NHL 18

About

EA SPORTS NHL 18 delivers the speed, creativity and action of today's young NHL superstars with new Creative Attack controls and an all-new Defensive Skill Stick. Play the fast-paced, arcade-inspired 3-on-3 NHL THREES mode, or create your own custom 32nd NHL team with the new Expansion Draft. Do it all with the most co-op and competitive multiplayer options ever in an EA SPORTS NHL game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

46%

Audience ScoreBased on 18 reviews

atmosphere3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

NHL 18 features precise and sublime skating mechanics, making gameplay feel fluid and enjoyable.
The addition of NHL Threes mode offers a fun and engaging arcade-style experience, along with robust customization options.
The game includes effective teaching tools and a variety of modes, ensuring both new and experienced players have plenty to enjoy.

Be A Pro mode lacks a narrative and needs more depth, making it feel less engaging.
Commentary is generic and could use significant improvement to enhance the overall experience.
While there are new features, many aspects feel similar to last year's game, which may not justify an upgrade for returning players.

gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The gameplay in NHL 18 is praised for its precision and fluidity, featuring a balance of new dekes and defensive systems that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the variety of modes available, effective training tools for both casual and experienced gamers, and the overall tactical depth. However, some feel the game lacks a unique element to maintain its relevance in a rapidly evolving gaming landscape.
- “Skating is precise and feels wonderful. Sublime gameplay with new dekes and defensive systems that are well balanced. Beautiful presentation and lots of modes to play. Subtle improvements to main game modes add a lot, and new teaching tools nail the basics.”
- “Skilful, fast-paced gameplay that is accessible with effective training tools. The game is jam-packed with strong online and offline modes, including a brilliant threes mode.”
- “A deeper, more tactical hockey experience with more game modes than you can shake a (hockey) stick at, and seemingly unlimited gameplay customization options.”
- “While NHL 18 still features that pristine, refined gameplay with plenty of game modes to jump into, it still needs that special something to keep itself relevant with the changing times.”
- “On-ice gameplay is strong as always, but small skating and training changes help experienced and casual players alike. However, it feels like it lacks innovation.”
- “Despite having a variety of game modes, the gameplay can feel repetitive and doesn't offer enough new content to keep players engaged.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The reviews highlight a significant lack of a compelling story in the "Be a Pro" mode, with many users noting its absence and calling for a more engaging single-player narrative. Additionally, there are suggestions for improvements in commentary and presentation elements to enhance the overall experience.
- “There is no story for Be a Pro mode.”
- “The commentary could use a facelift.”
- “The new skill stick dekes are imprecise, and the performance grades still aren’t accurate.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The optimization of the game has received criticism for imprecise new skill stick dekes, a lack of narrative depth in the "Be a Pro" mode, and ongoing issues with inaccurate performance grades.
- “The new skill stick dekes are imprecise, making it frustrating to execute moves effectively.”
- “The 'Be a Pro' mode lacks a compelling story, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “Performance grades still aren’t accurate, leading to confusion about player progress and abilities.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere in the game is enhanced by a lively crowd that contributes to an engaging experience, while the on-ice gameplay remains strong with improvements that cater to both experienced and casual players. Additionally, the presence of deep modes and an excellent customizable menu further enriches the overall ambiance.
- “The lively crowd creates a great atmosphere.”
- “The on-ice gameplay is strong as always, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “Small skating and training changes help create an engaging environment for both experienced and casual players.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The graphics have received mixed feedback, with returning players feeling there isn't much new to offer, and many reviewers noting that both the graphics and soundtrack require significant improvements.
- “Not much for returning players; the graphics and soundtrack need improvements.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
- “Character models are poorly designed, making it hard to connect with the game.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with returning players noting a lack of new content and others suggesting that both the soundtrack and graphics require enhancements for a better overall experience.
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't enhance the gaming experience.”
- “The audio quality is subpar, and the music doesn't match the game's atmosphere.”