NHL 26 Review, Gameplay Impressions, Videos, Top Modes and Features

NHL 26 from developer EA Vancouver is the second game in the series only available on next-generation consoles, a feature it fully leans into while upgrading the core experience. 

After incrementally upgrading gameplay to a slower, more authentic feel last year alongside some presentational bells and whistles, NHL 26 dives further into the details of on-ice action and addresses some lacking game modes, too. 

A continued on-ice evolution, features that bring the series in line with other sports games and some friendly live service elements, to name a few factors, position NHL 26 as the best entry in the series to date. 

Gameplay

Like other sports games, NHL 26 continues to veer away from pre-canned animations for something more authentic. 

The latest effort in this area is the ICE-Q 2.0 system, which uses real-world data points from the sport to train AI and inform tendencies of players across the league. 

This loops in distinct attributes for players on the ice, such as skating acceleration differences that NHL fans will recognize, appreciate and perhaps even take advantage of strategically. 

Overall, the on-ice feel is again slower in a good way, with physical collisions playing out realistically and the jockeying for control through positioning, never mind pokes and checks, super intuitive. Even little things, like varied times for players to get back up, deserve a mention. 

NHL 26 changes up the X-Factors experience this time out, too. There are plenty of new traits at play for players to trigger on the ice, which helps the biggest stars in the sport stand out even more. That is, provided players capitalize on the additional strategic depth the key traits, such as super-refined accuracy, provide. 

Goalies get a boost this year, too. There are blatantly many, many new animations at play here, even if it's something as simple as a poke check. Perhaps more impressively, the goalies now do a better job of actually tracking the puck after an initial save. Sure, that makes a follow-up goal tougher on players at the controller, but it also happens to be more realistic.

As one can probably tell, there's a nice balance achieved when thinking about it from an offense vs. defense standpoint. Players can lean into goal-scoring x-factors and use that smooth shooting indicator to good effect, but proper positioning and the support thrown at goalies don't make one or the other too strong. 

NHL 26 is the best-feeling game on the ice itself yet. While the slower pace established last year might not be for everyone, droves of quality gameplay modifiers and options will let players fine-tune their experience, too. 

Graphics and Presentation

A year ago, NHL 25 really boomed with the series fully moving to next-generation consoles. 

NHL 26, as such, is also a visual powerhouse with good crowd depth, player likeness and fun details like unique presentation packages and lighting effects popping off things like visors. The immersion is college football-level high (that's the new bar these days), but it is very, very good. 

While there aren't many outright huge boosts to the graphics this time out, one notable that sticks out is a revamped and accurate net behavior after shots at the goal. It's just one of those little things players will appreciate that, if nothing else, no longer detracts from the realism. 

The broadcast presentation really gets a boost with the careful attention to detail expanded upon during replays, which are now extended and do a better job of capturing key game narratives. 

Sheer information is another boon in this area. Little additions like skating speeds during replays simply provide more numbers and data for players to consume during replays and otherwise. 

The under-the-hood work done with AI and learning systems, etc., has clearly added another layer of authenticity to the on-ice experience, too. Little details like a consistently low shooting star now occur in the game.

The game's user interface (UI) gets a new look, too. It doesn't avoid some sluggish moments like other EA Sports games by any means, but it's interesting to look at and pretty easy to navigate without being overwhelming. 

Be A Pro, HUT and More

Be A Pro was mostly left behind one year ago compared to the other modes. 

Now we seem to potentially know why. 

This year, Be A Pro gets one of the bigger overhauls seen in franchise history. It better matches other sports games by letting players create a star and go from World Juniors to the NHL draft and far beyond, complete with chapter-like progression systems and choices that actually matter. 

Beyond the must-have cutscenes to flesh out key moments of a created character's career, the game puts players in charge of responses during media scrums, which is a nice touch. 

While some of this is standard-fare checklist stuff like completing challenges, the moment-to-moment gameplay in Be A Pro matters because all ranges of outcomes are available: From becoming a Superstar known around the world to having a chat with a general manager about a possible trade due to playing time. 

Granted, some of these items, and especially the expected bit of cutscenes and voice acting, have been a mainstay of story modes in sports games for a long time. NHL 26 isn't pushing the genre forward in this regard by any means, but at the same time, it's finally nice to see it make the cut. 

Franchise mode got a ton of love last year and those high marks that are deeper RPG-like systems to conversations and the recruitment of free agents remain. 

World of CHEL gets a few notable overhauls. For one, the season pass has been mercifully named just that, is 45 levels and, best of all, is now free to all players. 

Not to be overlooked, though, is the game taking a critical balancing step by implementing ability point costs and tiers into the X-Factors system. On paper, this effort should mean healthy metas that developers can tweak in response to overpowered things players find, keeping things fresh throughout the game's lifespan.

This is a nice push for CHEL, where the arcade-themed action can be a home for many, many players throughout the game's lifespan. 

Hockey Ultimate Team enjoys similar thematic updates and returns with the expected gauntlet of ranked matches and things to earn. It shakes up the team-building process in interesting ways, too, by offering up modifiers like season-long rules, team captain themes and ways to generate stat bonuses, available funds and otherwise. 

HUT pays careful attention to offline players, too, via the new HUT Cup Chase. There, players can work through 18 games before the postseason, with the ability to earn seasonal rewards in the process. 

Beyond those heavyweight modes, standard features like practice, NHL Threes and others pepper the list. There's a little bit of everything and, to get cliché, something for everyone. The fact it all runs well and has the mentioned gamut of customizable options works in the game's favor, too.

Conclusion

NHL 26 continues the trend of the series one-upping itself to present the best offering in its storied history to date. 

The caveat, though, is that NHL 26 continues to feel like it's playing a little behind compared to other sports games when it comes to being able to upgrade multiple big things at once or by adding things found years ago in say, basketball titles. 

But as a straight-up hockey game? NHL 26 is a blast with respect for the player's time in its many game modes, boasts measured gameplay with good skill expression and continues to listen to player feedback while evolving. 

At its heart, NHL 26 is an upgrade and a worthwhile staying spot for fans until the next edition iterates on the entire thing again.