NHL 25 Review

Cutting the old consoles loose paid off immediately. ICE-Q rebuilds player awareness using real tracking data, so skaters find soft ice, defensemen close gaps at sensible angles, and your linemates stop drifting into the lane you already occupy. Combined with reworked skating that gives edges and crossovers real acceleration curves, the ice feels less like a chain of animation states and more like a flow.

Puck control gets a similar pass, with tighter dekes and a protection system that lets a big body shield along the wall. Presentation is the best the series has had, with a rebuilt broadcast layer and arena atmosphere that reacts to the game state. The gaps are the usual ones. Franchise remains a spreadsheet with a coat of paint, Be A Pro has ambition without the writing or structure to deliver on it, and Hockey Ultimate Team is the loudest and best funded mode by a distance. On the ice, this is the series at its most confident in years.