I like hockey and the NHL series, but I’m not the kind of person who plays every single installment. Instead, I tend to come back every few years, which honestly seems like the most sensible approach. The subsequent entries rarely bring any major revolutions, but at this point, what else could they realistically reinvent? For the most part, each new installment is about polishing the existing formula and refining the smaller details. NHL 27 is no exception.

The game is built around several familiar modes. Be a Pro lets you create a player and follow their career, while Franchise Mode offers an offline management experience, now featuring an expanded contract negotiation system. Connected Franchise brings that concept online with leagues for up to 32 players, letting you manage clubs, trade players, and compete through full seasons. Hockey Ultimate Team revolves around building the strongest possible squad using player cards, while World of Chel is the place to go for quicker online matches.

A hockey puck’s perspective.

Year after year, the series continues to improve its player AI. Compared with installments from just a few years ago, the difference is noticeable, with players now behaving much more naturally on the ice. Of course, the AI still has its occasional mishaps. Computer controlled players sometimes skate straight into the boards, for instance, then spend an awkward moment shuffling in place before they “realise” what they’re doing. Thankfully, these incidents are much less frequent now, and overall, things are clearly moving in the right direction.

Both the players and arenas also look remarkably realistic. Each of the 32 arenas now has its own distinct atmosphere and identity, enhanced by dedicated lighting effects, real songs played after goals, fan chants, and even mascot animations. These details go a long way towards making individual venues feel like actual home arenas rather than interchangeable backdrops.

The players and the ice look gorgeous.

I’ve always loved the hazy reflections of the arena lights on the ice, as well as the way the pristine surface gradually gets carved up by skates throughout a match. It’s pure poetry. Visually, NHL 27 delivers exactly what I expected from the series. There are still a few things to nitpick, particularly the crowds, which you’re forced to stare at during just about every cutscene. They look somewhat generic and still rely on dated animations and facial expressions, but it’s hardly a major issue.

Hockey has never been a subtle sport, and players certainly don’t hold back when throwing themselves into the action. Naturally, the right playlist is essential, and the developers haven’t disappointed on that front either. This year’s soundtrack features bands such as Pantera, KISS, and Nickelback, alongside several groups I wasn’t previously familiar with. I ended up liking some of their songs enough that I’ll be adding them to my own playlist.

Watch where you put your elbow.

There’s one more important aspect of NHL 27’s sound design worth mentioning. Starting with this installment, EA Sports has introduced AI assistance for the commentary, which features John Buccigross and Darren Pang behind the microphones. From what I understand, AI helps select and combine recorded lines to better match what’s happening on screen, making the commentary sound more natural and spontaneous. It also assists with the pronunciation of players’ names. Importantly, all of this was done with the commentators’ consent.

To my ears, the results sounded completely natural. Had I not read about the technology beforehand, I wouldn’t have suspected that AI played any role in the commentary. I would have had a much bigger problem with this approach if EA had simply replaced the real commentators with AI generated voices, but that isn’t what’s happening here.

“It’s in the game.”

I don’t know whether hardcore fans who play every single installment will be satisfied with this year’s entry. What I do know is that, from the perspective of someone who returns to the series only every few years, NHL 27 is in a pretty good place. There’s plenty of content to sink your teeth into, while its visual and audio presentation remains as impressive as ever. NHL 27 doesn’t reinvent the hockey puck, but it doesn’t really need to. For someone like me, it’s a solid and polished return to the ice, offering enough improvements to make those few years away feel worthwhile.

NHL 27 is available now on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Reviewed on PS5.

A copy of NHL 27 was provided by the publisher.