Stored game record
NHL 27
Experience all 32 NHL arenas rebuilt with each team’s energy, traditions, and identity, from goal songs, chants, and signature details to dynamic lighting, jumbotrons, and presentation that reacts to every matchup. A refreshed broadcast package gives every game a cleaner, more modern feel, with new graphics, updated camera work, and sharper on-screen storytelling before puck drop, between whistles, and during highlights.Create a league with friends, manage your roster, and compete head-to-head across a full online season with up to 32 human-controlled teams, flexible settings, schedules, and commissioner tools.Every NHL team plays with true identity through unique playbooks and tendencies, powered by ICE-Q and NHL EDGE data. Matchups feel distinct from puck drop to final horn, with real NHL systems you can study, equip, and use across modes. A new commentary team featuring ESPN play-by-play voice John Buccigross and former NHL goaltender Darren Pang brings fresh perspective, energy, and insight to every game. Updated play-by-play and analysis better capture the speed and emotion of hockey, with more natural reactions, improved flow, and deeper breakdowns that reflect what’s happening on the ice. Build your roster with deeper strategy through the introduction of authentic NHL coaches and playbooks. Coaches add new layers to team-building through unique line combination connections inspired by their real coaching history. [EA Sports]
- EA Vancouver
Platform scores
| Platform | Metascore | Userscore |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | 68 | 3 |
| Xbox Series X | 62 | Not stored |
What players said
Praise
- yes, the game is VERY similar as the last installment... but i'm having fun. YES the connected franchise is lackluster missing a lot of features, YES they've made the start of WoC kinda pay to win.. but the biggest thing for me is that the gameplay feels better, it's similar as 26 but improved
- Best one I’ve played in years! I never thought any of the past NHL games have been bad. People hating on the game really puzzles me, because it is so much fun. It’s hockey!
- Between the high usage of AI, commentary being a massive issue, poor stability and other big problems that overshadows the good, alas, it won't be enough to solve them and it's better to wait because right now, here's so much that needs to be done into order to address the major problems and the chaos. Patches can only fix small issue, and honestly, it's not enough. There needs to be more that that.
Criticism
- Essentially a reskinned NHL 26 with the same problems and more. The AI bots are worse than never like when you and your friend play as forwards and the bot Dman always becomes a winger losing his position. Or how about the goalie throwing the puck out for a penalty despite teammates being open for the pass. The ice tilt in the game happens almost every single game. The game is pretty much pay to win. Everyone is so slow. Game looks identical to previous year with all equipment being the same. Commentary is repetitive after 2 games. Goalie can barely mark the post or even catch pucks half the time. Game menus still take forever to navigate. been so slow for years now. Unsure what they even do anymore with this game as presentation updates are just not enough for a new game. Only playing it as it is the only hockey game to play. Don't know how EA can mess up the same hockey game and make it worse every year. NHL 27 should be a $20 update patch at best. Definitely not worth the current price tag
- Game play feels very close to last year, which felt close to the previous year. Glitches, freezing, stretched face glitches, etc. Terrible and repetitive AI commentary. Connected franchise is super limited and not at all what I was expecting. Goalies can still be exploited on the same ways we’ve been doing it for years. EASHL is basically pay to win now with the micro transactions. You can pay to unlock the stats and boosters that you would normally grind for. You can’t play very many modes with your friends, which seems ridiculous in today’s world. It’s a super expensive roster update. The gameplay is slightly better (like 5%), but nothing here warrants even paying $20 for it. Wait until it’s on game pass or at least until it’s half off or more. Or if you have NHL 26 or an earlier release you like, just stay there. Some how this game looks worse than it has in years. Do not recommend.
- This game is lacking passion. Hockey is all about teamwork, discipline, and accountability. EA captures none of that. This game is an individualistic pile of garbage. Skate as fast as you can and try the same things over and over. Trash. Stop giving this company money
Stored video
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What critics said
Praise
- NHL 27 remains fun—there’s no arguing that: watching a devastating charge by Victor Hedman that sends his opponent crashing into the boards, a lightning-fast one-two finished by Connor McDavid on the break, or a puck slipped under the goalie’s legs by Sidney Crosby are still priceless moments. The tweaks to the arenas add a sense of authenticity that almost makes up for the past: the problem is everything else. This year, there was no revolution—not even a small, low-magnitude earthquake. For NHL fans, it’s a surreal situation, like a digital version of The Truman Show: with no competition on the market, there’s not even the slightest urgency to push forward. EA is the first to know this.
- 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.
- Out of nowhere, EA has produced the best version of NHL to date. A completely reworked physics system, excellent AI adjustments, and presentation authenticity combine to blow away NHL 26.