{{Short description|Ice hockey video game}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox video game | title = NHL 26 | image = NHL 26 cover art.jpg | caption = Standard edition cover art featuring [[Florida Panthers]]' [[Matthew Tkachuk]] lifting the [[Stanley Cup]] | developer = [[EA Vancouver]] | publisher = [[EA Sports]] | series = ''[[NHL (video game series)|NHL]]'' | engine = [[Frostbite (game engine)|Frostbite]] | platforms = [[PlayStation 5]]<br />[[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]] | genre = [[Sports game|Sports (ice hockey)]] | modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] | released = September 12, 2025 }} '''''NHL 26''''' is an [[ice hockey]] [[simulation video game]] developed by [[EA Vancouver]] and published by [[EA Sports]].<ref name="Passey 2025">{{cite web |last=Passey |first=Taven |title=When Can You Play NHL 26? Full Early Access Guide |website=Esports Illustrated On SI |date=September 3, 2025 |url=https://www.si.com/esports/sports-games/when-can-you-play-nhl-26-early-access |access-date=October 25, 2025}}</ref> It is the 35th installment in the [[NHL (video game series)|NHL video game series]] and was released for the [[PlayStation 5]] and [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]] on September 12, 2025.<ref name="Passey 2025"/><ref name="EA NHL 26 Home">{{cite web |title=EA SPORTS NHL 26 Home |website=Electronic Arts |url=https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-26 |access-date=October 25, 2025}}</ref>
==Gameplay== The gameplay of ''NHL 26'' uses ICE-Q 2.0 technology, an evolution of the ICE-Q technology first implemented in ''[[NHL 25]]''. ICE-Q 2.0 incorporates NHL EDGE tracking data to inform player attributes such as skating acceleration, top speed, slap shot power, and wrist shot power. These data-driven attribute adjustments are applied to both user-controlled and AI-controlled players, with the intent of producing in-game behaviors and performance profiles that more closely resemble those of the corresponding real-world NHL players.<ref name="Passey 2025"/><ref name="Bengel 2025">{{cite web |last=Bengel |first=Chris |title=NHL 26 review: Goalie crease control, 'Be a Pro' mode helps EA Sports franchise remain as enjoyable as ever |website=CBS Sports |date=September 8, 2025 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/nhl-26-review-goalie-crease-control-be-a-pro-mode-helps-ea-sports-franchise-remain-as-enjoyable-as-ever/ |access-date=October 25, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Dator 2025">{{cite web |last=Dator |first=James |title=NHL 26 review: Is this year's game worth buying? |website=SB Nation |date=September 10, 2025 |url=https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/1079192/nhl-26-worth-buying-review-features |access-date=October 25, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NHL 26 Gameplay |website=EA SPORTS |url=https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-26/features/nhl26-gameplay-with-iceq2 |access-date=August 24, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
''NHL 26'' also revamps the Be A Pro game mode for the first time since ''[[NHL 21]]'', allowing players to start their Be A Pro career in the semi-finals of the [[IIHF World Junior Championship]], which will then determine the player's position in the [[NHL entry draft|NHL draft]].<ref name="Bengel 2025"/> The option to play in the [[Memorial Cup]] tournament or the [[Champions Hockey League]] tournament also still exists.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1958163007835406692 |user=Thrash94Gaming |title=EA confirming what I was getting hounded for saying yesterday<br /> World Juniors is an additional, not a replacement for the memorial cup<br /> #NHL26}}</ref> Once drafted, the player can build up to an [[National Hockey League|NHL]] superstar or get demoted to the [[American Hockey League|AHL]]. The game mode introduces voice acting by other NHL players, as well as new cutscenes, such as seeing your player in the NHL draft, tunnel walkouts, and a [[Stanley Cup]] celebration in the locker room.<ref>{{Cite press release |date=August 19, 2025 |title=NHL 26 Be A Pro Deep Dive |url=https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-26/news/nhl-26-be-a-pro-deep-dive |access-date=August 24, 2025 |website=www.ea.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | MC = (PS5) 73/100<ref name="MC PS5 Reviews">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nhl-26/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |title=NHL 26 (PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=October 25, 2025}}</ref><br>(XSXS) 70/100<ref name="MC XSXS Reviews">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nhl-26/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x |title=NHL 26 (Xbox Series X Critic Reviews) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=February 15, 2026}}</ref> | OC = 43% recommend<ref name="OC Reviews">{{cite web |url=https://opencritic.com/game/19071/nhl-26 |title=NHL 26 Reviews |website=[[OpenCritic]] |access-date=February 15, 2026}}</ref> | IGN = 6/10<ref name="IGN review">{{cite web |last=Deschamps |first=Marc |title=NHL 26 Review |website=IGN |date=September 12, 2025 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nhl-26-review |access-date=October 25, 2025}}</ref> }} ''NHL 26'' received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator [[Metacritic]],<ref name="MC PS5 Reviews"/> and 43% of critics recommended the game, according to [[OpenCritic]].<ref name="OC Reviews"/>
The player on the cover (Matthew Tkachuk) has received rippled backlash due to his support of [[Second presidency of Donald Trump|Donald Trump and his administration]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Granfors |first=Andreas |date=2026-02-25 |title=Matthew Tkachuk’s gesture to Donald Trump stuns fans |url=https://www.thehockeybeast.com/olympics-ice-hockey-men/matthew-tkachuks-gesture-to-donald-trump-stuns-fans/ |access-date=2026-05-21 |website=The Hockey Beast |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== <references />
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-26}}
{{NHL series}}
[[Category:2025 video games]] [[Category:EA Sports games]] [[Category:Electronic Arts games]] [[Category:PlayStation 5 games]] [[Category:Video games developed in Canada]] [[Category:Xbox Series X and Series S games]] [[Category:NHL (video game series)]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:EA Vancouver games]] [[Category:Video games set in 2025]] [[Category:Video games set in 2026]] [[Category:Florida Panthers]]