EA Sports’ NHL 26 Review – A Stride in the Right Direction

EA Sports’ NHL 26 Review

The annual release of EA Sports’ NHL franchise is a cultural touchstone for hockey fans, a recurring moment to assess whether the familiar, simulated ice has progressed or merely been recycled. With NHL 26, the development team at EA Vancouver returns to the rink, bringing a suite of promised innovations aimed at refining gameplay, deepening immersion, and addressing long-standing community feedback. NHL 26 undeniably delivers a more polished and engaging experience than its predecessors, particularly in its on-ice mechanics. But it’s still marred by a clear lack of polish that keeps the NHL franchise from standing toe-to-toe with the giants of the sports genre.

From the first puck drop, NHL 26 makes a compelling case for its overhauled gameplay. The most significant change centers on what EA refers to as “ICE-Q 2.0.” Utilizing the “NHL Edge” system, ICE-Q 2.0 incorporates real-time player and puck tracking data to (supposedly) make players feel closer to their real-life counterparts. I say “supposedly” because I’m not convinced that anybody actually mimics their true-to-life selves. Though the good news is that the AI has seen a genuine improvement. Your teammates who aren’t on the puck react to a game’s flow more authentically. They don’t get caught out of position as often and can react quickly to start pushing up the ice or get back onto defense after a costly turnover.

Lucky Bounce

Another big step forward for NHL 26 is the way the puck feels. Puck physics are more organic and less scripted. Rebounds off pads careen wildly, deflections off sticks feel realistic, and the puck truly feels like an independent entity with its own weight and momentum. This injects a welcome layer of unpredictability and chaos, forcing players to react more instinctively rather than relying on predictable trajectories. Goals feel earned (most of the time), and defensive plays, especially deflections and blocks, carry a greater sense of achievement.

Just bear in mind that the usual issues that have plagued the NHL series are still prevalent in NHL 26. I mentioned that goals often feel earned, but there’s no shortage of situations that’ll leave you scratching your head. New goalie animations and improved reactions help, but there are still a handful of goals that seem unbalanced. Inevitably, NHL 26’s online play will devolve into the majority of players using the same moves repeatedly. This has been a longstanding issue, and NHL 26 is no exception.

Additionally, NHL 26 is plagued by technical issues and presentation shortcomings. Clipping is shockingly noticeable. Audio bugs permeate the experience. There is also a notable lack of attention to detail when it comes to elements like logos. This is the tip of the iceberg, and at this point, it’s impossible to forgive the same blunders that are made year in and year out.

Lingering Woes

Visually, NHL 26 is hit and miss. Player models range from solid representations – particularly star players – to laughably inaccurate. The arenas burst with life, from the intricately rendered crowd animations to the dynamic ice degradation that steadily forms ruts and scrapes throughout a period. Lighting effects are superb, casting realistic shadows and reflections that add layers to the broadcast presentation.  Commentary, while updated with new lines and analysis from the broadcast team, still succumbs to extreme repetition over the course of an extended season. It’s a painful immersion breaker, and the NHL series is in desperate need of a new commentary team moving forward.

Off the ice, ‘Be A Pro’ is the star of the show this year. When NHL 26 was initially previewed, I was excited to hear about all the changes being made to the mode. Undoubtedly, things have been improved, but it still lacks the true sense of feeling like you’re living the life of an NHL star. Yes, new cutscenes exist that better tell the story of your player. But everything still feels like you’re simply going through the motions and clicking from one screen to the next. It’s a solid foundation that’s been laid with NHL 26, but plenty of work remains before Be A Pro represents the lifestyle of an NHL player.

HUT, So What?

Naturally, the only other mode that’s seen work is Hockey Ultimate Team. AKA, the mode that features microtransactions at every turn. I’ve reviewed the NHL series for a long, long time now. Every year, I need to write about the updates EA has made to HUT. Oh, the menus are more streamlined? There are new cards that require you to pay for? Whoop de doo. It’s blisteringly painful that, while so much of what the series needs to be improved remains an afterthought, HUT receives updates like clockwork.

NHL 26 is not a game that reinvents the wheel, nor does it shed the criticisms leveled at its annual predecessors. However, it represents a decent step forward in key areas. The refinements to puck physics and skating mechanics are substantial, delivering a more authentic and rewarding on-ice experience. While lingering issues, such as inconsistent goaltending AI and repetitive commentary, prevent it from achieving what hockey fans dream of. Be A Pro is certainly more enjoyable, but still requires a ton of work to feel authentic. NHL 26 doesn’t come close to reaching the heights of the series, but it isn’t terrible by any means.

***A PS5 code was provided for this review***