Loading up a new Madden game is a lot like visiting extended family on Thanksgiving. You take a deep breath before jumping in, wondering what chaos you’re about to walk into this time. Madden 26 takes some big steps forward, both on and off the field. Still, I can’t help but feel that the game could be—and used to be—even better.
In my long (and sometimes frustrating) Madden history, I have found that there are two camps of Madden fans. Those who care a lot about the on-field gameplay, and those who consistently want more immersion into the world of professional football, AKA the off-field management and living the life of a player. For transparency purposes, I firmly fall into the former category. Even in the days of The Crib in NFL 2K5, I would rather spend my time playing games on the field.
OK, there’s one more group of players: Those who wish EA would put more focus on anything other than Ultimate Team. Best of luck with that, but we’ll talk more about Madden 26 Ultimate Team later.
A Revamped Franchise Mode
Fans have been clamoring for a better Franchise mode in Madden for years, and EA has put a lot of time into it this time around. For the most part, the changes are good. Whether you just like playing the games or you want to manage every aspect of player development and the salary cap, Franchise mode is a step forward in Madden 26.
EA released a massive developer diary about Franchise mode in the lead-up to Madden 26’s release. In it, they promised extensive changes to the way you play the mode both on and off the field. I can happily say that in my experience, Franchise mode has mostly delivered.
Skill trees for coaches are back, but the coordinators you hire and develop matter so much more this year. You’re not able to load up your team with elite coordinators, so you’ll need to be strategic. Stronger coordinators should offset your weaknesses as a head coach. And you should always invest in developing them, because every skill they grow in their skill tree will make your players more effective on the field. In my first Franchise, I’m using the Bengals. I’ll be investing heavily in the Defensive Coordinator to help the defense keep pace with the elite offense. On offense, the coordinator will be developed in everything related to the offensive line. That level of detail brings a real-world realism to Madden 26 that makes Franchise more fun.
Coordinators will also get you access to playsheets, which can get you new plays to work with and even more player abilities. Upgrading a playsheet will give specific players boosts when you run a play from that playsheet.
Other Franchise Improvements
Wear and tear is new to Madden 26, and you’ll have to manage it in Franchise and other modes. Choose whether to rest your players to help recovery, or risk additional wear and tear by training hard for your upcoming opponent. In addition, you’ll be able to select different strategies for every week, allowing you to focus on your opponent’s strengths or weaknesses when preparing.
On the field, the investment in AI opponent play is noticeable. That’s especially true for AI quarterbacks, who have undergone significant changes to their playing style. Now, Madden 26 AI will cause a quarterback to play much more like their real-world counterpart. Players like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson will take off and pick up yards on the ground. Inexperienced passers will panic more quickly, taking off in a scramble or trying to force a pass. Gunslingers will try to find their star receivers in big moments. In a game striving to be as close to a simulation as possible, these quarterback improvements greatly enhance Madden 26 Franchise.
Finally, a quick note on presentation. Madden 26 has added the look of Thursday Night and Sunday Night games. It’s relatively small, but I love additions like these.
The Good Stuff In Madden 26
Aside from Franchise mode, Madden 26 brings some improvements to players. These are the things that stood out the most.
Winter Wonderland
Madden 26 has made snow games really feel like snow games. When you choose “heavy snow,” you’ll be playing in actual whiteout conditions. It’s not something I’d want to do every game, but it was really fun to play a game in those conditions as an exception to the rule.
The weather has a real impact on how games will play. Players will slip and stumble in the snow, and the quarterback won’t get as good a grip in the rain. When weather and seasons were introduced to Forza Horizon 4, it was a game-changer. The weather in Madden 26 has almost as much impact.
Most Of Superstar Mode
We’ve come a long way from the days of the Longshot story mode. Superstar allows you to create your own NFL player and play through their career. You start at the combine, where I learned that I’m terrible at the bench press mini game. You can force being drafted to a specific team, which is nice for fans who want to play for their favorite team. I let it play out and was drafted by the Rams.
The games themselves are a lot of fun to play. During the week, there are opportunities to develop your skills and move up the depth chart. Some fans will say there isn’t enough to do off the field, and that the Sphere of Influence isn’t enough to make Superstar seem like more than just playing game after game. That’s fair criticism, but the mode has made strides forward in recent years, and it’s better than the Longshot days.
The Solo Aspects Of Ultimate Team
Oh, Ultimate Team. The mode we know Madden will have no matter what. I used to be a die-hard MUT player—the type that had a high-90s team by Christmas. Those days are gone, but I was encouraged by the number of single-player options there are inside Madden 26 Ultimate Team. There are solo challenges to play, as well as varied complete games of differing lengths.
If you’re looking to build a MUT team at your own pace, there are a lot of ways to do it without going online. In fact, if you’re going to be a casual MUT player, venture online at your own risk. I always get matched up against players who have discovered that the best card to pull in MUT is the credit card. Maybe you’ll have better luck. In the past, MUT has been heavily skewed towards either solo content or online play. Madden 26 feels nicely balanced.
Online Head-To-Head And Connected Franchise
Aside from the Solo Franchise, online H2H and Connected Franchise have always been the heartbeat of Madden. Head-to-Head is really fun once again, with the traditional lag to field goals but crisp play otherwise. You’ll still find people choosing the best teams over and over, but don’t ask for the moon here.
Connected Franchise in Madden has stood the test of time, while similar modes have vanished from games like NHL and MLB The Show. There are endless customization options to create your league, and there’s still nothing better than trash talk amongst friends throughout a complete season in Madden 26.
The Not So Good
Hey, it’s Madden. There’s bound to be a few issues. Although the game is a significant improvement overall, some blemishes still stand out.
Everything Is Monetized
The cash grab of Madden is starting to get out of hand. You’re encouraged to spend money on packs, premium Field Passes (more than one at a time), special gear for your superstar, and more. When you’re presented with opportunities to spend money every time you first load up the game, it’s off-putting. It’s getting harder to remember when the cost to purchase a game got you the whole game.
Superstar Spheres Of Influence
I like the rest of Superstar mode, but Sphere of Influence just feels tedious. Why should I care about what my tattoo artist thinks about a decision I made? The principle is sound. EA is trying to give players the feel of balancing the life of an NFL player. However, the choices all have zero-sum outcomes, and I’m not a fan of that. As time went on, I found myself getting through those moments as quickly as possible.
The Bottom Line
If your first Madden game was Madden 17 or later, there’s a good chance you’ll think Madden 26 is the best Madden game you’ve played. It’s a good — but not perfect — football video game. AI quarterback play and a significant investment into Franchise mode lead the charge into a better experience this time around. I’d be disappointed if Madden 26 was the pinnacle of what EA has been building to, but I’m now excited to see where they go from here.
