An amalgamation of Ultimate Team that has made FIFA the juggernaut it is, a scripted story mode focused on your player avatar and even ‘backyard’ 6v6 modes with star players have all littered the start screen. However, in recent years, Franchise has been left behind a little as Madden has pursued flashier and more gimmicky modes. It’s a strangely compelling narrative structure that encourages continued engagement as you discover these stories as they play out. As time goes on, maybe the Chief’s dominance collapses, maybe the Detroit Lions get it together, maybe Trevor Lawrence becomes the best QB of all time, all in one save game.
It meets the NFL at a point in history and then hundreds of stories emerge randomly. Madden’s Franchise mode is a great example that harnesses that. There’s emergent storytelling that often goes underappreciated in sports games. They relocate to San Antonio and then win the Superbowl two years later with one of the youngest teams ever to do it. A swap for the problem Watson for Kyler Murray, Byron Murphy Jr, and Andy Isabella starts a whole new era for the Texans. Trading away good but ageing players on expensive contracts for young talent to make something new. No franchise has ever screamed ‘rebuild’ quite like the Houston Texans, a prospect Madden 22 makes reality. READ MORE: ‘Aragami 2’ review: a very different shadow warrior emerges from the darkness.
There were many wondering if this could be the NFL’s first 0-17 team. Nothing has gone right for the team in years it seems. While they have an arguably Top 5 quarterback in the league, Deshaun Watson is currently the centre of a disturbing sexual assault case in real life. For years they’ve mismanaged their talent, letting go of all-star players like Deandre Hopkins and JJ Watt for returns that have just not seen comparable value. The Texans aren’t impressing anyone this season.