EA Tiburon, Electronic Arts
Aug 19, 2022 - Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
OpenCritic Rating
68
Top Critic Average
45%
Critics Recommend
IGN
7 / 10
GamesRadar+
3 / 5
Game Informer
7.5 / 10
GameSpot
7 / 10
TheSixthAxis
7 / 10
Forbes
7 / 10
Shacknews
3 / 10
IGN Italy
7.7 / 10
View All 56 Critic Reviews
Please note: This game has monetized random reward mechanics, commonly referred to as "loot boxes." These mechanics are similar to gambling and are being investigated by Belgium's Gaming Commission, the Netherlands Gaming Authority, and other government bodies.
Madden NFL 23 Review Summary
Madden NFL 23 has been praised for gameplay improvements and a step in the right direction for presentation, but criticised for not going far enough to fix the franchises long running issues. Bugs also severely hamper the experience.
Critics have been praising the added gameplay tweaks to the 2022 edition of the long running Madden franchise. They have pointed out that the small additions to the gameplay, such as improved passing and the new FieldSense system, are welcome, creating smoother and more refined gameplay. Some critics have disagreed with this however, calling these tweaks minor. There have been mixed comments about the different game modes, Franchise mode has been well regarded, whilst Face of the Franchise has received more mixed response, stating it feels directionless.
Presentation is said to be a step up from previous iterations with added animations being a standout, however, menus have been picked out as lacking refinement and having bugs, with longer load times than necessary. It has been noted that the graphics havenât made as big a jump in quality as some of the other features have though. Some critics have pointed to the soundtrack as being good, but there are noted issues with commentary not matching on screen activities.
Multiplayer is playable in a number of game modes, however critics have pointed to the lack of cross play with previous generations and other systems, but hope that can be included in the future. Microtransactions in the MUT mode have also been criticised as being more like gambling, however, it has been noted that with patience, the same goal can be achieved without them.
Summary by Andrew Bowell - September 1, 2022
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Madden NFL 23 Trailers
Madden 23 Launch Trailer
MADDEN 23 GAMEPLAY FIRST LOOK | TDBarrett v Cleff | Madden Championship Series
Madden 23 Franchise Deep Dive
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Madden NFL 23 Screenshots
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Critic Reviews for Madden NFL 23
IGN
Kat Bailey
After playing Madden NFL 23 I finally have a little optimism that the series is on the right path - maybe not an emphatic "Boom!", but clear forward progress for a series that so desperately needs it.
GamesRadar+
Matt Paprocki
Some fun improvements make this playable â yet Madden still features too much carryover. Not just from last year, but the last decade.
Game Informer
Justin Koreis
The Madden NFL series has long had a solid gameplay foundation, maintained by small improvements year over year. Madden NFL 23 is the first iteration in a long time that rebuilds that foundation, and thatâs where this year's greatest success lies. Some slippery collisions aside, the more physics-based action is a good change, and the control over ball placement from Skill-Based passing is a welcome addition. This comes at the cost of only minor updates to the core gameplay modes, but it was ultimately the right call to make, and Madden is a better game for it.
GameSpot
Mark Delaney
On the field, Madden 23 is the best the series has been in a long time, but several of the surrounding pieces feel like they're on injured reserve.
TheSixthAxis
Dominic Leighton
Madden 23 is still Madden, but little more. If you've been wanting an NFL game that offers something wholly new, or one that can match the NBA 2K series for production values, then this isn't the place to find it. However, there's some key incremental improvements happening here which make Madden 23 a tighter, more engaging experience for fans, and one which will happily see you through this year's NFL season.
Forbes
Brian Mazique
I believe the problem is that the gameplay, at its core, just isnât addictive. Can I have fun with Madden? Yes, and I probably will have some solid moments with the game this year, but not enough to make it elite.
Shacknews
Asif Khan
At the end of the day, Madden NFL 23 is a poor pro football simulator. It isn't even a fun arcade-style game. It feels somewhat aimless with the development team pulling the game in many different directions at the same time. The changes from Madden NFL 22 are minimal and the PS5/Xbox Series X/S exclusive features still do not address core gameplay problems.
IGN Italy
Angelo Bianco
Madden NFL 23 is not the definitive football experience, but it is a substantial step up from the last edition thanks to the new gameplay features implemented by FieldSENSE. The general improvements are noticeable but not so revolutionary, while the graphical imperfections and the problems with the artificial intelligence continue to represent the Achilles heel of the franchise.
Review in Italian | Read full review
View All Critic Reviews (56)
