Review: ‘Madden NFL 26’ makes solid return on Nintendo Switch 2
It’s been more than a decade since Electronic Arts released a football game on a Nintendo console, and the absence has been noticeable for a company with one of the biggest fandoms and install bases. The last “Madden” entry was on the Wii U and featured now-retired Calvin Johnson on the cover. EA entirely skipped the Switch generation.
That changes with “Madden NFL 26” making its way to the Nintendo Switch 2. With more powerful hardware, the console can run the demanding code that EA Orlando has crafted over the years to make a more realistic football game.
The animation systems are more complex and they rely on in-game physics to make every tackle and collision feel more visceral. Internet integration is tighter so that rosters are constantly updated and online play is deeper. The graphics look so realistic that casual fans can’t tell the difference between the game and a broadcast at first glance. Nintendo has missed out on a lot of improvements since 2012.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KAqdCZOJLA
CONTENT ON PAR WITH OTHER CONSOLESWith “Madden NFL 26” on the Switch 2, fans can enjoy the complete experience. It’s essentially the same package as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions. Gamers will start off with Madden Ultimate Team and they can navigate to the other staples such as Franchise, Superstar and online modes. They’re all polished and robust after years of tinkering.
The modes feature enough depth to sate the most rabid football fan. The Franchise mode played on simulation lets gamers take on the role of the football coach, and they can customize their staff, scouting department, and weekly gameplans. The developers emphasized “Madden NFL 26’s” new wear and tear system that shows how the constant pounding diminishes athletes’ abilities over the season.
That forces gamers to better manage their teams over the season. While that adds more gameplay layers, it also means that an in-game weekly matchup can take an entire night to complete, but the developers added flexibility to streamline that depth, so that gamers can have fun at their own pace.
CREATING CUSTOMIZABLE DEPTHThey can simplify the Simulation Mode so that gamers handle just the team on game days or they can dabble with scouting at the end of the season. Those looking for more action-oriented gameplay can move to arcade-style. There’s even a competitive mode for players into sports e-sports.
That same customization applies to the Superstar mode, in which gamers take a rookie through the draft combine and career, where they have to manage relationships and superstardom. They can automate some of the other sections of the NFL lifestyle and just focus on gameday performances.
HOW IT PLAYS ON SWITCH 2For newcomers, EA Tiburon has an in-depth tutorial called Training Camp that introduces the basics in a transparent manner and ramps up to more complex ideas. Veterans will also find it worthwhile because it introduces some of the gameplay tweaks and improvements such as the ability to reach for a first down or improved controls for a back shoulder throw.
The Switch 2 version boasts these improvements, but the game’s performance on the system is good not great. Visually, “Madden NFL 26” on the Nintendo console is a step below the PlayStation 5 version. The developers managed to keep the realistic detail on helmets and other surfaces, but the frame rate suffers, especially when playing in portable mode. The game runs better when docked or at least connected to a power source such as an external battery.
In addition, the load times are longer, which becomes aggravating when switching modes or retrying a failed exercise. The game also has a lot of glitches and bugs. In the build I played, sometimes the offense would come out to play as the defense or I would automatically run up to spike the ball after a play is over.
The biggest benefit of the Switch 2 version compared to its counterparts is that the system is portable, so that gamers can bring “Madden NFL 26” wherever they go. It’s a serviceable version of the famed football series. It will make Nintendo fans who haven’t played an entry in ages happy, but for veterans, the year-over-year improvements feel minor and not worth it if they picked up past entries.
‘Madden NFL 26’
2½ stars out of 4Rating: EveryonePlatform: Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PC