Was NHL 23 as bad as the reviews say?

NHL 23 struggled to meet the sales of its biggest rival, FIFA, but this doesn't mean the sport doesn't translate well into the gaming sphere. The sales could be attributed to a direct shift to mobile gaming over the last few years.

In 2023 alone, the online gaming market will reach $26.14 billion, and with Sony and Xbox shifting multiple teams into mobile game development, the CAGR will only grow larger.

With online gaming by Royal Panda – among other organizations – steadily gaining more players, EA Sports may attempt to narrow down its own market and move where the players are going.

It's still the best Ice Hockey-themed video game on the market, and while not everyone was impressed, others have enjoyed playing the game frequently from their preferred gaming device.

What are the best Ice Hockey-themed games in the history of video games?

Over the past thirty years, many video game publishers have released various NHL Ice Hockey games, some of which were far more memorable than others.

Some of the most popular Ice Hockey video games over the past few decades include the following hit titles:

• NHL 22 (2021)

• NHL 2004 (2003)

• NHL 11 (2010)

• NHL 07 (2006)

• NHL 09 (2008)

• NHL '94 (1993)

• NHL Hitz 2003 (2002)

• NHL 2002 (2001)

• NHL 99 (1998)

• NHL 08 (2007)

Other hit titles include NHL 14 (2013), Blades of Steel (1987), NHL Legacy Edition (2015), NHL Hockey (1991), NHL 12 (2011), NHL 16 (2015), and NHL 2K7 (2006), to name just a few.

iGaming software providers and market-leading game development studios, such as Microgaming (which was acquired by Games Global in May 2022), have also released several feature-rich Ice Hockey-themed slots.

Examples include the original Break Away online slot and the three sequels to this hit game – Break Away Deluxe, Break Away Lucky Wilds, and Break Away Ultra.

These games can all be accessed from any reliable smartphone (iOS, Windows and Android devices), laptop, desktop computer, or tablet with a stable Wi-Fi/internet connection, providing you are at least 19 years old.

To play any of these famous Ice Hockey themed slots in certain US states where players are legally permitted to play at licensed casino sites, the minimum age is 21. In the United Kingdom and most other regions of the world, it's just 18.

When will NHL 24 be released, and will it be better than NHL 23?

The latest instalment in the NHL video game series, NHL 24, will likely be released simultaneously across multiple consoles in October 2023. Most Xbox and PlayStation fans who enjoy playing games from this series will be hoping this hotly anticipated new instalment will break the mould and leave them drooling.

Players have asked for improved gameplay modes, enhanced features, and better graphics and 3D-rendered animated sequences. It could be the best NHL Ice Hockey-themed video game ever released. We will just have to wait and see.

While you're waiting for this game to arrive, don't forget to check out some of the other popular Ice Hockey video games mentioned above.

If you can't wait to see what the 38th edition in the EA Sports Ice Hockey video game series looks like, several people with early access to the game have already posted video reviews on YouTube and other video-sharing sites, so don't forget to check out the videos.

The good news is that many of these video reviews already seem to be on the positive side, and they can't wait for it to arrive.