Today marks the release of the standard version of Madden NFL 22 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and the reviews have also only just begun to trickle out, so this is our first chance to see what the critics think.

Is it worth a purchase, or you should you wait until it hits EA Play next year? Here's the verdict:

Windows Central (8/10)

"At the end of the day, fans of football are going to play the latest Madden entry in one way or another. However, for fans who may have left the series after years of stagnation, Madden NFL 22 is perhaps the best entry in the series in a long time. Tiny improvements to the way the game plays, ranging from better catch controls to tackling improvements, make gameplay feel even better than it ever was."

Game Informer (7/10)

"Despite its several technical issues, the on-the-field action of Madden NFL 22 continues to improve in small ways. However, the upgrades and improvements are largely overshadowed by the game's problems and the series' overall stagnation, making it difficult to recommend for week one."

GamingTrend (6.5/10)

"Madden 22 is a step in the right direction for the franchise. It gives everyone something to get excited about. However, they are a tad far away from being considered back to the heights of Madden in the late 00’s early 10’s. With time, Madden 22 could be considered the best in the past six years, but in its current state it can’t be considered much better than 21. Promises only go so far, it’s time to get on the field and execute the playbook."

IGN (6/10)

"It’s smoother and marginally more refined, but in so many ways it’s the same old Madden. In short, if you’re hoping for a massive leap forward for the series on the new generation of consoles (or on the old ones), you’re apt to be disappointed."

There aren't too many reviews for Madden NFL 22 across the web yet, but it's currently sitting at the 66 mark on Metacritic for Xbox Series X, and has a Top Critic average of 69 on OpenCritic which translates to a 'Fair' rating.

Will you be checking out Madden NFL 22 this week? Let us know in the comments below.