Madden 24 review: EA’s NFL franchise has become the iPhone

If you’re keeping an eye on the latest iPhone release, you’ve become accustomed to a certain cadence every summer: an announcement of a new model that looks kind of like the one you already have, but with some notable quality-of-life fixes that may or may not be splurge-worthy. You may have some complaints about your eventual purchase, as you may encounter a bug or two along the way, but you’ll be content with the minor upgrades. You’d probably prefer those changes to be bigger and industry-changing like they were years ago, but what you have now is a net positive, and that’s good too.

If you were keeping an eye on the latest Madden release this year, chances are, you’ve experienced something similar. Although this may sound cynical to some, it is not the case for all. Madden NFL 24’s changes are small yet notable. These differences may have convinced you to give up your copy Madden NFL 23The majority of the population is in favour 24? All depends.

EA Tiburon/Electronic Arts

Madden NFL 24’s gameplay is solid, filled with a bevy of small changes to its mechanics and play-calling. When you load up the game for the first time, you’re greeted with different passing options to cater to your level of expertise. Next Gen Stats from the NFL has been greatly reduced, however you can still use it to decide on your overall offensive and defense strategies during halftime. There’s also the long-running Coach Suggestions feature, which helps you choose your offensive and defensive strategies between every play. The play-calling can feel like wearing a hat over a head, but this also helps you find the right balance.

If you’re new to the series, this may all seem a bit daunting, though I imagine the number of first-time Madden players is minuscule in comparison to the franchise’s hardcore audience, especially since Electronic Arts has had an exclusive licensing deal with the NFL since 2004. This same level of complexity is perfect for new Madden NFL players: Madden NFL 24 It is adjustable. It is possible to find the perfect Madden setup by experimenting with all the different dials and meters.

This flexibility is based on the foundation of Madden NFL 22The game offers two options: the high-octane, easy Simulation mode or the more meticulous, competitive one. FieldSense, a revamped system of gameplay introduced last year is also featured here. The skill-based pass allows you to use your left shoulder buttons with familiar bullet and touch passes from Madden. The perfect pass makes it all the more exciting to deliver the ball.

EA Tiburon/Electronic Arts

Physics in Madden NFL 24 Except in rare cases, the game is smooth. One time, a running-back and I did a diving near the goalline. It was a real-life animation that continued uninterrupted. My player was unable to gain any yards due to a nearby defender. The same as in the past. videos of glitches have already gone viral on X, the website formerly known as Twitter — so much so that this is becoming as much of a tradition as the Madden games themselves.

The career mode formerly known as Face of the Franchise is now more stripped down, reminiscent of previous years’ career modes. Instead of a storyline where your created player is a veteran looking for his breakout season à la Madden NFL 23, they’re once again leaving college and entering the NFL draft à la Madden NFL 22.

If you enjoyed last season’s career mode, you might be disappointed, but putting the focus back on the college football world could be a sign of something bigger for the future of football video games, especially since EA Sports is planning to release its first college football game since 2013 next summer. The return of the beloved franchise in conjunction with Madden’s backpedaling could be a very aggressive hint that there will be integration between the two games next year, much like the way that many iPhone updates set the stage for more integration within Apple’s own ecosystem of devices, accessories, and software.

EA Tiburon/Electronic Arts

And so, Electronic Arts iterates, and churns out yet another Madden, a quality product that, like each new iPhone, is usually better, but only barely necessary after last year’s. It works, and there are more features, and many of them will make it easier to play nuanced football — but the biggest innovations happen incrementally. The leap between one year and the next is it big enough to justify the purchase? If you’re more concerned with having the most current rosters, then no. If you want to buy a Madden video game, it’s possible to hold off until EA Sports introduces new features that make your purchase a no-brainer.

But this season’s Madden could also be someone’s first, and the reason they become a die-hard fan of the franchise. I have some of the fondest memories of playing an older copy of Madden NFL 04You can play with your friends and go through the franchise mode, creating custom rosters before you even start playing. Every football fan has their favorite game, and will tell you that each year’s entry has flaws. Madden NFL 24 has flaws, as well, but it offers more customization than ever, even if it’s just barely more. I can’t wait to dive into Madden NFL 28.

Madden NFL 24 The game was released Aug. 15, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Windows PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X. Electronic Arts supplied a Xbox Series X download code to be used for the review. Vox Media partners with affiliates. Vox Media earns commissions from affiliate products, although this doesn’t influence the editorial content. Find out more about affiliate links. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.