Introduction to NHL Gaming

Electronic Arts Sports (EA Sports) develops and produces an ice hockey video game yearly, with NHL 23 being the current one. It offers a variety of game modes for users to play and engage with. This article summarizes most of these modes.

As the Gaming Site is new on The Hockey News, we recognize that not everyone has access to or has been exposed to NHL gaming. 

Think of hockey except in a video game. Electronic Arts Sports (EA Sports) develops and produces an ice hockey video game yearly, with NHL 23 being the current one. 

EA NHL games offer a plethora of ways to play the game. Players can play online in several ways, including head-to-head and co-op multiplayer game modes. This article aims to give a broad overview of some prominent modes in EA NHL games. 

Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) allows users to create and manage their own teams. Users can add, remove, sell, and buy players past and present. For example, users can have players like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux on their teams! They can also add players from other leagues, including the AHL, OHL, QMJHL, WHL, and more.

HUT also offers a variety of customization tools. For instance, users can assign captaincy roles to their favorite cards, adjust player jersey numbers, and change goalie masks. Users can also select their own logo, jerseys, and arena for their team brand.

HUT offers several playable modes within it. Online Head-to-Head modes in HUT include HUT Champions and Rivals, where users work towards various rewards to continue building and upgrading their teams. HUT also offers several modes for users who prefer to play against artificial intelligence (AI), including HUT Challenges and Squad Battles. HUT rush is a hybrid of both online and offline.

HUT thus offers access to unique and creative ways of engaging with the sport beyond just gameplay. For those who have wanted to build and play with a fantasy team, then this mode is for them. Lastly, it is also important to note that the annual EA SPORTS NHL World Championship hosted by the NHL and produced by DreamHacks is offered and played through HUT.

World of Chel is a broad online mode where users create characters and compete against others. Users can join or create an EA Sports Hockey League (EASHL) Club with friends and compete against others. In traditional six versus six gameplay (6v6, 6s), each player is controlled by one human player. This gameplay style brings the most authentic and closest experience to real-life hockey, as users have to be able to play as a unit with their specific responsibilities depending on their position in mind.

Within EASHL, competitive Seasons are offered throughout the year for clubs to participate in. Users are rewarded for how well they do in seasons, with various traits and abilities designed to bolster character attributes. Rewards include unique team customization tools, including new and bigger arenas, logos, and more. Important to note that in addition to Seasons, many competitive 6v6 eSports tournaments hosted by various NHL and third-party organizations are played via club matchups.

WOC also offers other modes. In the three versus three mode (3v3, 3s) called Threes Eliminator, users are tasked with eliminating other teams via an arcade simulation tournament. Ones Eliminate is a similar concept, except users are independently tasked with winning three back-to-back rounds to be declared the winner. Drop-in allows users to get into a 3v3 or 6v6 game quickly, play casually for fun, and continue upgrading their characters.

WOC also offers a plethora of customization tools. Users can edit their characters' biographical information, physical appearance, presentation (e.g., goal celebration, introduction animation), and behavior (e.g., shot and skating styles). Users can adjust their character's clothing and equipment through in-game preexisting lists and rewards.

EA Sports Hockey League Clubs can access more customization tools for their team branding than HUT. For example, in addition to access to a more extended selection of preexisting team jerseys, logos, and arenas, club managers and owners can also edit their team's branding down to the texture of the colors. This includes all aspects of the club, including the logo, jerseys, and the arena.

For those who want an immersive and truly authentic hockey experience where competing with and against a group of friends is the goal, World of Chel is where it is all at.

Every passionate hockey fan has dreamed about playing in the NHL. Others might be curious about what being part of an NHL club at every stage of one's career might look like. Be a Pro Career mode is designed to offer users access to said questions. In this mode, users play through an NHL career with their created characters. They navigate storylines, work towards achieving various milestones, and break historical records. The player progression system includes attributes, traits, and abilities that are generally the same as in WOC.

In Franchise Mode, users are responsible for all aspects of the NHL organization they chose or the club they created. This includes taking on management duties, including signing, waiving, and trading players. In Franchise mode, users also have control over the league structure, which means they can adjust the season length, playoff structure, and more. An exciting implementation in NHL 23 was the addition of custom leagues and roster sharing.

For those who want an immersive experience from an ownership and managerial standpoint or wish to recreate historic leagues or novel and fictitious rosters, Franchise Mode provides an avenue to explore those interests.

For those who want to take a more straightforward approach, preferably focusing on games, then Season Mode and Playoff Mode are a couple to consider.

The Champions Hockey League, Spengler Cup, and IIHF tournaments are also accessible for users who want to take over and play as teams under each league or tournament.

Online Versus is traditionally an online one versus one mode (1v1, 1s), although it can also be played cooperatively. It provides easy access to those who wish to get into a quick game using current NHL teams and rosters. Other leagues and rosters are also accessible in this mode. Important to note that many 1v1 eSports Chel tournaments are played via Online Versus (e.g., Bolts Chel Challenge, hosted by the Tampa Bay Lightning). Play Now is a similar mode for those who wish to play an offline head-to-head match.

Shootout Mode is another head-to-head mode that provides a fun experience for those who wish to go against an AI or human-controlled goalie. For those looking to create highlight reel goals against a friend, Shootout Mode is one mode that provides easy access to do so.

To learn more about the new features and game modes in NHL 23, visit https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/news/game-modes-deep-dive.