Madden NFL 08 is the third entry in the series on the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 console generation. It features the usual roster updates and control changes and adds several new features.

The major gameplay change is a new read-and-react system. Star players get assigned "weapon" categories, describing their particular skill set. On the line, a press of a button reveals mismatches that take these weapons into account, indicating when to make last-minute play changes. The franchise mode has been enhanced and now includes player training via mini games and a Front Office Mode (akin to Owner Mode on previous versions). There is a new rookie potential feature, that tags players either "gems" or "busts" after a few years in the league, depending on their draft potential, with these tags influencing their stats.

The Madden points of the previous year have been replaced by the Rings of a Champion system. Completing tasks awards rings and trophies. The trophies can be wagered in games, both against the CPU and against human players.