The middle of August for most of my life has meant my birthday and the release of a new Madden. It’s like a time-honored tradition that marks the unofficial start to the NFL season, at least in my mind. There’s something that I love about the franchise, but also some qualms I’ve had about the last few releases. Luckily, I’m happy to report that significant improvements to the gameplay have led to this being the most substantial release in a few years. With minor areas that still require improvement, we could definitely still see a better all-around game, but things are definitely looking up.

Madden NFL 23 is out now and a huge step in the right direction when we talk about the actual gameplay. That’s on-the-field gameplay, not the overall modes and experience. Those are also improved, but the on-the-field experience this time around is the real area that shines. The new ways to play as a quarterback help add precision to the experience of passing the ball. You can opt not to use them, but new controls to pick the exact spots and types of throws you send your receiver’s way are a huge welcome.

The overall difficulty curve of the various levels of AI prowess are strong as well. I think there’s a lot to love about the AI this year, particularly the lack of weird “what just happened” moments in my 25 hours with the game so far. The game is polished, and while the occasional physics engine blip is bound to occur, I haven’t seen it yet. This is predominately playing within Franchise Mode, which takes a huge step in the right direction.

With some new features added to Franchise Mode that deepen the experience of running your own team, I think fans will be happy some of their concerns are getting addressed. This isn’t quite the level of NBA 2K in terms of detailed breakdowns in the off-season, but there are some wonderful scouting and team management elements that add wonderful simulation gameplay into the typical football action.

Modes like The Yard are no longer focal points, but Face of the Franchise is still one of the main modes players will want to experience. I’ll be honest, it’s not necessarily that much more innovative or immersive. MLB: The Show and the aforementioned NBA 2K do a better job of giving you a world to live in that feels interactive and not just like a paint job of the regular Madden action. That said, there are fewer cutscenes and the 99 Club proves to be a good building block for next year.

Here’s the thing: non-Madden fans have no reason to pick up this year’s game. Really, this review is for the person in-between the die-hard fan who buys the game every year without question and the uninterested. Here’s what we’ll do, we’ll honestly take a birds-eye view of what sort of fun factor awaits you in this year’s entry.

So, you’re a fan of Franchise Mode? Good news: it’s much better this year, and building a franchise that you intend to control years into the actual game mode’s beginning does feel like your decisions matter. If you’re not really into that and just more into playing competitively, the on-the-field gameplay is better than the past three or four iterations. The bad news for Face of the Franchise fans or people looking for the plethora of modes that keep you playing MLB: The Show and NBA 2K won’t have everything they want here.

I think the fact of the matter is that not every Madden release is a step forward. There are years that you can skip the new feature or two, update your rosters with fan files, and call it a year until next August. Madden NFL 23 feels like a year to pick up. I’m seeing a lot of promise, and that’s without even touching Madden Ultimate Team. If that’s a game mode you enjoy, I can’t say I spent time with it. It’s a whole different world we might address down the road. For now, if you like Madden, then this year’s game is worth your time.

An Xbox Series X copy of Madden NFL 23 was provided by EA Sports for this review.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!

Madden 23

$69.99

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• Great gameplay, maybe the best in years
• Franchise Mode is improved
• Less bugs and smooth on-the-field experience

Cons

• Face of the Franchise still needs improvements
• Lacks major immersion outside of gameday