Hockey ranks among the most exciting sports to watch live and in-person. As a video game, despite the long-running success of EA’s NHL franchise, it always felt a little too wild to serve as a true simulation of the sport on your favorite console. NHL 24 makes huge strides in recreating real-world intensity on the ice, ensuring fans of the video games and the sport itself have plenty to enjoy in this year’s release. Let’s strap on the skates and run through NHL 24.

Overall, I want to start by stating just how meaningful this year’s tweaks and updates feel. The NHL franchise has been in my life for quite a while, and nothing is more deflating than getting the new edition of the series and feeling like not much has changed. At least, other than rosters and maybe a few game modes. In NHL 24, shifts to the way your players perform on-ice when faced with things like environmental pressure and fatigue make the game feel more alive than ever.

The most notable addition this year is the exhaust engine, a system for literally wearing the defense down to nothing. The engine works with two systems that are noticeable from the first period you play in NHL 24. Firstly, the sustained pressure system marks how long you’re holding possession in your offensive zone. As pressure builds, the defense loses energy and stamina fades. The goalie fatigue system, on the other hand, wears goalies down as they track the puck for long periods of time.

The exhaust engine is a huge improvement to something NHL games have struggled with in the past. With recent EA hockey games, the developers have worked to make hockey video games feel more like real hockey. It’s hard to mimic the sport’s frantic, frenzied nature, but fatigue plays such a huge role in the real thing that it’s a welcome addition here. A few other additions are worth noting as well, including physics-based contact improvements that let your enforcers do some real enforcing.

A more impactful change, however, are the updates to how you handle the puck. Two major shifts feel wonderful, starting with vision passing. As you skate with the puck, holding the trigger to pass brings up the face buttons for you to pinpoint who you pass the puck to. If you’ve played these games before, you know how often a pass goes to the person you didn’t intend, so this is a great fix. Another great fix is the transition of dekes to the face buttons, allowing you to work your magic on the ice more easily.

Other improvements include the inclusion of Cheryl Pounder on the ice for commentary and updates in-game. Speaking of presentation, another great addition is the crowd’s reaction to momentum-shifting plays. For example, if you have a huge hit followed by a breakaway, the crowd actually gets louder and more active. It’s fun to experience these things with friends across consoles too. PS4 and Xbox One players can face off as can PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players.

World of Chel, Be a Pro, Franchise Mode, and Online Play run well from my time with each of them. I spent quite a bit of time, however, playing Hockey Ultimate Team, the franchise’s card-collecting microtransaction mode. Without spending a cent, I had a lot of fun, even if you have to grind to earn some higher-rated players. Daily Live Moments made it fun to check in on the mode every day and face off against the NHL’s all-time greats. However, it is still something where you’re encouraged to spend more money constructing the team of your dreams.

In terms of gameplay improvements and fun factor, NHL 24 is the strongest entry in the franchise since the new console generation. Playing the game feels familiar but a little more refined for player control and precise actions on the ice. I’m pleased that the NHL developers continue to expand the game’s modes to fit a variety of player styles. Even if we’re still encouraged to buy fake currency to collect fake cards to win fake hockey games, it’s a darn good time to do so.

An Xbox Series X|S Review Copy of NHL 24 was provided by EA for this review.

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NHL 24

$69.99

9

Score

9.0/10

Pros

• New exhaust system makes the game feel more alive
• Presentation improvements please the eyes and ears
• Game modes continue to expand and improve
• Passing and skating have never felt better

Cons

• Microtransactions still make Hockey Ultimate Team feel slightly predatory