PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

NHL 25 returns to form with impressive hockey. Satisfying changes to gameplay and updates to Franchise Mode including the addition of the Grudge Match breathe much-needed life into the series. ICE-Q works well and the changes to AI and being able to square up offensively against the goalie will create different results rather than just going through the motions in games and exploiting. There are still a few legacy issues here that are more personal annoyances including passing and a dated presentation model, but the move to current generation consoles has only allowed the team to create a significant upgrade to the series.

With NHL 25 EA Sports delivers another enjoyable ice hockeygame. Thanks to the solid presentation and overall fun gameplay, players will have a good time again. The NHL-franchise is stagnating and the lack of real innovation and the well-known pay-to-win-mechanics within Hockey Ultimate Team hurt the experience immensely.

Outside of some subtle AI and graphical tweaks, NHL 25 seemingly took a year off in advancing the series. It looks and plays slightly better, but struggles to cope with its new much slower speed identity. There’s just nothing here screaming ‘first day purchase,’ but – while very similar to NHL 24 – remains a solid offering.

EA delivers on a truly dynamic, next gen hockey experience in NHL 25, but neglects the modes that bookend the package.

NHL 25 is a solid hockey game bolstered by improved AI and small incremental improvements, but its changes don't feel as substantial as other titles in EA's lineup.

NHL 25 is a good game. Don’t get me wrong. The work and progress that the team has put into this year’s release shows itself. There have been a lot of quality-of-life improvements to the in-game product that make me feel good. To me, this feels like the first time this has been as close to real as possible. There are a few things that feel out of place, but overall the improvements are there. However, I just don’t know if this is enough of a step or leap forward to justify it for the average NHL fan or game player.

For being the first current-gen game in the NHL series, the result is bittersweet: there have been undeniable steps forward in both graphics, simulation and gameplay, but the same cannot be said on the content and mode side. EA Vancouver probably needed more courage and time to come up with something new: for now, NHL 25 still remains a prisoner of its glorious past.

Quotation forthcoming.

Being the first sports game exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series, we should be more demanding with this one. Despite being solid technically, it´s not amazing, but it´s enough to satisfy hockey fans, although its lack of new functions.

NHL 25 makes some minor strides to improve on last year's game, but will mostly appeal to those interested in team management and being a superstar forward. As a franchise, it continues to wait for a top draft pick that can turn things around in a meaningful way.