Though recent entries have not been known for major changes, one new ing mechanic in Madden NFL 25 could completely shake up how the game is played. The popular franchise has been in a rut in recent years with new titles that change little and feel like at best a graphical upgrade. There's also the issue of Madden having launches filled with bugs and performance issues.

Luckily, Madden 25 has included more Madden NFL 25 was reviewed as just meeting expectations, it is an improvement over its predecessors.

How To Use Madden NFL 25's Custom Route Stems

Take Control Of The Offense

One new feature of Madden 25's ing game is the custom Route Stems, which allows the to alter a receiver's route so that it takes longer or shorter to get there. This is done by opening the Hot Route menu, picking which route/receiver, holding down the left bumper then using the left stick to shrink or raise the route. Though easy to accomplish, this is something that s will have to have a proper understanding of defensive schemes to utilize to its fullest.

An example of this is picking a receiver on a shallow inside slant route, and if the defense looks like it will be heavy in that area, the slant can be raised to that second level of defense. If this works out correctly, then the receiver should be wide open for an easy and long completion. The same logic can also be used for a deep slant that needs to be shortened for a quick completion. This kind of scenario would be best if only a few yards are needed or a heavy blitz is suspected.

There is also a new route to go along with this system called a speed out. This is a simple route that sends an outside receiver forward and then towards the sideline quickly. It is similar to the standard out route, but is more focused on speed than precision of the cut to get open. Speed outs are best for short-yardage situations, but could be raised to greater lengths if needed.

How Custom Route Stems Change Madden's Offense

Outsmarting The Defense

Audibles in Madden have always been a crucial part of mastering offense. This goes hand in hand with reading defenses and knowing where the soft spots will be. Sometimes it is best to change the play entirely, and other times it is best to just change one route. The latter is where Route Stems will likely work the best. It is also noteworthy that custom Route Stems will work best when the opponent is playing Zone Coverage, as Man Defense will be harder to separate without pure talent.

Route Stems can work even better for those who like to use the same formations from the best offensive playbooks repeatedly. If a focuses a drive on one formation with multiple plays, it can confuse the defense about which play they can run. Add custom Route Stems to this, and it multiplies the amount of ways the offense can attack. This strategy is likely to have its weaknesses but could work for a drive or two before having to go more practical or switching to a new formation.

Custom Route Stems may seem like a small addition, but they have the potential to have a huge impact. Where defenses have gotten stronger, it is understandable to add more ways for the offense to tactically engage with them. It is also not a bad thing to have more immersive parts of this beloved sport in the game to create the best experience possible. That is why this new ing mechanic will completely change the ing game in Madden NFL 25.