NHL 25 review: Not for newbies, but solid nonetheless

After several years of only watching hockey during the Stanley Cup Finals, I became a real hockey fan during the regular season last year. I saw the Boston Bruins' opening game against the Chicago Blackhawks last October and have only missed a handful of Bruins games since then. I spent my birthday at the Hub on Causeway watching the Bruins defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in a thrilling shootout victory. But it's not just the Bruins: I was also fascinated by the National Hockey League. I still am. Sometime in the middle of the NHL season, I put on my very first pair of hockey skates and hit the ice myself. Ten months later, I'm a member of a beer league team and play hockey at least twice a week. I fell in love with the complexity of hockey: it is both elegant and aggressive, subtle yet explicit. Hockey is a beautiful game.

But there's one part of hockey culture I hadn't yet touched: Electronic Arts' annual NHL video games – the latest of which NHL25which released on October 4th on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. And that makes sense, because the game is not the least bit beginner-friendly. You get sucked into the game and its complicated interface without knowing where to start, let alone how to play. I understand why that is; I don't feel like a ton of completely new players are buying every iteration of the NHL games that come out every year like other EA Sports games, typically with iterative changes and incremental visual upgrades.

But at the same time, interest in hockey is at an all-time high: TV ratings are up, arena attendance is up and revenue is at its highest ever at an estimated $6.2 billion, according to the Associated Press. Kyle McMann, the NHL's vice president of business development, said there is an influx of “female, diverse fans” watching hockey games. This interest and growth also extends to the practice of sports. The AP reported in 2024 that youth hockey player participation was increasing in the United States (while declining in Canada), and that efforts to attract new players, particularly those from marginalized communities, were increasing. Hockey programs across North America are reporting an increase in the number of girls playing the sport. USA Hockey reports that girls' participation has increased 65% over the past 15 hockey seasons in the United States. If ever there was a time to welcome a new generation of hockey fans and integrate them into the sports video game community, it would be now.

But NHL25 is not the right game for that. It's not a bad game – in fact, it's a good game! – but it's not a game that's easily accessible to new players. While there is no specific tutorial, there are systems to help players learn the controls of the game, such as the On-Ice Trainer. This mode, which can be toggled on and off along with several other accessibility options, adds several UI elements to remind you which buttons do what at appropriate moments, and also highlights players you should defend against, or Areas of ice to be protected. For example, if you have a good passing opportunity, an icon will appear above your player's head. When the puck falls to the center of the ice, this symbol tells you when to react. And when you're playing as a right winger in the defensive zone, the ideal area of ​​the ice where you should play lights up and a playing surface shows you a player to defend. The training tool is most helpful for basic strategies and positioning if you need them. What I found most difficult, however, was getting used to the controls. Specifically, I knew exactly what I wanted to do in the game, but didn't know what controls would get me there. Once you learn the controls, you can actually play hockey NHL25 feels good. The pace of the game feels right and there is plenty of room for strategy and skill moves.

After a few hours of Be A Pro, a story campaign where you start as a junior or entry-level player and work your way up to the big leagues, I stopped being frustrated and started having fun. Once you understand the basic building blocks, you can actually pay attention to some tips. Now that I know how to shoot and pass, I can try out simple skill moves like slapshots, poke checks, or stick raises.

Be A Pro doesn't seem to be much different than in NHL24According to more experienced players, it is the best introduction to the game NHL25 has to offer. I appreciate all the little details you can change about your character. I can play as a woman, even though I compete in traditional men's leagues like Canada's Junior Western Hockey League or the NHL. I can also attach my shin guards with clear tape, just like I do in the locker room. Hockey gear and the way it is worn can be very personal, and EA understands that. In any case, Be A Pro proved to be the best low-stakes entry NHL25 as a rookie, with a mix of light management, team dynamics and playing time. (However, as a Bruins fan, I was pretty offended when my Be A Pro player was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens.)

Beyond Be A Pro, there is Franchise Mode for players interested in leading a team from a management perspective while also getting on the ice. It appears to have more management elements, allowing you to work through contract negotiations, roster moves, arena management, discussions with management and coaching staff, analyzing stats and of course playing time. The difference between Franchise and Be A Pro is that you play as an established team and manage both the NHL and AHL affiliates, rather than as an individual player. The change in perspective from Be A Pro to Franchise mode is interesting, but I personally can't imagine playing much of it; I'm less interested in building a team as a general manager and more interested in the imagination Me play in the big leagues.

World of CHEL, which is something like an online arcade mode NHL25is probably the funniest of everything I've tried. (I haven't yet ventured into the separate Hockey Ultimate Team mode, where you build teams from unlockable cards.) This mode is essentially an arcade experience with a battle pass where you play according to different rulesets (e.g. three-on-three) plays Unlock equipment and build a player.

My best moments in NHL25 just got my player on the ice; I don't need all the extra stuff around it. I like how the game looks and how the players move on the ice. You can see that a lot of care was put into getting these things exactly right. But what I like best NHL25 is that as a hockey beginner I feel like I'm learning a lot about the game of hockey.

Yes, I've seen a lot of it and taken courses, but NHL25 forces me to think about positioning in a unique way and see first-hand how my body and skills impact the players around me. The top-down perspective of NHL25 provides a more extensive scope than I would otherwise get in the league games or training sessions I have attended. Powered by what Electronic Arts calls Ice-Q, its new ice hockey artificial intelligence program, the overhead visual feels like my personal coaching whiteboard: OK, if this player goes into this zone, I have to move here or I risk giving the other team a chance to score. And the artificial intelligence players react to me the same way. Positioning and strategy seem to adapt naturally to what is happening on the ice. It's a big reminder of something I always remember: If you just chase the puck and look down, you're going to have a bad time.

What I've learned as an adult trying to learn new things (I was taking a beginner's swimming class a few years ago when a lifeguard suggested I stay out of deep water even at my local pool) is that a bit of fighting is okay. That's why I think I was able to let go of the frustration NHL25The lack of a tutorial or introductory mode. Despite the steep learning curve for a newbie, NHL25 fits naturally into my little world of hockey.

NHL 25 was released on October 4th on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The game was played on Xbox Series X using the download code provided by Electronic Arts. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These have no influence on the editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased through affiliate links. More information about Polygon's ethics policy can be found here.