Madden NFL 22 Review: 4 Ups & 5 Downs
Stunning leap onto next-gen consoles or just the same old Madden? Time to find out.
Technically, next-gen Madden launched last year, but series fans had their eyes on Madden 22 as the first "true" leap onto PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. EA's team has had a bit longer to fiddle about with the hardware and enhance their long-running NFL franchise.
Speaking of.
Franchise Mode has been upgraded for the first time in a decade or so. Is that enough to make 22 must-play? That depends on what type of player you are. Simulation-lovers will be able to squeeze more from the single-player/offline experience, but they're not really EA's main focus. Ultimate Team and other, more arcade-friendly modes like The Yard and Superstar KO still take priority; that's nowhere near as bad as it might sound to some. No, honestly.
There is fun to be had for the singletons out there though, and Madden's refined gameplay often makes on-the-field action more varied than it was before. Several key additions (literally) shake up each snap, and there's a better reflection of real-life stadium atmosphere overall.
Although not everything is perfect (or even ideal), this is an annual sports title - major innovations are rare in this world...