Madden NFL 22

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 39

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Madden NFL 22 features some much needed (albeit meager) improvements, and this is probably the best Madden in the past six years, but EA is still coasting on its exclusivity deal with the NFL.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 39

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 39

Madden NFL 22 features some much needed (albeit meager) improvements, and this is probably the best Madden in the past six years, but EA is still coasting on its exclusivity deal with the NFL.

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Critic Reviews for Madden NFL 22

Critic Reviews

Score Distribution

39

Reviews

Average Score

100

Ranges

6/10

Kat Bailey (IGN)

Madden NFL 22 takes a small and unimpressive first step into the Xbox Series X and PS5 generation, with even its better new ideas hobbled by poor execution.

August 20, 2021 |

Full Review

The atmosphere enhancements are welcome additions, and the on-the-field action is largely sound, but Madden NFL 22 suffers from technical issues that hold it back

August 19, 2021 |

Full Review

7/10

Brian Shea (Game Informer)

2.5/5 stars

Diego Perez (Attack of the Fanboy)

All in all, Madden NFL 22 is ultimately disappointing. Even after all these years, it still feels like EA is coasting on its exclusive rights to NFL simulation football.

August 20, 2021 |

Full Review

Kat Bailey (IGN)

6/10 - (Read Review)

Madden NFL 22 takes a small and unimpressive first step into the Xbox Series X and PS5 generation, with even its better new ideas hobbled by poor execution.

Brian Shea (Game Informer)

7/10 - (Read Review)

The atmosphere enhancements are welcome additions, and the on-the-field action is largely sound, but Madden NFL 22 suffers from technical issues that hold it back

Diego Perez (Attack of the Fanboy)

2.5/5 stars - (Read Review)

All in all, Madden NFL 22 is ultimately disappointing. Even after all these years, it still feels like EA is coasting on its exclusive rights to NFL simulation football.

**Read all 39 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (39 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Atomix	Ernesto Olicón	80 / 100	08-20-2021	‎It’s a very good title, yes. Perhaps the best football game out there today. The situation is, however, that it continues to work under the scheme of past titles and has a very recent delivery as a comparison. Madden 22, therefore, meets reaching the first and 10. He lacks for touch down, although he has to put together a match and be in the game.‎	Read review
Attack of the Fanboy	Diego Perez	2.5 / 5 stars	08-20-2021	All in all, Madden NFL 22 is ultimately disappointing. Even after all these years, it still feels like EA is coasting on its exclusive rights to NFL simulation football.	Read review
CGMagazine	Philip Watson	5.5 / 10	08-26-2021	Madden NFL 22 is another Madden game, with not many new features to warrant a new price label of $59.99. If you do not like NFL Football, you will not like this game. While known NFL commentators such as Rich Eisen lend their talent to this entry, it is wasted by being overshadowed by nameless voices called ‘coach’. Ultimately, if you own Madden NFL 21 and don’t NEED to play online, you could possibly skip this entry.	Read review
Chalgyr’s Game Room	Nick Herber	7.75 / 10	08-23-2021	If you’re one of those people who feel like the annual releases are nothing more than roster updates, most likely it would take a massive release to convince you otherwise, and Madden NFL 22 is not that title. That being said, if you enjoy the core gameplay of the Madden franchise and can’t wait for some NFL action? There’s still a lot of fun to be had here and I certainly enjoyed my time with the game.	Read review
COGconnected	Trevor Houston	85 / 100	08-19-2021	It’s clear more time with next-gen hardware has paid off. Madden NFL 22 looks and feels like a step back in the right direction for the series. The core gameplay remains largely unchanged but almost every mode in this Madden experience sees a noticeable bump. Everything from the drastically improved facial animations to a robust new feature set in Franchise mode, Madden NFL 22 quickly erases the stench that Madden NFL 21 left at launch. It’s a complete experience and you could not say that last year. More updates and patches are coming but at this point, Madden NFL 22 is a rock solid purchase and one that should make the community and fans satisfied.	Read review
Digital Chumps	Nathaniel Stevens	6 / 10	10-06-2020	Madden NFL 22 has some good parts to it, mainly the usual suspects, but falls flat with Face of the Franchise. I know Face of the Franchise is a key part of Madden’s success and what fans look forward to as a main piece of the Madden pie each year, but honestly, it has so many glitches in it that at times it is unplayable. Could these be fixed, and this year’s title saved? Most definitely, but as it stands at launch, the game has issues that need rectifying.	Read review
Forbes	Brian Mazique	7.75 / 10	08-20-2021	Madden 22 is a significantly better game than Madden 21. The gameplay is smoother, franchise mode has more layers and MUT will remain a powerhouse. However, while each of the three areas deliver on one had, they each have a drawback. Also, modes like Face of the Franchise and The Yard fail to deliver in a way that moves the needle. The good outweighs the bad overall, and you’ll likely enjoy Madden if you’re a fan of the series. Still, it feels like we’re one year shy of delivering the kind of complete Madden release that really breaks new ground for the series.	Read review
Game Informer	Brian Shea	7 / 10	08-19-2021	The atmosphere enhancements are welcome additions, and the on-the-field action is largely sound, but Madden NFL 22 suffers from technical issues that hold it back	Read review
GameSkinny	Steven Green	6 / 10	08-23-2021	Madden 22 makes strides in several areas, but lack of polish, numerous bugs, and mostly reloaded content put it behind the sticks.	Read review
GameSpew	Richard Seagrave	7 / 10	08-20-2021	If you have Madden NFL 21, the changes here might not be enough for you to consider parting with your hard-earned cash for Madden NFL 22. It is undoubtedly a better game than last year’s version, so if you’re an ardent fan you’ll probably do so anyway. Gameday atmosphere successfully adds to the ambience from one match to the next, while the new momentum system adds a nice tug-of-war element as players fight for helpful perks. It’s just a shame that outside of Franchise mode there are few developments worthy of note, while Face of the Franchise seriously needs some work. Also, I want a proper story mode back again, EA. I miss Longshot.	Read review
GameSpot	Richard Wakeling	7 / 10	08-20-2021	With meaningful additions on and off the field, Madden NFL 22 marks a recent high point for the series, but technical issues get in the way.	Read review
GamesRadar+	Mark Delaney	3.5 / 5 stars	08-20-2021	Madden 22 goes for broke on improving Franchise mode after years on the backburner, and it mostly works, even as it comes at the expense of most other modes in a pandemic-struck year.	Read review
GamingBolt	Matt Bianucci	7 / 10	08-20-2021	Madden 22 has begun to address some major issues, and while it hasn’t fixed or updated everything, the dynamic on-field abilities and improved game modes make the future look a little brighter for the franchise.	Read review
GamingTrend	Adam Moreno	65 / 100	08-19-2021	Madden 22 is a step in the right direction for the franchise. It gives everyone something to get excited about. However, they are a tad far away from being considered back to the heights of Madden in the late 00’s early 10’s. With time, Madden 22 could be considered the best in the past six years, but in its current state it can’t be considered much better than 21. Promises only go so far, it’s time to get on the field and execute the playbook.	Read review
Generación Xbox	Gabriel Fuentes	7.7 / 10	09-11-2021	‎Madden 22‎‎ bets on intelligent changes that perhaps fall a little short, but if they continue in the future they can be excellent. A title that I can not recommend for those who start in the franchise or in the sport for the number of elements it has and the little explanation of them during the game, but it is a title that I suggest to those who have already enjoyed Madden before, even in the version of the last generation being that here you will find interesting news and a new list of activities to invest many hours of life.‎	Read review
God is a Geek	Sean Smith	7.5 / 10	09-09-2021	Madden receives a kicking each year regardless of what changes EA and Tiburon make. But it seems the developer listened a bit to the voices of dissent as what I am feeling here is a much crisper and user-friendly game than the buggy mess of last year. I will be playing this one throughout the season and very much looking forward to seeing how that pans out. Sadly, I cannot say the same for the Jets. But there is always next year.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Cory Wells	4.5 / 5 stars	08-20-2021	There will still be clickbait videos for Madden bugs out there because that’s a thing that exists.	Read review
IGN	Kat Bailey	6 / 10	08-20-2021	Madden NFL 22 takes a small and unimpressive first step into the Xbox Series X and PS5 generation, with even its better new ideas hobbled by poor execution.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Paul Stuart	3.8 / 5 stars	08-30-2021	When it’s the only show in town, it’s impossible to recommend alternatives. Madden 22 returns almost all of 21, but with some slight immersion and gameplay upgrades. Annoying bugs and gameplay question marks persist, as does the convoluted and highest barrier of entry control scheme. Still, veterans of the series – especially most skilled – will willingly dive in.	Read review
LevelUp	Víctor Rosas	6.5 / 10	09-02-2021	Madden NFL 22 makes the same mistakes the franchise has had in recent years and its successes are not enough to reverse the score against.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	Jay Jaffa	6 / 10	08-27-2021	There’s some mild improvement on last year’s game but the Madden franchise still feels lost, with too little depth and too many bugs.	Read review
Noisy Pixel	Azario Lopez	7 / 10	08-20-2021	Madden NFL 22 is meant to deliver a simulated and engaging experience to fans of football. Its animations are great, and you’ll likely only gravitate to one mode that you prefer over the others, but it all acts as a way for fans to connect, and sometimes a rare glitch won’t impact that. There’s a lot of demand for some growth of the series, and this game has a long way to go, it seems, but seeing my dad pick up a gaming controller for the first time in years and can’t be overlooked.	Read review
Operation Sports	Robert Kollars	Recommended	08-20-2021	Madden 22 is, simply put, a blast to play at times, but it comes with some issues that may take longer to iron out than a single patch can provide. I have come to terms with that, and thus Madden 22 feels like a title that will be in my rotation throughout the NFL season.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Justin Pinter	3 / 10	08-20-2021	Madden is a billion dollar franchise that has grown content. Thanks to its exclusivity deals, EA takes zero risks and fumbles each year providing us rehashed versions of previous entries. Madden NFL 22 is no different. Meager improvements are outweighed by series fatigue. Instead of focusing on giving us polished gameplay mechanics and an improved Franchise Mode, EA’s focus is divided into unwelcome modes like Face The Franchise and The Yard leading to an overall incomplete and broken experience.	Read review
PSX Brasil	Thiago de Alencar Moura	75 / 100	08-23-2021	Vastly improved from last year, Madden NFL 22 brings a number of long-awaited improvements. Although it still needs tweaking, it’s much easier to have fun with this year’s edition and imagine that EA is finally taking care of the damage done by past games.	Read review
Push Square	Sammy Barker	7 / 10	08-20-2021	Madden NFL 22 takes big strides forward from last year’s game, with the focus on Franchise being overdue but appreciated all the same. We like the direction EA Sports has taken this year, with even the new Gameday Momentum system adding immersion to every individual match. Face of the Franchise still falls flat, and patches will need to be applied to the way deep coverages work. But some irritating bugs and glitches aside, it feels like this series is at least on the right trajectory at last.	Read review
Reno Gazette-Journal	Jason Hidalgo	6 / 10	09-03-2021	I really wanted to like Madden NFL 22. After a hiatus from the franchise, however, I find myself facing the very same issues that made me stop playing the game in the first place after trying out this year’s iteration. These include a lack of significant changes to the gameplay as well as a host of game-breaking bugs and glitches. All in all, Madden NFL 22 probably isn’t as bad as some of the game’s more vociferous critics make it out to be. But “not as bad” isn’t exactly something to aspire to when you’re the only football game in town — or for any game for that matter. As a longtime player since the 16-bit days, seeing Madden stuck in neutral once again is a heartbreaker. Here’s hoping things get better as no one would like to see Madden make a comeback more than longtime fans such as myself.	Read review
Screen Rant	Rion Duncan	3.5 / 5 stars	08-20-2021	As a whole, Madden 22 takes several solid steps in the right direction with very few stumbles backward. The straddling of console generations and lack of certain updates at launch make the game feel like it’s only halfway to its full potential, but it still makes for an enjoyable entry for new players and current fans.	Read review
Shacknews	Donovan Erskine	6 / 10	08-19-2021	Madden NFL 22 is an upgrade from the last few entries in the series. The new momentum mechanic, addition of Quality/Performance Modes, and some changes to Franchise genuinely make it feel like a step forward. However, the game fails to skirt around some of the same issues that’s held it down for years. A poorly executed Face of the Franchise, and an Ultimate Team mode that’s pretty much more of the same stop the game from being the endzone celebration that it could be.	Read review
Sports Gamers Online	Michael Straw	5.5 / 10	08-18-2021	From a modes standpoint, Madden 22 does a lot of great things. Unfortunately, the gameplay keeps the game as mediocre as it comes.	Read review
Telegraph	Tom Hoggins	4 / 5 stars	08-27-2021	As well as some smart on-field tweaks, Madden’s marquee mode sees notable improvements after some notable neglect	Read review
The Angry Joe Show	Joe Vargas	2 / 10	08-28-2021	Video Review	Read review
The Games Machine	Marco Ravetto	6.7 / 10	09-02-2021	Madden 22 is not a huge step forward in a series that needs to shift gears to return to its former glory. There is no shortage of interesting ideas, too bad that there are quite a few gameplay issues and that some game modes (Face to the Franchise, for example) are way too boring and uninteresting.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Dominic Leighton	8 / 10	08-31-2021	Madden 22 is a clear step up over last year’s entry in the long-running series. Improvements to Franchise mode, gameplay enhancements that feel authentic, and a taut, competitive game of football all make this a year worth re-joining the roster for – assuming that they can get on top of the technical hang-ups.	Read review
Twinfinite	Ed McGlone	3.5 / 5 stars	08-20-2021	Some things are better, some things are the same, some things are still broken; it’s a guessing game each year what will be up or down, and in the end, it all ends up at the same result: a passable but uninspired football simulation.	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Jordan Hawes	7.5 / 10	09-07-2021	Madden NFL 22, I feel, is the first Madden in a long time that has added something significant, with a few smaller additions as well, without taking steps backwards. The full revamp of the Franchise Mode is really great and finally something done for the fans that isn’t around MUT or selling packs. While there is still plenty of greed here and even an added way for them to sell even more MT’s, the focus on some single player aspects is appreciated.	Read review
Windows Central	Anthony J Nash	4 / 5 stars	08-17-2021	Madden NFL 22 injects some much needed improvements into a series that was dangerously close to growing stale. Coupled with some big changes to core modes, Madden NFL 22 elevates itself into one of the best from the long-running series.	Read review
Worth Playing	Redmond Carolipio	6.1 / 10	08-17-2021	I always find a message within the selection of the Madden cover athlete, and in the picks of Tom Brady (arguably the greatest quarterback of all time) and Patrick Mahomes (arguably the most naturally gifted QB of all time), the message felt like a dual nod to Madden’s age and enduring legacy as well as the promise of a bright future. However, even with the new stuff, I can’t shake the sense of sameness in the experience of Madden NFL 22. The love of football keeps me playing, but there were no moments that made me think, “OK, we are in the next generation.” That holds the series back while other games have passed it by. It looks like another year where “the leap” will have to wait	Read review
ZTGD	Sophie Halliday	6.5 / 10	09-22-2021	Let’s be realistic. For an annual sports franchise, it’s not necessarily practical to expect huge evolution year on year. It’s also fair to say that at a minimum, players should expect EA to deliver incremental quality of life improvements and make an effort to hone their overall experience of the game for the better. Whilst there is only so far the needle can be pushed year on year, the launch of a new Madden on next-gen systems presented EA with an opportunity to really raise the bar. That’s why it’s particularly disappointing that Madden 22 only offers stagnant content and, sadly, creative disinterest.	Read review

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About Madden NFL 22

Game Description / Storyline:

Madden NFL 22 is where gameday happens. All-new features in Franchise include staff management, an enhanced scenario engine, and weekly strategy. Share avatar progress and player class between Face of The Franchise and The Yard with unified progression.

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