NHL

EA Vancouver · EA Sports

This entry covers EA SPORTS NHL, the long-running ice hockey series from EA Vancouver. The current-generation release listed here came out in October 2024 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Ice hockey is not a big sport in India, which actually makes NHL a fun discovery at a gaming cafe: it is fast, physical and surprisingly easy to pick up. How it plays Each team has five skaters and a goalie. You pass, shoot, check opponents into the boards and try to score into a small net past a goalie who saves a lot. Matches are full of momentum swings, and a big hit or a quick goal can change everything. Modes Play Now is a single game between any two teams. Be a Pro follows a player through their career, Franchise mode lets you manage a team, Hockey Ultimate Team is EA's card-collecting mode, and World of CHEL is an online mode with arcade-style games and customisation. For a cafe, Play Now and local versus are the obvious picks. Setup PS5 with two to four controllers. NHL supports up to four players locally on the same console, so groups can play two-versus-two on the same screen. Getting started If it is your first time, switch to one of the simpler control options in the settings, such as the classic button-based scheme, so passing, shooting and checking sit on face buttons. Pass the puck rather than skating with it the whole way. Shoot from angles where the goalie has to move side to side. On defence, stay between the puck carrier and your net instead of chasing hits. How long to book With short periods, a game takes about 15 to 20 minutes. An hour gives a pair or group several games. Who will like it Sports fans looking for something new, friends who enjoy physical, fast-paced games, and anyone who likes the idea of checking a friend into the boards. It is rated E10+.