Developer – Tiburon

Publisher – Electronic Arts

Platforms – Xbox Series X (Reviewed), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC

Review copy given by Publisher

EA Sports is back with a new NFL game once again,  Madden NFL 24 attempting to bring an improved football experience. One of the main criticisms of Madden games from some people is that it’s just a roster update meaning they add new players and move players from team to team based on the NFL offseason moves. Something that we’d all like to see is improved visuals and gameplay and see how the developers took advantage of its game engine.

When I look at sports games I tend to look at how many game modes they have to offer because ultimately that’s what is going to keep you engaged. In Madden NFL 24 you will have the option to play across multiple different modes like Quick Play, Ultimate Team, Franchise, and Superstar, and if you are new to these games you can learn to play in Training Camp.

Superstar is a great solo mode if you want to dive into the role of being a pro Football player being drafted into the NFL. What I like about this mode is that it gives you a perspective outside of playing the game. You get to see what it’s like in an NFL locker room and you are the deciding factor in how teams view you from the NFL Scouting Combine where it plays a big role in your draft position. Superstar is probably one of the better single-player modes from EA Sports franchises and will keep you occupied for hours by completing missions and leveling up your player.

If you are looking for a quick fix of some Football action then look no further than Quick Play as it’s a standard for any sports game. There’s of course an option to play offline in Play Now or if you want to play against a friend on the same generation console whether it’s the same or opposite platform of yours, you can do that. Personally, I’ve had no issues when playing online with friends using the crossplay feature and it’s one of the better additions to the previous Madden games.

Playing online does come with its negatives as you’ll find yourself dealing with technical issues like disconnecting often either while in a match or searching. While this game may look like one of the best in the series, it has its issues.

Let’s talk about gameplay since that is what we all care about. I’ll be honest sometimes the gameplay in Madden NFL 24 can be quite boring and drawn out. A lot of the time when playing this game I didn’t find anything different from its predecessors. If you know Football then you will know how the gameplay is supposed to work in Madden NFL 24 as it’s pretty straightforward.

The in-game presentations such as when they transition to highlights or the end of quarters, etc the developers did a fantastic job with that. They made it really feel like you’re watching a professional broadcast, especially with the commentators. One of my issues with the commentators is that they can make the gameplay feel boring with the amount of conversation that’s going on.

When it comes to the audio I wish the home crowd was amplified so that you hear fewer conversations and more of that crowdy energy. While playing a playoff series as the home team I couldn’t feel the momentum you’d expect. Overall I feel like some of the audio features could see an improvement.

Visually, Madden NFL 24 is one of the better-looking EA Sports titles, but it doesn’t compare to the FC series. Every stadium, the turf, the crowd, coaches, players, and everything else is very detailed all adding to the realism of the NFL as we know it today.

Overall, Madden NFL 24 is the best-looking game in the series with thrilling gameplay, but what holds it back is off the field. There seems to be something missing in this version of Madden as far as the game modes it has to offer. Does it make it to the Super Bowl? I’m not so sure about that.