Parents' Guide to

NHL 24

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Very few new features, but on top of its game in the series.

Game Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Xbox One , PlayStation 4 2023
The cover art for NHL 24, featuring Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar. The photo shows the skater stopping in his tracks, with ice spraying around him.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

NHL 23</a>, players can choose to play as the IIHF Women's National Team -- and skate alongside men in the same squad. This adds greater diversity to the sport. Many real hockey players are White, but there's more racial diversity in the sport than in previous years (in real life, and as a result, in the games).</p> ">

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What’s It About?

Hockey fans can now lace up their virtual skates and step onto the ice in the latest NHL game from EA Sports. NHL 24 once again lets you play as or against National Hockey League teams, whether it's by yourself, with someone beside you, or online -- or you can create your own virtual pro in some modes. New this year is "Sustained Pressure" impact, which rewards offensive players for applying adrenaline-fueled pressure on the opposing team (by temporarily lowering the defensive teams' attributes), while "Goalie Fatigue" ensures the goalkeeper realistically loses some accuracy over several sustained shots (complemented by several dozen new player animations). Collectively referred to as its "Exhaust Engine," EA Sports says this was added to add more momentum, authenticity, and excitement to the game. Also new to NHL 24 are more goalie controls (including a handy slide mechanic) and other extra defensive maneuvers, tougher bodychecks, and new HUT Moments mode, as part of Hockey Ultimate Team, which challenges you to complete specific actions with certain players. Playable on Xbox One and Series S/X and PlayStation 4 and 5, NHL 24 now supports cross-platform play on the same-generation Sony and Microsoft consoles. So a PS5 player can engage in a game of HUT with someone on Xbox Series S/X. Despite better presentation in current-generation consoles, all four versions of NHL 24 look and play in a similar fashion.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

NHL 24 is fun, fast, and full of features. Problem is, it's just not that much different from NHL 23, or NHL 22 for that matter. So if it's been a few years since you've purchased an NHL game from EA Sports, you'll love this highly polished game -- but there's little reason to shell out $70 if you already own a recent version. Those familiar with the franchise will immediately notice the Exhaust Engine additions, especially in the boost that offensive players get when applying pressure on defensive, plus bodychecks are noticeably bigger -- including the ability to even smash the back glass on a well-timed hit. Many of the cutscenes and animations are the same as in previous years, but there are a few new moves and celebratory reactions that reward you for pulling off a great goal. Previously called the HUT Challenge mode, the new HUT Moments mode is fun to tackle, where you're tasked with performing specific moves, such as a "Top Shelf Goal" (score with the puck hitting one of the top corners of the net) or "Wraparound Shot" (skate behind the opposing team's net and shoot while coming back around to the front). Unfortunately, NHL 24 pushes players to spend real money on coins in the Hockey Ultimate Team mode, for card packs of better squads, which is a shame. Production quality is up in NHL 24, especially on Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5. Again, while there's certainly an element of déjà vu with NHL 24, you won't find a better hockey game, period. It's more than just a fresh coat of paint on an aging game, and the cross-platform play is welcomed across the board, but just don't expect anything wildly new or unique in NHL 24.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how NHL 24 is the newest release of the game series that comes out every year. Should EA Sports charge $70 per year for a game that's not too different from the annual version that came before it? Or should players not bother buying this every fall, like clockwork, and instead perhaps pay for it every few years?

  • While NHL 24 isn't too controversial, concerned parents of gamers should always read reviews of games at Common Sense Media -- which highlights any content tied to violence, sex, drug or alcohol use, strong profanity, and other topics -- before bringing the game into their home.

Game Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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