Madden NFL 21 Game Modes Guide
Madden 21 is the latest annual release of the popular NFL football sim by EA Sports. There are several modes to choose from, and most of these are familiar to the previous installment of the franchise. The modes are Face of the Franchise: Rise to Fame, Franchise, Exhibition, Superstar KO, The Yard, Ultimate Team!
Face of the Franchise: Rise to Fame
For the story-centric football fans, this year’s Face of the Franchise mode is the most expansive story in series history where the player will build a fully customized character. For the first time in Madden, the player must endure the High School and then University storyline that is incredibly easy until you reach the NFL. While the player is crushing teams and advancing through the incredibly lame story, they can be a Quarterback, Wide Receiver, or Running Back depending on the choices made. Once reaching the draft, one final choice is given via a press conference as to what position is declared to compete in the NFL. After being drafted, the player will attempt to make a squad and rise through the ranks to become a Superstar, win the Super Bowl and have a Hall of Fame-worthy career.
Franchise Mode
One of the game’s better modes is the Franchise mode, giving players the ability to play multiple seasons, make off-season draft picks, and trade players. Within Franchise Mode, players take on General Manager’s role and manage all personnel matters, including contracts, free agency, draft picks, and hiring and firing coaches. The player also acts as a head coach-like character, choosing which players to play, making substitutions, running practices, practicing gameplans, etc.
Franchise mode is fantastic with friends as groups of players can be in the same online franchise of up to 32 people. Everyone picks a team in the NFL, and you play a 16-game season, playoffs, and the Super Bowl.
Exhibition Mode
Exhibition mode, also known as Play Now, is Madden’s basic exhibition mode. This mode can give you a chance to experiment with tactics and plays without impacting your head-to-head record on online communities or MUT. You can work on the player’s skill on offense or defense with the Skills Trainer to improve skills to use during matches. The player that masters these skills will be at an advantage in the other modes.
Superstar KO
Superstar KO, an arcadey, survive-and-advance mode that combines faster football and fantasy sports, combines Superstar X-Factors, custom rules, and special teams with a new, unique stadium commentary style to provide a brand-new play experience. It is all about fast-to-fun gameplay, where every play matters, and games that can last from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. It always presents you with exciting choices, whether about building your team or overcoming or taking advantage of mismatches. But most of all, it is just fun.
The Yard
A backyard-inspired 6v6 football experience, The Yard is a brand-new mode in Madden that’s all about trick plays, the freshest gear you’ve ever seen. In 6v6 games, human teams of up to three players will design their avatars and round out their teams with real-life NFL stars.
You can pick where you wish to play on the field for both offense and defense. The rules are based on throwing as many forwards or backward passes behind the scrimmage line to start and then to advance the ball down the field to score a touchdown. Over time you will win the game and level up different archetypes that will increase your level and the skill of your players.
Madden Ultimate Team
Ultimate Team (commonly referred to as MUT) is an online game mode in the Madden Series. The goal of the Ultimate Team is to level up your team with different tiered trading cards as much as possible until you are satisfied with it. Then compete online.
The way the player gains additional players is through buying card packs to increase the team’s overall rank and thus be able to complete harder challenges and face off with harder opponents. The best way to get cards is by buying Madden 21 Coins.
After the player is granted cards, they can choose to upgrade certain training to unlock chemistries and X-factor traits. The only way to gain training is by selling cards that you have collected. The other way to enhance the team and complete sets are the auction house and trade block where players can put up cards for auction or trade with other players for specific cards needed for sets. In addition, you earn more MUT 21 coins here.
Overall, “Madden 21” is an excellent game. Like previous Madden titles, this year’s EA Sports game allows players to switch between different play styles, providing variability. Though there is virtually no change in in-game styles between Madden 20 and Madden 21, this can be a good starting place for new players.
