It’s no surprise that Madden has dominated the world of football video games for decades. For better or worse, the franchise has evolved considerably from what it was when it started to what it is now, where we can see intricate simulation technology in a sports game. However, the one entry that might push Madden 25 and its subsequent releases to evolve isn’t one of that series, but rather College Football 25. With such strong early impressions from the fanbase, Madden‘s reign might be over unless it starts upping its game as soon as possible.
As someone who’s played Madden on and off, I can tell you that, at times, it feels a bit stale. Yes, I know that you can only innovate so much in a sports game, but after playing the trial for College Football 25, I can tell you that Madden should be shaking in its boots. Why? Because it finally has competition. CFB 25 is already breaking lines non-stop with its enhanced mechanics, something Madden hasn’t improved completely since its 23 release. So, while there’s a bit of irony in competing against a game under the same company, I’ll take that. As long as the legendary series can evolve faster and adapt to a now-expanded market, everyone will win.
Another thing that Madden should look out for is the in-depth game modes coming to College Football 25. Out of everything we’ve seen in Madden, nothing rivals the depth of Road to Glory and Dynasty. The former lets you create your athlete and see him grow as part of a team, while the latter allows you to build your team and lead them to stardom. Both of these game modes are already miles ahead compared to what Madden has launched with in past entries. While these modes make a lot of sense for the college setting, that doesn’t mean Madden can cook up something similar to offer players a more varied gameplay style.
Of course, it might be a bit too early to tell. Madden 25 is still a bit far away, but it could very well be a complete hit. Yet, people seem to be much more excited about CFB 25, and I don’t blame them. The fact that the new modes perfectly embrace new players is a boon Madden lacks. Furthermore, the return of this series is something that gamers have anticipated for years. So, in a sense, College Football 25 is already eclipsing EA Sports’ flagship game.
Ultimately, we should see this as a win for everyone. While it might be weird to compare both titles, especially as they come from the same company, I feel it will help both franchises grow. I still think it is wild that the competition is so close to home, but it was long overdue. I might not be a die-hard fan as many out there, but I’m always up for seeing franchises improve. Plus, as gamers, we shouldn’t settle for a yearly release with just a few tweaks. Thanks to CFB 25, we’ll now have the means to ask EA Sports for more. Hopefully, this will only lead to better and more engaging virtual football experiences.
