NHL 22

 PlayStation 5
NHL 22 Image
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.3

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 62 Ratings

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  • Summary: Powered by Frostbite, EA SPORTS™NHL®22 gets the superstar treatment. For the first time ever, experience EA SPORTS NHL on one of the industry’s most powerful game engines bringing visual detail to every hit, deke and shot. Superstar X-Factors lets you feel the personality and power of NHLPowered by Frostbite, EA SPORTS™NHL®22 gets the superstar treatment. For the first time ever, experience EA SPORTS NHL on one of the industry’s most powerful game engines bringing visual detail to every hit, deke and shot. Superstar X-Factors lets you feel the personality and power of NHL superstars with an all-new ability system that unlocks the unique skills of the league’s most elite players. Authentic to real player skill and style, the stars of the NHL truly come to life in EA SPORTS NHL 22 making their time on ice more influential than ever . From HUT to World of Chel, Superstar X-Factors brings new class based strategy to every game mode. EA SPORTS NHL 22is an all new game for a new generation, giving you more ways to play and compete than ever before.… Expand
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NHL 23 Official Reveal Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Digital Chumps
    Oct 25, 2021
    96
    NHL 22 really takes a big stride forward in the franchise. Having it on a PS5 is a big part of what makes the difference in some ways. The haptic feedback really gives the game another level. NHL games have gotten stale in years past (15-18 come to mind in some ways). Over the past few releases, EA Vancouver has taken it to newer heights and this is a leap in a great direction. I haven’t been this excited to try and run a franchise into the ground because I have no idea what I am doing, or go pro and take on the greats for the cup.
  2. GAMES.CH
    Oct 21, 2021
    86
    NHL 22 is a huge comeback for Electronic Arts’ NHL-franchise. The game delivers big-time thanks to the Frostbite-Engine and enhanced gameplay. NHL 22 is definitely a game to watch.
  3. Hardcore Gamer
    Oct 19, 2021
    80
    NHL 22 on current-generation consoles is the best NHL experience that has released in some time. It also provides the biggest change from last gen to current gen consoles of any EA Sports game yet. It still has its issues at its core with how the AI plays and there are bugs that crop up often, but the overall experience feels fresh and the game looks much improved. The lighting and reflections provide the biggest boost while Frostbite brings more realism to player faces and jerseys. I feel more could have been included with Frostbite on the physics side, but this will come in the future. While the modes remain the same, the updates to each are sufficient and the addition of Superstar X-Factors allows for a game-changing experience. Online, if not getting disconnected, generally works as it needs to. NHL 22 offers the right feel for a new console that a lot of sports games haven’t provided in the last two generations.
  4. We Got This Covered
    Oct 28, 2021
    70
    It's odd that it took EA this long to bring their flagship Frostbite engine to their NHL franchise, but now that it's here in NHL 22, the wait was certainly worth it, as the game has never looked or played better.
  5. Push Square
    Oct 15, 2021
    60
    NHL 22 surprises by making its debut on a new console without removing any of its modes, but those who played NHL 21 may find this version a little too familiar. X-Factors on paper should be a game-changer but are mostly underwhelming. The switch to Frostbite does massively improve the fidelity of the rink – even if character models still look downright demonic – but should that really be the biggest change to the game? The ultimate question is: can the price increase be justified on the PS5? And given how little really has changed from last year to this year, the answer has to be a “no”.
  6. PlayStation LifeStyle
    Oct 26, 2021
    60
    This should have been NHL 22’s coming-out party. Everything was in place for this to be a transformative season on a fresh new platform. Unfortunately, the next-generation jump feels more like a stop-gap solution than a proper evolution. If you already have last year’s installment, I would be hard-pressed to find a legitimate reason to make the jump. Hopefully, the next outing will focus on bringing a more innovative offering to the rink, because lord knows this time around isn’t going to set the stadium on fire.
  7. Worth Playing
    Oct 29, 2021
    60
    Aside from minor changes, everything else is pretty much in the same state that it was last year, except you can now pay the next-gen premium price for it. NHL 22 is still the best hockey game you can buy (mostly due to the lack of other options), but I'd strongly advise against it if you have played any other NHL title in the past few years. The series has been stagnating, and NHL 22 doesn't indicate any will to make meaningful changes, which is a shame because this would've been the perfect cut-off point to do something new and interesting.

See all 26 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 47
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 47
  3. Negative: 26 out of 47
  1. PattyIce2927
    Nov 4, 2021
    10
    Even if they did very little to improve some things with franchise. The nhl series is in a better state than madden. Great gameplayEven if they did very little to improve some things with franchise. The nhl series is in a better state than madden. Great gameplay improvements. Great career mode. Great visual. What more can you ask for?… Expand
  2. freestar76
    Oct 15, 2021
    10
    The graphics are amazing and I'm glad they made it easier to identify some of the bigtime players in the nhl. I'm a Madden fan so theThe graphics are amazing and I'm glad they made it easier to identify some of the bigtime players in the nhl. I'm a Madden fan so the X-Factor addition is pretty cool especially when you make a goal and the replay stops and shows a cinematic sequence of an X-Factor player and their ability. I'm absolutely excited for the Roster Sharing update as well. FINALLY… Expand
  4. BreakzJ
    May 18, 2022
    8
    4.4/10 user reviews is ridiculous. I’ve been playing NHL games since Wayne Gretzky on NES. NHL games have had a lot of issues over the years4.4/10 user reviews is ridiculous. I’ve been playing NHL games since Wayne Gretzky on NES. NHL games have had a lot of issues over the years but ‘22 has been a radically different game from the past 5-10 years. The player systems, puck handling, AI are all improved. Anyone who has been playing hockey and the video games for as long as I have, knows that this game should be rated 7 at the lowest. From here on out this series will only improve. Especially thanks to next gen consoles.… Expand
  5. Digitalgritz
    Oct 14, 2021
    4
    Gameplay and graphics are all where they are expected to be in my mind, but I’ve gotta give this a negative due to the lack of crossGameplay and graphics are all where they are expected to be in my mind, but I’ve gotta give this a negative due to the lack of cross generation support. For a game that’s population is fairly small compared to other big sports titles, and the shortages of PS5s on the market, this will kill online play. For a huge publisher like EA, this is a clear miss and a massive middle finger to players.… Expand
  6. Samheis
    May 24, 2022
    2
    It's baffling to me how a game that is quite literally copy/pasted year to year, somehow manages to get worse. More bugs, less capable AI,It's baffling to me how a game that is quite literally copy/pasted year to year, somehow manages to get worse. More bugs, less capable AI, slower gameplay, less realism - even the graphics, while better overall thanks to the new engine, are subject to numerous issues, such as darkening screens while using HDR and random camera breaks.

    EA needs to lose the hockey license so badly. This series is dead in the water. Don't buy this game. I swore off the NHL series in 17 and all of the same problems that made me quit buying them then still exist in this iteration. It's only because of EA Play that I've even touched the last couple generations, and I'm currently getting ready to delete this one from my hard drive.

    This is not a hockey game, it's a cash grab. As a hardcore hockey fan, NHL, please, I beg you, give this license to someone who wants to make a real hockey game.    … Expand
  7. Metacrot
    May 31, 2022
    0
    As consoles evolve NHL video games do the opposite. Yet another brutal unenjoyable EA Sports game on the market.
  8. OnlyOneHere
    Oct 24, 2021
    0
    Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the NHL was a professional hockey league. The gameplay in this game is too slow. It feels like I amCorrect me if I'm wrong, but I thought the NHL was a professional hockey league. The gameplay in this game is too slow. It feels like I am playing like an amateur, not a professional. The developers made the player movement so sluggish, to give players the illusion that the game is realistic. None of that is realistic for me. The menus are also slow and unresponsive. The physics are garbage.

    The multiplayer is trash with so many server issues. The pass assist is terrible, making the gameplay tedious. I buy sports games, because I can't play like a pro in real life. If I can't play like a pro in a fake videogame, then what is the point paying $70 for this sluggish garbage? I don't recommend this game at all.    … Expand

See all 47 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2021
45
#45 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2021