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The realm of video games has long embraced the seamless translation of hockey into digital arenas, and the NHL boasts its prestigious status as North America’s foremost hockey league. Throughout the years, the Best NHL Games, bearing the official league license, have consistently shone as exceptional sports gaming experiences, maintaining player engagement across an array of gaming platforms.
Because EA Sports has worked with the NHL for a long time, gamers have been able to play hockey games that are reliable and of high quality, with each new version adding interesting new features. Even though people have different ideas, Ranker users have been happy to talk about their favorite NHL games, and NHL ’94 keeps coming up as a fan choice. NHL ’94 is considered to be one of the best video games of all time. It is not only known as a great sports game, but it is also on all-time lists that include games from other genres.
Best NHL Games Comparison Table
| Game | Release Year | Platforms | Download Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHL Legacy Edition | 2015 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Download Now |
| NHL 07 | 2006 | PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 | Download Now |
| NHL ’11 | 2011 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Download Now |
| NHL 2004 | 2004 | PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC | Download Now |
| NHL 09 | 2009 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Download Now |
NHL Legacy Edition (2015)
| Platform | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 3 | CPU: 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, RAM: 1 GB, GPU: DirectX 10 |
| Xbox 360 | CPU: 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, RAM: 1 GB, GPU: DirectX 10 |
EA’s NHL series is always one of the Best NHL Games, no matter what version of console it is on. NHL 16 was a game that came out on next-generation platforms (PS4 and Xbox One) and got the usual attention that EA hockey games get. But PS3 and Xbox 360 players got a completely different game.
The NHL Legacy Edition was almost exactly the same as the NHL game from the year before. The NHL Moments Live feature was changed to include new events, but the way it works and the features it has in the game stayed the same. Even though the game was the same, it was still liked because it was easy to play and had GM Mode.
The Good
- Teams and player lists from the 2014-2015 NHL season have been updated.
- Realistic ways to play the game.
- There are many different game types, such as “Be a Pro” and “Ultimate Team.”
- Graphics and player movements have been made better.
The Bad
- Compared to earlier versions, there aren’t many new features.
- Some players might think it’s too much like the other games in the series.
NHL 07 (2006)
| Platform | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 | CPU: 1.3 GHz, RAM: 256 MB, GPU: DirectX 9 |
| Xbox 360 | CPU: 1.4 GHz, RAM: 256 MB, GPU: DirectX 9 |
| PC | CPU: 933 MHz, RAM: 256 MB, GPU: DirectX 9 |
In 2006, when the original Xbox was being phased out, a new era of video games began. NHL 07 was the Best NHL Games in the series to come out on the original Xbox. It made a lot of big changes to the game that would continue to be used in later games.
The game’s new physics system, which made it more realistic, was the biggest and most obvious change. In older versions of the game, the puck moved like a magnet, which made it jump from player to player in a way that didn’t make sense. NHL 07 was the only game in the series to be released on the Playstation Portable, which was only around for a short time.
The Good
- Easy to learn how to play and play smoothly.
- There are different ways to play, like “Dynasty Mode” and “Online Play.”
- For its time, the graphics and player models were very good.
- Sound effects and comments that are true to life.
The Bad
- Compared to later forms, you couldn’t change it as much.
- AI doesn’t always work the same way.
- Due to when the game came out, the lists were not up to date.
NHL ’11
| Platform | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 3 | CPU: 2.4 GHz Cell Broadband Engine, RAM: 256 MB |
| Xbox 360 | CPU: 2.4 GHz triple-core, RAM: 512 MB |
NHL ’11 was a Best NHL Games that really impressed the fans who called NHL ’10 the best hockey video game ever made. All of the old animations that had been in NHL games before the physics system was redone were taken out. This made it possible for a player to score from anywhere on the ice. Big changes to this physics engine let players break their sticks when trying to block shots on defense or when setting up for a slap shot or wrist shot.
This game got a lot of good reviews, and some of the biggest changes were the addition of limited free agency to the “Be-A-GM” mode, a new faceoff system, and the “Hockey Ultimate Team” trading card game.
The Good
- Improved the physics system to make the game more realistic.
- Graphics and player movements have been improved.
- In the Be a Pro mode, players can try out the life of an NHL player.
- Ultimate Team mode lets you build your team with cards and compete online.
The Bad
- At first, some players may find it hard to figure out how to play.
- Compared to earlier versions, there weren’t many changes.
- Online modes may have trouble connecting sometimes.
NHL 2004
| Platform | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 | CPU: 700 MHz, RAM: 64 MB, GPU: DirectX 8.1 |
| Xbox | CPU: 733 MHz, RAM: 64 MB, GPU: DirectX 8.1 |
| PC | CPU: 700 MHz, RAM: 128 MB, GPU: DirectX 8.1 |
The Best NHL Games had a better checking system, more ways to handle the puck, and more advanced game modes. For example, the franchise mode was changed to dynasty mode, which gave the player more chances to feel like they were really playing the game.
A Stanley Cup win celebration was also part of the game. Players skated around with the Stanley Cup held high above their heads. The computer version of this game is the main reason why it is one of the best of all time. There are still league games of NHL 2004 going on in a certain gaming group. There are even games that have been changed.
The Good
- This game is one of the most famous in the NHL series.
- Good controls and game features.
- The “GameBreaker” tool was added to make the game more fun.
- Various rock songs are on the sound track.
The Bad
- By today’s standards, the images are old.
- Compared to earlier versions, it has fewer ways to play.
- Because it came out so long ago, the names and teams aren’t up to date.
NHL 09
| Platform | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 3 | CPU: 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, RAM: 1 GB, GPU: DirectX 9 |
| Xbox 360 | CPU: 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, RAM: 1 GB, GPU: DirectX 9 |
| PC | CPU: 1.3 GHz Pentium III or equivalent, RAM: 256 MB |
This Best NHL Games could have any number of games from EA Sports’ hugely popular NHL series. They are the best hockey computer games, and there is a reason for that. But from our point of view, NHL 09 was the best game of the last ten years or so. A few extras made it happen.
Be-A-Pro mode was the first. It let people make their own players and control their lives from the minor leagues to the Stanley Cup. There was also the protective Skill Stick, which gave the puck’s defense a whole new layer. Not many games focused on that, so it made this one stand out.
The Good
- Graphics and player movements have been made better.
- In the Be a Pro mode, players can try out the life of an NHL player.
- There are many ways to change how people, teams, and arenas look.
- There are different ways to play, such as Online Team Play and Battle for the Cup.
The Bad
- Compared to earlier versions, there aren’t many important new features.
- AI doesn’t always work the same way.
- Few online tools and little help from the community.
FAQs
A: Yes, you can play NHL games on your phone or tablet. The most popular is “NHL SuperCard,” a free card fight game where you can build a team of NHL players by collecting their cards. Some NHL games may also have companion apps or mobile versions that add features to the main device or PC versions or give you information about them.
A: Yes, you can play against other people over the internet in a lot of NHL games that have online multiplayer modes. Most of the time, these modes let you play different kinds of games, like organized matches, tournaments, or games you play with other people. To use online features, you must have a stable internet connection and a paid contract to the right online service, like PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold.
A: Yes, most current NHL games have a “Create a Player” option that lets you change your own player’s look, skills, and equipment. Some games also have a career mode, like the “Be a Pro” mode, where you can handle your player’s professional hockey career and help them get better.