Madden NFL 24: 5 Best Tips for Beginners

With the 2023/24 NFL season just around the corner, excitement is at an all-time high. Of course, EA Sports hopes to capitalize on this hype with their strategic release of Madden NFL 24 on August 18 – just a few weeks before the actual NFL season begins. It's a clever marketing tactic that has most certainly persuaded many of us to pick up a copy of the studio's latest football title. That being said, if it's you're first time playing an EA Madden game, you'll quickly learn it's not as easy as you think. That's why we've got you covered with the five best Madden NFL 24 tips for beginners, right below.

5. Pick Your Playbook

One of the most intriguing elements of Madden NFL 24 is being able to choose your playbook. Each of the playbooks in the game is tailored to their particular team; for example, the Kansas City Chiefs playbook is heavily focused on throwing, as Patrick Mahomes is their quarterback. This playbook, however, will not work effectively with a team that has a better run than passing offense. As a result, one of the best Madden NFL 24 tips for beginners is choosing a playbook that works with the players you have on the field.

Currently, the wide consensus is that the Dallas Cowboys have the best offensive playbook in Madden NFL 24. Next to them is the San Francisco 49ers playbook. So, if you're not sure which playbook to start with, these two options will do the trick. However, if you're searching for a great defensive playbook, as some teams prefer to shut down the opposition rather than rack up the score on them, the Baltimore Ravens playbook is your best bet.

4. Learn Your Offensive/Defensive Scheme

After you've decided on a playbook, the next step is to pair it with schemes. Essentially, schemes help to tailor the playbook you've chosen to your players and playstyle. In other words, the scheme you select will have a direct impact on the sort of plays in your playbook. The West Coast Zone Run is currently the most prevalent offensive scheme in the game, with 15 teams using it. This scheme uses quick passing plays with the support of blockers to consistently gain first downs.

However, you can also go for the Multiple Zone Run, which gives you both short, mid, and long-range options with your receivers. Overall there are a lot of options when choosing your playbook and schemes in Madden NFL 24, and one of the best tips we can give you is to mix and match them until you find a pairing you like. Once you've found a combination you like, it's time to memorize that playbook so you know exactly which plays to run at which times.

Although most of our eyes are fixated on offense, you can't forget about your defensive playbook too. If you're not sure which defensive scheme to run, the two we suggest are 4-3 Cover 3 or the Base 4-3.

3. Element of Suprise

The reason Madden NFL 24 gives the user so many options for playbooks and schemes is that football is, at its core, a strategic game. So, while skilled players will inevitably make big-time plays for you, your success in games will ultimately be determined by your decision-making. To be more exact, if you know your playbook and strategy like the back of your hand, you can toy with your opponents. Make them believe you're going to go for certain plays when, in reality, you're setting them up to be exposed.

As a result, one best Madden NFL 24 tips for beginners is to experiment with different plays each down. Furthermore, find out which plays work best against certain types of coverage. Most importantly, don't run the same three or four plays every time you're on offense. Because by the second quarter, you're opponent will have a great read on your offense and will be able to easily defend it.

2. Ball Carrier Moves

Unfortunately, organizing your playbooks and schemes is only half the battle in Madden NFL 24. In fact, the entire purpose of them is to get the ball into the hands of your receivers. After that, you're offense will either excel or crumble at the hands of your ball carrier moves.

Now, it goes without saying that we all want to make highlight reel plays in Madden NFL 24. However, doing so takes a lot of skill. That's why we've got the controls for performing flashy ball carrier moves to get around defenders and gain more yardage, right below.

Ball Carrier controls for PlayStation & Xbox:

Slide (QB): Square/X
Dive: Hold Square/X
Spin: O or rotate right stick/ B or rotate right stick
Hurdle: Triangle/ Y
Jurdle: triangle+left stick/ Y+left stick
Sprint: R2/RT
Protect Ball: R1/RB
Truck: RS Up
Dead Leg: RS Down
Juke Left: RS Left
Juke Right: RS Right

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

Whether you're mastering your playbook and schemes or your ball carrier moves, one of the best Madden NFL 24 tips for beginners is to use the practice mode. Madden NFL 24 has an extremely in-depth practice mode that will teach you every facet of the game. As a result, it's much better to develop your game in practice, than learning the hard way on the field.

We know a lot of players overlook practice mode in favor of jumping right into the action, however, the best Madden NFL 24 players are constantly practicing so they can master their plays and skills and then employ them when it's game time.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there other Madden NFL 24 tips for beginners that you would suggest? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!