Watched someone play NHL14 today and something I noticed..........everything in the gameplay of NHL 26 looks and feels clunky.
From the skating animations, stick movements, hitting, passing, goalie animations, collisions.......sad to see how the series has fallen so hard. I used to play NHL games for HOURS on end. Now after 1 game I find it a chore.
I’d suggest actually going back and playing NHL 14. At first glance it feels smooth, sure but once you get your hands on it, you start to appreciate just how many layers of nuance have been added to the gameplay engine over the past 12 years.
NHL 26 is significantly more complex than ’14, and a lot of the perceived “downfall” of the series stems less from genuine gameplay failures and more from the increased responsibility the modern game places on players. That said, lingering bugs and a stale presentation certainly don’t help.
There are absolutely legitimate concerns out there, but there are also plenty of players who struggle with or simply don’t want to adapt to the added demands on both sides of the puck.
I did exactly that an played NHL 14 after not having fun with NHL 24. Than I tried 25 and played a bit with the gameplay sliders and started to love it. Other than tweaking the gameplay a bit really liked the far better skating and stickhandling which NHL 14 feels very much outdated at.
But the BAP mode was superior as you could play a full Junior season before draft and your draft rank changed over the year
"More complex" Another word for worse lol. Series has gone downhill so fast. NHL games used to be fun. Now it's all silly gimmicks and crappy, clunky looking gameplay that isn't close to realistic ha.
I have to admit that it took some time to get adjusted to the new gameplay after NHL 14. But in comparison the movements you are able to so is worth it.
But the balance of fun and realistic gameplay is tricky to manage.
"More complex" Another word for worse lol. Series has gone downhill so fast. NHL games used to be fun. Now it's all silly gimmicks and crappy, clunky looking gameplay that isn't close to realistic ha.
Lots of us have fun with the game. If you're not having fun, then maybe take a break?
Lol I don't see to many people that actually understand hockey, finding the NHL games fun.
Only people that seem to like are the fortnite type goofs and those who exploit the various issues in the game so they pretend they're good. Ask anyone with common sense and they'll tell you the games are bad 😂
Community ManagerThere are plenty of WoC 6s teams that understand hockey and exhibit that with how they play. It's truly where you see the most skilled people playing authentic hockey. Of course, there are those that abuse and exploit the game, but when you get the right people together, it's an amazing teamplay experience.
If you go for the quick wins there are exploits but if you play for the sake of beautiful plays and goals you are very much able to do that in NHL 26 as much as this is possible in a gamepad-based simulation.
Just play some offline-modes and play with the sliders. It will lead to more realistic gamesituations and fun.
Lol I don't see to many people that actually understand hockey
You’re confusing understanding hockey with being good at a hockey video game. The game isn’t a coaching clinic or a chalkboard exercise; it’s a system with rules, probabilities, and constraints. Plenty of people who “understand hockey” struggle because they refuse to adapt, while others who do adapt and win consistently may have never played the sport in their life.
The game rewards learning its logic, not flexing real-world credentials.
Only people that seem to like are the fortnite type goofs and those who exploit the various issues in the game so they pretend they're good.
If someone can play the game in a way that consistently produces results without altering the game code or utilizing actual bugs (remember: scoring consistently from high % scoring areas isn't a 'bug' or a 'cheat'), then they are good at the game. Too many people assume that real-world hockey knowledge should translate perfectly into a virtual environment. When an outcome goes against them, it immediately becomes “the game’s fault,” with no accountability taken—because they believe their hockey IQ is above reproach.
This is why you often hear people say, “I used to dominate, but this year’s game is broken because I can’t even put together two wins.” Their knowledge and past success carried them far enough to create a sense of elite skill. But when the core engine changes, adaptability becomes the real differentiator. Some players refuse to adjust and instead chase social media validation, hoping enough noise will pressure developers into changing systems they simply won’t learn to play around.
Ask anyone with common sense and they'll tell you the games are bad 😂
If the games were truly bad across the board, people wouldn’t still be putting hundreds of hours into them every year. Disliking outcomes or design choices doesn’t automatically mean the game itself is broken, it usually means it isn’t rewarding the way you want it to be rewarded.
No actually my point went entirely over your head. When I said people with any hockey knowledge know this game sucks, I mean it doesn't resemble NHL hockey at all haha. So nice try at being a smartass but you failed. If the game is SO good why do the numbers keep dropping in terms of sales? Ha! And exploiting a games issues doesn't make you a good gamer at all, actually the total opposite. It means your garbage.
Community Manager
