OS List: Your Top Three Hockey Games of All Time

Feature Article

Submitted on: 09/06/2012 by Jayson Young, Kelvin Mak, Glenn Wigmore

Jayson

1. NHL Hitz 20-03 (XBox) - The only part of NHL Hitz 20-03 that hasn't aged well is the dopey fighting engine, but truthfully, I don't think any hockey game has ever gotten fighting completely right. The hitting in Midway's three-on-three slamdance remains the most satisfying I have ever played in any hockey game.

2. Wayne Gretsky's 3D Hockey (N64) - Hitting arcades in October of 1996, Midway's 3D sequel to NHL Open Ice wowed sports fans by being the first hockey game to include polygonal player models. For me, the only thing missing from Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey (and its sequel) is the Nashville Predators, who wouldn't appear in any NHL video games until 1998.

3. NHL 94 (Genesis) - While some gamers prefer NHLPA Hockey 93 for its blood and fighting, all hockey fans can agree that the early editions of Sega Genesis hockey were some of Electronic Arts' finest efforts. The only reason NHL 94 isn't higher on my list is because I owned the Super Nintendo version growing up, which means I didn't get to experience the vastly superior Sega Genesis edition until a good five or six years after its release.

Kelvin Mak

1. NHL '98 (PC) - NHL 98, for me, was the special one. The graphics, for the time, were just stunning with 3d acceleration turned on (don't mean to brag, but I was one of those kids who had a Voodoo card.) From the realistic arenas with working jumbotrons, all the way down to the 3d puck itself-- it was beautiful. And of course, who could forget the mask viewer.

2. ESPN NHL 2K5 (PS2) - For twenty bucks, this game was a steal. Hell, even if it was full price, it'd still be right up here on the list. That's how good it was. Two things that made this game so addictive to play were the gameplay itself and the deep franchise mode. The AI--especially on the harder difficulties-- will give you a good run for your money.

3. NHL 08 (PS3/360) - Do I lose whatever street cred I have left now that I've chosen a game that's been released in last five years? It' Why NHL 08? Because it gave a glimpse of just what these then-newfangled machines could do.

Glenn Wigmore

1. Ice Hockey (NES) - While the current generation of hockey games is totally enjoyable, I'm inclined to go retro for one of the most memorable hockey games of all time: Ice Hockey on the NES. Even back in the early '80s, this game provided tons of charm, energy and entertainment for hours on end. Ice Hockey truly had it all back in the day, with catchy music that seemed to dynamically ramp up during play, fun presentation details like the crowd and zamboni (more than one, actually) and a fighting system that provided so much hilarity.

2. NHL 08 (PS3/360) - I'm putting NHL 08 here because of what I feel it meant for the current crop of hockey games. I think that not only did NHL 08 succeed at providing a really fun gameplay experience, but it truly showed what the next generation of hockey games would be all about. NHL 08 had a strong suite of modes and options, including online team play, which was something I had personally been waiting on for years.

3. NHL 96 (Genesis) - While NHL 94 was a great game, I think I actually played NHL 96 even more. You had 2 Unlimited's "Get Ready For This" pounding through the menus, a truly refined version of that 16-bit gameplay, as well as great touches like major and minor penalties, an awesome season mode and increased roster depth for the teams.

OS'ers, what are you three favorite hockey games of all time?

NHL 13 Videos

Member Comments

# 1 onac22 @ 09/06/12 03:54 PM

NHLPA 93 players heads would bleed.
Stanley cup hockey N64
NHL Faceoff playstation original

# 2 LAKingsGeek @ 09/06/12 03:55 PM

NHL 98 for PC. I too had a Voodoo 3D card. The game introduced real hockey strategies and had the best intro video of any sports game ever.

# 3 Semipro91 @ 09/06/12 03:57 PM

I would of put Blades of Steel on here, good list though. I just finished an NHL 94 Penguins Vs Kings game on My Super Nintendo. The REAL super Mario was dominant.

# 4 OliDegu2008 @ 09/06/12 04:06 PM

3) Blades of Steel
2) NHL Hitz 2003
1) NHL 94

# 5 keator @ 09/06/12 04:07 PM

Mutant League hockey for Sega was fun too, and yes blades of steel should be on this list.

# 6 onac22 @ 09/06/12 04:15 PM

I also remember converting my whole game via add-on in 98 to NCAA it had full rosters uniforms and goalie equipment. So 98 had the most options.

# 7 Dazraz @ 09/06/12 04:18 PM

NHLPA 93 set the standard in sports games at the time. A hockey game hasn't done that since for me.

# 8 chrisphil1724 @ 09/06/12 04:29 PM

1. NHL Hitz Pro (PS2) - The game was an excellent blend of arcade and simulation hockey that is still fun to play today. I remember it having great presentation for its day with replays of great saves almost every time you wanted to see them, great contextual animations, and amusing commentary from Tim Kutzrow and Harry Tienowitz. This was the first sports game I remember playing with the sliders to get the gameplay the way I wanted.

2. NHL 96 (Genesis) - In the Summers of Detroit as a kid, me and my friends did one of two things, the first was play street hockey and the second was play NHL 96. The gameplay was fast, fun and easy for everyone to play, it was easy to make ourselves and put us on the Red Wings and who needs in-game commentary when Jim from 3 houses down is doing the play-by-play? Who I ask you, who!?

3. NHL 09 (Xbox 360) � I lost a good 9 months of my life to the first year of the EASHL. Online team play was in NHL 08 the year before, but it was limited to 3 on 3 (later 5 on 5) player counts and you had to use real NHL players. Part sports game, part MMO, part RPG, the first year of the EASHL was a small peek of what online sports games would be in the years to come.

# 9 Sendak44 @ 09/06/12 04:40 PM

Wow, no Blades of Steel o_O

1 - Blades of Steel
2 - NHL 95
3 - NHL 98

# 10 bonannogiovanni @ 09/06/12 06:38 PM

I remember I bought a Voodoo graphics accelerated 3d video card( with a "massive" 4 MB memory) just for NHL98. The difference with software rendering was so staggering it mad me wow and drop my jaws, couldn't sleep that night just thinking about it.

But as far as top three concerns:

Consolewise
1) 2K10
2) 2K8
3) 2k6

PCwise
1)NHL99
2)NHL96
3)NHL98

# 11 ericromain @ 09/06/12 06:43 PM

I'll try to rank them based on how happy i was at the time.

1. NHLPA '93 : I was just 2 years into being a hockey obsessed youngin' . Christmas '92 morning getting that Genesis and getting to play as all my favorite red wings. Blew me away.
2. Blades of steel : The music, the sounds, finally getting good enough to win the tournament and see that sweet montage. Great game.
3. NHL09. This was the year where the series balanced the skill stick's offensive prowess with solid defense, plus they toned down one timers so online play rewarded you for playing with a strategy other than skate to corner - set up one timer. I was also unemployed so i got pretty decent at it.

# 12 bad_philanthropy @ 09/06/12 06:50 PM

1)NHL 10
2)2k6
3)NHL '98

# 13 unfriendlyghst @ 09/06/12 07:56 PM

Blades of steel-NES
Ice hockey-NES
NHL 94-Genesis

# 14 statnut @ 09/06/12 09:23 PM

NHL 95: First NHL game that had trades, create-a-player and end of season awards, plus a season mode. I believe NHL 94 was just playoffs.

NHL 09: The EASHL is, in my opinion, the best thing to happen to sports games in the last decade.

NHL Stanley Cup: I remember this game blowing my mind at the time. The visuals, season mode and post-game wrap up were awesome.

Blades of Steel was a close 4th though.

# 15 nbman @ 09/06/12 10:10 PM

1. 2k10 on 360 (still playing)
2. Nhl 94 on genesis
3. NHL09 played two full seasons of BAP as Defence.

# 16 adayinthelife @ 09/06/12 10:16 PM

Tough list.

NHL 94 - nothing really needs to be said.
NHL 2k3 - the broadcast cam and puck physics at the time just blew me away.
NHL 2004/09 - spent a lot of time with these two, too hard to pick one.

# 17 savoie2006 @ 09/06/12 10:48 PM

Super Nintendo era: NHL 96

PS2 era: NHL 2K5

PS3 era: NHL 13 (I honestly believe this will be the best overall EA Hockey game yet).

# 18 Pezell04x @ 09/06/12 10:56 PM

NHLPA 93 for Sega
NHL 95 for SNES
NHL 02 for PC (when I first started making addons)

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

# 19 gopher_guy @ 09/07/12 12:51 AM

1. NHL 13

# 20 gigadkc @ 09/07/12 09:43 AM

NHL 96. That was my very first NHL game and I really played it every day for 2-3 years.

« Previous12 Next »

More Links