Game review: NHL 25 (Xbox Series X)

Usually, when I write reviews, I like to give our readers a small history lesson about a game franchise or my personal experience with the series. Sadly, I cannot really say much about EA Sports' NHL series because I never really played them. Not to mention, I never watched or played ice hockey growing up in New Zealand.

I've only played two NHL games in my life, and that's NHL 13 on Xbox 360 and NHL 21 on Xbox Series X. I cannot really comment if NHL 25 recycles a lot of content from the previous games, so this review will be coming from the perspective of a newcomer in the sport.

Unlike other NHL video games in the past, NHL 25 ditches the old Xbox One and PS4 consoles into the gutter. Instead, NHL 25 is only available for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms. Sorry, PC and Switch owners, you have been forgotten by EA Sports, too.

Since NHL 25 is essentially a next-gen exclusive, I am happy to report that this is by far the best-looking NHL game in history. I cannot remember what NHL 21 looked like, but the presentation in the new game is impressive for a newbie like me. 

The graphics are really good, and the game has tons of different arenas for you to play in. There are even some outdoor venues included in some of the other game modes, such as NHL Threes and a 1v1v1 mode called Ones.

In terms of gameplay, the best way to play the game is by using the right analogue stick to shoot for the goal. The game gives you an indication of when you should shoot because your trajectory will be lining up to the goal. I think holding down the R-stick button also allows your player to go a bit faster. 

To change players, you press down on the right trigger button, and you will control the player that is nearest to the puck. You can also press the right bumper to try and steal the puck from an opposing player from the other team. There are even some instances where you can ram your opponent to the side of the rink, and it's all legal in this rough sport!

Probably my favourite part about NHL 25 (and ice hockey) is that this game/sport allows players to legally participate in fist fights to blow off steam. In NHL 25, you can accept a fight, and a small mini-game starts where you can punch, grab, or push your opponent. It's really unique since sports like basketball and soccer penalise players from even touching one another.

The only thing I did not like about the core gameplay in NHL 25 is that it seems as if EA Sports has made the game harder than in the previous games I played. I remember playing NHL 13 over a decade ago, and I was able to score against my brother with ease. NHL 21 was also a fun game because scoring seemed easier to do.

It appears EA Sports is gunning for more realism because scoring in NHL 25 is much harder to do than in the previous games I played. The goalies are really good this year because they are able to save a lot of goals no matter how many times you shoot. Players also have to avoid the defenders from blocking the goal too. In order to get a goal, you have to find the right angle and have perfect timing to see an opening pop up for you. 

While the gameplay is arguably harder, you cannot deny that NHL 25 still has a generous number of different modes. I remember getting a bit bored playing the Undisputed boxing game a few weeks ago because that sport is only 1v1, and it also had a lack of modes for you to play. 

NHL 25 is a bit more fun because you can play a full team match, 3v3, and 1v1v1. Since I did not like having to fend off lots of defenders, I spent a lot of my time playing the 3v3 and 1v1v1 modes. The 3v3 mode called NHL Threes also has a full circuit you can play in. 

The other major modes in NHL 25 include the following: Franchise, Tournaments, Season, Playoff, and Ultimate Team. Ultimate Team is the usual money-grabbing mode where you have to pay more money to get better players and cards. There is also Training and Practice, as well as a Shootout mode. The game's main single-player mode is 'Be a Pro Career'. 

In 'Be a Pro Career', you create your own player, and you play through their entire NHL career. Unlike a normal team game, you only control the one player you have created, so it was easier for a rookie like me to play. You can even play a career mode where you play as a goalie, so it's not just being an offensive player all the time, too. 

One thing that might disappoint some people is that 'Be a Pro Career' does not have a storyline like the career modes in NBA 2K and WWE 2K video games. NHL 25 also lacks any voiceovers during cutscenes because everything is littered with text for the player to read. That being said, some players may like the focus on ice hockey only since the NBA 2K video games can sometimes dive into topics outside of basketball.

I cannot comment if NHL 25 feels like a recycled game, but I enjoyed some of the several modes that it offers. The only thing that did annoy me slightly is the fact that the gameplay has gotten a bit harder for beginners like me. It will be interesting to see if EA can add newer game modes in NHL 26, though.

Verdict: 7.5/10