Speaking as a Canadian, I’m more of a hockey guy when it comes to sports. Seriously, I would do a lot to get an NHL game on the Nintendo Switch 2. Anyway, that’s a whole other thing. We’re here for some pigskin action, and while my heart belongs to hockey, I’m hardly averse to dabbling in the occasional bit of gridiron. That goes double when it comes to video games based on the sport, though my strong preference for handheld gaming in recent years has left me without much to do in that regard besides mess around with Tecmo Bowl for the umpteenth year.
Okay, it hasn’t been fully as bad as all that, but I’ve missed having a solid version of Madden on the go. I think the last time that happened was Madden NFL 13 on the PlayStation Vita, and that’s a hefty chunk of time ago. Well, here we go. EA Sports Madden NFL 26 is available on Switch 2, and while it’s probably not a huge surprise, this is easily the best handheld Madden yet. There are some visual compromises when compared to versions of the game on more powerful hardware, and you won’t be able to partake of cross-platform multiplayer with this Switch 2 offering, but that’s really all you’re giving up in the process.
I don’t think anyone would expect PlayStation 5-level graphics or performance here, though. You get a reasonably smooth framerate that I’ve seen others cite as 40 fps. I don’t have any magic glasses so I can’t confirm that exact number, but it feels comfortable enough while obviously not hitting those big-pants console highs. There are other visual differences like a lower resolution and some lost details, but it looks fine within the context of the platform. You’re also going to have to accept some longer loading times and a less snappy interface, too.
Otherwise, this is the full-fat Madden experience. All of the ways to play are here, including the fun but financially draining Ultimate Team, the highly engrossing Franchise mode (playable both online or offline), Superstar mode, Online Head 2 Head (again, keep in mind, there is no cross-platform play), and Quick Play for when you just want to fill a little time. Nothing is missing, and nothing has been cut back in terms of content. A lot of it requires you to have an internet connection, naturally. If you’re truly out and about, however, you can at least enjoy the Franchise mode in all of its glory.
It’s a great time, too. You get to manage your team on the field and off, and anything you don’t feel like dealing with can be tossed to the computer to manage. It feels good to take your team through multiple seasons in pursuit of Super Bowl successes, and I love the expanded management aspects in this year’s version. You really feel like you’re involved in every part of the process, and for big fans of the sport, that’s pretty much a dream. The Superstar mode is somewhat less enjoyable but interesting enough to mess around with for a while. It’s almost the opposite of the Franchise mode, focusing in on a very narrow target but with a great deal of depth.
I’m not a huge fan of Ultimate Team mode, but only because I feel like you eventually hit a point where you can’t really make headway without buying microtransactions. It takes a while to get to that point, though, so you can have some fun with it even if you share my dislike of buying extra card packs. It’s a very popular mode for a reason, and even if it’s not my thing, I suppose I can at least say that for those who enjoy it, you can enjoy it fully here on Switch 2.
At this point, the gameplay mechanics of Madden are quite tried and true. One of the strengths of this series is how easy it is to pick up and play on a fundamental level. Everything is here for those who want to go deeper, but if you just want to jump in and play some video game football, it’s easy to understand here, as it was all the way back on the Mega Drive. There’s a robust training mode if you need to learn, though, and that’s something I also appreciate. There are even some mini-games in there to poke at if you need something else to do.
With the understanding that there are going to be some sacrifices to get a game like EA Sports Madden NFL 26 going on the Switch 2 hardware, I think this is about as good as one could reasonably expect. The loss of cross-platform play is unfortunate but sensible, and the visual downgrade might be noticeable, but it’s certainly acceptable. Stepping back from that, this is an excellent game to be able to take on the go, and it carries itself well enough docked, too. American football fans, rejoice: Switch 2 is already eating better than its predecessor.
Version Tested: Nintendo Switch 2
Review copy provided by Electronic Arts
