The 10 Best NHL Games, According To Ranker

Hockey has always been one of the best sports to translate to video games, and the NHL is the premier hockey league in North America. For decades, the NHL’s licensed video games have been the best examples of exciting sports games, and they have graced nearly every home console.

EA Sports’ lengthy partnership with the NHL has produced a consistent hockey product year after year, and they continue to add new features with each installment. Though opinions are mixed, users on Ranker have taken to the site to voice their opinions on what their favorite NHL game is.

10 NHL Legacy Edition (2015)

No matter what generation of a console it is featured on, EA’s NHL franchise is consistently one of the best. NHL 16 was a game released on next-generation (PS4 and Xbox One) consoles and was met with the usual fanfare that the EA brand of hockey games received. However, older generation (PS3 and Xbox 360) gamers were treated to a different game entirely.

NHL Legacy Edition was a rehash of the previous year’s NHL game, with very few changes to the game itself. While the NHL Moments Live feature was updated to include new events, the actual mechanics and in-game features were retained. Despite the sameness, the game was still well-received because of its smooth mechanics and GM Mode.

9 NHL 07 (2006)

2006 was the beginning of a new era of gaming as the old guard of the original Xbox was being phased out. NHL 07 was the last game of the series to appear on the classic Xbox console, and it featured several big changes to the game that would further come to fruition in subsequent editions.

The biggest and most noticeable change to the game came with its brand new physics system, which made it more realistic. Previous versions of the game relied on a magnetic-style approach to the puck physics that caused it to snap from player to player in an unrealistic manner. Interestingly, NHL 07 was the only installment of the series to appear on the short-lived Playstation Portable console.

8 NHL 21 (2020)

While tinkers with the physics of the game are a big part of each year’s new installment, EA Sports has also taken to expanding its online modes in recent years as well. NHL 21 did little to change itself from the previous installment and instead opted to add to the game as opposed to merely tinkering with mechanics.

The biggest additions to the game were in its online World of Chel multiplayer modes, where a new ranking system allowed players to earn ranks with each Chel season. Also, depth was added to the Be A Pro mode, which made the storyline more cinematic and reminiscent of NBA 2K’s game modes by allowing the player to give their character a personality.

7 NHL 11 (2010)

Because hockey is such a complicated and fast-paced sport, many elements of the real game were noticeably lacking from older installments of the game franchise. NHL 11 saw further tinkering with the game’s physics in an attempt to more closely align it with the flow of a real NHL game. The addition of broken sticks was another real-time event added to the game to make it deeper and more realistic.

Within the game modes, NHL 11 also saw the addition of an Ultimate Team mode similar to MLB the Show’s Diamond Dynasty. This new feature allowed users to open packs of player cards that are usable in the game’s online modes. Also, the game featured more realistic additions to the Be A GM mode, including more complicated contract systems.

6 NHL 10 (2009)

Once developers had nailed down the big physics changes made in earlier installments like NHL 07, they were free to add more elements from the real-life game of hockey. NHL 10 saw a massive expansion of in-game events that made the action in the game look much more realistic to the on-ice action of a real NHL game.

Along with improved passing mechanics and more realistic play along the boards, the game also featured the adoption of a Be A GM mode. The new mode allowed players to control a team from the ground up and run the day-to-day operations, similar to the actual hockey operations of an NHL team.

5 NHL 13 (2012)

Through the 2010s, EA continued to make small changes to the games that improved the overall experience, even if the changes seemed minor. NHL 13 put more focus on the online aspects of the game and also continued to work to improve the in-game play experience.

NHL 13 made the presentations team-specific, and each arena was given its own simulated TV introduction that was unique. While little was done to the physical aspects of the gameplay, the intelligence of the CPU was beefed up and made more realistic. Along with minor tweaks to the Be A Pro mode and the goalie controls, NHL 13 was a refinement of previous installments without removing anything that made the older games great.

4 NHL 12 (2011)

Sometimes, a game series can plateau at a certain point, and yet, it still feels better to players who are familiar with the series. NHL 12 had very little to distinguish it from the previous year’s installment, but it was extremely well-received by users. Though several physics tweaks would come in subsequent years, the game still had a better feel than NHL 11.

Changes were made to the goalie physics, which allowed players to interact with the CPU goalies and vice versa, including fighting. Pulling a page from real-life NHL history, players could also play in a simulated version of the celebrated Winter Classic game, which pits two teams against each other in an outdoor arena game.

3 NHL 2004 (2003)

Not only are sports games fun to play in general, but fans also often enjoy them because of the simulation aspects. Being able to create new NHL moments or recreate classic moments from real life is one of the most fascinating parts of most sports games. NHL 2004 helped to push the series in a more realistic direction and improved some of the simulation aspects.

By adding a realistic Stanley Cup championship celebration when a player wins the cup, the game became closer to an actual NHL TV broadcast. On top of that, the improved checking and rebound physics were heralded as a big step in the right direction for the franchise as it adapted to a new generation of consoles.

2 NHL 94 (1993)

Though the NHL games of the new millennium have pushed the envelope of realism into a realm of more natural simulation, NHL 94 nailed the excitement of the game in the early 90s. NHL 94 is instantly recognizable to fans of some of the best games of the SNES and Sega Genesis era of gaming, and the popularity blossomed outside of sports fans.

With its signature blue ice and animated sprite characters, NHL 94 is a far cry from modern sports games. The game featured a few limited modes outside of a single game mode, but it still offered hours of enjoyment, especially in one-on-one competition. The 16-bit renditions of classic hockey songs like Hartford’s “Brass Bonanza” were also an interesting bit of customization.

1 NHL 14 (2013)

From the fan vote for a cover athlete, down to the additions to game modes, it seemed as if NHL 14 was tailor-made for die-hard hockey fans. EA tweaked the physics of the game in two major areas, which sped the play up and made the impacts more realistic. The grit of hockey is one of the most appealing parts of the games, and the changes were very welcomed.

By basing the fighting engine off the one used in their Fight Night series, EA added to the realism of hockey’s most brutal elements. On top of the fighting, checking was made more realistic, which added further depth to the gameplay. Not only was NHL 14 the perfect example of a modern hockey game, but it also featured an NHL 94 mode that allowed users to play with modern players in the 16-bit game style, allowing fans to play in a way reminiscent of some of the best 16-bit games.

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