Madden NFL 25

Game review by
Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media
Madden NFL 25 Game Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 8+
(i)
Milestone 25th Madden game drops the ball on innovation.
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Parents say

age 9+
Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 7+
Based on 7 reviews
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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

Educational Value

While not designed for educational purposes, kids can learn a lot about the rules of NFL football, as well as get a small, virtual taste of what it's like to own, manage, and coach a professional football team. And this is no easy task: Madden NFL 25 is a sophisticated simulation with a sometimes overwhelming amount of things to learn and use. Either playing socially (online and off) or against the computer, kids can sharpen their skills as they plan strategies, execute plays, learn from their mistakes, manage a team, and more. 

Positive Messages

As a sports simulation, Madden NFL 25 encourages team play, strategy, professionalism, city spirit, hard work, and healthy competition on the field.

Positive Role Models & Representations

The virtual players and coaches in the game mirror their real-life counterparts and represent all races. As with other public figures, there are some bad apples, but for the most part they're good role models.

Ease of Play

EA Sports has attempted to make the game easier to control and for the most part they have. This includes more emphasis on the dual analog sticks and a cleaner user-interface.

Violence & Scariness

The game mirrors the hitting and tackling of the real-life contact sport. All players wear protective body gear and helmets, however. There are some injuries that happen, but it's all professionally handled.

Language
Consumerism

As with past Madden NFL games, this new title has branding throughout including banners, JumboTron images, and logos on the atheletes' apparel. This signage advertises ESPN, EA Sports, Nike, and others.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Madden NFL 25 is a sports simulation that tries to model all aspects of pro football from play calling to running, passing, defending, and tackling to team management. There isn't any controversial content built into the game, but be aware that kids who play online with a headset microphone can engage in voice chat and might hear profanity and other inappropriate words or discussions.

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User Reviews

  • Parents say
  • Kids say
Parent of a 13-year-old Written byThegoodReviewer November 11, 2013
age 9+

One of the best Madden games in hostory!

One of the best Madden games in history! It's a good game but to play it you have to be aware of football, otherwise the kid playing will have a hard time... Continue reading
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Kid, 11 years old December 10, 2020
age 7+

Ok for a 7 year old

I have been playing this game with my cousin since I was 7 years old, and we still like to play it.
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Teen, 16 years old Written by22ldillon March 15, 2019
age 16+
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Add your ratingSee all 7 kid reviews.

What's it about?

Available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 -- and in November, for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 -- MADDEN NFL 25 from EA Sports is the latest in the best-selling pro football game franchise, commemorating 25 years' worth of virtual NFL fun. New this year are 30 bonus moves; a precision modifier for adding some spice and variation to moves like jukes and stiff arms; and a new Owner mode that lets you do everything from signing and trading players to setting prices for tickets, merchandise, and concession stands to renovating your home stadium (or even moving to another city, if desired). The game also boasts an updated physics engine for smoother and more realistic animation including a new Force Impact system for bone-crushing hits.
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Is it any good?

On one hand, it's still a fun and exciting game to play. It captures the intensity of professional football, and lets you play as your favorite teams and players. There's also a lot of meat to the gameplay between playing online or side-by-side and among the various modes. The new tackling and "run free" moves offer a few new thrills too. On the other hand, the core gameplay remains relatively unchanged from last year, and the visual presentation is in need of a refresh. There's not enough new here to necessitate an upgrade if you still have Madden NFL 13, but if it's been awhile since your last Madden purchase, and you're intrigued by the 25th anniversary edition of the premiere NFL game franchise, go for it.
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Talk to your kids about ...

  • Families can talk about the fact that Madden NFL comes out every year like clockwork. Is it fair to pay the same price year after year for a few new features and new rosters?

  • Are professional athletes positive role models? Should they be expected to be?

  • Which sport do you think makes the best video game experience? Why do you think that is? Is that sport also your favorite to play outside of a video game?

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Game details

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Our editors recommend

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