NHL 21

 PlayStation 4
NHL 21 Image
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
2.3

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 159 Ratings

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  • Summary: Gameplay in NHL 21 has gotten smarter, faster and a whole lot flashier. With innovative moves and massive improvements on both sides of the puck, players have more options than ever before to take control of the game and impose their playstyle on opponents. Recognize Revolutionary withGameplay in NHL 21 has gotten smarter, faster and a whole lot flashier. With innovative moves and massive improvements on both sides of the puck, players have more options than ever before to take control of the game and impose their playstyle on opponents. Recognize Revolutionary with Gameplay in NHL 21. A brand new Be A Pro experience gives you the chance to live the life of an NHL player, on and off the ice. Impress the front office, go early on draft day, and chase greatness as you earn your spot on the first line, compete for the Stanley Cup, and become the league’s next best. Recognize Future with Be A Pro in NHL 21. World of Chel makes it easier than ever to jump in, and play solo or connect with friends on your way to wins and rewards. This year, we’re introducing Ranked Seasons — where you’ll compete across each of the four modes to earn rewards and play in the new EASHL Club Finals. [Electronic Arts]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32
  1. Gaming Age
    Oct 20, 2020
    100
    Thanks to an insane number of hours spent playing previous NHL games over the last several months, I do know what a good hockey game looks like, and NHL 21 definitely fits the bill. The on-ice product is as fast-paced and free-flowing as the real thing, and there are enough options here to keep you occupied for months on end — which, given the circumstances, is exactly what you may need right now.
  2. GameSkinny
    Oct 21, 2020
    80
    NHL 21 provides more of the same, and with the uncertainty of the real world season, even less of what few changes fans come to expect of yearly releases.
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Nov 15, 2020
    80
    It looks fantastic, with animation delivering the TV-standard realism EA always aims for2 while offering gaming cues for eagle-eyed players to spot; using the stick skills to shuffle keepers out of position for a slap shot will leave you wide-eyed and fist-punching the air. See, that Nicolas Cage opener paid off. [Issue#182, p.160]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Game Informer
    Oct 16, 2020
    75
    For now, NHL 21 gets the job done, especially if you want to play a fancier, flashier game. I still had plenty of fun, and when you consider that it’s the only way to experience the NHL until the real league gets back on the ice in January, it’s not a bad way to get your hockey fix.
  5. GamesRadar+
    Oct 27, 2020
    70
    NHL 21 is the best hockey game around by default – but it seldom genuinely stands out from this generation's pack.
  6. PlayStation Universe
    Oct 20, 2020
    70
    NHL 21 brings much-needed improvements and depth to the variety of game modes available, though does nothing to fix the same issues that make the fun arcade style gameplay feel out of place in the more sim-focused modes. There is enough content thankfully that you can just keep having fun in the arcade modes and HUT Rush will actually keep you coming back for more high intensity action.
  7. Screen Rant
    Oct 18, 2020
    20
    While NHL 21 brings with it some exciting minor features, the game has not made any significant quality of life improvements with these new changes. In NHL 21, there is no soul, and the franchise needs to stop putting out features and create a new NHL game where changing the on-ice product is what sells the product. Dreams of making solid passes that are accurate, no more 55 minute games on the penalty kill, and no more glitch goals remain dreams - but that shouldn't be the case any long, and hopefully NHL 22 is a top-down restructuring of a series that sorely needs it.

See all 32 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 100
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 100
  3. Negative: 83 out of 100
  1. NoFilter5445
    Oct 15, 2020
    10
    The core of this game belongs to EASHL. The community is small, but devoted and strong. The upgraded Be a Pro is a welcome addition but isThe core of this game belongs to EASHL. The community is small, but devoted and strong. The upgraded Be a Pro is a welcome addition but is plagued by annoying filler found in other EA titles. It's an experience you cannot find in other titles as FIFA and 2K's team modes lack a hardcore teamplay element.… Expand
  2. Heliotay
    Dec 5, 2020
    7
    First game i played in the series. Enjoyed playing against my dad that has been playing NHL for a long time, he thought it was pretty good.First game i played in the series. Enjoyed playing against my dad that has been playing NHL for a long time, he thought it was pretty good. The score i give it is mostly because i had alot of fun playing with my dad. For my part playing alone i had fun and got realy hyped up everytime i hit a good goal.… Expand
  4. Jt9711
    Oct 16, 2020
    3
    What a waste of money. I've bought every NHL game since 1994 and this will be the last. Franchise mode is broken. Unless you go in andWhat a waste of money. I've bought every NHL game since 1994 and this will be the last. Franchise mode is broken. Unless you go in and manually set region and players your scouts will not evaluate players leaving you with zero information for the draft

    Be a pro, for all they added within 30 minutes it's already repetitive and boring.

    HUT is the same as always. You spend the game defending one timers and odd man rushes. No resemblance of real hockey to be found.

    Chel-seems okay, not my thing.    … Expand
  5. VALCAT97
    Jan 11, 2021
    1
    Надо было постараться сделать такое *****... Вратарём из года в год играть нельзя...вы пытаетесь убить интерес игроков к карьере за разныхНадо было постараться сделать такое *****... Вратарём из года в год играть нельзя...вы пытаетесь убить интерес игроков к карьере за разных игроков? У вас получилось,лично я больше покупать ваше...не буду,спасибо,что открыли глаза :-) Вратарь сквозной,иногда бестелесный,бывает,что-то случайно ловит,при чём,на любом уровне сложности играть за вратаря невозможно...вместо того,чтобы помочь игроку с карьерой вратаря,разрабы-дегенераты усложнили ботов нападающих,ещё и скрипт,который не даёт играть,то шайба сквозь лежачего вратаря проползает,то вратарь просто стоит и не реагирует,то ловушку не поднимает.. за нападающего каждый дурак умеет играть,а за вратаря разрабы не дадут...
    С другой стороны,я рад,что такие классные оценки на сайте,надеюсь,вы все в своём офисе с голоду сдохните из-за отсутствия продаж ;-)    … Expand
  6. Oneill212321
    Oct 28, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Awful. Same thing as last year but you cpu player is even worst when playin gm 3v3 world of Chel. Absolutely awful. The menus are slow per usual. Forced to watch highlights. In be a pro mode you have to talk to the coach during the game after the game, all this stuff that could be done so much faster. A couple new dekes, new hits and dumber cpu players. Waste of money… Expand
  7. wapakalypse
    Oct 16, 2020
    0
    LOL once again, incompetent developers and corrupt executives have ruined a great series. The devs can’t even make the menus run smoothly,LOL once again, incompetent developers and corrupt executives have ruined a great series. The devs can’t even make the menus run smoothly, what makes anyone think that the devs could possibly make the game run better ? Haha they can’t. They are soy boy beta cucks who have probably never played hockey. It shows in their product. Stop copy and pasting the previous years release. Only buy this game if it costs 10$ and only buy it second hand.… Expand
  8. Megatron49
    Oct 17, 2020
    0
    One step forward and 3 back as per usual with NHL. The new BaP mode is really cool except for the actual on ice. Your AI still has no clueOne step forward and 3 back as per usual with NHL. The new BaP mode is really cool except for the actual on ice. Your AI still has no clue what to do and the way it judges your performance is comical. You pretty much have to be a sniper too for any of the star stuff to make sense. It's the only hockey game so I'll keep buying these games but they are full of glitches l and made by people who apparently have never played hockey. Please 2k make a hockey game again competition woud be good for ea. Stop adding 3 features, getting 15 bad songs and changing the menu colour while charging $80. I would say it's an expensive roster update but they didn't even have that done for launch! Pathetic… Expand

See all 100 User Reviews

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36
#36 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2020

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