When football and video games come to mind, one name stands out in the crowd: John Madden. Rightly so, Electronic Arts (EA) has been producing the fabled series since 1988 with no signs of stopping. It is, without a doubt, the most prolific NFL video game series in existence.
The Madden franchise is so popular that there are numerous tournaments throughout the year in the esports gaming world. Heck, you can place bets on the outcomes of these contests just like you can for a real NFL game.
Aside from Madden, there have been a healthy number of other American football video games with varying levels of success. From the games that have popped up in recent years to the ones your parents played before you were born, there is no shortage of options (or opinions) when putting together a “best of all time” list. Using my vast experience in the genre and love of the sport, these are my top football video games of all time!
#5 – Madden 2017
Released in 2016 on the Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4
History
After a long run of the series being called a stagnant, lazy roster update of previous years, EA gave us the most realistic football video game to date. It was the kick in the pants that we all wanted to see from the only NFL product gamers had access to.
Strengths
Artificial Intelligence (AI) took a significant step forwards in many aspects. Defensive players acted smarter, blockers made more cunning decisions after their initial blocks, and pocket play felt more authentic.
Playcalling and strategy were expanded with larger playbooks and plenty of audible/hot route options. It’s always important to have the ability to keep your opponents on their toes.
The graphics finally reached their peak on the older consoles while the PS4 and 360 were just scratching the surface. Smooth animations, vibrant colors, and realistic movements were really coming around at this point in the series.
Franchise mode got a big shot in the arm. You’ll be led through the many aspects of the yearly grind of an NFL year, which may seem staggering to some. For some, it may be a lot to take in, but the depth of the franchise mode is massively appealing. Contract negotiations, scouting, and full player editing are just some of the features you have access to.
The commentary team even has a nice change. Out are the familiar Phil Simms and Jim Nantz. Charles Davis and Brandon Gaudin bring new insight and spice to the box.
Weaknesses
First, and most important, the load times were almost unbearable. Sure, we get a beautiful and shiny presentation, but, at times, I could literally go to the bathroom and come back before the next screen loaded.
The AI seemed to lose all sense of management in crucial, late-game situations. Up by two against the Falcons who have the ball at my 25-yard line and they let the clock run out with a timeout in their pocket?! I’ll take the win, but it feels unearned. Once in a while, I understand. But it happened enough that I can remember it.
Summary
Easily the best ‘modern’ iteration of the franchise, Madden 2017 was a benchmark for the brand. The graphics, the depth, and the overall feel of the game, all came together for a wonderful experience. I just hope it doesn’t take another 10+ years for EA to make significant strides forward in the series.
#4 – NFL Blitz
Released in 1997 on the Nintendo 64 and Arcade
History
Midway struck gold with NBA Jam and it’s over-the-top presentation of pro basketball with no rules. Naturally, the next step was to implement that gaming style into another sport and NFL Blitz was born! No refs, no rules, no mercy!
Strengths
The gameplay and concept are outstanding. Think of WWE meets pro football (no, not the XFL) with tackles that resemble a suplex or a body slam. You can even run up to players after the whistle and lay them out again. Punishing stiff arms, violent tackles, and mid-air collisions would draw more flags than a United Nations summit. The action is literally non-stop!
This game included all 30 NFL teams along with the actual players. Everyone from Brett Favre and Barry Sanders to Bruce Smith and Shawn Springs was there to collide in brute force and endless aggression. I loved every game, every snap, every second!
The audio and visuals were just crisp enough to enjoy while still holding onto the animated vibes that the game needed to succeed. Hearing a player grunt or painfully yell after a devastating hit was darkly enjoyable.
Weaknesses
No franchise mode and a bare-bones season mode were all we got in terms of lengthy playthroughs. There were no transactions of any kind. The season mode was the same as NBA Jam – beat ALL the other teams to win.
The soundtrack played itself out quickly and actually took away from the experience during an actual game. Better to just turn it off and enjoy the sounds of carnage.
Summary
One of the truly guilty pleasures in all sports video games, NFL Blitz was a truly unique experience. They even tried to recreate the same magic a few years later with Blitz: The League, but it didn’t hold up. Still, I can go back to my N64 cartridge time and time again to experience the no-holds-barred beatdown between two NFL teams over and over again.
#3 – Madden 2001
Released in 2000 on the Playstation, Playstation 2, and Nintendo 64
History
Having already established itself as the pinnacle of virtual pigskin, Madden entered the new millennium with an upgraded version of its tried-and-true mechanics and better graphics. It was also the first time the game was released with a football player on the cover, Eddie George, which led to the feared “Madden curse.” It seemingly prophesied the featured athlete would turn out a poor campaign in the following year(s).
Strengths
The Madden franchise made itself known throughout the sports game world, at this point, but with advancements in technology, the series was taking the next steps. Players moved more smoothly, leading to a more natural feel.
The little details that EA added to this iteration were quite special. The grass looked more real. The lighting and shadows in an open-air stadium were a great touch that added to the realism. The player movement was vastly improved whether your running back is delivering a stiff arm or the quarterback gets nailed from the blindside and driven into the turf. The player’s faces would even grin or grimace, depending on the recent play result.
Commentary was still a peak for the game with John Madden and Pat Summerall as the iconic duo behind the mic. With so much real-world experience together, it was a treasure to hear them fluidly react to each other and each play appropriately.
Weaknesses
The controls felt slow and clunky, even for the standards of the time. You’d push the button to make a spin move and wait for what seemed like forever to see the player react. Often enough, it wouldn’t be soon enough until you trained yourself to the timing.
Sometimes, at the conclusion of a play, the characters make some almost inhuman maneuvers when reacting to another character. You would see a defender facing one direction and then suddenly change direction and be on top of the ball carrier.
The sound was fine, but not impressive. The soundtrack was so blah that I just turned off the menu music. These were the days before known artists and musicians would be featured.
Summary
Undeniably, this version of Madden was the best yet! You can see by the numerous awards it won as a sports game and a video game, in general. Everyone who experienced it likely has fond memories of it – except for Eddie George, anyway.
#2 – Mutant League Football
Released in 1993 on the Sega Genesis
History
The Madden franchise was just gaining steam in the 16-bit era when another EA product came to the table – Mutant League Football! Using the same engine as Madden, this game already had solid bones backing it up. This cartoon-istic gem reminds us that we’re here for the fun!
In a post-apocalyptic world, the remnants of humanity have mutated into monsters, robots, and the undead. Can your team survive the next game, let alone the season?
Strengths
The wonderfully pixelated characters and the vibrant color stand out for the generation. The sound quality is fine. The controls and gameplay are where this beauty really shines! EA had already made a successful football game with the Madden franchise, so they just ported the controls over to MLF. Players react accordingly to button commands and it feels as good as anything at the time.
The most interesting thing about MLF is the ‘Death Index.’ Depending on how high you set it, you can lose players throughout the course of a game due to, well, death. This would become a key component to strategy as you could literally beat the opposing team into submission if they ran out of players to use. Kinda dark, yeah, but the graphics of the day and the unrealistic nature won’t cause people to get grossed out.
There are also a number of hazards that can befall the players on the field such as land mines, pits, and bribed referees. “Penalty on the Warrior’s quarterback for crying!” The only way to fix that is to kill the ref. The violence in MLF is over-the-top at times, but it’s a whole lot of fun!
Weaknesses
The audio wasn’t great. No voices. Just a lot of grunting with dialogue appearing on screen.
There was a season mode in which you could try to win the league championship, but no franchise mode of any kind. It kind of feels like EA didn’t want to give it too many bells and whistles just in case the gory fun garnered too many fans.
Each team had a skill rating between zero and five stars. The teams were quite unbalanced. If you attempted to make a run with a lower-ranked team, you weren’t going to get far. However, if you run one of the top squads, winning could be a breeze more often than not.
Summary
Mutant League Football was a blast! It was an ornamental prize in my old collection of Genesis games that saw more console time than just about any other game I owned. From the silly violence to the tight and solid gameplay, this game will always have a special place in my heart.
#1 – ESPN NFL 2K5
Released in 2004 on the Xbox and PlayStation 2
History
In the mid-2000s, there was a debate that could destroy friendships: Madden vs 2K. After years of 2K sitting at the kids’ table trying to get someone’s attention, they stood up and shouted, “I’m here!” with the sixth edition of their franchise. Everyone, especially EA, noticed.
Not only did the 2K5 iteration of the series feature the flashy, fluid, and most realistic football experience at the time, they sold their product at just $20 instead of the traditional $50 that all other big-name video games were selling for. It was so successful and put such a dent in EA’s sales numbers that EA did an end-around and snatched up exclusive rights for the NFL the following season, virtually leveling the opposition overnight.
The 2K franchise made one last attempt in the football market with All-Pro Football 2K8 three years later. It was more polished and featured former NFL stars with fictional teams. Without the NFL license, however, it wasn’t enough to keep the series going and put an end to the franchise.
Strengths
The fluidity was the strongest selling point (behind the lower price) of 2K. Starting with the clash of the offensive and defensive linemen, which looked natural and never played out the same way on consecutive plays. Then, watching your running back round your blockers, you could see him shift his shoulders as he slowed down for a moment before breaking into full speed as he made his way downfield. These abilities stemmed into everything from tackling animations to ball tracking.
The game also displayed a more dynamic control scheme. Tapping the action button would make your controlled player run faster, whereas holding the same button down would charge up your player to make a stronger following maneuver like a stiff arm or spinning. Seeing a ball carrier juke a defender out of their virtual cleats was an absolute joy to experience.
Of course, the title feature of the game was the inclusion of an ESPN presentation. This included recaps on SportsCenter with Chris Berman, Mel Kiper Jr., and other network personalities at the time.
Between the two versions of the game, I give an extra nod to the Xbox version. The graphics were noticeably cleaner. The cherry on top was the ability to add music that you had downloaded to the console’s hard drive into the game. Hearing Metallica’s ‘Sad But True’ after scoring a touchdown or Brittney Spears’ ‘Oops! I Did It Again’ after picking off a pass were special rewards that I cherished with, or in opposition to, my friends.
In “The Crib,” you redeem in-game currency for items and deck out your own virtual loft with things like banners, furniture, different mini-games, fun videos to watch, and a cornucopia of other things. The currency was earned through a number of ways like big plays, seasonal/career accolades, and more. Then, you might get a call from a celebrity who wants to challenge you to a game. Think you could best David Arquette? Is Carmen Electra too much for you to handle?
Weaknesses
The franchise mode was solid but didn’t quite match up to the Madden experience. In 2K, there were no coaching changes, no owner’s mode features, no relocating franchises, and no off-season drills to improve the players on your roster. Overall, it was still good, though.
The opportunity for using a Coaches’ Challenge was broken. First, if you watched the replay, you wouldn’t be allowed to challenge. Second, even if you see that the play should clearly be overturned or not, the game would seemingly decide your fate arbitrarily. It just didn’t work.
The in-game announcers became repetitive and bland after a while. They were solid and professional, but there could’ve been more. Adversely, unlocking their outtakes was quite enjoyable. Let’s hear you say “Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala!” for the first time.
Summary
There’s plenty more to go into about ESPN NFL 2K5, but I’ll wrap this up. There’s no debate that it is one of the greatest American football games of all time. Is it the best ever? I think so. I burned out two copies of the game with all the time I put into it. If you haven’t tried it out, I strongly suggest doing so.
Honorable Mentions
Tecmo Bowl – 1991
Tecmo Bowl’s enjoyment and frustration can be summed up in two words: Bo Jackson.
All Pro Football 2K8 – 2007
The spiritual successor to ESPN NFL 2K5 was just as amazing of a football experience without the NFL license.
Joe Montana Sports Talk Football – 1992
My entrance into football video games. Simple, easy to get used to while still providing a competent challenge.
NCAA Football 2006 – 2005
A collegiate football experience like no other. Depth, longevity, and fun!
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