Eastside Hockey Manager

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,665 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • stability
Eastside Hockey Manager Game Cover
In this year without an NHL season, fans can manage their favorite hockey franchises down to the last detail: set practice schedules, select tactics, renegotiate contracts, manage hot prospects, sign free agents, and trade and scout players. Games are described as they happen. You'll even have to ha
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Eastside Hockey Manager is a challenging sports simulation game that lets you manage a ice hockey team. Control every aspect, from player transfers and finances to coaching and tactics, in this in-depth hockey simulator. Experience the thrill of leading your team to victory in this engaging and realistic game.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,665 reviews
gameplay16 positive mentions
stability14 negative mentions
  • Incredibly detailed and immersive hockey management simulation.
  • Strong community support with mods for updated rosters and graphics.
  • Addictive gameplay that keeps players engaged for hours.
  • UI can be clunky and difficult to navigate, especially for new players.
  • Game can crash frequently, leading to lost progress.
  • Lacks official NHL licenses, requiring players to download mods for real team names and logos.
  • gameplay68 mentions

    The gameplay of this hockey management game is praised for its depth and mechanics, offering a realistic simulation experience that engages players in team management, tactics, and player development. While the user interface can be challenging to master initially, the core mechanics are intuitive, leading to addictive gameplay that keeps players invested for long hours. However, those seeking fast-paced, visually dynamic hockey action may prefer traditional EA Sports NHL games instead.

    • “Despite how simple the gameplay is, it still manages to create exciting moments during the simulation.”
    • “The depth is fantastic, the gameplay is realistic; it's just an overall great experience.”
    • “Addictive gameplay that makes you feel involved and responsible for your team's success and failure.”
    • “With that being said, if you're looking for fast-paced, exciting gameplay that isn't just menus, you're probably better off getting an EA Sports NHL game if you have the money. This game can run on any laptop that's around $200, while consoles can be more than twice that amount.”
    • “The mechanics of the game do take a little while to learn, and even once you think you know everything, it can be easy to forget exactly the steps you need to take to do something simple.”
    • “It is not particularly good looking, but I'd rather have more depth of gameplay instead.”
  • graphics58 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated and simplistic, primarily relying on a 2D engine that some players find smooth and easy to follow, while others criticize it for lacking depth and modernity. Many reviewers express a desire for graphical updates and enhancements, particularly for high-resolution displays, but acknowledge that the game's focus is more on tactical depth and management rather than visual appeal. Overall, while the graphics may not impress, they serve their purpose in supporting the game's strategic gameplay.

    • “The 2D graphics are smooth and easily followable, and the tactics are in-depth and provide a wide range of ways to play each game and develop your team.”
    • “Graphically, the 2D engine does a good job of representing what's happening on the ice, and while I would like to see an option of choosing between 3D and 2D just as in Football Manager, I'm more than content to settle for the current model as it serves its purpose really well.”
    • “+ The graphical revamp of the game makes it more pleasant to the eye.”
    • “Graphics and sound are poor; not that it matters to a manager game, but it feels really outdated.”
    • “Half the time I try to launch the game, I either get a graphics error, or nothing works at all.”
    • “For me personally, this game lacks a graphics engine.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that frequently cause crashes and freezes, particularly when exiting the game. Many players express frustration over the unreliable online network features and persistent graphical issues, indicating a need for significant improvements to enhance overall stability.

    • “This game right now is a buggy pile of mush.”
    • “Lots of glitches causing the game to crash.”
    • “You can play in window mode or fullscreen mode, but when I want to exit the game, it freezes and all the hard work is gone.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke strong feelings, including heartbreak and nostalgia. Despite its current limitations, many recommend it wholeheartedly, indicating that the emotional experience is a significant draw.

    • “10/10 would cry again”
    • “10/10, would cry again”
    • “I have poured so much time into this game, and although it is still pretty bare-bones right now, I can wholesomely recommend this game.”
  • story6 mentions

    The game's story revolves around the strategic management of a hockey team, emphasizing the importance of scouting missions to uncover player prospects and build a successful roster. Players can customize their scouting efforts to find the right talent, whether aiming to enhance their team for immediate success or develop a legendary narrative by rising through the ranks to achieve national glory. Overall, it offers an engaging experience for hockey enthusiasts looking to craft their own team-building journey.

    • “Please do yourself a favor and buy this game if you enjoy the sport of hockey and have ever wanted to build your dream team or test your management skills in the lower leagues and build a legendary story as you climb the ranks to finally lead your national team to world glory.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The optimization of the trading system is noted to be complex and dynamic, effectively reflecting player performance and team demand. However, users find the user interface confusing and unoptimized, indicating a need for streamlining to enhance usability.

    • “The UI is confusing and unoptimized; it needs streamlining.”
    • “The trading system is a little bit weird sometimes, but very in-depth as well; the AI recognizes dynamically changing player values based on their performance and how badly other teams want the player.”
  • humor4 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game particularly engaging, often laughing at the parallels between their in-game decisions and real-life NHL moves, such as team lineups and trades. The comedic element is highlighted by the unexpected outcomes of player performances, adding a layer of enjoyment that surpasses other games in the genre.

    • “I found it hilarious that the Oilers this year made some of the same moves in real life that I did in this game. Putting Leon, Yamamoto, and Nuge together on a line, trading for AA, signing Sheahan. Just too bad Jesse Puljujarvi didn't turn into a 100-point guy like in the game.”
    • “So much better than FHM, it's not even funny.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse strategic options, allowing players to engage in multiple playthroughs. However, there is a strong desire for the inclusion of more playable leagues, particularly smaller ones like the Australian and Ukrainian leagues, to enhance the experience further.

    • “The replayability factor is really high as you can play it with different strategies over and over again.”
    • “I would die for more playable leagues; even some smaller leagues like the Australian League and Ukrainian League would be awesome to be playable.”
    • “I would die for more playable leagues; even some smaller leagues like the Australian league and Ukrainian league would be awesome to be playable.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of managing menus to be tedious and stressful, yet some appreciate this realism as it mirrors the challenges faced by actual general managers in hockey.

    • “Some menus are tedious to maintain.”
    • “While it is tedious and can be stressful, I think the same applies to being an actual general manager of a hockey team.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with users noting a lack of menu music and button sounds, leading to an overall sparse audio experience dominated by crowd noise. Many feel that the addition of ambient sounds or a calming musical track would enhance the game's atmosphere.

    • “The game has great potential, but it could really benefit from some menu music and button sounds.”
    • “The only sounds are the crowd noise; adding some ambient sounds or a calm musical track would enhance the experience.”
    • “The game has great potential, but it could really benefit from some menu music and button sounds.”
    • “There are no sounds except for crowd noise; the game might benefit from some ambient sounds or a calm musical track.”
    • “The lack of music really detracts from the overall experience; it feels empty without any background tunes.”
    • “The only audio present is crowd noise, which makes the game feel lifeless; it could use some soothing music to enhance the atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

1975hMedian play time
1726hAverage play time
400-4000hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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