Summary
Now that I have played bothMadden NFL 25andEA Sports College Football 25, one of the experiences is more enjoyable than the other. It is important to be clear: neither game is terrible. EA Sports football games all meet a certain level of quality consistently, and I know what to expect from them. Sometimes these games exceed my expectations, other times I’m left thinking, “Yeah, that’s another Madden game alright.”
Perhaps becauseCollege Football 25was thefirst college football game in 10 years, EA Sports seemed to be trying a little harder this year to make both it and the newMaddenstand out. There are elements of both games that I would consider majorimprovements over last year’sMadden NFL 24. That said, having played both games,it is very clear to me which one I enjoyed more and why.
Madden NFL 25 Reveals Much-Needed Superstar Mode Changes
Superstar Mode will be back in Madden NFL 25 but with some much-needed changes.
College Football 25 Feels Much More Like Real Football Than Madden
Madden Makes Scoring Too Easy And Athletes Feel Too Similar
When I’m playing a football game, I look for an experience that feels authentic to the sport. If I wanted to play a fantasy version of football, I would stick to playingBlood Bowl. That means I want a game that is going to present a challenge to me. I want to be held accountable for throwing a bad pass into double coverage or punished for taking too long in the pocket. I also want to feel a noticeable difference between teams’ and players’ ability levels. From that perspective,College Football 25is the clear winner.
Player skills inCollege Football 25made it feel much more like I was dealing with real athletesin the game. Having an inexperienced quarterback meant that my pass routes would often be obscured during away games. I also had to remember which wide receivers I could rely on to catch a risky pass, as some were noticeably better than others.
I’d like more of a challenge instead of an almost guarantee that each of my drives will end with at least a field goal.
By contrast,players inMadden NFL 25feel largely homogeneous. This is especially true when playing in Competitive mode, where the outcome of plays is determined more by player input than by the stats of the athletes.Maddenends up feeling like a much more arcade-like experience.
Sure, I won’t pretend I didn’t have fun putting up 60 points as the Chicago Bears in the first half of a game, but it’s an experience that gets old more quickly. I may have high hopes for what Caleb Williams is going to do with Chicago’s offense, but I don’t expect them to be anywhere near as dominant as they are when I’m playingMadden. Even if I was still winning most of my games, I’d like more of a challenge instead of an almost guarantee that each of my drives will end with at least a field goal.
I like that I can’t just pick a lower-ranked college teamand dominate any opponent, especially those with thebest players inCollege Football 25. It feels like I’m actually choosing between real teams, instead of just deciding which skin to put on my athletes. I found that, even in Simulation mode,Maddencouldn’t offer that same experience.
Madden’s Less Realistic Gameplay Affects Its Other Modes
Superstar Mode Creates Cognitive Dissonance Between Player Performance And Simulation Results
Because it is easier to perform inMadden NFL 25regardless of the team or player I’m using, I noticed some issues with Superstar mode. Playing as a custom quarterback, I was able to easily rack up several touchdowns in my first NFL outing, despite being ranked somewhere in the 70s overall. However, after a few successful drives, the game took control out of my hands and simulated the rest of the game. When it did,the game did not seem reflective of my performance.
It’s not about winning or losing;Maddenshould try to be more consistent.
Despite having led three consecutive touchdown drives with no turnovers,when the simulated players took over, my team lost horribly. Had I been challenged more when actually playing, I wouldn’t have minded losing the game. However, when I perform perfectly, only to have the game suddenly start caring about player statistics once things are out of my hands is frustrating. It’s not about winning or losing;Maddenshould attempt to be more consistent. If my team is outmatched, I should feel it when I’m playing, not just when the game is being simulated.
College Football 25’s Presentation Is Also More Immersive
College Footbal 25’s Stadiums Feel More Unique
Maybe it’s because I’m more familiar with college football stadiums, having visited a few, or maybe it’s because college stadiums are smaller and more bespoke, butCollege Football 25’s stadiums seem to feel much more immersive than those inMadden NFL 25. Not only did each stadium have a distinctly different appearance, but the differingHome Field Advantage scores helped give each college its own identity. Hearing things like the University of Illinois’s iconic “I-L-L” and “I-N-I” call and response also helped ground the experience in a real place.
WhileMadden NFL 25does have different-looking stadiums, they tend to fade more into the background during play. This is partially due to them being larger. It’s easier to see the distinct landmarks and architectural differences in small stadiums like Oregon’s inCollege Football 25. InMadden, I rarely got a glimpse of anything besides rows of seats in each stadium. I quickly stopped paying attention to where I was playing, and the fields began to meld together in my mind.
Madden NFL 25 Does Have A Slight Edge In Some Areas
Madden Has A Better UI And Is More Upfront With Its Customization Options
While I would takeCollege Football 25overMadden NFL 25if forced to choose, that doesn’t meanMadden NFL 25isn’t better in some regards. For one,the UI onMadden NFL 25is a lot nicer. The menus feel less over-designed, and the screen feels less cluttered during actual gameplay. Passing routes inMaddenare crisp and clear instead of the stylized ones inCollege Football 25, which can sometimes be visually messy.
Madden NFL 25also gave me a list of settings to mess with the moment I started up the game. WhileCollege Football 25has a lot of the same settings, it was on me to realize what I could switch off and where to find it. I enjoyedMaddenbeing upfront with my customization options and making it easy to set the game up the way I wanted.
While it’s not my preferred playing style, I can also concede that some players will findMadden’s more arcadey feel to be more appealing. When sitting on the couch with friends, players may want a simplified experience where they can rack up absurd scores. The differences between the two games also aren’t so dramatic that having playedCollege Football 25completely ruined my experience withMadden NFL 25. I enjoyed both games for what they are, but if forced to choose,EA SportsCollege Football 25is better suited to my taste.
