After several years of watching hockey exclusively during the Stanley Cup Finals, I became a true hockey fan last year. I watched the Boston Bruins’ opening game against the Chicago Blackhawks last October and have only missed a handful of Bruins games since then. I spent my birthday at the Hub on the Causeway, watching the Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in a hard-fought shootout win. But it’s not just about the Bruins: I’m absorbed by the National Hockey League. I still am. Somewhere in the middle of the NHL season, I put on my first pair of hockey skates and took to the ice myself. Ten months later, I’m on a beer league team and playing hockey at least twice a week. I fell in love with the complexity of hockey: it is both elegant and gritty, subtle yet distinct. Hockey is a attractive game.
However, there’s one part of hockey culture I haven’t touched yet: Electronic Arts’ annual NHL video games – the latest of which is NHL25which was released on October 4 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles. And it makes sense, because the game is not the least bit beginner-friendly. You’re thrown into the game and its complicated user interface, with little instruction on where to start, let alone how to play. I understand why this is; I don’t get the impression that tons of brand recent gamers buy every installment of the NHL games that come out every year like other EA Sports games, usually with iterative changes and incremental visual improvements.
But at the same time, interest in hockey is at an all-time high: TV viewership increased, arena attendance increased and revenues reached high levels highest everAccording to the Associated Press, the value is estimated at $6.2 billion. NHL vice president of business development Kyle McMann said they are seeing an influx of “female fans, diverse female fans” watching hockey games. This interest and development also extends to playing the sport. The AP reported in 2024 that youth participation in ice hockey in the United States (though it’s worse in Canada) with an increased emphasis on attracting recent players, especially those from marginalized communities. Hockey programs in North America they report an escalate in the number of girls playing the game. USA Hockey Reports that over the last 15 hockey seasons across the United States, there has been a 65% escalate in girls’ participation. If there was ever a time to welcome a recent generation of hockey fans and integrate them into the sports video game community, now is the time.
But NHL25 this is not a game where you can do that. This isn’t a bad game – on the contrary, it’s a good game! — but it’s not a game easily accessible to recent players. While there is no dedicated tutorial, there are systems to assist players learn the game’s controls, such as the on-ice trainer. This mode, which can be turned on and off along with several other accessibility options, adds several UI elements that remind you which buttons do what at the right moments, as well as highlighting players you should consider defending against or areas of ice that must be protected. For example, when you have a good passing opportunity, an icon will appear above your player’s head. When the puck is dropped into center ice, an icon will tell you when to react. And if you’re playing as a right winger in a defensive zone, the ideal area of ice you should be playing on will highlight and the game interface will show you the player you want to defend. The training tool is most helpful with basic strategy and positioning if you need it. However, what I found most tough was getting used to the controls; specifically, knowing exactly what I want to do in the game, but not knowing what controls will get me there. Once you learn the controls, you’ll start playing hockey NHL25 I feel fine. The pace of the game is appropriate and there is plenty of room for strategy and skill moves.
I felt very offended when my Be A Pro player was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens
After spending a few hours in Be A Pro, a story campaign where you start as a junior hockey player or aspiring hockey player and work your way up to the massive leagues, I stopped being frustrated and started having fun. Once you have mastered the basic building blocks, there is room to pay attention to some tips; now that I know how to shoot and pass, I can try uncomplicated skill moves like punches, poke throws, or stick lifts.
Be A Pro doesn’t seem to be much different from what came before NHL24, according to more experienced playersbut this is the best introduction to the game NHL25 has to offer. I appreciate all the little details you can change about your character. I can play as a woman even though I participate in traditionally male leagues such as the Canadian junior Western Hockey League and the NHL. I can also employ clear tape to secure the shin guards in exactly the same way I do in the locker room. Hockey gear and how you wear it can be very personal, and EA understands that. Either way, Be A Pro has proven to be the best way to get into the low stakes game NHL25 as a novice, combining delicate management, team dynamics and playing time. (However, as a Bruins fan, I was offended when my Be A Pro player was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens.)
In addition to Be A Pro, there is a franchise mode for players who are interested in running a team from a management perspective as well as hitting the ice. It seems to include more management elements, allowing you to negotiate contracts, make roster changes, manage the arena, talk to managers and coaching staff, analyze statistics and, of course, playing time. The difference between Franchise and Be A Pro is that you play as an established team, managing both NHL and AHL divisions, rather than as an individual player. The change of perspective from Be A Pro to Franchise mode is compelling, but I personally don’t see myself playing it much; I’m less interested in building a team as a CEO and more focused on fantasy I playing in the massive leagues.
World of CHEL, which is a kind of online arcade mode NHL25this is probably the funniest of anything I’ve tried. (I didn’t try playing the separate Hockey Ultimate Team mode, where you build teams from unlockable cards.) This mode is basically a battle pass arcade game where you play by different sets of rules (e.g. three on three) to unlock equipment and build a player.
Photo: Electronic Art
My best moments in NHL25 I’m just getting my player out on the ice; I don’t need all this extra stuff around him. I like the look of the game and the way players move around the ice. You can see that every effort was made to make sure everything was good. But this is what I like the most NHL25 is that as a beginner hockey player, I feel like I’m learning a lot about the game of hockey.
Yes, I watched a lot of it and took classes, but NHL25 it forces me to think about positioning in unique ways and directly see how my body and skills affect the players around me. Top-down perspective NHL25 provides a more complete coverage of the playing area than I would have gotten from league matches or training sessions I have attended. Thanks to what Electronic Arts calls Ice-Q, its recent hockey artificial intelligence program, the overhead graphic looks like my personal coaching board: OK, if this player moves into this zone, I have to move here, otherwise I risk giving the other team a chance to score. And AI players respond to me the same way. Positioning and strategy feel like they naturally adapt to what’s happening on the ice. This is an crucial reminder of something I always remind myself of: if you only chase the puck – looking down – you’re going to have a bad time.
What I’ve learned as an adult when trying to learn recent things (I took a beginner’s swimming course a few years ago when the lifeguard suggested that I should also stay away from the deep areas at the local pool) is that a little effort it’s okay. I think that’s why I was able to get rid of the frustration NHL25no tutorial or introductory mode. Despite the steep learning curve for a novice, NHL25 fits naturally into my little hockey world.
NHL 25 was released on October 4 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The game was played on Xbox Series X using a download code provided by Electronic Arts. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased through affiliate links. Additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy can be found here.
