NHL 21

 PlayStation 4
User Score
2.3

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 159 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 159
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 159
  3. Negative: 126 out of 159
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  1. mikerich1
    Jan 10, 2021
    10
    This is the same game as last year with Playstation 3 graphics. It's getting embarrassing and ridiculous EA. Fix and change the game.
  2. epicndeed
    Oct 16, 2020
    9
    Don't understand the hate. Unlike most of these disgruntled people who are unhappy with this game, I haven't played a hockey game in a few years. So while they are mad that the only major changes are in create a pro (my favorite mode in sports games) I just see a really fun all around game. The skating and animations are silky smooth. The commentary is the best in a sports game even if itDon't understand the hate. Unlike most of these disgruntled people who are unhappy with this game, I haven't played a hockey game in a few years. So while they are mad that the only major changes are in create a pro (my favorite mode in sports games) I just see a really fun all around game. The skating and animations are silky smooth. The commentary is the best in a sports game even if it does get repetitive. There are only so many ways to say things after all. EA really seems to have found a perfect balance of speed, scoring and defense. If the only reason people are giving this game bad is because its getting stale NHL fans have been really lucky the past few years.… Expand
  3. SnipeCity
    Oct 19, 2020
    8
    It’s a good game even though it’s not as great as it should be but the way I’m looking at it It’s way better than both madden 21 and FIFA 21. Luckily it doesn’t have a transaction or greed issue like madden but sometimes (HUT) it can be pay to win. Franchise mode I meh similar to last year but added tease deadline. Be a pro mode is awesome and great the best Be A Pro since NHL 14. GameplayIt’s a good game even though it’s not as great as it should be but the way I’m looking at it It’s way better than both madden 21 and FIFA 21. Luckily it doesn’t have a transaction or greed issue like madden but sometimes (HUT) it can be pay to win. Franchise mode I meh similar to last year but added tease deadline. Be a pro mode is awesome and great the best Be A Pro since NHL 14. Gameplay has it’s issues and it’s pros like the goalies are WAY better but the defense AI kinda sucks still. World of Chel is pretty good with their new ranking system and EASHL add on. Overall this is a good game and since NHL 21 this game has been going in the right direction and it is starting to look like NHL 14 again. Game is 8/10… Expand
  4. Ken85
    Oct 21, 2020
    8
    Way better then NHL 20. Nice flow to the game. Only thing that is a bit sad is that the cutscenes in be a pro could have gotten voiced overs. Seems like all guys complaining is the ones without any type of hockeysense. The game is more realistic now then ever, guess that takes away the lucky wins for guys with no playmaking skills :D
  5. Mattyice
    Oct 16, 2020
    8
    From the very start of this generation of consoles, the NHL series had a lot of catching up to do. NHL 21 finally feels like a complete, well-rounded package. While many modes, including World of Chel and HUT, go mostly untouched, the complete overhaul of Be-A-Pro is a great and welcome edition that provides a great experience in the present and one that can be built upon in the future.From the very start of this generation of consoles, the NHL series had a lot of catching up to do. NHL 21 finally feels like a complete, well-rounded package. While many modes, including World of Chel and HUT, go mostly untouched, the complete overhaul of Be-A-Pro is a great and welcome edition that provides a great experience in the present and one that can be built upon in the future. Franchise mode's new trade deadline features and notably faster sim times, combined with the massive amount of customization and depth still present, are awesome as well. NHL's gameplay has been pretty solid since the start of the generation and feels eerily similar to NHL 20 in this game, aside from a few minor tweaks. There are still things that need to be fixed (namely poke checking), but NHL 21 plays just as well as any other sports game and, unless you're not a big Be-A-Pro player, is worth picking up.… Expand
  6. Mickelraven
    Oct 15, 2020
    8
    This game is fantastic for players who have waited for a solid player career for an ice hockey game for a long time! The wait for the improved Be A Pro was worth it, but there are a few things that are holding this game back.

    While the new Be A Pro is a great NHL player career mode (when comparing it to the past 5 years), it still lacks a proper experience in the Canadian Juniors and    This game is fantastic for players who have waited for a solid player career for an ice hockey game for a long time! The wait for the improved Be A Pro was worth it, but there are a few things that are holding this game back.

    While the new Be A Pro is a great NHL player career mode (when comparing it to the past 5 years), it still lacks a proper experience in the Canadian Juniors and all the European leagues that are in the game. Sure you can play in the Memorial Cup and the Champions Hockey League, but that's pretty much it. In the past you could play up to 4 years (I believe) in the Canadian junior hockey leagues before you move on to the NHL and AHL. They should bring that back, and expand upon it by adding all the European leagues in there too. While most European players play in Europe before they move on to NHL (just like the Canadian juniors), they should have the privilege to stay in Europe, or when the do go to NHL/AHL, they should also have the option to go back to Europe. Because this is how the hockey world works! Not like when you're 18, you're stuck in America. This is how NHL Be A Pro has been like since it's introduction in NHL 09. But now that EA has given Be A Pro attention this year, just like how they expand Franchise mode every year, they should expand Be A Pro for NHL 22 where we have the option to play continuously in Europe. Not just CHL, but all the leagues that exist in the game. Like pre-season, regular season, play-offs and rinse and repeat.

    Another thing holding this game back, like every year, the menu soundtrack is still mediocre at best, and EA needs to reconsider what hockey sounds like to gamers. There are tons of NHL 21 soundtrack wishlists out there, and not a single song from any soundtrack wishlist made it in the final game. The soundtrack should be something like what NHL 11's soundtrack was. It was a mix of both old and new. Have old hockey anthem classics or forgotten classics in general to introduce younger players to various artists they might've never known if it wasn't for NHL. While give newer faces a shoutout so older fans get to know new artists they might've never known. And limit the soundtrack to only rock, punk and metal, with maybe one or two EDM and rap songs sprinkled in there. And make the soundtrack length to at least 30 songs. Pop music is one of the main reasons why so many players mute the menu soundtracks. Why bother licensing music if people are gonna mute it anyways? The music licenses should be worth it!

    All in all, NHL 21 is still a blast to play! The new gameplay additions (like all the new slips, banks and chips, the Kucherov deke and the Michigan) make NHL 21 much more exciting to play, and not every match will be the same. The NHL franchise seems to head in the right direction (in terms of gameplay, Franchise mode and Be A Pro) after the flop that was NHL 15. EA Vancouver seems to start taking this dying sports franchise a bit more seriously, after the introduction of more reporting features in World Of CHEL, and practice mode in EASHL. We do still get unnecessary modes like HUT Rush, which is gonna be quickly forgotten after being played for the first week. But let's just hope for the future, EA Vancouver puts more focus on modes people actually like to play (e.g. Be A Pro, Franchise Mode, EASHL). As we're about to move to a new console generation next year, I just hope EA will able to port over everything necessary (most notably basic features like Play Now, Shootout, Season, Playoffs. And Be A Pro, Franchise Mode, EASHL and Player and Team customization) unlike NHL 15 when the franchise moved to PS4 and XBOX ONE.

    What I would love to see for the future is roster sharing. When NHL 21 launched, it didn't come with any of this year's off-season free agent signings (e.g. Markstrom in Calgary, Holtby in Vancouver, Lundqvist in Washington etc.). So we should have the option to share our up-to-date rosters before EA publishes their own roster updates.

    Another thing is online franchise mode (AKA GM Connected). I'm not a franchise player, but I do see a lot NHL players play franchise mode. So I don't understand why EA really likes to focus on online modes, but not add an online version of the popular franchise mode.

    And like I said earlier, Be A Pro is already much better, but needs more variety. I don't want to play for an NHL or AHL team all the time. I want to grow in the juniors or Europe before the draft. And after the draft, I'd like to have the option to stay in Europe. Or go to America, but later have the option to go back.

    The current customization options we have are great, but EA needs to separate the faces and skin colors in create a player. And a goalie mask creator. Team creation is also already great, but we should be able to upload custom logos.

    And last but not least, EA should reconsider the soundtrack, and should start listening to what the audience wants! #MakeNHLSoundtracksGreatAgain    … Expand
  7. Halupa22
    Oct 14, 2020
    8
    I’m actually really enjoying this one. The gameplay is tweaked enough to where it’s an improvement, and I’m having a blast with be a pro mode. I’m sure an overhaul for next year with next gen will happen but this game for now is definitely acceptable.
  8. steesh
    Oct 16, 2020
    10
    Love the controls and HUT Rush is a blast. Don’t do Career but heard some good things.
  9. NoFilter5445
    Oct 15, 2020
    10
    The core of this game belongs to EASHL. The community is small, but devoted and strong. The upgraded Be a Pro is a welcome addition but is plagued by annoying filler found in other EA titles. It's an experience you cannot find in other titles as FIFA and 2K's team modes lack a hardcore teamplay element.
  10. MinePlay512
    Oct 14, 2020
    9
    Hockey has never been this better. The new Career Mode is awesome and the gameplay has been great. Now, I am not much of a hockey fan, but this is a great hockey game.
  11. Hockeyislife90
    Oct 16, 2020
    10
    The game is an improvement. Unlike Madden Chel is listening to their fans. I love the trade deadline mini game. Be a pro has a much needed overhaul.
  12. mikas
    Nov 13, 2020
    8
    I do not get all the bad reviews here. NHL 21 is not bad. Maybe you will be surprised by the new feel of classic modes like single player and online matches, because the feel of game is little bit different and maybe the games are more difficult now. Chel is more or less the same, but there are reworked specialisations. In the whole game goalies seems to be more clever. in Chel there is noI do not get all the bad reviews here. NHL 21 is not bad. Maybe you will be surprised by the new feel of classic modes like single player and online matches, because the feel of game is little bit different and maybe the games are more difficult now. Chel is more or less the same, but there are reworked specialisations. In the whole game goalies seems to be more clever. in Chel there is no goals like in NHL 98 (frozen goalie) . But players found quite similar trick how to score. Also penalties were rebuild. There is less tripping. Menu is much prettier and what was good in game years ago is still here. This is good game, do not be pushed down by lots of bad reviews, most of them are really meaningless.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Nov 15, 2020
    80
    It looks fantastic, with animation delivering the TV-standard realism EA always aims for2 while offering gaming cues for eagle-eyed players to spot; using the stick skills to shuffle keepers out of position for a slap shot will leave you wide-eyed and fist-punching the air. See, that Nicolas Cage opener paid off. [Issue#182, p.160]
  2. GAMINGbible
    Nov 9, 2020
    80
    NHL 21 is a brilliant hockey game combining excellent controls, an engaging Be A Pro story mode and the quickfire HUT Rush arcade mode - as well as the opportunity to engage in the odd scrap to let off steam. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer to Ice Hockey, NHL 21 will most certainly tick all the boxes.
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  3. PLAY! Zine
    Nov 4, 2020
    45
    NHL 21 is almost the same game like NHL 20, with few added additional features to few of its modes. Absolute cash-grab for a yearly roster update and another microtransaction filled unsatisfactory experience.
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