That said, we were disappointed with the game when it launched, as we felt it offered a lack of meaningful changes compared to NHL 22. “It’s staggering how little has been done with NHL 23 to differentiate it from last year’s edition,” we wrote in our NHL 23 PS5 review. “Bugs that should have long been quashed remain, Be A Pro continues to be littered with spelling errors, championship banners in arenas are as far behind as half a decade, and the list goes on.” Not great.
We did have some positive things to say, though: “Despite all that, women being integrated into HUT and desperation plays are welcome improvements, as is the overhaul of rink atmosphere. Ultimately, while NHL 23 isn’t a step backward per se, the move forward is so small, so minuscule, that it may as well not have moved at all.” Still, worth a look if you’re an EA Play subscriber, eh?