NHL 25 is More of the Same
As a whole, NHL 25 is better than NHL 24, but barely.
From the modernized skating of Next-Gen Vision Control and an overhaul of Chel’s AI player movement to authentic Reactive Action animations — experience true hockey intelligence.
EA’s 2025 NHL video game follows the same formula as its recent predecessors, creating a familiar and reliable experience for gamers everywhere. While it is not boundary pushing, small improvements across the board make for the best hockey game EA has published in the Playstation 5 and XBox Series era. That is not as endearing a compliment as it may seem, however.
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A Welcome Franchise Mode Overhaul
As a primarily Franchise Mode player, I am pleased with the changes and updates they have made to that mode. The new menu screen, contract options, and player conversation model creates a more realistic and immersive experience.
This mode has long been neglected by EA due to its lack of micro-transactions, but the upgrades make for a far more enjoyable and modern experience across the board. This care should be put into every annual release given the large number of players who enjoy this game mode.
More of the Same
The rest of the game modes suffer from a lack of new features and very minor incremental gameplay improvements. It is disappointing that Be A Pro Mode didn't get an update alongside Franchise Mode. When compared with the fresh Franchise mode user-interface, Be A Bro feels old and clunky.
The NHL 25 team finally released this title exclusively on next-gen consoles, which makes for far better graphics and visuals as seen below. The only thing missing is EA NHL on PC, which is long overdue!
Gameplay is slightly less arcade-y, which is a welcome adjustment, but the broadcast package and commentary are still lackluster. Unlike the gameplay, the presentation package maintains its arcade-y style, which detracts from the realism of the game.
Final Thoughts
As a whole, NHL 25 is better than NHL 24, but barely. The NHL franchise continues to suffer from a lack of creative direction and remains far from the incredible game it used to be over a decade ago.
The game would greatly benefit from a return of Zamboni mode and Winter Classic mode. Both are iconic fixtures of the modern hockey world and have been fan favorites for decades. Their absence is glaring.
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