NHL 23 Reviews
New animations help NHL 23 make steps toward greater authenticity but the series still needs a major overhaul.
Ultimately, NHL 23 feels like NHL 22; it's just more of the same, better in spots and worse in others.
NHL 23 is NHL 22 with but some presentation polish and international women's teams. It stands as the most obvious current example on next gen of why some sport titles may be better served updated versus re-released when so little new. NHL superfans will no doubt purchase without a thought due to roster updates. Casual ones should consider staying put or at a reduced price. The accompanying review score is a reflection of this reality, as ratings take into account changes – or lack thereof – from NHL 22.
It would be easier to view NHL 23 favorably if it was merely a gameplay update of NHL 22, but as its own standalone release, whether intentionally or not, it serves as a good argument for implementing a subscription model rather than sticking with an annual release cycle that will produce something this similar. Everything that happens on the ice is a little slicker thanks to new animations and better physics, while the game's improved AI immediately boosts the appeal of playing franchise mode. World of Chel remains one of the best online sports experiences out there, especially if you have some friends to play with on a team together, and they've injected some variety into the kinds of players you can create. Delayed or missing features like cross-platform play, franchise strategies, and pregame presentation make for some major letdowns at launch. Integral modes like Be A Pro and Hockey Ultimate Team are prime examples of just how little has changed from NHL 22 to NHL 23.
NHL 23 is a good if not revolutionary entry into an already commendable simulation sports game. It might not bring anything new to the ice, but it builds on the already pretty precise gameplay and its additions to the current modes make it a very solid entry to the series.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Now fans are quick to call a new game a copy of the last game with 5 points added on to the end. NHL 23, is probably one of the first that I can say would deserve that honor. As a longtime player of the franchise, I’m a bit taken back. Gameplay-wise I would recommend the game, I feel they’ve made a bunch of minor improvements to keep it fresh with the biggest being the Last Chance Puck Movements. But with little to no improvement in most game modes. If you already have NHL 22, I would wait until NHL 23 is on sale before I get it.
NHL 23 has a few nice additions, but they quickly wear thin. There's nothing of substance, except perhaps yet another year of the same grind in HUT to eventually get a team together that is worthy of competition by the time the next installment skates around. That doesn't seem appealing to me, and unless you've already skipped several years' worth of NHL entries, NHL 23 isn't worth the full asking price.
The new hockey season may or may not satisfy the players. It depends on which previous edition you last played and what you actually expect from the game.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
NHL 23 is packed with modes and content that should impress almost any hockey fan, even if some of the technical elements could use a sprucing up. But in a world where NHL 22 exists, there are just far too few additions and improvements to recommend this year's game for returning players.
NHL 23 review for PlayStation, Xbox As solid as NHL 23 is, it's hardly a must-play game if you have any previous entries in the series. Given that year(s)-old sports games tend to be pretty inexpensive, that makes it hard to justify buying this one new when you?ll get basically the same experience buying a game from last year or the year before. Don?t get me wrong, you'll get a very well-made game if you do decide you need all the latest rosters and draft classes, but it's up to you to decide how badly you need those things.
The NHL 23 review has been on my mind ever since I first started seeing the adverts for the game. I have written the NHL review for the last few iterations of this game, and I always find myself eagerly awaiting the next round of challenges. For this NHL 23 review, I have focused mainly on the HUT gaming option, but more on that shortly. The reason why I chose to focus on the HUT gaming mode is that NHL 23 is a vast game, offering a lot of different game modes. For my NHL 22 review, I focused on Franchise Mode. These games are largely carbon copies, with the focus mainly placed on improving the technical side of things. Therefore, to keep them fresh, I opted for a different focal point for this review.
I don't believe NHL 23 is the must-have annual edition that hockey fans absolutely need. Without diminishing the importance of the addition of women to the game, there's too little other new features. Furthermore, there's a lot of little annoyances that undermine the experience.
Review in French | Read full review
Fans of the series will definitely like NHL 23, whether it's the involvement of women's hockey or some small news. However, if you don't need to invest in a new edition, NHL 22 will suffice.
Review in Czech | Read full review
A year after a respectable release in NHL 22, 23 seems to have way more bugs than its predecessor and a gameplay meta that is just too much of a slog to enjoy.
NHL 23 finally looks and feels like a next-game game, with welcome improvements in graphics, animation and gameplay. Unluckily, though, some modes - like the Be a Pro campaign - were left untouched compared to last year's edition, while the Ultimate Team mode feels way too microtransactions-based.
Review in Italian | Read full review
EA Sports NHL 23 is the safest and most minimally upgraded entry they’ve ever done in the series.
NHL 23 is another solid outing of EA Sports Hockey-Series. The gameplay sees minor improvements, that actually makes NHL 23 surpass ist predecessor. But overall the lack of real innovation is missing and therefore experienced players may give this one a pass.
Review in German | Read full review
It’s a fair complaint to make that EA Sports’ NHL series has rested on its laurels and has little reason to innovate with no competition. However, EA Vancouver has made a number of small tweaks that make NHL 23 an improvement, even if fans are still waiting for a larger overhaul that takes advantage of the greater horsepower on modern systems.
NHL 23 looks great, is fun as hell, features a ton of modes, and will set you back $70 at the time of launch. If you’re a big fan of the sport, and especially if you’re into the Hockey Ultimate Team mode then this latest entry is worth getting. For others, especially on Xbox if you have Game Pass Ultimate, use your 10-hour trial and try before you buy.