An Enjoyable Distraction In Need Of Disruption
HIGH AI is here, and it truly adapts to player input.
LOW Franchise mode updates feel incremental and obligatory.
WTF Seriously, can someone explain what “Chel” is?
After the launch of the first Playstation in 1995, SCEA launched NHL Faceoff, the first true competitor to EA’s dominance of digital ice hockey. Thinking back, I can practically taste the Clearly Canadian water and Gushers candy. While that series experienced a wide range of experimental iterations before fading away, that inaugural, sprite-based edition presented an enjoyable, unique alternative to the largely stagnant NHL series.
In 2024, nearly three decades later, I’m still waiting for another “NHL Faceoff moment” bringing a truly unique feel to digital hockey. This is because last year NHL 24 offered reliable, predictable gameplay but lacked new features and brought an overabundance of microtransactions — I found myself writing a review too similar to the one I had the year before. This time around it’s evident that EA Sports has taken that feedback to heart — at least to some extent.
While the ’24-25 edition doesn’t completely overhaul everything, it refines the experience further to provide a smoother, more measured, and ultimately more authentic feel that resonates with the essence of the sport.
Right out of the gate, NHL 25 is visually impressive. From the moment the puck drops, the reflective ice, realistic player movements, and improved crowd animations are hard to ignore. Improved lighting effects bring the arena vibe to life, adding depth and detail to both the players and their environment. Whether it’s Chris Kreider weaving through defenders or an intense 1-0 goaltending duel, the game appears more realistic than ever. And it’s not just about the visuals–the real-time ice degradation is more realistic, introducing a surprising level of immersion that fans should appreciate.
In NHL 25, new technology (codenamed ICE-Q, for those who enjoy branding) enhances gameplay through a more logic-driven animation system. This consists of several main components, starting with Next-Gen Vision Control. Building on the well-received pressure system from NHL 24, this enhancement is particularly noticeable when facing the puck carrier in the scoring zone, greatly improving responsiveness and scoring chances once mastered.
With Next-Gen Vision Control offering better reads of the attacking zone, the introduction of Skill-Based One-Timers acts as a welcome new feature. I’ll admit to being worried when hearing about enhanced one-timers since these shots were largely spammable and unstoppable in older renditions, but it requires much more skill than luck this time around. When playing from the wing positions, players must set up and ensure a teammate is ready to receive a one-timer. Passing the puck and pushing up on the right stick will activate this move when a barely-there gray indicator appears under the player. While the indicator could be more noticeable, it enhances offensive maneuvers and keeps defenders alert, adding strategic depth to the gameplay.
The other components of ICE-Q technology focus on generative artificial intelligence through Empowered AI and Reactive Actions. AI is all the rage these days, and sure enough, EA has completely revamped its own AI, resulting in a smoother and more natural gameplay flow.
The details of how it’s implemented are too detailed to list here but in short, non-controlled players no longer skate aimlessly around the rink on invisible rubber bands, waiting for the user to establish a position. Instead, they fill lanes naturally, check away from the puck, and don’t allow games to become a series of strategy-free breakaways. It’s not perfect, but my time with NHL 25 felt more realistic, and I have to believe we’re inching closer to that true hockey feel.
What is more notable about NHL 25 is its play recognition. This year, AI isn’t just a buzzword — it accurately learns the tendencies of both human and CPU players, legitimately adapting as the game progresses. Users who choose to skate down center ice and launch slapshots in each possession will quickly learn why they shouldn’t. The AI will catch on and counter, encouraging players to adjust their strategies before the score gets out of hand. Greater realism has been needed in this series for a while, and this closes that gap just a bit more.
The expanding World of Chel (a name that still confuses me) makes its annual appearance, emphasizing player upgrades and customization options. An updated structure and schedule for Live Events are now in place, along with a new playlist structure and competitive tournaments. However, both this and Be A Pro don’t introduce many significant changes. Players can also practice, engage in versus mode both online and offline, and enjoy the arcadey NHL Threes mode. It’s not essential, but no one can say EA skimped on content this year.
Despite these advancements, NHL 25 has more than a few scratches on its facemask. Franchise mode, an annual go-to for long-time enthusiasts, again sees only minor changes. New training options and some detailed management tools are introduced, but it just feels like EA Sports could have done more. These updates keep the mode functional, but they’re almost window-dressing, rather than necessary upgrades. Considering how deep franchise modes are in other sports titles, this remains a mild disappointment.
More disappointing is how Be a Pro mode only made slight strides in storytelling, through some nuanced choices and a greater focus on off-ice activities. However, it still doesn’t match the narrative depth a story mode should contain in this console generation. Conversations are less robotic, and the branching storylines provide a slightly more meaningful progression, but this mode is teetering ever closer to irrelevance. Truthfully, I’d be okay if the attention put on Be a Pro was reallocated to other features.
Likewise, Hockey Ultimate Team makes its return, as well, featuring an updated reward system that relies (slightly) less on microtransactions. While this is a small win for fans who were frustrated by the pay-to-win mechanics of previous years, real progress will only come through a true alternative for those who want to build their simulated teams organically without diving deeper into their very real wallets.
Online play remains strong — arguably better than most sports titles — with highly competitive, accurate matchups. With improved matchmaking and strong server performance, diving into ranked matches or casual games feels smooth and non-intimidating for newcomers. Though my initial forays online were a little touch-and-go, once things calmed down, the gameplay experience was mostly free of lag.
As readers have probably guessed by now, NHL 25 isn’t a “must-purchase” title, except for users that have taken several years away. That doesn’t make it less enjoyable — just less necessary. Updates to game modes could have been more notable and microtransactions continue to be a drawback, but there’s still plenty here to make this a worthwhile return to the rink. Ultimately, we may never experience another “NHL Faceoff moment,” but EA’s focus on more adaptive AI and improved player control raises the bar (slightly) in the right direction.
Score: 7 out of 10
Disclosures: This game is published by EA Sports and developed by EA Vancouver. It is available on XBX/S, PS5, and PC. This game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the XBX. Approximately 11 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was not completed. Approximately 4 hours of play were devoted to online multiplayer.
Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated E10+. It features realistic depictions of hockey gameplay and minimal on-ice violence. Parents should be aware that online interactions may include user-generated content not rated by the ESRB.
Colorblind Modes: Colorblind modes are available in the Accessibility menu.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: NHL 25 features subtitles and numerous tactile feedback features within the controller, in all modes. The game is easily playable without sound and is fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: The game offers several pre-set control schemes but does not support full remapping.
When not writing for Gamecritics, Brad spends his days as a managing editor, handling content that is far less complicated than the RPGs haunting his dreams each and every night.
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“Chel” colloquially refers to the NHL video game series. It is derived from the pronunciation of the letters N, H, L “en, aich, ell” so “chel” for short.