Play Madden 2004 (U)(Mode7) Online

Tiny GBA sprites somehow nail that Madden feel—Vick actually breaks tackles, and those link cable matches turn into pure QB sneak madness. Drafting no-name rookies hooks you harder than it should.

Developer: EA Sports

Genre: Sports

Released: 2003

File size: 1.88 KB

Game Overview

Madden 2004 on the GBA is way more fun than it has any right to be. Yeah, the graphics are tiny and pixelated compared to the PS2 version, but somehow it still feels like Madden—the playbooks are surprisingly deep, and scrambling with Michael Vick actually works here (unlike some later console versions where he'd get caught instantly).

The draft mode is weirdly addictive—you’ll spend way too much time scouting random rookies with names like "B. Johnson" and trying to guess if that 68 speed rating is a lie. And the two-player link cable matches? Absolute chaos in the best way, especially when someone picks the Falcons and just runs QB sneaks every play.

It’s not perfect (the commentary is basically three phrases on repeat), but for a football game you can play one-handed on a school bus, it holds up. Just don’t blame me when you realize you’ve been simulating seasons until 3 AM.