Madden NFL 22 Review: 4 Ups & 5 Downs

Stunning leap onto next-gen consoles or just the same old Madden? Time to find out.

By Jamie Kennedy /

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.

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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.

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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...

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