For diehard football fans who want a close-to-life experience, a lack of realism has been the biggest knock on Madden over the years—from gameplay failings to limited depth in franchise mode. But I am happy to report that Madden NFL 26 is a clear step in the right direction.
Playing a quick game to get a feel for the new changes is the first thing I do every year, and gamers should immediately notice smoother running for ball-carriers, improved passing variance for quarterbacks, and the updated broadcast presentation (I chose the EA version of Sunday Night Football for my first game).
I started off playing as the Eagles versus the Giants, and the pre-game presentation is an awesome addition—the green lights lit up Lincoln Financial Field as the team ran out onto the field with “E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES” chants booming from the crowd.
A negative about the presentation is that the graphics are still stale and not as realistic. For example, the “Player stats” for quarterback introductions simply show height, weight, and age. I know it was just a quick game, but it felt very bland, and something like career record and/or accomplishments for quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts and Russell Wilson would be more fitting in my opinion.
Sticking with another negative, awareness of AI defenders for my team was not realistic at all. Two of the biggest gains for the Giants came on plays where Zack Baun and Cooper DeJean were frozen in space as Wilson broke the pocket and became a scrambler, so hopefully that is corrected; the issue seems to be at the edges of the tackle box where the awareness for AI-controlled defenders isn’t there.
There were plenty of positives for gameplay that makes Madden the most true-to-life version in recent memory. These were things that stood out just in the first game I played:
- A.J. Brown having the ball suction to his body while shielding off a defender on a slant to pick up a key first down.
- Dallas Goedert making a catch and spinning to break a tackle and getting up the field.
- Wilson appearing to be set to get into scramble mode before setting his feet to fire after locating an open target along the boundary.
- Wilson overshooting a couple of receivers on deeper crossing routes with him not setting his feet due to the pressure that he’d been facing.
The run defense for the Giants was way too good compared to real life, but in a quick game, those things all stood out matching real-life counterparts.
It was also cool to have the Giants ice Jake Elliott for a game-winning field goal, which led to the kick meter being icy (though the graphic after New York called a timeout with three seconds in the game left said it was the end of the third quarter, so that needs to be fixed).
Nonetheless, gameplay itself is much improved, and it carries over to other game modes. In a matchup against the Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford dirted a ball at the feet of an open checkdown with a rusher bearing down, which is sort of a patented move he does in real life.
In the same game, I won with a goal-line stop with Los Angeles throwing in the closing seconds. The throw was made into traffic, deflected high into the air towards the line of scrimmage, and into the waiting arms of defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt who was facing the goal line in a crowd. I assume “competitive” gamers don’t like that kind of randomness, but that happens in real life and was thrilling to have play out; and it’s not like the throw was made to a wide-open receiver that suddenly had bricks for hands—it was a tight throw that Stafford tried fitting in and didn’t work out.
New Gameplay Features
Improvements to gameplay obviously go beyond what I experienced in my first couple of games. QB DNA was already felt with how Russell Wilson and Matthew Stafford played against me, and Madden 26 has specific traits and tendencies for signal-callers—like Josh Allen being aggressive as a runner or Patrick Mahomes operating like a magician to find an open target.
Tendencies are included for coaches as well, with Coach DNA guiding how teams call a game—whether it be Dan Campbell going for it on fourth down or Todd Bowles scheming up plenty of blitzes. Strategy is now a bigger part of Madden, and you need to be prepared for it.
Another key gameplay feature is upgraded depth charts—most notably on defense. New positions of Edge, Mike, Will, and Nose Tackle allows players to better fit into your specific scheme. For example, Nick Bosa being an Edge rather than a Defensive End like previous years will seamlessly make sure he’s a 3-4 outside linebacker if you were to take over the 49ers and want to run a 3-4 defense instead of their typical 4-3.
Other updates to gameplay include more stunts for the defensive line, custom zone depths, and expanded celebrations.
Presentation & Weather
I touched on the improved team introductions and broadcasts, which will create a much more immersive experience in Franchise Mode and Superstar Mode.
In previous years, we wouldn’t feel much difference from week-to-week when playing through a season, but now gamers will know when they are heading into an intimidating Minnesota environment with “SKOL” chants before the game, or when they face the tall task of facing Josh Allen and the Bills in December with snow maybe hitting Buffalo.
We will also feel a difference when playing in primetime with the new Thursday night, Sunday night, and Monday night presentations and announce teams. I certainly wish the NFL and real-life broadcast networks would work with EA to get at least the graphics (if not actual commentator pairings) from FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN, and Prime Video—but it’s still great to have variance both in terms of broadcasters and scoreboards.
Adding to the authenticity on game day is the overhaul to weather—a very welcome addition to create more uniqueness for every virtual matchup. Blizzard conditions now make it almost impossible to see down the field when throwing the ball, and players can lose their footing on a wet surface with ratings having an impact, so we should feel a difference between someone like Saquon Barkley being able to balance/maneuver in the snow compared to a less dynamic and talented ball-carrier.
Franchise Mode
It was absolutely necessary for Franchise Mode to be better Madden 26 if only to put up a fight versus what Dynasty Mode is for College Football 26—and there is no doubt that strides were made for what feels like the first meaningful upgrade in years.
Franchise begins with coach creation—allowing users to pick a background in offense, defense, or player development—and impacts how your coach will progress while leveling up. Added depth for character customization is also a major plus, which allows you to bring more personality to your coach. I love the look of a layered jacket over a hoodie (especially later in the season), but there are tons of combinations to fit whatever style you desire.
Of course, cosmetics don’t mean much if the mode remained too bare bones, but weekly game planning and scouting provides off-the-field challenges to prepare for success on the field. A new weekly strategy screen provides all the details you need—from opponent tendencies to the injury report—and new “playsheets” can be adjusted every week depending on how you want to attack your opponent. For example, if a team has a loaded group of pass-catchers that you don’t believe your guys can stick with in man coverage, it might be wise to add more zones to the game plan.
Wear & Tear being added to Madden for the first time is a great addition, too, as it adds another layer of strategy to make sure you don’t overload a running back with too many touches or have a star play through an injury that will only get worse.
In general, logic was improved when it comes to the draft (more value placed on key positions) and players retiring or not retiring in the offseason (someone still playing at a high level will be less likely to hang up his cleats)—and simulation stats were made more realistic as well.
We also have weekly recaps (hosted by Scott Hanson), and that ties into the upgrades to presentation and weather. I’m curious to learn exactly how deep the recaps will get while playing through a season (does Hanson talk about it being a holiday week around Thanksgiving and Christmas?), but either way, it’s exciting have Franchise Mode finally get enough depth to feel the calendar turn through the fall and winter.
Superstar Mode
I only touched on Superstar Mode and would recommend reading the deep dive about it here if interested, but as mentioned in my CFB 26 review, this is something I would be more eager about if I were younger. Being able to start in Road to Glory and import your player into Madden is awesome for kids in particular, and it’s something that should still be great after doing it in the NCAA Football days.
Ultimate Team
For me and I assume many others who enjoy the team-building and card-collecting aspects of Ultimate Team but don’t want to worry about needing to face others online to earn top rewards, Solo play getting a major overhaul was the focus for Madden 26.
We won’t truly know if the changes paid off until more “programs” are released in the coming weeks to see exactly what Solo players can earn, but everything does feel cleaner this year—from navigating the menus to card design. The new position designations are also great for MUT with not needing to worry about fitting players into your specific scheme based on their position designation like previous years.
I will say—like I do every release—that Ultimate Team having 99 overalls from the jump (reserved for all-time great players such as Tom Brady or an MVP version of Aaron Rodgers, for example) and dynamic ratings for “core” cards would be the best experience, so maybe it’s something EA will consider for the future.
Conclusion
Madden NFL 26 is a step in the right direction on nearly every front—including truer-to-life gameplay, improved weather and presentation, Coach DNA, Franchise Mode depth, and upgraded Ultimate Team. There is still plenty of work to be done, but Madden 26 is a solid game that hopefully set the foundation for the future of the series.
Score – 7.8