EA Sports Madden NFL 26 Review (XSX) – Touchdown Or Turnover

This Madden NFL 26 review dives into what makes EA Sports’ newest football sim one of the most talked-about entries in years. With seven-day early access for pre-orders and gameplay changes that boost realism and strategy, this year feels like a fresh kickoff for the franchise. Franchise Mode takes the spotlight with dynamic coaching archetypes, a wear-and-tear system, and adaptive playbooks that turn each matchup into a strategic showdown.

Down. Set. HUT!

Game Name: EA Sports Madden NFL 26
Platform(s): Xbox Series X/S (Reviewed), PS5, Switch 2, PC
Developer(s): EA Orlando
Publisher(s): EA Sports
Release Date: August 14th, 2025

On-Field Gameplay: A New Standard of Realism

The first major breakthrough in EA Sports Madden NFL 26 is the noticeable improvement in on-field mechanics. Passing feels more deliberate and skill-based, demanding timing, anticipation, and understanding of your QB’s drop, far removed from the arcade-style launches of the past. Quarterbacks behave more like their real-life counterparts, with Anthony Richardson being twitchy, Josh Allen seeking magic, and shorter QBs like Kyler Murray navigating the pocket differently.

Animations have been overhauled with branching routines that better reflect game flow, with receivers executing curl routes with reaction and awareness rather than playing robotically. The overall tempo is quicker, more fluid, and more rewarding. One of the most praised new systems is the wear-and-tear mechanic, which adds strategic roster management by preventing star players from dominating unchecked into the fourth quarter. Pocket movement feels freer and more realistic, rewarding the patient, smart play.

Franchise Mode: A Cinematic Career to Guide

Where EA Sports Madden NFL has historically lagged, Franchise Mode now emerges as the centerpiece. It feels like a sports RPG, blending immersive presentation, coach-led progression, and in-game storytelling. Standout presentation updates include team-specific pregame elements, live jumbotron content, and varied broadcast commentary, all infusing games with realism. New weekly reports from Rich Eisen and Scott Hanson, along with strategic loadouts before each game, make the experience more dynamic.

I also made some simple tweaks, like increasing the “Minimum Play Clock Time” from 15 to 20 seconds, to better emulate real NFL pacing and achieve more realistic stats.

While I’m really good at Franchise Mode, I had a fun time trying to get my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers back into playoff contention. Some things felt a bit confusing at first, like managing your scouts and the scouting board, but after a few in-game weeks, it all becomes pretty clear and easy to navigate.

Superstar and Ultimate Team Modes: Steps Forward

Superstar Mode benefits from an infusion of RPG-style progression through the new Sphere of Influence system, where interactions with your coach, agent, or celebrity elements can affect your perks, playing time, and unlocks.

The ability to port over your College Football 26 player is also an absolute positive. Playing from high school all the way to a veteran in the NFL is something lots of people have asked for since the return of College Football, and now it is in. It will be fun to see if they add anything more, perhaps being able to bring your coach through, starting as an OC at a small school all the way to Super Bowl winner.

I found this was the mode I played least, purely because EA has integrated this mode with its “Clubs”-like mode, making it so you can play online with other players in a 5v5 setting. This integration makes it a little hard to move around the menus without the game trying to get you to buy some of its cosmetics.

Ultimate Team (MUT) sees improved menus and the Solo Champions mode, making it easier to jump in without feeling overwhelmed. However, some of the pay-to-win dynamics still linger.

Weirdly, this is the mode I found myself playing the most. The Challenges are pretty much just a copy and paste from previous installments, but the Solo Champions kept me coming back to play Ultimate Team.

Unfortunately, I feel this will be a trend with all EA Sports games coming out this year. I hope to be proven wrong, but we seem to be in this spot where they have their formula and are now just reskinning it and sending it out. It has been nice seeing modes that have sat on the sidelines for several years get some love, but this is the money maker, and if it does not evolve, I fear it may just become a microtransaction hellscape.

Visual Presentation and Audio, Mostly Enhanced

Visuals continue to shine on Series X, with dynamic lighting, smooth animations, rich stadium atmospheres, and immersive weather effects like rain and snow that enhance the realism. However, some audio quirks persist, as commentators can occasionally feel wooden or overly enthusiastic, and sometimes their call does not quite match the action.

The soundtrack in this game, however, is, in my opinion, the best sports game soundtrack ever. As someone who has played older EA FC (formerly FIFA) games, this is a big statement, but I stand by it. Some absolute bangers include Blur – Song 2, DMX – Party Up, and Limp Bizkit – Rollin’ (Air Raid Vehicle), along with modern hits like Kendrick Lamar – TV Off, Travis Scott – FE!N, and Luke Combs – Back in the Saddle. No matter what, you will be bobbing your head in the menus.

Technical Issues: Bugs and AI Quirks Remain

While the foundational gameplay is strong, a few problems hold it back:

• Bugs and glitches: Issues include sound dropout between quarters, broken playbooks, players lining up incorrectly (for example, defensive players on offense), freezing in the Superstar mode editor, and draft board visibility problems. During a defensive play, my QB is offside?!
• AI inconsistencies: CPU quarterbacks sometimes throw with unrealistically high accuracy under pressure, receivers may stop moving late in routes, and offensive linemen occasionally fail to pick up obvious blocks.
• Franchise omissions: Some classic features, such as team ownership, custom stadiums, ticket pricing, or more complex trade negotiations, are still absent, limiting managerial freedom.

While these flaws are frustrating, many are likely to be addressed in post-launch patches.

Verdict: Best in a Decade, But Not Perfect

EA Sports Madden NFL 26 on Xbox Series X is, by many accounts, the strongest entry in a decade, with revitalized gameplay, a deep and immersive Franchise Mode, and a cinematic level of presentation. Critic scores hover in the high 70s, marking it as a clear step forward.

That said, launch-day issues mean it is not without its blemishes. If you can tolerate some glitches and are patient for patches, you will find a football sim that finally feels alive again.

Review Disclosure Statement: A copy of EA Sports Madden NFL 26 was provided to us by EA for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.

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