Madden NFL 18

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 54

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 54

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 54

A summary of the critical opinion for this game will be provided after release or a minimum of 15 reviews have been aggregated.

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for Madden NFL 18

Reviews

High Score - 100/100

Low Score - 60/100

Silver TIER

44% of scored reviews fell within the range of 80 to 86 / 100

Bradley Russell (GamesRadar+)

3.5/5 stars

“Madden 18 shines brightest with its new Longshot mode, but the lack of improvements elsewhere makes this year’s Madden offering an incremental – but still highly-playable – update.”

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Owen Good (Polygon)

8/10

“Madden NFL 18 doesn’t shake up its gameplay but the new story mode is a success.”

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Matthew Kato (Game Informer)

8.3/10

“Madden 18’s benefits don’t immediately jump out at you, but they are worth exploring”

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**Read all 54 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (54 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Arcade Sushi	Luke Brown	9 / 10	08-17-2017	With a new engine and a new approach that welcomes players of all skill levels, Madden NFL 18 is quite possibly the best this football franchise has ever been.	Read review
Areajugones	Sergio Álvarez	9 / 10	09-12-2017	Madden 18 is the best installment of the series in the last years. Very solid andwith stunning graphics thanks to the Frostbite engine. Great both for the veterans of the genre and for the newcomers.	Read review
Atomix	David Berrones	80 / 100	08-18-2017	Madden NFL 18 is a solid sports game. It's an immersive experience that all kind of fans can enjoy. But, being honest, it doesn't offers much novelties from previous entries. The story mode is interesting and with a good script, although we wish it lasted a little longer.	Read review
Attack of the Fanboy	Al McCarthy	3 / 5 stars	08-21-2017	Madden NFL 18 marks a second consecutive year of Madden football in a holding pattern. Features and additions to this year's game either just don't feel noteworthy, or miss the mark entirely.	Read review
CGMagazine	Bryan Calhoun	8 / 10	08-29-2017	Finally! A football game that literally anyone could play, but that does not mean everyone will enjoy it.	Read review
Cheat Code Central	Lucas White	4.5 / 5 stars	08-17-2017	If you don't know what you're doing, play Longshot and figure out if you're into it or not. Maybe go through some tutorials, maybe get a more knowledgeable friend to walk you through the basics, and play some couch co-op together. Once you get your feet wet, get into MUT Squads and let your buddies play offense and defense, while you pick head coach and continue learning. Or you're already familiar but you aren't great, so you set the game to arcade mode, play Longshot a few times, then build up your MUT game to a huge OVR rating. Or, of course, you're a huge Madden nerd and you're tweaking the minutia in the options for hours before you even start playing. Madden NFL 18 wants to be a Madden for everyone, and it's built to allow a player of any skill level to mold their experience around themselves.	Read review
COGconnected	Trevor Houston	84 / 100	08-16-2017	This makes this Madden feel more like a Madden for everyone, not just for those tournament and league diehards.	Read review
Destructoid	Cory Arnold	7.5 / 10	08-31-2017	Most of the Madden 18 experience is exactly what you expect, but the twist is the new exceptional Longshot mode that proves sports can be an avenue for video game storytelling. Turn off false start, offensive holding, and instant replay; raise catching ability through the roof; and stay away from the slimy Ultimate Team mode. Do that and you'll have a good time with Madden 18. Go Bucs!	Read review
Digital Chumps	Nathaniel Stevens	9 / 10	08-07-2017	Madden NFL 18 brings a lot more improvements than not. The presentation of the game has been upgraded, though still scattered with some imperfections. Not many, but some. The improvement of Ultimate Team with the MUT Squad is a welcomed one and adds more depth and life to the mode. The addition of Longshot to the mix also brings a true campaign mode to the Madden franchise, which adds some value to the overall package. All in all, EA Tiburon continues to find new ways to improve their Madden series and so far, at least in the last few years, they're doing a good job of bringing worthwhile experiences to gamers. Definitely check this one out.	Read review
Digital Trends	Steven Petite	4.5 / 5 stars	08-17-2017	'Madden NFL 18' is really two great games in one stellar package.	Read review
Digitally Downloaded	Nick H.	4 / 5 stars	08-25-2017	I look forward to the fresh roster updates, appreciate subtle tweaks to a series that I have been playing yearly for more than twenty years and thoroughly enjoyed the two major modes additions.	Read review
DualShockers	Tomas Franzese	8.5 / 10	08-17-2017	Madden NFL 18, with its variety of new modes and features, has quickly become may favorite entry in the Madden series to date. MUT Squads and Longshot are both very engaging, and the new playstyles and target passing mechanics spice up regular games and Franchise mode. Though the transition to Frostbite wasn't flawless, as the game suffers from long loading times and occasional slowdown, gameplay and content wise, Madden NFL 18 is the strongest in the series, so I would recommend it to both avid football fans and those who have not picked up Madden over the past few years.	Read review
EGM	Ray Carsillo	7 / 10	08-16-2017	Although the new Longshot mode shines, Madden misses the mark with a few of its gameplay additions this year—so if you don't immediately take a liking to them and choose to ignore them, the experience will feel a lot like last year's. Meanwhile, the additions to MUT feel unnecessary, and like a desperate attempt to get more people playing—and potentially investing in microtransactions.	Read review
Forbes	Brian Mazique	8.1 / 10	08-17-2017	This is a really good football game that you will probably enjoy, but you will also likely still have some gripes. Madden 18 takes noticeable steps in gameplay and depth, but it's still teasing us with true greatness.	Read review
Game Informer	Matthew Kato	8.3 / 10	08-17-2017	Madden 18's benefits don't immediately jump out at you, but they are worth exploring	Read review
Game Revolution	James Kozanitis	3 / 5 stars	08-19-2017	But really the question should be what does the game add? Madden NFL 18 perhaps marginally improves on graphics that still feel stuck in the past, it introduces an ultimately flawed story mode and a gameplay mechanic that you're better off not using. All the while, it's most notable new addition, the “Play Live Now” feature, feels like you could get the same experience from a mobile phone app. Oh they have one of those, too, you say? Great.	Read review
Gameblog	Olivier Cortinovis	8 / 10	09-11-2017	Comprehensive, realistic and highly technical, Madden NFL 18 rises to the level of the best sports simulations games. Boosted by the Frostbite engine, the game is not only a visual feast but also offers quite a decent challenge for advanced players.	Read review
GameSkinny	Jonathan Moore	8 / 10	08-19-2017	Although it can't shed all of its perennial problems, Madden 18 increases its draft stock with some high-quality off-season picks.	Read review
GameSpot	Alex Newhouse	9 / 10	08-19-2017	An intensely personal story mode, graphical upgrades, and frequent updates make Madden NFL 18 one of the series' best games in recent memory.	Read review
GamesRadar+	Bradley Russell	3.5 / 5 stars	08-17-2017	Madden 18 shines brightest with its new Longshot mode, but the lack of improvements elsewhere makes this year's Madden offering an incremental – but still highly-playable – update.	Read review
GameZone	Cade Onder	8 / 10	08-17-2017	Madden 18 innovates in a lot of areas and while it fumbles with some of the modes, it manages to make up for it with incredible gameplay, visuals, and online play.	Read review
GamingBolt	Alex Jackson	7 / 10	08-21-2017	Longshot is a promising start to story mode for Madden, and with polish could become even more special. In all, it's more Madden, but with a few flourishes that make it a decent time.	Read review
GamingTrend	Patrick Rost	80 / 100	08-21-2017	Overall, this is a really great Madden release with a few errors that need fixing.	Read review
Generación Xbox	Rafael Ramirez	8 / 10	09-03-2017	One more year of Madden NFL, with a lot of emphasis on its particular history mode, called Longshot and a intensification of the mechanics for the experts at the Madden Ultimate Team mode.	Read review
God is a Geek	Chris White	9 / 10	08-22-2017	EA Tiburon has improved on last year, and Longshot is one of the finest additions to the series in a long time.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Cory Wells	4.5 / 5 stars	08-16-2017	This is possibly the biggest update that a Madden game has ever seen.	Read review
IGN	Dustin Toms	8.6 / 10	08-23-2017	The shift to the Frostbite Engine definitely lets Madden NFL 18 look fantastic, and Longshot makes great use of that to tell a short but powerful against-all-odds story. MUT Squads also opens up a new way to play with more than two players. But beyond that, the underwhelming feel of gameplay improvements and lack of much of anything new within Franchise, Madden NFL 18 sails wide-right in the final seconds. That said, being a much better-looking version of a solid football game with a great new story mode makes it at least a significant improvement, even if it's more incremental than we'd hoped from a new game engine.	Read review
IGN Italy	Raffaello Rusconi	8.5 / 10	09-07-2017	Madden NFL18's gameplay is a small step forward for the series. It's a good football game, but not a masterpiece	Read review
IGN Spain	Ángel Llamas	8.4 / 10	09-04-2017	The best Madden videogame ever created.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Tory Favro	3.9 / 5 stars	09-05-2017	'Long Shot' is one of the best things Madden players have seen in a while, and many players wanted it.	Read review
LevelUp	Rodrigo Villanueva	8 / 10	08-22-2017	To the hardcore fan, Madden NFL 18 will be an inconsistent experience. For every change or improvement made in the form of Frostbite or MUT Squads, there's a raw aspect or a neglected aspect, such as the Franchise's inconsequential tweaks, the presentation shortcomings in Longhot or the irritating loading screens. If you are new to the franchise, on the other hand, this is a solid sports game.	Read review
New Game Network	Josh Hinke	70 / 100	09-04-2017	It's nice to see Madden NFL 18 taking risks and experimenting, with good results like the Longshot mode. Hopefully the franchise will continue to refine what works, and iron out some of the technical imperfections and lackluster game modes.	Read review
Nexus	Jarred Milner	8.5 / 10	10-03-2017	When you reach the 4th down and nearing a touchdown, Madden 18 delivers, just. It’s got a fresh new look to it, great production value (as ever), an awesome soundtrack and a story mode that raises the bar.	Read review
NZGamer	Dene Benham	8.3 / 10	09-07-2017	Dene received a digital copy of Madden NFL 18 from EA for review.	Read review
Player.One	Phillip Martinez	9 / 10	08-16-2017	Madden 18 introduces some game-changing new features in Longshot and MUT Squads and they really usher in a new era for the franchise.	Read review
Player2.net.au	Matt Hewson	Recommended	09-05-2017	But what sets this Madden apart is the wide open arms it has for newcomers, which is something a lot of serious sports titles forget to include. If you have ever thought about dipping your toes into Madden but have been put off by the complexity, then this is the year to do it, you will probably never get a better chance.	Read review
PlayStation LifeStyle	Tyler Treese	9 / 10	08-17-2017	Madden NFL 18 is an impressive leap forward for the series. Not only is Longshot an ambitious and fantastically told story, it’s one that isn’t limited to pre-existing football fans. There’s also more ways to enjoy the game than ever before, as there are several play styles that will mold the game into either a more realistic or arcade-like experience depending on what the user desires. EA Tiburon has set a new high bar for the series, that they’ll have to work towards reaching every year going forward. For now, though, NFL fans can enjoy one of the best sports games that Electronic Arts has ever put out.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Timothy Nunes	8.5 / 10	08-26-2017	Madden NFL 18 is a breath of fresh air in the franchise, highlighted with Longshot, a new engine, and more accessible game modes to round off the package.	Read review
Polygon	Owen Good	8 / 10	08-17-2017	Madden NFL 18 doesn't shake up its gameplay but the new story mode is a success.	Read review
Push Square	Sam Brooke	7 / 10	09-05-2017	Though the new Longshot mode is ultimately a disappointment and the gameplay hasn't changed much, Madden NFL 18 is still an excellent pigskin sim despite its lack of competition. Welcoming for newcomers and deeply detailed for die-hards, this year's edition of the long-running franchise is certainly not a Maddening experience.	Read review
Shacknews	Asif Khan	9 / 10	08-24-2017	Madden NFL 18 is one of the best Madden games I have ever played. It's accessible to new players and offers brand new experiences for seasoned video game football vets. There are some years when Madden just doesn't have the right feel, and I usually will be the first to tell folks to hold off on buying the game. But this is not one of those years. 2018 is coming, and Madden is ready to give you hours of awesome gameplay experiences.	Read review
Sirus Gaming	Jarren Navarrete	8 / 10	09-08-2017	Madden NFL 18 is a great game. In comparison to the previous Madden games, this installment has the most improvements in order to maximize the fun for its player audience. If your a fan of football and video gaming, this game is one to put on your to buy list.	Read review
Sports Gamers Online	Michael Straw	9 / 10	08-16-2017	Madden 18 is a game that finally shows fans what the developers can do when harnessing the full power of the current generation of consoles.	Read review
The Outerhaven Productions	Clinton Bowman-Christie	5 / 5 stars	09-03-2017	Madden NFL 18 is near perfection, and I couldn't be happier to continue playing this game.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Dominic Leighton	9 / 10	08-30-2017	Madden 18 is yet another triumph for the series, and this year's big success story is the game's Longshot narrative. It seems incongruous to be talking about heartfelt, well-acted storytelling in a Madden game, yet it's a perfect fit, hanging some drama off EA's rock-solid mechanics and fantastic visuals.	Read review
ThisGenGaming	ThisGenGaming Reviews	8.5 / 10	10-25-2017	Overall I was very impressed with the around 5 hour long story mode, and I hope to see it become a staple for the Madden series in future releases. It's story heavy and you should expect gameplay to light in this mode as story and narration is the number one focus in this mode as it should be.	Read review
TrueAchievements	Mark Delaney	3.5 / 5 stars	08-31-2017	The question at the heart of a new sports game in an annualized series is twofold: What does it do for yearly players and what does it do for those who may have been away for a while? If you haven't played in a few years, this year's Madden makes for a good time to jump in with the most diverse game modes ever on offer.	Read review
Twinfinite	Ed McGlone	4.5 / 5 stars	08-17-2017	Last year, I said that Madden NFL 17 was refined, yet was lacking something. Something that could shake the series up. Well, this year they took a gamble with Longshot and it paid off.	Read review
Use a Potion	Daryl Leach	9.1 / 10	08-31-2017	Madden 18 offers enough of the same from a gameplay perspective to ensure that returning gamers will have more of what they have loved over the years, but there have been plenty of refinements made to ensure the whole experience feels fresh too. Tackles are more believable, the AI of your opponent more intelligent, the offense play more tactical – there are just a lot of little tweaks that come together to make Madden 18 feel superior to its predecessors, both from a gameplay perspective but also in presentation too.	Read review
USgamer	Kat Bailey	4.5 / 5 stars	08-17-2017	Madden 18 shines where it matters most: On the field. The transition to Frostbite is seamless, and the balance of the running, the pass rush, and coverage feels better than ever. By comparison, Longshot is a little rougher, but it's an interesting and ambitious first attempt. Between Longshot, the Frostbite transition, the more balanced gameplay, and MUT Squads, there's a lot to like about Madden 18. In a four year march that has seen steady progress with each iteration, this is the best upgrade yet.	Read review
Washington Post	Harold Goldberg	Recommended	08-29-2017	While some of "Longshot" equates to creditable narrative, its tone deafness has to be dealt with in the next Madden, the landmark 30th anniversary.	Read review
We Got This Covered	Charles Blades	3.5 / 5 stars	08-16-2017	Madden NFL 18 doesn't reinvent the sports game narrative, but it does enough to move the chains and inch a little closer toward the end zone.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Madden NFL 18 takes a significant visual leap with the power of the Frostbite engine. See stunning new stadium exteriors surrounded by vast cityscapes and watch the spectacle of NFL gameday come to life in the most photorealistic game to date. Play each matchup to your specifications by selecting from three new Play Styles or play the best real world match ups each week in Play Now Live! With the introduction of even more ways to play, coupled with your favorite modes, Madden Ultimate Team and Franchise, this is Madden like you’ve never seen before.

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