Hello friends. Dan Ryan here, you… there. Thank you so much for checking in and if you like what you see please comment and share. Another Halloween is here and once again the New York giants find themselves with a terrible record, 2-6, and a season that’s basically over. We will always have those two victories over Tom Brady and the Patriots but for the last decade plus it’s been tough to be a fan. And I often feel the urge to play a football game but the options are… limited to say the least. Since 2005, so Madden 2006, EA Sports Madden has effectively been the only game in town in most people's minds. Instead of innovating and winning based on their gameplay, EA bought the exclusive rights to be the only simulation game with real teams and players. Since then Madden has been fine. It’s not bad, it’s not great, it’s average, which might be even worse. With no competition there’s no reason to really push the envelope. Innovation has been replaced by micro transactions for their ultimate team mode. Playbooks, animations, graphics all improve at a slow trickle. And sure, there’s fun to be had here albeit grudgingly. Couple all of this with the fact that EA and the NFL have just announced an expansion on the exclusivity deal and the landscape continues to look bleak. But I thought to myself Martha, don’t judge, surely there has to be an alternative or two out there in the ether. So I did some looking and found a few worthwhile investments. Do they scratch that Madden itch? Not really honestly but, there’s some really good stuff here that’ll at least give you an option. Available platforms noted with the games below.

Axis Football - Developed and published by Axis Games, Axis Football is as close as one is going to come to an authentic NFL experience outside of Madden. Releasing yearly since 2015 this game sees constant improvement and a dedicated development team. That said, if you are used to “modern” Madden games, this is going to feel like a major step back in a few ways. Most notably is in the gameplay. Whereas Madden has all of the modern moves you would expect NFL players to make during the course of a game, Axis does not. It’s not gameplay ruining by any stretch but does require a recalibration of expectation. If you played and loved football games past, say NFL 2K5, then you will feel right at home with Axis. The main selling point here though, apart from the $20 price tag, is the frankly insane level of customization options available and the, arguably, one of the best franchise modes of any sports title currently on the market. It’s old school in that there isn’t an insane amount of micromanaging nor is there a lot of pomp and circumstance. It’s pretty great if that’s your thing. You can do pretty much whatever you want with your league and your teams even down to uploading custom logos. Overall, Axis Football is a solid if not throwback football title worth its entry fee.  

Available Platforms: Steam, PS5, Xbox, Switch (coming soon)

Backyard Football ‘99 - On the other side of the simulation spectrum you’ll find Backyard Football ‘99, a 2025 remaster of the original title. The Backyard series of games were a big deal for a hot minute in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Developed and published by the brands new owners Mega Cat Studios, Backyard Football ‘99 is about as close to a cozy version of football as we are going to get. And that’s not a dig. While this game is definitely pick up and play, it is also deep enough to come back to over and over. If you were a fan of the original Backyard games, you will recognize the kids in this remaster. If you’ve been a fan of the NFL for a decent amount of time you will likely have heard of the players appearing in this remaster as well like Jerry Rice or Barry Sanders. In fact, all of the NFL players from the original release are back except for Brett Favre because of course except for Brett Favre. Controls remain largely unchanged, minus the mobile versions, with simple mouse clicks handling everything. The bright colors, silly animations, and unique fields like those covered in leaves or snow add to the overall charm. Power-Ups like Hocus Pocus where your receiver teleports downfield return. And while there aren’t a ton of modes, single game and season to be exact, there is enough meat on the bone for repeated visits. Season mode in particular has always been a Backyard standout and the process of drafting a team of 30 kids and playing against other random squads is still super fun. This is not a serious game by any stretch but does serve as a reminder that at the end of the day football is just that, a game.

Available Platforms: Steam, Mobile

Mutant Football League - Keen eyed retro enthusiasts, so us basically, will no doubt notice the similarity to that other EA football game from the Genesis days Mutant League Football. Which is intentional. Mutant Football League is the spiritual successor to Mutant League Football. Developed and published by Digital Dreams Entertainment, Mutant Football League is an over the top, violent, bloody 7 on 7 arcade version of football. It’s a parody and loveletter to the game. The designer of the original title, Michael Mendheim, decided to bring his insane vision to life with a modern release not bogged down by the corpo nonsense found at current EA. And while the original Kickstarter campaign failed, they were asking $750K, a second Kickstarter was successful and allowed the team to give us their game. What you get with Mutant Football League is exactly what’s advertised. This game is flat out fun. You can run normal plays sure, but you can also use a chainsaw to cut through the defense. Fields are full of booby traps like spikes and explosions. Characters are wonderful send ups of current and former stars, like TB12 Bomb Shady, and some teams get similar treatment such as the Deadlanta Vultures. The humor gets right next to the line, goes over it, then flips you off as it goes further. Seriously, if you grew up on Extreme! sports or South Park, this is for you. This is not a super deep experience however. You get the basics like exhibition and season mode. The caveat to that though is that it is four player on the couch and two player online so the replay value is pretty high. It is definitely worth checking out if you were a fan of Mutant League Football back in the day. Perhaps even better though, a sequel, Mutant Football League 2, is coming this December and it seems to expand the game in every way one could want.

Available Platforms: Steam, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Mobile

In looking at alternative football games there were a surprising number both on console/pc and mobile. Most of them just simply aren’t worth your time. There are a few more that could have been included here, namely Retro Bowl, but they hit an even more nostalgic niche than these do. At the end of the day if you are looking for a deep, simulation experience, Madden really is the best bet. Indie developers simply do not have the money necessary to compete on that level. But, if you’re willing to accept a little jank, or are simply looking for a horse of a different color, these 3 just might do it for you. And what better way to get that authentic console experience than with a new controller from your friends at The Stone Age Gamer?

Ultimate Bluetooth Controller with Charging Dock for Nintendo Switch and PC - 8BitDo

$69.99

8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller for Switch, Windows & Steam Compatible with Switch and Steam Deck via Bluetooth/2.4g adapter/USB Cable, Windows with a 2.4g adapter/USB Cable....… read more

But I want to know what you think. Join the Stone Age Gamer discord, or you can find me on Bluesky to let me know your thoughts. In the immortal words of Billy Joel, “Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes; I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again.” See you soon.