NHL 27

The handful of changes in NHL 27 are mostly welcome – nothing is worse than last year, but very little is better either.

This caps a full decade of me reviewing the NHL games, and while I believe the gameplay is better in NHL 27 than NHL 26, my position hasn’t changed. Harsh as it may sound, this is an update, not a new game.

NHL 27's on-ice action may have become smarter, but the overall product has barely changed at all.

NHL 27 features great gameplay and looks fantastic in every element of its presentation, however, there are few changes to make it stand out from last year.

Overall, NHL 27 delivers a solid and complete hockey experience by refining last year's mechanics, adding depth to existing Franchise Mode, and introducing smarter AI and playbooks. While it lacks revolutionary new modes or a dramatic visual leap, its polished on-ice gameplay, improved presentation, and rich feature set make it the definitive release of the current era.

EA Sports NHL 27 stays true to its formula, focusing less on a major revolution and more on numerous smaller improvements. The new team playbooks, more dynamic team behavior, revamped defenses, and Connected Franchise add depth and variety, while Be a Pro and World of Chel have also been meaningfully expanded.

NHL 27 doesn't reinvent EA Sports' hockey, but it addresses some of the series' most evident problems: teams that felt too similar, poorly differentiated atmospheres and the lack of a real online league among friends. A familiar technical structure, clumsy menus and an imperfect AI remain, but for anyone interested in online leagues, arena atmospheres and a more tactical portrayal of the teams, this is one of the most interesting editions in years.

If you weren't able to tell by now, I'm not a fan of NHL 27 in the slightest. Normally, I can still find something that keeps me coming back to weaker sports games. I won't be doing the same with NHL 27.

NHL 27 takes a step forward from its predecessor, striking an effective balance between old and new. With its presentation polished around the edges and its AI improved, it delivers enjoyable games, albeit with the occasional lapse, while maintaining a more than solid overall experience. The situation is somewhat different when it comes to the game modes: the addition of Connected Franchise stands out in an otherwise largely traditional lineup of options.

EA NHL 27 may not have delivered some ground-breaking systems that improve the game beyond its previous iterations, but it does present the game through more subtle ways like the playbook system and better goaltending on higher difficulties. Presentation is solid, but glitchy crowds and awkward animations still break through and can ruin your immersion, regardless of the vast improvements made to arenas. However, EA’s NHL has rarely looked or played better despite those annoyances, and if you meet the game on its terms, it’s bound to bounce the puck in your direction one way or another, just be ready to take that shot.