What was the Madden NFL series called before adopting the Madden NFL title in 1993?

Before adopting the Madden NFL title in 1993, the series was called John Madden Football.

Electronic Arts’ first game debuted in 1988 as John Madden Football, and that name continued through follow-ups such as John Madden Football II, John Madden Football '92, and John Madden Football '93. The numbering could be confusing because the 1992 game carried a ’93 suffix, following the franchise’s practice of naming games for the upcoming season.

The 1993 release, Madden NFL '94, marked more than a name change. It was the first game in the series to include an official NFL team license, adding authentic teams, logos, and uniforms from the 1993–94 season. Earlier games used fictionalized teams because EA lacked NFL and NFL Players Association licenses.

A common mix-up is treating the 1988 Apple II original or the 1990 Genesis game as “Madden NFL.” Both were officially titled John Madden Football; the familiar Madden NFL branding began with the 1993 installment.