Highlights

  • NBA 2K and MLB: The Show dominate by marketing legends like Kobe Bryant and Derek Jeter, increasing game appeal.
  • Madden NFL falls behind competitors in utilizing legends, needing to add more and market them better for success.
  • Focusing on recent legendary names like Tom Brady might boost Madden's popularity and improve game modes.

The annual sports games of Madden NFL, NBA 2K, and MLB: The Show will always be compared for having the same blueprint. All three franchises benefit from die-hard sports fans getting the game each year. There are frequent complaints about stagnant game design, but the NBA and MLB games have benefited from marketing legends better than Madden NFL.

The active players and current teams will always hold the greatest appeal, but the legends of each sport are massive selling points to put a game over the top. Both NBA 2K and MLB: The Show make it clear that adding more legends and marketing them brilliantly can boost a game’s reputation. Madden is trailing in this regard and needs to catch up to remain popular with longtime fans.

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NBA & MLB Putting Legends Front & Center

Legends hold star power in most sports and add a dynamic to games beyond the current teams and players in each league. NBA 2K has a lot to criticize, but the game franchise deserves credit for being the first to perfect the use of all-time greats. NBA icons Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan have been marketed as cover stars with their own story modes replaying their greatest career performances.

MLB and NBA Prove Exciting Past Names Can Sell Sports Games

MLB: The Show started to adopt a similar mindset in recent years when hyping up the addition of Jackie Robinson or naming Derek Jeter as a cover athlete a few years into improving the rosters. Other legendary New York Yankees were added to the game this year specifically for a Derek Jeter story mode mimicking the Jordan and Bryant concepts from NBA 2K.

The respective game modes of Diamond Dynasty for MLB: The Show and My Team for NBA 2K see users collecting or purchasing cards to put together a dream roster. Objectively great active and all-time players are involved in these modes, since it is designed purely as fantasy rosters crafted to compete against each other. These modes ensure you can use your favorite legendary players for a super team against users doing the same.

Madden NFL Falling Behind Its Competitors

The NFL wears the crown of most popular sport in the United States, which is great for Madden, and some believe that allows the video game to be more complacent than the other sports games with guaranteed success. The NFL version of Diamond Dynasty or My Team is called Madden Ultimate Team (M.U.T.) for those grinding to earn cards or purchasing them.

Some names like Michael Vick and Randy Moss make the mode worth playing, but they have fewer mega-superstars compared to the other games. The lack of depth for the legends added is just one issue that comes from how Madden uses their legends. NBA 2K fans can use most legends in various modes, while Madden just allows the limited legends to be used in M.U.T. games to upset those who use fantasy drafts or all-time roster rebuilds in other sports games.

How Madden Can Catch Up With Other Sports Games

  • NFL Should Pick Recent Legendary Names To Market
  • M.U.T. Mode Would Be Much Better With More Legends
  • Other Madden Game Modes Can Improve With Legends

NBA 2K and MLB: The Show uses massive names like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Derek Jeter on game covers when they want to truly get the most bang for their buck by having such a household name. Madden having a cover with someone like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning would ensure the casual fan realizes how much the legends are involved.

Peyton and Eli Manning were added to Madden 24’s M.U.T. mode in April, but this was after the game was cycled out for many customers months after the NFL season ended. Madden 25 will be the perfect time to add more reasons to care about the legendary figures. Tom Brady’s NFL retirement last summer gives enough time for his best version from the New England Patriots days to be available.

Madden should be working hard to add as many legends as possible and marketing them in the same way as NBA 2K and MLB: The Show with their communities. Other modes and aspects of the game can improve with a deeper legends list and the right names leading the way.