Madden NFL 21 – Complete Game Guide
Madden NFL 21 is an American football simulation developed by EA Tiburon and published by EA Sports. Featuring Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as the cover athlete, the game introduced enhanced ball-carrier controls, pass rush moves, The Yard, Face of the Franchise: Rise to Fame, Ultimate Team, and Franchise Mode updates. It offers a realistic NFL experience with officially licensed teams, players, and stadiums.
Release Date
- August 28, 2020
- MVP Edition Early Access: August 25, 2020
Price
Original launch prices:
- Standard Edition – $59.99 USD
- Deluxe Edition – $79.99 USD
- MVP Edition – $99.99 USD
Today, Madden NFL 21 is available through EA Play, physical retailers, and second-hand marketplaces.
Platforms
- PC
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X/S
- Google Stadia
System Requirements (PC)
Minimum
- Windows 10 (64-bit)
- Intel Core i3-6100 / AMD FX-8350
- 8 GB RAM
- NVIDIA GTX 670 / AMD Radeon RX 480
- DirectX 12
- 50 GB storage
Recommended
- Windows 10 (64-bit)
- Intel Core i5-3550
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 10 GB RAM
- NVIDIA GTX 680 / AMD Radeon RX 560
- 50 GB SSD recommended
Where to Buy
Madden NFL 21 is available from:
- EA App
- Steam
- PlayStation Store
- Xbox Store
- EA Play
- Physical game retailers
- Online marketplaces
Where to Buy Accounts
Madden NFL 21 requires an EA account for online features. Buying or selling accounts is not officially supported and may violate EA’s Terms of Service. Creating your own account is recommended.
Where to Get Mods
Popular PC modding websites include:
- Nexus Mods
- Madden Modding Community
- ModDB
- GitHub
- Madden Modding Discord servers
Online and Offline Mods
Offline Mods
Popular mods include:
- Updated NFL rosters
- Realistic gameplay sliders
- Uniform updates
- Stadium improvements
- Graphics enhancements
- Face updates
- Franchise improvements
- Camera mods
- Scoreboard mods
- UI improvements
Online Mods
Mods that alter gameplay should never be used online, as they may result in account penalties. Most community mods are intended for offline Franchise Mode.
Comparison With Similar Games
| Game | Focus | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Madden NFL 21 | American football | The Yard |
| Madden NFL 22 | Football simulation | Franchise improvements |
| Madden NFL 25 | Football simulation | BOOM Tech |
| College Football 25 | College football | Dynasty Mode |
| Madden NFL 20 | Football simulation | Superstar X-Factor |
Screenshots
- Official gameplay screenshots are available on Steam, the EA App, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and the official EA Sports website.
Achievement Guide
Madden NFL 21 includes Steam achievements, Xbox achievements, and PlayStation trophies.
Main objectives include:
- Complete Face of the Franchise
- Win a Super Bowl
- Build an Ultimate Team
- Reach Franchise milestones
- Complete Skills Trainer
- Play The Yard
How Long to Beat
- Face of the Franchise: 12–20 hours
- Franchise + Ultimate Team: 50–90 hours
- 100% Completion: 120+ hours
Achievement / Trophy Guide
For full completion:
- Finish Face of the Franchise.
- Win a Super Bowl.
- Complete The Yard objectives.
- Unlock player abilities.
- Finish Franchise milestones.
- Complete Skills Trainer.
- Earn every offline achievement.
Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
The PC version runs on Steam Deck using Proton with controller support. Medium settings generally provide the best performance.
Controller Support
Supports:
- Xbox controllers
- PlayStation DualShock 4
- PlayStation DualSense
- Steam Input
- Keyboard & Mouse
Co-op Information
Available multiplayer modes include:
- Local multiplayer
- Online head-to-head
- Ultimate Team
- The Yard
- Franchise Mode
Cross-Platform Support
Madden NFL 21 does not support cross-platform multiplayer or cross-save.
Similar Game Recommendations
If you enjoy Madden NFL 21, you may also like:
- Madden NFL 22
- Madden NFL 25
- EA Sports College Football 25
- Madden NFL 20
- Axis Football 2024
- Legend Bowl
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Madden NFL 21 still available?
Yes. The game is available through EA Play, physical retailers, and used game marketplaces.
2. Can I play offline?
Yes. Face of the Franchise, Franchise Mode, Exhibition, and Skills Trainer all support offline play.
3. Are the online servers still active?
No. EA has discontinued the online services for Madden NFL 21, so online multiplayer and connected online features are no longer available.
4. What is The Yard?
The Yard is an arcade-style backyard football mode featuring smaller teams, creative rules, and player customization.
5. Is Steam Deck supported?
Yes. Madden NFL 21 is playable on Steam Deck using Proton.
6. Can I install mods?
Yes. The PC version supports roster updates, graphics enhancements, uniforms, stadium improvements, Franchise mods, and gameplay tweaks.
7. Does Madden NFL 21 have achievements?
Yes. Steam achievements, Xbox achievements, and PlayStation trophies are included.
8. How long does it take to beat?
Face of the Franchise takes approximately 12–20 hours, while completing every achievement can require 120+ hours.
9. Does Madden NFL 21 support cross-play?
No. Cross-platform multiplayer and cross-save are not supported.
10. Can I update the rosters?
Official roster updates ended after the game’s lifecycle, but community-created roster mods remain available for PC players.
11. Does Madden NFL 21 support local multiplayer?
Yes. Local multiplayer supports multiple players using additional controllers.
12. Is Madden NFL 21 worth playing today?
Yes. Thanks to The Yard, improved ball-carrier controls, enjoyable Franchise Mode, and an active PC modding community, Madden NFL 21 remains a solid choice for football fans, especially for offline play.