- Simulator, Sport, Non-fiction
Play like a superstar in EA Sports NHL 26. That starts with ICE-Q 2.0, now powered by NHL EDGE data, so your favorite superstars think, move, and play like their on-ice selves. That includes data-informed Attributes and Tendencies which make star players perform in true-to-life fashion, with their playstyles and decision-making game-aware and impactful.
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Character
Contemporary, earnest, grave and classical in form.
- contemporarynostalgic
- earnestironic
- gravecomic
- classical in formformally daring
- character-ledplot-driven
Who loves it, who doesn't
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Reviews
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From the critics
A few lines from each review; the whole review is on the critic's site. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
Console CreaturesCourt LaLondeSep 20259/10NHL 26 takes what NHL fans have seen in real-life NHL broadcasts and lets you experience it on your console. You get to feel the intensity of a Stanley Cup final while playing as some of the game's best.
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GamingBoltMatthew CarmosinoSep 20258/10There's a lot to love about this year's NHL game. From the redesigned Be A Pro mode to the enhanced NHL EDGE authenticity, it's a notable step up from previous years. NHL 26 has perhaps the best 'superstar' mode of EA's current sports lineup, which is shocking considering how stuck in the mud it's been prior to now. If you've been on the fence about EA's pro hockey series, now's the time to jump in.
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CompletexboxDan BoiseSep 202585/100NHL 26 is another enjoyable entry to the long lineage of EA’s flagship hockey franchise. There’s enough content to keep hardcore players hoooked and more game modes that you can shake a stick at. Whereas the game’s accessibility features can tailor the experience to welcome in newcomers with open arms. Long time fans of the series are sure to be quite happy with this latest entry. But Be a Pro mode aside and the addictive Ones Now, there’s isn’t much that justifies buying it if you already have NHL 25 and/or NHL 24; unless you’re OCD and need to complete your collection.
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ShacknewsBill LavoySep 20255/10Reviews aren’t the place to weigh in on how to fix things, so I won’t do that here. Deep down I hope the developers who are making this are kicking down Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson's door asking for more time, budget, or anything really. Developers tend to be super fans who love making amazing games. I believe that about EA Vancouver, but this is not good enough and hasn’t been good enough for years. The players who return year after year deserve better.
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IGNMarc DeschampsSep 20256/10NHL 26 is a fine take on the sport of hockey, but it largely fails to offer any significant jumps from last year’s game.
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Snippets via OpenCritic, where 43% of critics recommend it.
About the game
- Platforms
- Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
- Developer
- EA Vancouver
- Publisher
- EA Sports
- Released
- September 12, 2025
- Modes
- Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Perspective
- Third person
- Engine
- Frostbite
IGDB rating 7.0/10 from 7 ratings.
Screenshots
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