The cult classic returns, re-imagined
By Paul Hunter
Booting up NHL 26 on PS5, I anticipated a familiar experience, but the careful refinements and fresh features introduced by EA Vancouver and EA Sports turned it into something that feels genuinely new. ICE-Q 2.0 tightens skating and shooting so crisp that moves have an authentic touch. NHL Edge sneaks in real tendencies, which means superstars and role skaters act more like their real-life selves—and that creates some fun matchups.
The goalie changes stand out. There are many new animations and smarter reactions, so a single save can flip momentum and keep you on your toes. Be A Pro finally gets the attention it deserved. You start at the World Juniors, work through the Memorial Cup and hit the NHL Draft, and your performance and choices now actually affect whether you stick in the big leagues. That sense of consequence makes every game feel more important.
HUT’s Cup Chase gives offline-focused gamers a proper season to chase, and roster rules nudge you to build with more strategy. Presentation gets a polish too: walkouts, broader replay coverage and broadcast-style overlays add a nice layer of atmosphere. Menus load quicker in many places, so you get to the action faster.
These tweaks aren’t always obvious at first, but they compound over time. So, should you give NHL 26 on PS5 a shot this season? Let's find out!
I spent a lot of time simply skating around and testing how it all flows, and two things kept coming up: the movement changes and the new goalie behaviour. ICE-Q 2.0 makes turning and momentum feel more deliberate; you notice it when you cut into the slot or try a quick backhand in tight. Shooting reacts to how you arrive at the net, so you can’t rely on the same release every time.
The goalie work is a real game-changer. There are roughly eighty new animations, and I saw combinations I hadn’t before—desperate lateral stops, glove snatches and faster recoveries. When you control the net, that quicker reset after a save keeps you involved and reduces awkward dead time. As an attacker, those saves can ruin an otherwise steady push.
One night I charged in on a scramble and thought I had an easy tap. The goalie reached out with a quick side-pad stop, the puck hopped away, and suddenly my team lost its momentum. That play forced me to slow down and plan plays more carefully.
That’s not to say everything is perfect. Hits can sometimes look stiff, and defenders occasionally miss key moves when the ice gets crowded. Those moments show where ICE-Q 2.0 still needs room to grow.
Overall, the gameplay loop feels tighter and more deliberate. You’ll find yourself planning entries and timing shots rather than spamming the net. With goalies that can flip momentum and skating that rewards precision, the result is a more satisfying, less predictable game.
This year the modes feel polished and updated in different ways. Be A Pro is the clearest change. You start at the World Juniors, move through the Memorial Cup and enter the NHL Draft. Performance now links to a form tracker and social responses, and poor outings can land you back in the minors. That structure makes each period crucial with real consequences.
The press conferences add a layer of personality. Most of the voice acting lands well, but a few lines sound stiff. Dialogue choices affect your reputation and grant small perks through ability unlocks. Those systems make career growth more situational as every response matters.
I remember nearly blowing a Memorial Cup game by mishandling the puck late in the second. The scare changed my draft outlook and made me more cautious in how I handled big moments. That tension and the chapter-based approach made the career feel like a journey rather than a sequence of exhibitions.
HUT’s Cup Chase is a welcome addition for offline players. It gives a structured mini-season to play alone, complete with unique rewards for those who want to avoid online modes. The roster constraints encourage thoughtful team building instead of slamming together the top names, though the grind and microtransaction presence still shape long-term progression.
Franchise mode remains largely untouched this year. It still functions well as a management mode, and the essentials are still here for long-term GM fans who want to manage their own team.
Presentation in NHL 26 has a noticeable lift compared with last year. The arenas feel busier and more interactive. Player walkouts include sound cues, lighting effects, and commentary that actually make you pause for a moment instead of skipping ahead. I watched my first pregame sequence all the way through, and it gave a little extra energy before puck drop. The crowd responds naturally to key plays, swelling in intensity during late periods or overtime, which adds tension even in offline games.
Overlays are clearer and more informative than before. NHL Edge displays stats and percentages at key points, giving insight into both your team and the opposition. It feels natural, never distracting, and helps make strategic decisions on the fly. Replays now highlight more than just goals, showing defensive stops and goalies’ big saves from multiple angles, which adds a sense of rhythm to each game.
Menus feel quicker and more responsive. Switching between modes or adjusting rosters happens with fewer delays, and the new Edit Lines screen simplifies what used to be fiddly tasks. Some online menus can still lag slightly, but overall navigation is easier than in previous years.
Audio presentation also steps up. Commentary adapts to recent events and player accomplishments, making broadcast moments feel personal. I scored a key goal in Be A Pro and noticed the announcers referencing my performance in a later match. Licensed music mixes with Be A Pro’s soundtrack to create energy in fast moments and calm in less hectic parts, balancing the atmosphere throughout the game.
Final Score: 7.5/10 - Good
Developer: EA Vancouver
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Booting up NHL 26 on PS5, I anticipated a familiar experience, but the careful refinements and fresh features introduced by EA Vancouver and EA Sports turned it into something that feels genuinely new. ICE-Q 2.0 tightens skating and shooting so crisp that moves have an authentic touch. NHL Edge sneaks in real tendencies, which means superstars and role skaters act more like their real-life selves—and that creates some fun matchups.
The goalie changes stand out. There are many new animations and smarter reactions, so a single save can flip momentum and keep you on your toes. Be A Pro finally gets the attention it deserved. You start at the World Juniors, work through the Memorial Cup and hit the NHL Draft, and your performance and choices now actually affect whether you stick in the big leagues. That sense of consequence makes every game feel more important.
HUT’s Cup Chase gives offline-focused gamers a proper season to chase, and roster rules nudge you to build with more strategy. Presentation gets a polish too: walkouts, broader replay coverage and broadcast-style overlays add a nice layer of atmosphere. Menus load quicker in many places, so you get to the action faster.
These tweaks aren’t always obvious at first, but they compound over time. So, should you give NHL 26 on PS5 a shot this season? Let's find out!
I spent a lot of time simply skating around and testing how it all flows, and two things kept coming up: the movement changes and the new goalie behaviour. ICE-Q 2.0 makes turning and momentum feel more deliberate; you notice it when you cut into the slot or try a quick backhand in tight. Shooting reacts to how you arrive at the net, so you can’t rely on the same release every time.
The goalie work is a real game-changer. There are roughly eighty new animations, and I saw combinations I hadn’t before—desperate lateral stops, glove snatches and faster recoveries. When you control the net, that quicker reset after a save keeps you involved and reduces awkward dead time. As an attacker, those saves can ruin an otherwise steady push.
One night I charged in on a scramble and thought I had an easy tap. The goalie reached out with a quick side-pad stop, the puck hopped away, and suddenly my team lost its momentum. That play forced me to slow down and plan plays more carefully.
That’s not to say everything is perfect. Hits can sometimes look stiff, and defenders occasionally miss key moves when the ice gets crowded. Those moments show where ICE-Q 2.0 still needs room to grow.
Overall, the gameplay loop feels tighter and more deliberate. You’ll find yourself planning entries and timing shots rather than spamming the net. With goalies that can flip momentum and skating that rewards precision, the result is a more satisfying, less predictable game.
This year the modes feel polished and updated in different ways. Be A Pro is the clearest change. You start at the World Juniors, move through the Memorial Cup and enter the NHL Draft. Performance now links to a form tracker and social responses, and poor outings can land you back in the minors. That structure makes each period crucial with real consequences.
The press conferences add a layer of personality. Most of the voice acting lands well, but a few lines sound stiff. Dialogue choices affect your reputation and grant small perks through ability unlocks. Those systems make career growth more situational as every response matters.
I remember nearly blowing a Memorial Cup game by mishandling the puck late in the second. The scare changed my draft outlook and made me more cautious in how I handled big moments. That tension and the chapter-based approach made the career feel like a journey rather than a sequence of exhibitions.
HUT’s Cup Chase is a welcome addition for offline players. It gives a structured mini-season to play alone, complete with unique rewards for those who want to avoid online modes. The roster constraints encourage thoughtful team building instead of slamming together the top names, though the grind and microtransaction presence still shape long-term progression.
Franchise mode remains largely untouched this year. It still functions well as a management mode, and the essentials are still here for long-term GM fans who want to manage their own team.
Presentation in NHL 26 has a noticeable lift compared with last year. The arenas feel busier and more interactive. Player walkouts include sound cues, lighting effects, and commentary that actually make you pause for a moment instead of skipping ahead. I watched my first pregame sequence all the way through, and it gave a little extra energy before puck drop. The crowd responds naturally to key plays, swelling in intensity during late periods or overtime, which adds tension even in offline games.
Overlays are clearer and more informative than before. NHL Edge displays stats and percentages at key points, giving insight into both your team and the opposition. It feels natural, never distracting, and helps make strategic decisions on the fly. Replays now highlight more than just goals, showing defensive stops and goalies’ big saves from multiple angles, which adds a sense of rhythm to each game.
Menus feel quicker and more responsive. Switching between modes or adjusting rosters happens with fewer delays, and the new Edit Lines screen simplifies what used to be fiddly tasks. Some online menus can still lag slightly, but overall navigation is easier than in previous years.
Audio presentation also steps up. Commentary adapts to recent events and player accomplishments, making broadcast moments feel personal. I scored a key goal in Be A Pro and noticed the announcers referencing my performance in a later match. Licensed music mixes with Be A Pro’s soundtrack to create energy in fast moments and calm in less hectic parts, balancing the atmosphere throughout the game.
The Verdict
NHL 26 is a strong step forward for hockey on PS5. Skaters and shooters feel sharper with ICE-Q 2.0, and the new goalie animations make each save exciting. Be A Pro finally adds stakes, Cup Chase gives offline HUT a meaningful challenge, and presentation upgrades like replays, overlays, and walkouts make the game feel alive. Commentary can repeat, and Franchise hasn’t changed much, but the on-ice improvements, career progression, and broadcast polish combine to deliver a game that’s satisfying, rewarding, and fun to return to again and again.Final Score: 7.5/10 - Good
NHL 26 details
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|SDeveloper: EA Vancouver
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.