I look forward to Madden every year, but I was especially excited for this year’s game for a silly reason. In 2013, EA released a game called Madden NFL 25 to celebrate the series’ 25th anniversary. This of course left them puzzled a decade later, and I was curious to see how they would handle it. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to an interesting title, as they simply released another game called Madden NFL 25. Thankfully, that’s my only disappointment with this year’s Madden, which has some nice additions and still maintains its solid core.

It’s not just the title that may evoke a sense of déjà vu, as one of this year’s major selling points is the improved tackling, which has been a recurring focus since the introduction of the hit stick in Madden 2005. While I was a little skeptical when I saw it again, I have to give credit to the team at EA Orlando, who have done a great job with their new “Boom tech” that integrates momentum, player rating and muscle into each collision. This results in more dynamic and realistic tackles that lead to additional fumble opportunities if you can time them right.

Beyond the improved tackling, there are plenty of other smaller additions that make Madden NFL 25 a genuinely compelling upgrade over previous years. There’s more to do before you even snap the ball, for example, such as customizing smart routes and being able to hide your coverage shell on defense. The new kicking system from College Football 25 also makes an appearance, though you have to select it from the options, and two new commentary teams have been added (Mike Tirico and Greg Olsen, plus Kate Scott and Brock Huard), giving you plenty of options for changing things up.

Franchise and Superstar modes have seen the biggest overhauls, with most other offerings returning in similar forms (albeit with a slicker UI). Franchise mode really impressed me, as you start to see trends over time. Young players can improve quickly as their on-field performances show they’re breaking through, and EA Orlando has added over 70 new storylines that really make you feel like you’re managing personalities and real players rather than just a spreadsheet. There’s a greater sense of history, too, with you able to break team-specific records rather than just aiming for the all-time record books.