The main thing on Packers fans’ minds right now will clearly be on the early rounds of the 2024/25 NFL season. Fans’ expectations are somewhat high, with a run into the Playoffs seen as the minimum requirement.
Yet, plenty of football fans, including Packers fans, will also have got their hands on Madden 25, now considered the definitive and ‘official’ NFL game. The next evolution in the series is bigger and bolder than ever, but it’s also more of the same.
Beyond Madded, there are plenty of other football games that fans can play, many of which are available for free. Below, we pick out ten of the best:
Backbreaker
A physics-based football game known for its realistic tackles and player movements, Backbreaker is a somewhat offbeat take on what a football sim should play like. It’s weirdly mesmerizing though.
All-Pro Football 2K8
Developed by 2K Sports, this game features legendary players and a more customizable experience, focusing on the gameplay rather than going down the route of licensing players’ likenesses and official logos. One of the best Madden alternatives in our view.
Tecmo Bowl Throwback
A remastered version of the one of the most beloved football games of all time – Tecmo Super Bowl. It blends retro gameplay with updated visuals and online multiplayer modes, providing a big kick of nostalgia for the 8-bit console era.
Mutant Football League
A spiritual successor to the 1993 Mutant League Football game, this title combines football with monsters, crazy power-ups, and a violent twist. It’s obviously not for football purists, but it’s a heckuva lot of fun.
Blitz ‘Em
A unique game developed for the SportsMillions platform, Blitz ‘Em is a fan-themed social game where you enter the sports team or player of your choice, discover your higher/lower selection and then spin the wheel for the chance of a jackpot win.
Retro Bowl
As the name suggests, Retro Bowl is a throwback to classic football games with pixelated graphics and simple controls, yet it has gained something of a cult following for its engaging gameplay and team management features.
Axis Football
A growing indie football series offering deep customization, franchise mode, and a focus on realistic gameplay and (similar to All-Pro Football) not worrying too much about licensing of official NFL elements. If you have the time to spend customizing, this is a game for the long term.
Blood Bowl 2
A mix of football and fantasy, based on the Warhammer universe. This turn-based strategy game features orcs, elves, and other creatures in brutal gridiron battles. While it shares similarities with Mutant Football League, this has its own charms.
Maximum Football 2020
A simulation game offering both Canadian and American football rules, with extensive customization and a dynasty mode for managing your team over multiple seasons. An indie sleeper hit that is gaining a cult following with ‘thinking’ football fans.
NFL Street 2
Finally, we have an addictive street-style football game with an emphasis on style, tricks, and arcade gameplay. It’s a world away from the Packers-style of football, but if has endless fun with its custom-made teams in a host of urban environments.
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