NHL 21 Review - The Final Verdict

NHL 21 certainly doesn’t reinvent the genre in any major way, but that’s largely because it doesn’t have to. The NHL games are largely okay at their core and when they’re working as intended. NHL 21’s biggest problem is not what it’s missing, it’s how ineptly it brings it’s pieces together despite having a reliable blueprint and plenty of fan feedback to go by. I would have gladly accepted an NHL game with half of the content of this one, if everything just worked better.

But as it stands, NHL 21 is a feature heavy game that is surprisingly light on polish and bit too tone-deaf when it comes to what its fans actually want from it. I appreciate the shots that NHL takes at improving the formula, but at the end of the day, most of those shots are too little too late, and end up making the overall experience just barely better than mediocre.

[chocolate]

I am a simple guy I don't buy sports games every year I just liking playing and the game play looks fun

[Bangcat]

They don't evolve much because they don't have too. Not because the game is fine, but because they're not allowed to have competition with the NHL license.

However I'd like to see more games flip off the licenses like Blitz once did and Mutant League Football has done since after. Give us more non licensed hockey games. A Mutant Hockey League game would be fantastic.

[coreysmalls]

Last good hockey games was made by 2k..2k hockey games was highly underrated..I guess EA brought that exclusive license as well..now look at the bullshit sports games they pump out

[BuffaloNyBornRaised]

I don't play online I turned the commentary off as usual because it feels more realistic to me. I choose a team who has the coolest jerseys this year I like that Ottawa went back to the 1993 inaugural season uniforms. I trade away all my top players so I like to draft build my players up create my Dynasty from scratch. Therefore I have no complaints except maybe they can update the goaltender equipment team goaltender option masks could be updated as well. The main update when loading the game for the first time seems to have the rosters pretty accurate to date so therefore I don't have many complaints I just got lucky the game was on sale for $20 at my local Best Buy here in Buffalo

[supercommando]

1st NHL game I’ve bought since Ps2 hockey. I still dabble with NHL 95/96/97 on Sega Genesis. This new NHL 21 is fun, given that I am not comparing it to last years game or anything else. To the uninitiated, this is cool BUT, I wish there was more organ music. The players feel too light and not enough rumble and big hits. Oh yeah, I was a big NHL Blitz fan too. I’m diggin this.

[rbkkpro]

basically nhl 16 but with different interface

[clarkesuperman]

It’s terribly similar to NHL 20, so much so that I would not agree that it’s worth $59.99 CAD. When I found out it was $79.99 CAD, I was sad to say this is the first NHL I haven’t bought since NHL 13.

[lucarioaustin]

definitely will say nhl21 is way better to 20 just hope the ai kinda gets fixed with the way they can get unbeatable especially in split screen. and i love the be a pro mode! and i never had a issue with the menu on the xbox oddly

[Icelegend]

But this year hut is really bad like I just had a 35 shot game and didn’t score a single goal and on the other hand I let 14 shots go and I lose 4-0 because he forced 4 cross crease pass and my defense doesn’t intercept but every 2 on 1 I have they intercept

[jrza]

Please tell me Snoop Dogg isn’t in the game this year... in my playoff run with the Avs he joined the commentary team like every other game which made me rage quit

[_allcap]

Haven't played an NHL game since Blades of Steel on NES

[nigeljones]

So the question is....do I get this or NHL 22... Experienced players I need your advice

[mikes]

I got this game for free. I don’t like the skating, feels like I have no control of my players. The goal scoring sucks. Players with crash into the goalies and score and no goalie interference is called. The glitching in the game gets worse and what’s worst of all, the game was released and the rosters aren’t even updated.

[ambroshoule]

same as NHL 19 it’s simple they just add new rosters n rookies with 1-3 highlight of the year movea

[hiebsch]

Bought NHL 20, happy with it, might pickup NHL 22 or 23 depending on how far they come.

[chickenofdarknes]

Don’t compare this or madden to 2K. My favourite sports by far are hockey and football and yet 2K is about 10 years ahead of anything from EA and has been for what feels like 10 years. I don’t even watch basketball but I play 2K because it’s so far and above every other sports game in every single mode that matters

[mattysims]

the stick lift button is the same button as high sticking. makes sense right lol. you are going to lift his stick which is low. but if you do not apparently time it right you smack him in the head. stupid. how people can stick lift effortlessly from 2 player lengths behind take the puck but my guy just hacks heads. how a guy can stick lift spam and perform it 20 times with never giving one chop to the head is completely stupid. just call it ice tilt stick lift 21.

[de]

It's too similar to NHL 20 in terms of gameplay tweaks, features, presentation and UI/UX (same menus, just as slow). And unless you really were clamoring for a new Be A Pro and only that, this game is nearly the same as last year. This review, unfortunately, comes off as someone with limited experience with the NHL series

[scotteisner]

Can anyone recommend where I can find the most realistic sliders.

[joshbradfield]

I think EA does hockey right. Wish I could say the same about their football franchise