Madden NFL is one of the most popular video game franchises. It has been around since 1988 and has seen dozens of different iterations. The game is so popular that it has its professional league, the Madden NFL Championship Series.
Best ‘Madden’ Video Games Ever
Let’s look back at what Madden video games consider the best.
1. Madden NFL 2003 – 95 (2002)
Madden NFL 2003 was released in 2002 and is considered one of the best Madden games ever. The game featured then-new animations and a more realistic gameplay experience. The game also had an improved franchise mode, allowing players to manage their teams more effectively. As per Metacritic, Madden NFL 2003 is the best Madden game. Including Marshall Faulk on the cover, Rankle NFL 2003 sits with a surprising score on Metacritic.
2. Madden NFL 2004 – 94 (2003)
It is considered one of the best football games ever made and undoubtedly the most popular. It has sold over 8 million copies and has been praised for its gameplay, graphics, and realism. It is the first game in the Madden NFL series to use the Infinity Engine, which allows for more realistic collisions between players. The game also features a new create-a-player mode and an improved franchise mode. Madden NFL 2004 is the last game in the series to be released on the PlayStation 2.
3. Madden NFL 2002 – 94 (2001)
Madden NFL 2002 is a video game released in 2001. It is the second installment in the Madden NFL series. The game features then-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper on the cover. Madden NFL 2002 was the first Madden game to be released for the Xbox console. It was also the last Madden game released for the Nintendo 64 console. The game generally received positive reviews from critics. GameSpot praised the game for its visuals and animation, while IGN criticized its lack of innovation. Madden NFL 2002 is a football video game designed to appeal to casual and hardcore fans of the sport.
4. Madden NFL 2005 – 91 (2004)
Madden NFL 2005 is a football video game developed by EA Tiburon and published by Electronic Arts. It was released on August 9, 2004, for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube consoles. A special “Hall of Fame” edition of the game was also released for the PC. The cover art features then-Baltimore Ravens linebacker, Ray Lewis. This was the first Madden game to feature a cover athlete who was not a quarterback and also the first featuring a defensive player.
5. Madden NFL 2001 – 90 (2000)
Madden NFL 2001 was released in August of 2000 and was the primary game within the series for the sixth generation of consoles. It was also the primary game to be released on the PlayStation 2. The sport featured several new features, including enhanced graphics, animations, and a create-a-player mode. The sport also featured several new gameplay mechanics, like the power to juke and spin moves to avoid tackles. The sport was well-received by critics, who praised it for its improved graphics and gameplay. However, some reviewers criticized the sport for its lack of innovation.
6. Madden NFL 06 – 88 (2005)
Madden NFL 06 is a football video game published by EA Sports and developed by Tiburon. It is the 17th installment in the Madden NFL series. It features Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Michael Clayton on the cover. It was released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, GameCube, and Microsoft Windows. The game’s soundtrack was composed by Jamie Christopher’s son. It features songs by artists such as Green Day, Papa Roach, and Rob Zombie. Madden NFL 06 introduces the Superstar mode. In this mode, the player creates a custom player and develops their skills through mini-games, practice sessions, and playing in actual NFL odds. The model also features a branching storyline based on the player’s performance.
7. Madden NFL 10 – 85 (2009)
In 2009, Madden NFL 10 was released to critical acclaim. The game received an 85/100 score from Metacritic, based on 28 reviews.[15] It was the highest-rated game in the franchise since Madden NFL 2003. GameSpot gave it a score of 8 out of 10 and said, “Madden NFL 10 improves on its predecessors in many ways, and while it doesn’t do anything revelatory, it’s still the best football game on the market.”[16] IGN gave it a score of 8.8 out of 10 and said, “Madden NFL 10 is the best football game on any platform.”
8. Madden NFL 09 – 85 (2008)
Madden NFL 09 is an American football video-based game supported by the National Football that was published by Electronic Arts and developed by EA Tiburon. It’s the 20th annual installment within the Madden NFL video game franchise. The sport was released for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, and Xbox 360 platforms on August 12, 2008.
Madden NFL 09 has generally received positive reviews. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 85% and 86 out of 100 for the DS version; 84.17% and 83 out of 100 for the PSP version; 82.57% and 83 out of 100 for the Wii version; 82.50% and 84 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version; 80.00% and 81 out of 100 for the PlayStation 3 version; and 79.67% and 80 out of 100 for the Xbox 360 version.
9. Madden NFL 07 – 84 (2006)
Madden NFL 10 was released in 2009 to critical acclaim. The game received an 85 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating “generally favorable reviews.” IGN gave the game a 9 out of 10, saying, ” Madden NFL 10 captures the essence of what makes football so great.” GameSpot also gave the game a 9 out of 10, saying, ” Madden NFL 10 is the best football game ever made.” The game was praised for its realistic graphics, gameplay, and online features. However, some reviewers criticized the lack of innovation in the franchise. Despite the mixed reviews, Madden NFL 10 was a commercial success. It sold over 2 million copies in its first week of release and was the best-selling game of August 2009. Madden NFL 10 has been ranked as one of the best football games.
10. Madden NFL 11 – 84 (2010)
Madden NFL 11 is the 22nd annual installment of the Madden NFL series of American football video games. It features New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on the cover. It was released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii consoles on August 10, 2010. A port to Microsoft Windows developed by Budcat was also released on August 10, 2010. The game has sold over five million copies since its release, becoming the best-selling Madden game of all time.
Bottom Line
Madden NFL is one of the most famous American football video game franchises. The games are known for their realistic graphics, gameplay, and online features. Madden NFL 10 is the best-selling game in the franchise, selling over 2 million copies in its first week of release. Madden NFL 11 is the best-selling game of all time. Despite mixed reviews, the games are commercially successful.
