NHL 21

GamesRadar+

Rob Dwiar·Oct 27, 2020

Critic70/100

Agreement—

NHL 21 is the best hockey game around by default – but it seldom genuinely stands out from this generation's pack.

Polygon

Samit Sarkar·Oct 22, 2020

Critic—

Agreement—

Confounding design decisions limit the long-term appeal

Push Square

Graham Banas·Oct 22, 2020

Critic70/100

Agreement—

NHL 21 is absolutely a step forward. We won't be able to see if this improvement is a one-time thing until next year, but as it stands, this final release of the generation is also its best in that span. With a long-overdue update to the Be a Pro mode, alongside the pretty fun HUT Rush and the changes to Franchise, the series took a bigger step forward than it normally does. Sure, there's a give and take quality to many of the alterations, but the overall product is a net positive. It won't be scooping up an endless stream of awards any time soon, but this series has been in far worse shape in the past.

IGN

Chase Becotte·Oct 16, 2020

Critic60/100

Agreement—

Arcade goodies mashed together with legacy issues that span an entire console generation.

GameSpot

Eddie Makuch·Oct 16, 2020

Critic90/100

Agreement—

EA's NHL 21 is a success thanks to its improved story mode, exciting new skill moves, and excellent controls.

Game Informer

Kimberley Wallace·Oct 16, 2020

Critic75/100

Agreement—

For now, NHL 21 gets the job done, especially if you want to play a fancier, flashier game.