Ice hockey fans are a passionate lot, regularly debating key issues around the sport and illustrating their undying love for their respective sides on a regular basis. The average hockey lover tucks into the odd hockey gaming release, too. Over the years, many of the NHL video games from this particular genre have enabled fans to play with their favorite stars or silence a sibling in a multiplayer thumping.

The ice hockey gaming genre has always been filled with a detailed selection of titles, with the odd memorable release coming to the fore. Over the years, some ice hockey-themed titles have even made lists featuring some of the best all-around games ever made, although these days the offering isn’t as detailed.

Popular choices from today include NHL 21 and the Break Away Lucky Wilds slot, a casino game where players can win real money. It’s the classic options from back in the day that live long memories of many ice hockey fans, though. Some titles provided fans with the ultimate ice hockey gaming experience, with certain hit releases accompanying many through their childhood. Below we remember some of them.

NHL Hitz

Hockey is a game of great skill and technique on the whole, but it also requires a good amount of solid hitting and bravery. Thankfully, past releases like NHL Hitz provided fans of the sport with the opportunity to master exactly that. An arcade-style game, NHL Hitz was filled to the brim with hitting and physicality, with the additional option of powering up certain players going down a treat too. NHL Hitz wasn’t as realistic as many other releases, but it certainly provided healthy amounts of fun. 

NHL Blades of Steel ’99

The first hockey game ever to be released on the N64, NHL Blades of Steel ’99 offered colourful graphics and analogue stick controls, which hadn’t really been seen before. The result of which was an authentic gaming experience and a hugely entertaining game to session with friends and family.

NHL ’94

Regarded by many as the best ice hockey game ever made, NHL ’94 is a sports-themed release that captivated audiences outside of the sporting genre too. With an array of standout features and an offering ice hockey fans, in particular, will never forget, NHL ’94 is a true masterpiece from this particular genre. The realistic organ music was excellent, and the new game modes like playoffs, best-of-seven playoffs and a shootout mini-game elevated the title to new heights. If you’re a grey-haired hockey fan, you’ve probably played NHL ’94 in your time. 

NHL 2K2

Not every NHL 2K game necessarily hit the mark, but there’s no disputing that NHL 2K2 did. For its time, the graphics and all-around gameplay had never really been done previously. The realistic roster serving was a lovely touch also, likewise was its slowed-down gameplay. In terms of providing fans with a realistic take on ice hockey, the makers of NHL 2K2 absolutely nailed it. That can’t necessarily be said of other titles bearing a similar name, can it? 

Blades of Steel

An entirely fictional release in terms of the players featured in the game, Blades of Steel is still an impossible title to forget from the ice hockey gaming space. Ahead of its time in some aspects – namely the graphics and fast-paced action – Blades of Steel was a joy to play with its arcade-style offering, and the endless amounts of fighting it served up. You never got bored playing Blades of Steel, that’s for sure.

John Smark