nice, what good is a video game if it doesn't run smoothly?

Suszek certainly seems to subscribe to that theory, as he echoed DeVries sentiments when it comes to the game's Precision Modifier. He is also a big fan of the way that the developers have tweaked coverage, as man coverage is no longer as difficult to bust as it used to be, and both streak and wheel routes are no longer virtually unstoppable.

Suszek also likes the collision detection as players are far sturdier this year, and the blocking is much improved as well. With the read option taking the NFL by storm, Madden 25 placed greater emphasis on that tool. Suszek believes that it adds another dimension to the game:

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EA Tiburon also introduced a better read option system in Madden 25 this year, in that the game identifies which defenders to watch out for when calling the tricky plays where both the quarterback and running back are a threat to run with the ball in their hands.

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Suszek had good things to say about the ability to relocate teams in Owner Mode too. He believes that the high-quality uniforms make the teams look like they could legitimately exist in real life.

The addition of being able to import NCAA 14 draft classes into Connected Franchise is a huge selling point for Suszek as well. Overall, he gave Madden 25 four out of five stars.

Patrick Allen (Fansided)

Patrick Allen of Fansided went in a slightly different direction with his review.

He took various aspects of the game and graded them individually. Allen didn't differ from DeVries and Suszek in terms of his excitement for the game though. Gameplay is a huge selling point for him as he gave the Precision Modifier an A- and Infinity Engine 2 an A+. Allen considers the updated physics engine to be an absolutely massive improvement over Madden 13.

Allen has great things to say about Madden Share too, as he gave that aspect of the game an A+ grade. This feature has been utilized in some 2K Sports games to great acclaim, so EA Sports decided to explore it as well. Now, gamers will be able to share their playbooks, sliders and rosters with others online.

Overall, Allen gave Madden 25 an A- and he strongly recommends that fans of the series give it a try:

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Buy this game.

This is a great Madden to have, especially if you don’t plan on buying an Xbox One as soon as its released. The ability to share files means you will be able to continue updating this game, even after the next gen is released.

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That is about as strong of an endorsement as there can possibly be in Madden 25's favor, so Allen probably made the wait for Madden 25 even more unbearable for those fans who can hardly contain themselves already.

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