Summary
While EA Sports NHL 26 successfully captures the realistic elements of the sport, there is still room for improvement. The game lacks arcade-style modes, and the overall gameplay feels monotonous. At times, it seems that the franchise gets overshadowed by other EA Sports series. NHL 26 has the potential to be even better, but aside from two improved game modes and minor gameplay adjustments, it resembles its predecessor.
Developer – EA Vancouver
Publisher – Electronic Arts
Platforms – Xbox Series X|S (Reviewed) and PlayStation 5
Review copy given by Publisher
The EA Sports NHL series makes a return with NHL 26, which comes with improvements to make the game feel more realistic thanks to NHL Edge. EA Vancouver has also emphasized enhancements to Hockey Ultimate Team and single-player game mode, Be a Pro.
Just like all other NHL video games from EA, there is usually a variety of offline and online game modes. World of Chel makes a return along with Franchise Mode, PWHL, and more. NHL 26 also introduces ICE-Q 2.0, which makes superstars think, move, and play more realistically. This is where NHL Edge comes into play, aiming to bring deeper authenticity to the game by providing new data.
Gameplay
In EA Sports NHL 26, the gameplay doesn’t feel any different than the past two games. At first, I felt the gameplay was in slow motion, players lose energy fast, which is to be expected if you want to be realistic. While playing online, there are about two moves that players use on a goalie that work almost every single time, providing an unenjoyable experience.
The zone pressure system I was always a fan of, but it’s something that can be abused by players online. It never fails in an NHL video game, where there’s always at least one move everyone uses to score, and that becomes the recipe until the next game comes out.
For someone who used to love hitting in NHL games, it doesn’t feel natural anymore, like it was many games ago. Breaking glass and knocking opponents into the bench is a nice return from older games.
Playing offline can be enjoyable, especially in Franchise Mode, which is my go-to option that allows you to take control of the league and a team of your choice.
Hockey Ultimate Team & Be a Pro
As mentioned earlier in our review, the developers really focused on improving Be a Pro and Hockey Ultimate Team. For this review, I really tried to take my time in both of these modes.
Be a Pro really needed changes to make it a better overall experience. At the start of the mode, you are in a press conference and having to answer questions for the first time. Answering these questions will contribute to the player you are going to be.
One of the new features in Be a Pro is voice acting from real NHL players like Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks. While it’s cool to see real players getting involved with the game, they are not true voice actors, and the dialogue felt uninspired.
The cinematics that come with Be a Pro are great, and the overall gameplay of the mode is exactly what you’d expect. The World Juniors segment of Be a Pro was actually a fun moment to begin with, and walking out the tunnel onto the ice makes players feel they are in the moment.
As for Hockey Ultimate Team, this is probably my favorite online game mode in NHL 26. Normally, this mode starts you out with low-quality players with low overall ratings. This time around, you are given some hope with some 80 overall players or 75 and above players. It still features microtransactions that are essentially pay-to-win, but even without spending money, Hockey Ultimate Team offers a fun online and offline experience.
Presentation, Graphics, Audio
The in-game presentations in EA Sports NHL 26 never fail to look great. Before a match starts or even during the game between whistles, there are good moments showcasing replays, statistics, and more. The arena presentation is as realistic an NHL game has gotten to this point with its music, lights, and crowd.
The little things in the “broadcast” portion of playing a match include the camera showing up on screen when a player leaves the penalty box or the goalie leaves the crease for an empty net. Also showing percentages of faceoffs, shots, and other stats on the top left of the screen is a nice touch.
The audio in-game is perfect, and the soundtrack in NHL 26 could be considered one of the best in the series.
Final Thoughts
While EA Sports NHL 26 successfully captures the realistic elements of the sport, there is still room for improvement. The game lacks arcade-style modes, and the overall gameplay feels monotonous. At times, it seems that the franchise gets overshadowed by other EA Sports series. NHL 26 has the potential to be even better, but aside from two improved game modes and minor gameplay adjustments, it resembles its predecessor.
