Madden NFL 16

Gamegravy (9 out of 10)

Alright let’s be honest here if you love football and you watch it every Sunday, Monday and Thursday on TV why wouldn’t you pick up this years Madden. I play for the love I have for the game I like to see my Tampa Bay Buccaneers go all the way and win it all year in and year out. If you love football and you own a PlayStation 4 just do yourself a favor and pick this up. You will absolutely be glad that you did.

PlayStation Lifestyle (9 out of 10)

Madden NFL 16 truly is more than just a roster update as EA added enough new features to kick the game up a notch to another level. The question now is: what can they do for Madden 17?

Digitally Downloaded ( )

Madden NFL 16 has a bad rap for being nothing more than a yearly money grab. I understand why people say this, even though most years I disagree. This year however, I strongly disagree. There are enough changes in a variety of places that make this the best offering the series has had in several years and should satisfy new fans, yearly players and those who fall somewhere in between.

GamingTrend (90 out of 100)

Many people complain that sports games do not change sufficiently on a yearly basis to warrant another purchase. That is far from the case with Madden NFL 16 as EA Sports and EA Tiburon have introduced some smart, brand new features that are integrated very well. The Draft Champions mode could have easily been just another card-focused mode that the fan base shunned to the side, but it is much more than that. It is an exciting, unique experience that cannot be found in any other sports title. As the gameplay continues to improve, Madden NFL 16 is easily the best football game to have been released in many years.

GamingBolt (9 out of 10)

Madden NFL 16 boasts deep and engaging gameplay, a robust tutorial system, and an overall presentation that makes it the best that it's been in years.

TheSixthAxis (9 out of 10)

Madden 16 builds on last year’s fantastic entry in the franchise, and while there’s more refinement here than revolution the improvements are meaningful, with the addition of Draft Champions a huge success.

Gameplanet Australia / Australian Gamer (9 out of 10)

Madden 16 is the definitive Madden experience, boasting new gameplay mechanics and features that change the game for the better. New and returning players will easily find something to love about this year’s iteration.

We Got This Covered ( )

With impressive refinements made to the passing game and a significant bump in the visual department, Madden NFL 16 may just be the best entry in the storied franchise's history.

Polygon (9 out of 10)

Of course, it could also be said that Madden NFL 16 is prodding the player to use all the components of the defense, instead of leaning on a crutch. Past editions of Madden have introduced new features only to retreat from them the next year. But Madden NFL 16 has taken unused and long-forsaken parts of the series' gameplay and given them meaning, delivering a truly consistent, understandable and enjoyable game after a decade in the wilderness. Madden NFL 16 is noticeably more challenging, but successes that feel earned are much more satisfying.

IGN (8.8 out of 10)

Simply put, Madden NFL 16 changes the way you play the game. The risk vs. reward aspect of the new passing and defending mechanics adds a level of realism the franchise has never seen. You can catch and throw the ball pretty much exactly how you want, and it feels great when you can pull a big play because of it. On top of that, Draft Champions might be the new game mode we’ve been waiting for.

Impulse Gamer ( )

Madden NFL 16 definitely streamlines the American football experience on the PlayStation 4 with its enhanced gaming mechanics, especially with the new catches and accessible in-game goals.

Game Informer Magazine (8.75 out of 10)

Changing Madden's modes isn't the priority this year, but you shouldn't skip this year's game. After years of fitful progress, Madden 16 finally puts its gameplay pieces together and delivers a truly dynamic on-the-field experience.

PSX Extreme (8.6 out of 10)

Madden NFL 16 represents a logical step in the history of the franchise. Rather than restricting the experience to the die-hard few, why not make a game that satisfies both the latter group and the more casual fans? It may seem a little intimidating at first but this well-appointed simulator is amazingly flexible, and gives you the chance to play exactly the way you wish. The intro is poorly conceived, I believe, the loading times are still pretty ridiculous, and there are a few lingering gameplay issues (wacky occurrences can be prevalent) but aside from that, this is the best Madden entry we’ve seen in years. “Help! I Am New To Madden” for the newbies and the in-depth season modes for those who live and breath football, and just about everything in between.

God is a Geek (8.5 out of 10)

The on-pitch action and the game modes on offer present what is easily the best Madden package of this generation so far.

4Players.de (85 out of 100)

EAs Tiburon-Studio hat etwas Anlaufzeit gebraucht, um auf PS4 und One in die Gänge zu kommen, doch mit dem dritten Versuch starten die American Footballer durch. Auf den ersten Blick sind die Veränderungen so klein wie in den letzten Jahren, doch die Auswirkungen sind umso spürbarer. Man hat deutlich mehr Möglichkeiten in Offensive und Defensive zur Verfügung, so dass es zu taktisch fordernden, spannenden sowie dynamischen Duellen im Kampf um Yards und First Downs kommt. Die Verbesserungen an der Connected Franchise und dem Ultimate-Team-Modus sind ebenso sinnvoll wie die mechanischen Erweiterungen, verblassen aber neben dem ebenso kurzweiligen wie langfristig motivierenden Draft Champions, der in einer ähnlichen Form auch in FIFA 16 auftauchen wird. Verbesserte KI und Physik, die aber trotz Optimierung gelegentlich Aussetzer zeigen, runden ein gelungenes Spielerlebnis ab.

Gaming Age (B+)

I’d definitely say the good outweighs the bad with Madden NFL 16 however, thanks in large part to the excellent addition of the Draft Champions mode, and the overall positive changes made to passing and receiving. Again, this isn’t too far removed from Madden ‘15, but I think you could argue that’s not necessarily a bad thing either. Ideally the U.I. could be cleaned up a bit, it’s still sluggish, but that seems to be par for the course with most EA Sports titles nowadays. And of course the online side being a bit iffy is a considerable negative, but hopefully that’s something that can be patched. So whether you’re a yearly consumer of Madden, or you’ve taken a bit of a break from the series in recent years, I think Madden NFL 16 will whet your appetite leading into the NFL season.

GameCrate (8.25 out of 10)

While there are still some areas that could use polishing (like that commentary team – wake up, fellas), Madden NFL 16 continues to make strides with some strong gameplay change-ups and abundant online features. Draft Champions and Ultimate Team will keep true fans busy for weeks, and the casual play is exceptional enough for that audience to enjoy as well. As long as Madden keeps making progress like this on a yearly basis, I'll keep coming back for more.

Games TM (8 out of 10)

Throw in some fun new modes, such as Draft Champions, which has you pick players for a fast three-and-out contest with rewards feeding back into Madden Ultimate Team, and you have an improved package as well as improved play on the field. It’s a nice mix of team building, draft tactics and instant gratification that shows off some of the best side of this area of the game.

GamesRadar ( )

With a focus on the fundamentals and an eye for simulation-style football, Madden NFL 16 maintains the franchise’s upward trajectory. Football fans have a solid title in their hands this season.

Game Rant (4 out of 5)

As a result, it’s fair to say that Madden NFL 16 is as complete a package as the current-gen platforms have seen thus far. It’s the best playing iteration, the best looking iteration, and it’s likely to give players far more value than any prior release. And given that last year’s Madden NFL 15 was pretty disappointing, it’s easy to say this year’s version warrants a purchase.

PlayStation Universe (8 out of 10)

Madden 16 has now begun to reflect on how the NFL has evolved, and despite its growing pains, the positives outweigh the negatives in this strong outing. Madden NFL 16 is a necessity for returning fans.

GamersHeroes ( )

Overall this years Madden make some improvements to what we know already works. MuT needs some work, again, but players quitting is kind of out of their hands. Normally I wouldn’t recommend upgrading from year to year but this year, you should spend the extra money and go for it.

Push Square ( )

Madden NFL 16 is a fine addition to the series that started way back in 1989. Draft Champions adds a lot of replayability to a game already jam-packed with content, the new in-match mechanics give you a greater sense of control than ever before, and Madden Ultimate Team is steadily growing bigger and better. Sure, loading times are long, but the presentation and the way that the crowd reacts to every move is well worth it. All in all, it seems as though Madden as a series won't be deflating any time soon.

Hardcore Gamer Magazine (4 out of 5)

The third iteration of the series on current-gen platforms, Madden NFL 16 continues its growth. There’s not a myriad of changes this year, but what has been tweaked is noticeable and makes for a fantastic game of pigskin. Draft Champions is an expertly designed addition that proves to be refreshing in an era of sports game complexity. Taking the elements that make fantasy football so addictive and applying them to Madden whilst making the whole mode great for casual players and hardcore alike, it will likely see the bulk of most player’s game time this year. Add that to improvements on the field, impressive tweaks to Madden Ultimate Team and Connected Franchise as well as the triumphant return of a licensed soundtrack and Madden NFL 16 is a clear winner.

Operation Sports (8 out of 10)

What’s holding Madden back this year is the flat feeling feature set around the core gameplay. Franchise mode is something which is just begging for life (and begging to be rid of those drive goals), and the rest of the feature set is something you either like or loathe. Ultimate Team does nothing to convince you its worthy of your time if it hadn’t before, and the rest of the mode offerings really don’t move the needle. The modes are all best described as adequate to good, but nothing stands out as truly great. With that said, franchise went sideways, Draft Champions is a worthy new mode, the trainer and gauntlet are still fun distractions and the gameplay is better in every way. Madden NFL 16 is truly a great sports game worthy of your time and dollars investment. If you are a fan of football, this is the year you should jump in with Madden.

The Guardian ( )

Otherwise, Madden 16 is an authentic, challenging simulation that explores key facets of the sport in new ways and adds much to the experience in the process.

GameSpot (8 out of 10)

There’s a good deal of thoughtfulness in Madden NFL 16. Devoid of any throwaway modes or game types that rely on nostalgia, Madden NFL 16 is both sensible and forward thinking. Its developers could have made a bigger deal about Super Bowl 50 or relied more heavily on the appeal of Hall of Fame players (who are available in Ultimate Team). Instead, EA Tiburon has focused more on fans’ diverse play tastes as well as making this one of the most welcoming Madden games in recent memory.

USgamer (4 out of 5)

Madden NFL 16 takes another clear step forward this year, featuring some fantastic additions to the passing game and an excellent new mode. After being maligned for so many years, Madden now has a clear sense of momentum that should carry it through the rest of the generation. Absent the bugs and balance issues, which should be addressed soon via patch, this is the best Madden I've played in a decade.

The Telegraph ( )

There are still problems when it comes to balancing realism with spectacle, but Madden NFL 16 manages to get the mix mostly right. Certainly, when compared to previous releases, there's a far greater sense that what you're playing tallies with what you see on Sundays.

The Digital Fix (8 out of 10)

If you have a passion for American football, there really is no better replication of the sport this well designed and executed.

Giant Bomb ( )

In Madden NFL 16, EA has built upon last year's far-better-than-average game in meaningful and useful ways. It's an approachable game of football, still complex in myriad ways, but better at communicating those complexities than ever before. The new additions all come with their share of issues, but those additions nonetheless feel meaningful to the core game, like ideal fits into what is often feels like a monolithic, largely unchanging franchise. And where Madden has chosen to scale back, it ultimately feels better for it. The last two years have given me a modicum of hope that, even so many years into the era of NFL exclusivity, the Madden team can still find ways to evolve and improve the concept of video game football.

Cheat Code Central (4 out of 5)

As I have reviewed every Madden game these last few years, I saw systems get more and more complex, making the game feel like it was out of my reach. Madden 16 feels like it is geared around simplicity. None of the systems from other Madden games were taken out, but the core of the game has been shifted toward simple mechanics interacting with other simple mechanics. This is a breath of fresh air to me. It makes Madden NFL 16 a fantastic place to start playing Madden, as well as being different enough to warrant a follow up buy after 15.

MAN!AC (79 out of 100)

Toll präsentierte und spielerisch komplexe American-Football-Simulation mit marginalen Änderungen im ­Vergleich zum Vorjahr.

VentureBeat / Gamesbeat (78 out of 100)

Based on the publisher’s history, there’s no saying Franchise mode’s dynamic goals or the multiple passing, catching and defending controls will return in future versions of the game. Even so, EA Sports will need to go back to the drawing board to fine-tune these additions to turn them into the game-changers they truly can be. The developer’s decision to gift players more receiving controls was met with issues in how those new mechanics played out, and the benefits of those fresh aspects of the on-field play don’t balance out the woes of Franchise mode’s shortcomings in its progression system. Even enjoyment from the best part of Madden 16 in Draft Champions dries up after a few trips through the mode. Madden NFL 16 is a good transitional entry in the series, introducing promising features that are either incomplete or weighed down by bugs.

Computer Bild Spiele (2.1 out of 6)

Die neueste Football-Simulation von EA erfindet das Ei nicht neu, bringt aber zum alljährlichen Kader-Update überfällige Verbesserungen und macht grafisch viel her. Als erstklassiger Zeitfresser erweist sich der neue „Draft“-Modus, der bald ganz oben auf der Wunschliste von „FIFA 16“-Anhängern stehen dürfte. Football-Neueinsteiger sind allerdings auch mit dem Vorgänger gut bedient.

Destructoid (6.5 out of 10)

That's about it, though. There are some neat presentation additions (statistic graphics overlaid on players) and the menus are well laid out, though they are also pretty slow. Load times, too, are still a bit of a problem (and intrusive presentation elements are bothersome when running a hurry up offense). The insistence towards microtransaction-laden Ultimate Team and the new fantasy football-cribbed Draft Champions modes is useless. Throwing, catching, and defending throws have seen some welcomed, long-ignored additions that get a couple yards closer to faithful simulation. You can decide if that's enough.

Shacknews (6 out of 10)

In a world where Madden is our only NFL game, I can only measure its success and polish against past iterations. Though Madden NFL 16 has some great ideas in the form of new modes or changes to existing systems, it feels less cohesive and finished than the franchise deserves.

GameSkinny ( )

Madden 16 is what the NFL wants to believe its league is: Clean, friendly, and inspirational. It's not.