Eddie Strait is a writer for FanSided partner BroJackson.com. For more great content, head on over to Bro Jackson and check out Eddie’s work.

The Madden franchise’s uncanny ability to extend its branding makes the EA Sports staple the most innovative titan in the realm of football video games. But also, its never-ending attention to detail and simulated excellence is somewhat laborious. There was an age when kids didn’t need a perfect pixilated rendering of Ben Roethlisberger’s face to have a good time.

With a nod to when games existed for cheap thrills, I present the top five non-Madden football video games. And because it’d be boring and easy, this list also omits EA Sports’ college football counterpart franchise. Apologies in advance to “Jeff George’s Spiral and Moan: No New Friends.”