EA Sports NHL 27 lands on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 as the newest annual entry in the franchise’s decades-long hockey series, and it earns its keep with genuinely enjoyable on-ice action. Still, our EA Sports NHL 27 review reaches a mixed verdict: that slick, satisfying core gameplay is being undermined by a steep learning curve and a cluster of issues that make it a hard sell for anyone new to the sport.
A hockey sim that actually flows
The highlight here is the feel of the game itself. Skating, passing, checking, and shooting all register with a responsiveness that makes a good shift on the ice genuinely fun. Puck movement reads as fluid rather than floaty, and the pace sits somewhere between the arcade-style speed of older hockey games and the deliberate, systems-heavy approach of a full simulation.
For players who already follow the NHL, the presentation does much of the homework for you. Teams, players, and the general look of the league are present, which lets familiar stars move around the rink the way you’d expect. When a good play develops and you finish it, the feedback loop is rewarding enough to carry a full session.
Why it feels hostile to beginners
Here is where the review’s headline complaint lands. NHL 27 assumes a baseline of hockey-game knowledge that most newcomers simply won’t have, and it doesn’t do much to bridge that gap. The difficulty ramps up sharply, and the systems that reward veteran players tend to punish anyone still learning the basics of positioning and timing.
This is a familiar pattern for annual sports sequels, which often optimize for retention of existing fans over onboarding new ones. The result is that a player picking up the controller for the first time can feel like they’re fighting the game as much as the opponent. If the learning curve never flattens, a lot of that otherwise-slick gameplay stays just out of reach.
The issues holding it back
Beyond the difficulty problem, the review flags several major issues that keep NHL 27 from being a must-buy. The exact nature of those problems is what turns a “good game” into a “wait for a sale” recommendation, and they’re significant enough that they color the overall experience rather than sitting on the sidelines.
What this means in practice is that the core hockey engine is strong, but the package around it isn’t polished enough to fully justify the full price tag. For a reader deciding between picking this up today or waiting, those issues are the deciding factor.
What This Means for You
If you’re already a fan of EA’s hockey sim and want the current-year roster and the latest iteration of its gameplay, NHL 27 delivers enough on-ice quality to be worth a look. But if you’re a casual player or someone who wants to ease into hockey gaming, the beginner-hostile design and the flagged issues are real barriers you’ll hit early.
The practical takeaway is timing. Existing fans may want to jump in now; newcomers might be better served waiting for a discounted copy or a future entry that does more to welcome players to the sport.
How to Get It
NHL 27 is available for Xbox Series X|S and PS5. As with most annual sports releases, it typically ships in standard and premium editions, so check the console store for current pricing and bundle details. Given the review’s mixed score, there’s little rush to buy at full price unless you’re a dedicated fan.
Source: Neowin
Over to you: Are you jumping into NHL 27 as a longtime hockey fan, or waiting to see if it ever welcomes newcomers?
