NHL 22
OpenCritic Rating
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
NHL 22 Trailers
Critic Reviews for NHL 22
NHL 22's various arcade modes have their charms, but it's an uneven installment that puts the focus in the wrong places.
NHL 22 relies on its superstar talent, and it's not impressive enough to give the gameplay the new life it so desperately needs
NHL 22 doesn’t feel like the next leap forward for video game hockey. It barely feels like meaningful DLC.
NHL 22 is enjoyable, but feels very similar to last year despite using a new game engine. Too much focus has been put on implementing Superstar X-Factor abilities and little else.
NHL 22 does an excellent job at bringing back old arcade-y mechanics and blending it with today's simulation quality presentation in a way that works together rather than against itself. Some modes could still use a refresh, but the core gameplay of NHL 22 shows that the NHL series is really hitting its stride with this release.
I can’t see the NHL franchise reaching the heights of its mid-2000s glory years anytime soon, but at least we have the Frostbite engine in there to start building upon. It took far too long to arrive, though; it’s here now. And while I can see the potential for it to one day have this series feeling exciting again, I don’t see that happening for a long time. But, hey, it’s the only hockey game in town, so I guess I’ll see you on the ice.
With NHL 22, EA's long-running team finally gets a brand new game engine, providing better physics, graphics, and animations. As usual, we also get a variety of game modes that make most people happy, whether it's realism or party games that attract. What we do not get, however, is a sufficiently refreshed sense of play. The improved physics helps, but does not shake off all the old flaws. That said, NHL 22 is an excellent hockey game, although several long-standing problems still exist.
Review in Swedish | Read full review
NHL 22 surprises by making its debut on a new console without removing any of its modes, but those who played NHL 21 may find this version a little too familiar. X-Factors on paper should be a game-changer but are mostly underwhelming. The switch to Frostbite does massively improve the fidelity of the rink – even if character models still look downright demonic – but should that really be the biggest change to the game? The ultimate question is: can the price increase be justified on the PS5? And given how little really has changed from last year to this year, the answer has to be a “no”.
