Wild Card Football System Requirements (Minimum)
| OS: | Win 10 or Win11 ( 64-bit) |
| CPU: | intel Core i5-6500 3.2 Ghz or Amd Ryzen 2400G |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| GRAPHICS CARD: | Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 or AMD Radeon RX 560 |
| DirectX: | 11 |
| PIXEL SHADER: | 5.1 |
| VERTEX SHADER: | 5.1 |
| DISK SPACE: | 10 GB Free space |
Wild Card Football System Requirements (Recommended)
| OS: | Win 10 or Win11 ( 64-bit) |
| CPU: | intel Core i7-2700K 3.5 Ghz or Amd Ryzen 72700 3.2 Ghz |
| RAM: | 12GB |
| GRAPHICS CARD: | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 or AMD Radeon RX 590 |
| DirectX: | 12 |
| PIXEL SHADER: | 5.1 |
| VERTEX SHADER: | 5.1 |
| DISK SPACE: | 10 GB Free space |
The Madden Monopoly
In the 21st century, NFL fans seeking officially licensed football games have had limited options. EA Sports' annual Madden NFL series has held an exclusive license for the NFL, encompassing its teams, stadiums, and players since 2004. This monopoly led to the decline of other NFL game franchises, including the once-competitive NFL 2K series and the arcade-focused NFL Blitz franchise, which EA later acquired in 2011. Amidst this gaming landscape, Saber Interactive’s recently unveiled Wild Card Football, a part of the Playgrounds franchise, aims to disrupt the norm by introducing a 7-on-7 arcade-style gameplay.
NFLPA License: Stars Shine Bright
Wild Card Football doesn’t hold an NFL license, but it possesses an NFLPA license. This means that while it lacks official NFL teams and stadiums, it features many of the league’s biggest stars. As players navigate the available teams, they’ll encounter squads centered around quarterbacks, such as Team Mahomes and Team Brady, along with a team built around the central star of the game, Team Kaepernick. For those who wish to forge their own path, the Dream Squad mode offers the opportunity to customize rosters, playbooks, and uniforms while taking on challenges to unlock rewards.
Expanding Player Pool
The early build of the game is still evolving, with developers promising the addition of numerous superstars and talented rookies before launch. Expect hundreds of players to be available, with post-launch updates introducing even more. At launch, players can look forward to controlling names like Jalen Hurts, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Watt, Joey Bosa, Ja’Marr Chase, Aaron Donald, and many others. As a Ravens fan, I was relieved to learn that Lamar Jackson will be among the launch options.
Unleashing the Wildcard Mechanic
Wild Card Football’s distinctive feature, alongside its fast-paced arcade action, is the wildcard mechanic. Each player possesses a hand of cards drawn from a deck of power-ups and gameplay modifiers. The cards range from basic ones that boost passing accuracy or hinder your opponent’s ball-holding abilities to epic cards with astonishing effects. These include summoning tornadoes, UFOs that transport players around the field, and pinball-style bumpers that bounce runners backward.
Players can also unleash three spinning balls of electricity, reminiscent of the red shells in Mario Kart, or deploy the most potent card witnessed—a brief transformation into an unstoppable giant. This is particularly useful near the goal line when aiming to punch the ball into the end zone.
Energy Economy Keeps It Balanced
For those concerned about potential card abuse, the game incorporates an energy economy system. More powerful cards consume more energy. Positive plays for your team replenish energy, ensuring that regardless of your previous down’s outcome, you’ll always have some energy to work with.
Embracing Arcade-Style Gameplay
Wild Card Football unmistakably embraces an arcade-style approach. Fans of NFL Blitz will likely find it even more appealing, with hard hits, exaggerated events, and larger-than-life player proportions saturating the experience.
Shaking Up the Sports Game Genre
My time with Wild Card Football was enjoyable. While it took some adjustment to get the hang of the passing game—receivers rapidly shift positions upon the QB’s release—the running game felt solid, with effective lane openings and jukes serving as potent offensive tools. Although my first game didn’t yield exceptional results, I found that my skills, honed by Madden, quickly adapted to the game’s faster pace. Moreover, the addition of power-ups injects a refreshing dynamic into the gameplay. Often criticized for a lack of innovation, sports games find a new twist in this fresh take on American football.
Wild Card Football Release Date And Platform
Wild Card Football has the potential to captivate fans who grew up with titles like NFL Blitz and NFL Street. I eagerly anticipate revisiting the game it launches on Wild Card Football releases on Oct. 10, 2023, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC .
