NHL 19 Critic Reviews

You will find yourself fully immersed in your gameplay.

NHL 19 continues to refine its beloved sports title to a sheen. Game play feels fluid and responsive with next to nothing getting in its own way. NHL 19 sets a standard that most sports titles could learn from: fundamentals before flair.

Virtually everything about NHL 19 is a genuine step forward in quality. While some modes received the lion’s share of the attention, it feels like damn near everything received SOME love. If you have been on the fence, now is the time to lace up and hit the ice. We’ll see you between the pipes.

With every passing year, I’m consistently impressed how EA are able to improve on an already winning formula, making each new release of NHL a must own title, rather than a glorified roster update.

With newly added modes like World of CHEL and the inclusion of Real Player Motion, NHL 19 adds a new layer of polish onto last year's advancements in stick control and shooting. The end result is one of the best hockey games ever.

Besides some of the same nagging issues with the franchise, the portions that got upgraded truly shine. RPM Technology is no joke as the results are seen on the ice. Gameplay is fast and fun and the AI helps complete the experience. CEHL is extremely fun with a good bit of variety, but could use some more depth when compared to The ONE in NBA Live 19. The unified progression system that is here is quick and allows styles to be easily adjusted. Having 200 NHL Legends is fantastic if they were included in other ways outside of Ultimate Team. All the nitpicking gets thrown out the window once you hop on the ice, though, as NHL 19 is fun and exciting in action.

NHL 19 has something for everyone, packing tons of quality into its many fun and diverse modes.

By revamping its multiplayer efforts and focusing it in a hub that promotes creative expression (both cosmetically and through gameplay preferences), NHL 19 marks the best representation of simulation hockey video games this generation.

In sum, another year and another solid NHL release; it might not have enough to stir series veterans, although the inclusion of the World of CHEL and the Legends is certainly cool. Furthermore, the investment EA Canada has made to those who have long sat out on the series or always wanted to give it a shot is quite strong, so if you’re in that boat, NHL 19 may be what you’ve been waiting for.

NHL 19 still has its share of legacy issues that need attention, but the vastly improved skating and physics make this the best playing hockey game of the generation. The scouting system gives franchise mode a much-needed makeover, and while World of Chel feels like a half-built theme park right now, I’m excited about its future prospects. If you haven’t played an NHL game in a while, this is the year to jump back over the boards.

With all the new additions and expansions this year's version is one of the best in the entire series. It's even more than you've come to expect. This could very well become the ultimate ice hockey franchise next year if EA improves the dull commentary and ups the ante in the graphics department.

For one of the first times in recent years, the NHL series feels much more improved, with the World of CHEL mode proving to be a resounding success.

Kaleidoscope of available modes guarantees that everyone interested in hockey will easily find a way to enjoy NHL 19, whether they crave 15 minutes of accessible fun or prefer to dig into statistics and play whole seasons. Learning basics is easy, but if you want more (e.g. success in online modes) you will need patience and a lot of practice, as controls are deep and some tricks require uncommon skill.

NHL 19 is a great new chapter in the already glorious history of the EA IP. It succeeds in reinvigorating the gameplay on the ice, but something more could have been done off the rink (gameplay modes, matchmaking).

There are still things that need addressing, but NHL 19 is the best hockey experience I’ve had with the NHL franchise in the PS4 era.

Its inclusion of a myriad of different modes and customization add a depth that past installments were missing.

Generous content is the great strength of NHL 19. Unfortunately, it's not sufficient to overcome the lack of new gameplay mechanics or the graphic render and animation system, that would gain a lot from a switch to the Frostbite engine.

NHL 19 is no longer a party for a small audience, but a big event for all fans of hockey.

NHL 19 is not a perfect game - but for hockey fans it is pretty darned close.

Ice with style. NHL 19 is actually a very good sports game, but the microtransactions for the HUT mode are a scandal.