- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Release Date: Sep 12, 2025
- Also On: PlayStation 5
- Summary:
- Developer: EA Vancouver
- Genre(s): Sports, Team, Ice Hockey, Sim
- # of players: Up to 12
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 2 out of 8
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Mixed: 6 out of 8
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Negative: 0 out of 8
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Sep 14, 2025NHL 26 marks a significant improvement over its predecessor, delivering a deeper and more realistic simulation. Thanks to the new ICE-Q 2.0 engine and the integration of real NHL data, gameplay feels more authentic. While minor technical issues persist, the revamped Be a Pro and richer online modes make it a must-have for hockey fans.
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Sep 19, 2025NHL 26 is one of those games that will easily last you the year, working as a welcome return to the franchise. Whether you are a hockey fan or not, you’ll get thrills from the on-ice action, taking you back to the glory days of decades gone by.
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Sep 5, 2025NHL 26 is a step in the right direction, absolutely, but I can't get over all the little problems that pop up during the games. It's also sad to see that the Franchise mode has exactly zero development. That the career mode has changed, however, must be seen as a godsend.
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Sep 5, 2025NHL 26 introduces some long-awaited improvements to Be A Pro mode, as well as some meaningful gameplay tweaks (particularly when it comes to goalies) that result in the best NHL game of this console generation. There's a lingering feeling that $69.99 is an expensive price tag for a series that's not changing that much from year-to-year anymore, but the development team have still done a commendable job with the seemingly limited resources at their disposal.
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Sep 15, 2025NHL 26 pushes authenticity forward with ICE-Q 2.0 and NHL EDGE data, offering more realistic player differentiation and broadcast-style presentation. While core modes like Be A Pro and HUT see meaningful refinements, the series still feels evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
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Jan 23, 2026EA markets NHL 26 as “the most authentic hockey experience yet,” and that’s not entirely wrong. The physics refinements, data integration, and visual polish make this the best version for anyone who skipped last year. But the improvements are incremental, not transformative. If you already own NHL 25, you’ve seen nearly everything this has to offer… it’s just a little smoother, a little prettier, and a little harder to justify at full price.
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Sep 14, 2025NHL 26 is a competent entry in the series from EA Vancouver, even if it doesn’t do enough to stand out either from past years or other sports games. It still plays well enough, and after all these years there’s still something exciting about banking a goal in, or setting up the perfect pass. I rarely found myself unhappy with the actual gameplay, no matter how familiar it felt. On top of these things that worked well before, there are some small improvements that are welcome, like enjoying our collections of Ultimate Team players offline. At the same time, this series has stagnated visually, with relatively ugly players and crowds contrasted against beautiful hockey rinks. NHL 26 has left me feeling like I’ve just watched a 6-5 overtime win in April when my team has already been eliminated from playoff contention: there’s enjoyment to be had, but I can’t help but hope they get off to a better start next year.