User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 175 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 175
  2. Negative: 64 out of 175
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  1. Sep 17, 2015
    10
    This game is such a step up from NHL 15. All the game mode are in with some addition. The gameplay is really nice. The AI is really good. There's still some work to do but, in general, this game is really good.
  2. Sep 15, 2015
    10
    I'm not sure why this isn't trending more towards a 9/10. I've been playing the series since the beginning and this has been the most impressed I've been after playing for the first 10 hours or so. The gameplay is outstanding and is better than the beta by far. If you played the beta, you probably think you have a good idea of the way the game is going to look and feel on the ice. It wasI'm not sure why this isn't trending more towards a 9/10. I've been playing the series since the beginning and this has been the most impressed I've been after playing for the first 10 hours or so. The gameplay is outstanding and is better than the beta by far. If you played the beta, you probably think you have a good idea of the way the game is going to look and feel on the ice. It was good but kind of more of the same thing. Now, it's super clean skating, perfectly crisp 60 fps the entire time. It just feels so comfortable. Anyways, I still haven't played much beyond 6v6 so it's a limited review but take it from me, if you are on the fence with this one, get the game! Expand
  3. Sep 15, 2015
    10
    Vast improvement over 15. I would have given it an 9, but I wanted to offset the negative reviews that people are giving for no reason, so I gave it a 10.
  4. Sep 15, 2015
    10
    Greatly improved from last year, Be a GM mode is getting better and the game play is fast, fluid and very enjoyable, Those mascots distract me sometimes but its part of the great visuals and presentation that the game offers, overall its a step in the right direction.
  5. Sep 15, 2015
    10
    Its by far the best NHL game of the series, very realist for once. Only downside, the soundtrack is so boring where's my rock n roll? And some minor bug. The next step is probably an update for the goalie.
  6. Nov 12, 2015
    10
    A critically acclaimed series returns to the days of it's glory. While last years rendition for the new systems was a mere shell of a game, this years release offers one of the most immersive and impressive games to date. Truly a joyful game to play.
  7. Feb 25, 2016
    10
    I'm a big fan of this installment. However, i haven't played a new nhl game in a few years, so i can't comment on how 16 compares to 15.

    I've played nhl games since 93, and i experience no difference with the accuracy of shooting or passing. Honestly, if this feature is game breaking enough to warrant a zero rating, i urge users to take advantage of the game sliders in the menus. That
    I'm a big fan of this installment. However, i haven't played a new nhl game in a few years, so i can't comment on how 16 compares to 15.

    I've played nhl games since 93, and i experience no difference with the accuracy of shooting or passing. Honestly, if this feature is game breaking enough to warrant a zero rating, i urge users to take advantage of the game sliders in the menus. That control is available to you, so use it to create your ideal hockey experience.

    The feature that makes me enjoy this game as much as i do is the be a pro mode. This feature has been in many prior versions and this is the first time I've enjoyed more than the be a GM mode. They developed a way of progressing your character in a very gratifying manner through constant and detailed categorical improvements. I am hooked!
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  8. Sep 16, 2015
    9
    I held off buying last year's because it was a joke that so many modes were missing.

    This year though, not only are all the modes included again, but the menu is snappier, the graphics are nicer, and the audio sounds better.

    SUCH a great step up. Now let's just hope online is stable.
  9. Sep 15, 2015
    9
    i am enjoying it. all star difficulty give me little bit frustrated against cpu in Be a GM mode..Gameplay is very good. graphic/visual is great.. atmosphere is amazing.. commentary is good but little bit repetitive.. i expect EA devs should improve more better for NHL 17 next year
  10. Sep 17, 2015
    9
    The NHL series is one of my favorites. Sure, last year's edition was sub-par, but the features you've come to know and expect are back and better in '16. They seem to have improved the quality of the AI (especially goaltending) and overall gameplay (it's a bit faster, more manual, and has far fewer glitches and bugs). People are always going to find things to complain about, but this isThe NHL series is one of my favorites. Sure, last year's edition was sub-par, but the features you've come to know and expect are back and better in '16. They seem to have improved the quality of the AI (especially goaltending) and overall gameplay (it's a bit faster, more manual, and has far fewer glitches and bugs). People are always going to find things to complain about, but this is clearly the best installment in the series. Expand
  11. Sep 16, 2015
    9
    A big come back for EA Canada, all the great features are back with more game modes ! 9/10 ! BYE BYE NHL 15 , WELCOME NHL 16 !!!! Great graphics, better control and more efficient i.a. !!!!! Bye
  12. Sep 18, 2015
    8
    From a very long time NHL series fan, here is a honest review. This is the best NHL game so far, at least, gameplay wise. The game is not perfect, but a good step in the right direction.

    Let's all be honest and admit that NHL 15 was a big failure and an insult to us, fans of the series. The game felt like an unfinished product, and the huge lack of game modes made the game pointless
    From a very long time NHL series fan, here is a honest review. This is the best NHL game so far, at least, gameplay wise. The game is not perfect, but a good step in the right direction.

    Let's all be honest and admit that NHL 15 was a big failure and an insult to us, fans of the series. The game felt like an unfinished product, and the huge lack of game modes made the game pointless unless all you wanted to do was play HUT.

    Obviously, this has changed this year. All the game modes we came to love are back, and the gameplay is better than ever. Here are my pro and cons:

    PROS:
    -The game is the most realistic of the series so far. Gameplay is slower, and you can actually take your time to create your plays and think about what you want to do. No more arcadish fast game where you get destroyed by a hit anywhere on the ice.

    -All the game modes we loved are back. Either you liked be a pro or be a gm (much improved), offline seasons or shootout modes, HUT, EASHL, online team play, they are all back.

    -Hits and collisions are much more realistic.

    -Skating and precision skating is very slick.

    -Graphics are awesome, but can still be improved IMO

    -Arena atmosphere and crowds are simply awesome, even though I didn't care about it at first.

    -Simulations are very very verrrry much faster and the menus also look better.

    -Shots and passes are not as strong as before and are MUCH more realistic.

    -Goalies movements are really nice.

    CONS:

    -There are some frustrating glitches that I am hoping EA will fix in an upcoming patch. For example, when I was playing goalie, my team scored a goal which was disallowed for absolutely no reason at all (they scored of a rebound). Even the commentators said that this goal should never have been reviewed, yet, they did.

    -Doc Emrick has no emotions at all when goals are scored or when a team wins. EA said they improved him, but I couldn't find where. Doc is the best commentator, please give him some life...

    -Goalie cam is way too low and it is very hard to see the action. There doesn't seem to be any way to change the cam when you are playing goalie. At least, I couldn't figure out how. Also, goalie movements are too fast and you get out of position pretty easily.

    -Computer still cheats when you play against them. In all-star mode, they get an acceleration speed advantage, whoever their player is. They score absolutely ridiculous goals when you have the lead. They are not affected by the skating restrictions that a human is, so they have an advantage. They still don't get any penalties whatsoever.

    -On-ice trainer is a good idea and a good addition, however, it does not really give you any good hints. Only the shooting target is useful.

    -No EA soundtracks, and no way to import your own music into the game.

    I can't comment on online play because I didn't get to try it yet. But all I can say is that if you were missing playing a good hockey game on the next gen consoles like I was, please buy NHL 16. It is a good game overall.

    EA can only improve it next year!
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  13. Sep 19, 2015
    8
    "Eine Eishockey-Simulation, wie man Sie sich seit Jahren gewünscht hat"

    http://igamezone.net/2015/09/nhl-16-im-test-jetzt-hat-ea-sports-es-geschafft/igamezonenet/
  14. May 14, 2021
    8
    This was my first nhl game that i fell in love with. Career mode was great but ive never played ultimate team because everybody knows EA and their "ultimate team".
  15. Sep 22, 2015
    7
    NHL 16 is a good game. The gameplay is smooth, and I really enjoy the myplayer mode. The myplayer mode features a EXP system based on your play style, and really challenges the player to develop overall skill, instead of just buying attribute points and scoring on terrible shots. The down part of myplayer is that the defense is still not fixed. The RD and LD cannot stop plays in theNHL 16 is a good game. The gameplay is smooth, and I really enjoy the myplayer mode. The myplayer mode features a EXP system based on your play style, and really challenges the player to develop overall skill, instead of just buying attribute points and scoring on terrible shots. The down part of myplayer is that the defense is still not fixed. The RD and LD cannot stop plays in the slot, and make it difficult to forecheck. Also, the LD and RD turn the puck over quite a bit, which makes offense quite frustrating.

    The game is quite pretty, and your actions are fairly crisp as a individual skater. It focuses on your skill, making you be a overall hockey player instead of just a generic gamer. Playing goalie is quite a bit of fun too, but the mechanics still need a little work.

    Online play is still as fun as ever. Team play is the best thing in EA Sports right now, and this is the best game for it. You will need a good player goalie to compete however, otherwise you will be subjected to the glitch goals that are in every game.

    Playing goalie online requires a good connection. Lagging controls and visuals can be a huge detriment to your team. I know that it seems as though it takes almost a whole second to move one direction or the other after you press the button online.

    All in all, negatives are easier to write, but the game is very very fun. I fell in love with the game all over again, and if you enjoy hockey, you will love this years game! The Myplayer alone was worth the buy. Out of any EA Sports game, NHL is the one you want.
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  16. Sep 21, 2015
    7
    NHL 16

    This game should it be called NHL 15.2. It brings modes cruelly lacking to NHL 15, and a bit more. This is really the gist of it: modes are back, some minor improvements to menus and gameplay. Is it worth $79.99? That all depends on how long ago you played this series and how much you want to play a hockey game. Personally, I feel like the steep price is counter-intuitive if you
    NHL 16

    This game should it be called NHL 15.2. It brings modes cruelly lacking to NHL 15, and a bit more. This is really the gist of it: modes are back, some minor improvements to menus and gameplay. Is it worth $79.99? That all depends on how long ago you played this series and how much you want to play a hockey game. Personally, I feel like the steep price is counter-intuitive if you felt robbed by last year's edition due to the lack of changes. This is also why this game in no way deserves neither a 10 or a 5.

    The gameplay is fun, the most realistic yet, but it still feels like a copy-paste from last year, with a couple of tweaks.

    Online, lag is often present. However, expect a hot fix soon. Matches are competitive and goalies are as hard to beat as ever.

    This EA game is lagging behind its colleagues, FIFA and Madden, notably visually. We can feel that EA is diversting this game. I felt compelled to review this as other websites seem to be biased.
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  17. Jun 13, 2016
    6
    I want play with my friend online-coo op season vs COM., But theres no option for this, why? World Cup with national team? NO. AI still do one type of faul( tripping) .
  18. Aug 10, 2018
    6
    This game did improve a lot upon NHL 15, but it had many problems.

    1: Continues to have terrible AI 2: Icetilt is a thing. For those who don't know, Icetilt is where the game is balanced favorably upon one team. Icetilt gives that team better calls, more powerplay opportunities, and less penalties. 3: Referees are abysmal. Too many penalties 4: The new goalie controls they introduced
    This game did improve a lot upon NHL 15, but it had many problems.

    1: Continues to have terrible AI
    2: Icetilt is a thing. For those who don't know, Icetilt is where the game is balanced favorably upon one team. Icetilt gives that team better calls, more powerplay opportunities, and less penalties.
    3: Referees are abysmal. Too many penalties
    4: The new goalie controls they introduced are highly overrated. Terrible controlling of the goalie's skating, completely wild and insane, and it's impossible to make a safe. Plus, the AI teammates suck at defence.
    5: Be a Pro's new leveling system felt too annoying. It does give you the opportunity to improve your player beyond playing in games, but it does make leveling up your player more difficult and slower.

    But the game did add back some more features, and then some.
    1: Online Shootout Mode
    2: Sim to Next Shift in Be a Pro, plus the CHL and the NHL entry draft
    3: A more complete feeling GM Mode
    4: On Ice Trainer

    The game improved upon the features in NHL 15, but it still didn't fix the most critical issues.
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  19. Sep 29, 2015
    5
    Better than last years game, but still a poor overall showing. This franchise is in desperate need of some quality competition to get it back into it's A game.
    Be a pro mode has been improved slightly. A huge piss off for me was that even with the "Simulation Penalty" setting un selected and after a year where my pro lead the league in scoring and won almost all possible trophies, he
    Better than last years game, but still a poor overall showing. This franchise is in desperate need of some quality competition to get it back into it's A game.
    Be a pro mode has been improved slightly. A huge piss off for me was that even with the "Simulation Penalty" setting un selected and after a year where my pro lead the league in scoring and won almost all possible trophies, he didn't get drafted. Line demotions / promotions seem random, there is no interaction with your GM / Coach / Agent, I wish they had something like what 2K did with their career mode.
    GM Mode is ok. I don't know why you can't sign players to extensions during the season, it would make the trade deadline a lot more interesting. There seems to be an emphasis against making trades because it ruins your player morale. Draft picks are utterly useless as you can't get any good prospects, they should at least make the first few picks in the 80s overall with decent potential scaling so that in 2 or 3 years they could compete for a first line slot.

    Pro: The game is better than last years fumble
    Con: If I hear Ray Ferarro say "Team X has been doing a great job blocking shots in the last few games..." I am going to snap. The on ice coaching seems to give you a task and not move from it even if that task seems difficult to do, for example I was stuck with "Pin opponent to the board" for a few months in game. No re-signing during the season in GM. Poor player - everyone else interaction in BaP.

    Final thoughts: I didn't play online modes, so I will not comment on them.
    Overall the game is better than last years, but that is setting the bar very low. I believe there should be a certain standard for quality for a yearly release $80 game, and they have not hit it for the last few years.
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  20. Nov 9, 2015
    5
    Another down-step installment for the NHL series. Don't get me wrong, the game is beautiful, the crowd is still fantastically detailed, the ice, skaters, particles, are all still eye candy, but the game-play is still god-awful.... Something bad happened with the physics. Tiny players can check like semi trucks, and big players check like 4 year old children. the puck - floppy and feelsAnother down-step installment for the NHL series. Don't get me wrong, the game is beautiful, the crowd is still fantastically detailed, the ice, skaters, particles, are all still eye candy, but the game-play is still god-awful.... Something bad happened with the physics. Tiny players can check like semi trucks, and big players check like 4 year old children. the puck - floppy and feels like a pancake. and the collision.... its awful. EA still effs up player balancing, turning great goalies (Semyon Varlamov) into pee-wee level players. And holy crap. The M*****F*****G poke check is sooooo overused and exploited, it makes the game unfair in online modes, And I cant stand how much people use it. All is terrible.... excuse me, "well"
    now that a FEW of the old game-modes are back, but its not enough to make me fell better. The only reason i give NHL 16 a 5/10 is because it still looks great. everything else is horrible.
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  21. Sep 8, 2018
    5
    What sport is it?

    Its a hockey game. Was it fun? I am a huge hockey fan so I enjoy hockey video games but this game was a bit of a disappointment. I bought the PS4 so I could specifically play this game but then I slowly started to realize that its not a great game. Are there any similar games? Eventually I am going to talk about all the hockey games that I owned over the
    What sport is it?

    Its a hockey game.

    Was it fun?

    I am a huge hockey fan so I enjoy hockey video games but this game was a bit of a disappointment. I bought the PS4 so I could specifically play this game but then I slowly started to realize that its not a great game.

    Are there any similar games?

    Eventually I am going to talk about all the hockey games that I owned over the years. Sadly this game was the first game that I owned on PS4 and its a huge let down.

    Would you play it again?

    Offline maybe but my friends have no interest in hockey so probably not.

    Any complaints?

    I hate the momentum in this game. The momentum is too strong, there are times where you are unbeatable, you can fight off hits and the puck can not be taken from you. Other times, every pass you make misses, every shot you take misses and your players will not go and retrieve the puck. Oh and all of this is in the span of 5 minutes, its a game that punishes you or rewards you for doing the same thing.
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  22. Nov 24, 2017
    5
    Thumbs down. The game was much better on theThumbs down. The game was much better on the ps3.555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 Expand
  23. Sep 20, 2015
    4
    A sloppy and cheatable game. Not much has changed from last year all the exploits are just a little different. They kept the same background menu music, kept the same commentary, removed fun features like video review and called it a day. The players in hut are largely uncontrollable and the gameplay is a random mess just a little slower than previous years. Hut is dominated by the sameA sloppy and cheatable game. Not much has changed from last year all the exploits are just a little different. They kept the same background menu music, kept the same commentary, removed fun features like video review and called it a day. The players in hut are largely uncontrollable and the gameplay is a random mess just a little slower than previous years. Hut is dominated by the same players who enjoy their special gameplay styles. Overall this is last years game with about 10 minutes worth of programming changes. EA is extremely lucky we are all hockey fans and crave this product as its the only hockey game on the market. I really think they feel they are doing a good job, may the heavens help us all. Expand
  24. Dec 27, 2015
    4
    The controllers of the game is still totally incompatible with my FIFA-brain. The fast paced graphics is to fast for the PS4 and too much focus is around these incredible boring fistfights.
  25. Nel
    Nov 28, 2016
    4
    NHL game is sadly yet another year far lacking in the be a pro section, not a possibility to get trader after you join NHL, and no national team. FIFA another EA game does this mode a lot better, strange how they can NAIL it in FIFA, but just be such a disappointment in the NHL games
  26. Oct 1, 2015
    4
    NHL is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It appears on the surface to be a return to form and a good game with plenty to entertain a hockey fan, but upon further examination it becomes clear that there are irritations, issues and bugs in practically every mode. Coupled with the fact that there are literally no new features this year which haven't been included last gen, it becomes impossible toNHL is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It appears on the surface to be a return to form and a good game with plenty to entertain a hockey fan, but upon further examination it becomes clear that there are irritations, issues and bugs in practically every mode. Coupled with the fact that there are literally no new features this year which haven't been included last gen, it becomes impossible to recommend this game.

    EA have made a big point of highlighting that they listened to the fans this year in an attempt to win back favour of the majority of players who boycotted NHL 15. In reality all that was taken on board was that EASHL is a big draw for fans, and that people wanted a more even playing field. This has been achieved as now all you select from predetermined player classes which makes the mode much easier to dip in and out of without being hugely outmatched against players who have played nothing else. And to that degree its a success. But for me, that's where the improvements end.

    If you are releasing a full price game with absolutely no innovations at all you must deliver a great looking experience which is water tight in everything it does and is very playable, and here it cannot be disputed that NHL 16 falls on its face. If you bought it for drop in team games - be prepared for ugly menus, terrible lag, the same jerseys in 99.9% of games you play and regular disconnects. If you bought it for be a pro, be prepared to be scored a B- constantly even if you score 10 goals per game because defending is next to impossible given the terrible be a pro AI and your teammates making achieving some of the coaching tasks a frustrating repetitive experience. If you bought it for HUT be prepared for a vanilla soulless experience with horribly limited search and scrolling functions, some awful menus and a team management screen so cluttered and ugly you'll be sick of it straight away. And while I accept that EASHL's on ice experience is solid, the team customisation and editing is beyond basic and not close to the level found in NHL 13 and 14. And as final insult all throughout the game the menu lag and selection unresponsiveness can have you pressing X 3 or 4 times before the game responds.

    The presentation of the game is mix of laughable and solid in roughly equal measures. To have a huge majority of the NHL players not with their faces scanned is a joke in my opinion. And while I wouldn't expect every 4th liner or fringe player to be photo realistic, when starting goalies and top pairing defencemen are 'stock face 14' its embarrassing. The animations for the most part are smooth (although 75% of the cut scenes are reused from NHL 14 or before) and there are some nice touches at ice level. The NBC hosting has been improved and deserves some credit.

    There are numerous other issues (Poke checking being either spammed or useless depending on which tuner set EA have released, BAP defaulting to its stock settings whether you want it too or not, no autosave in places, regular crashes back to dashboard) that have been widely documented on any message board you could go on too.

    These failings alone could likely all be forgiven if there was evidence of EA giving the consumer something new and innovative, but as mentioned before this is missing entirely - what you have is a game which offers nothing new, and does nothing as well as its been done before. And that is never acceptable.

    I can remember being disappointed when EA released their yearly updates which played great but brought nothing new, but now I long for that. NHL 16 is a worse game than 15 in that it gets your hopes up, it lures you in and makes you think the magic is back, before deflating and frustrating you at almost every turn.

    Like getting back with an ex girlfriend, there is an initial high, but it doesn't take long to see the cracks that were always there and why you broke up in the first place.
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  27. Oct 19, 2015
    4
    I liked PS3 NHL games very much, but this is not anything like those, this is frustrate to play, there is lots of bugs, lots of menu logic and things like that are step back from old gen games and about anything is not real upgrade to old ones. Even Graphics do not make that big difference because you do not have time to count all those extra polygons other than slowmos and those areI liked PS3 NHL games very much, but this is not anything like those, this is frustrate to play, there is lots of bugs, lots of menu logic and things like that are step back from old gen games and about anything is not real upgrade to old ones. Even Graphics do not make that big difference because you do not have time to count all those extra polygons other than slowmos and those are things you want to skip most of the time (atleast i want) anyway.

    So if you all ready have NHl14/15/Legacy for PS3/X360 there is no really need to buy this.
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  28. Sep 16, 2015
    3
    I don't know how you can call this installment of NHL a good one. I personally find it allot worse than the previous year. Yeah they brought back EASHL and shoot out mode. I don't care about that. I care about good mechanics and the ability to utilize my team fluidly not what I have been experiencing which is fighting against my own team while playing in single player vs. online. I feelI don't know how you can call this installment of NHL a good one. I personally find it allot worse than the previous year. Yeah they brought back EASHL and shoot out mode. I don't care about that. I care about good mechanics and the ability to utilize my team fluidly not what I have been experiencing which is fighting against my own team while playing in single player vs. online. I feel like allot of the control has been taken away as far as switching players and utilizing them instantaneously to do what I want them to do. I had a guy just score on me short handed while I had three players between him and my goalie and none of them could get the puck from him just cause he was pressing the protect the puck button? WTF there is no way a guy coming straight down the middle of the ice is going to be able to do that. This game sucks in my opinion. Worst 70 dollars I have ever spent by getting the deluxe edition. I say booo to this crappy version of NHL. By the way I have only lost 4 games out of 16 so far, so I'm not just saying this cause I suck lol. Expand
  29. Sep 22, 2015
    3
    No game deserves a zero.. neither a 10. This game is killed by absolutely disaster goalies, poke checking (it really needs to be nerfed) and slow puck movement. It tries to be realistic but instead its players playing hockey in a fudge pool, scoring with poke checks and goalies made of cheddar. As long as the difficulty is the hardest, games ending up 9-6, I am keeping this beauty inNo game deserves a zero.. neither a 10. This game is killed by absolutely disaster goalies, poke checking (it really needs to be nerfed) and slow puck movement. It tries to be realistic but instead its players playing hockey in a fudge pool, scoring with poke checks and goalies made of cheddar. As long as the difficulty is the hardest, games ending up 9-6, I am keeping this beauty in reserve. Been playing NHL since -95/96. Expand
  30. Sep 19, 2015
    3
    This game is a huge step down from nhl 15.. the gameplay sucks compare to 15. The new added online content is cool and all but nhl 16 game physics is terrible. I have no idea how anyone can rate this game a 10. Is it only me or does this game even have worse graphics than nhl 15? big disappointment
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 28
  2. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. CD-Action
    Dec 16, 2015
    80
    A very enjoyable game rich with well-designed modes, none of which feels forced or redundant. [12/2015, p.55]
  2. Nov 23, 2015
    80
    A fun and elaborate hockey game that manages to be both accessible to newcomers and challenging to veterans. Online you'll definitely encounter a couple of hick-ups, but none of them are bad enough to ruin the experience.
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Oct 22, 2015
    60
    New and better attempt – NHL 16 is NHL 15 how it should have been. Is this praise or a curse? That's for you to decide - depends what NHL game you purchased last time. [Issue#257]