Nivek Cook

NHL 25 is a glaring example of a developer phoning it in year after year, offering nothing but the bare minimum under the guise of a “new” release. After nearly four years of stagnation, EA Sports has once again released a game that is virtually identical to its predecessor. The biggest issue? There is almost no effort put into improving or updating core game modes. **Be a Pro** mode, which has long been a fan favorite, remains utterly unchanged. It’s as if the developers didn’t even bother trying to make it feel fresh. The same old, uninspired mechanics are back, with no new additions or enhancements to keep it engaging. If you played NHL 24, you’ve essentially played NHL 25. While **Franchise mode** gets a couple of minor tweaks, they’re mostly cosmetic changes to the UI rather than meaningful improvements to gameplay or depth. These token gestures don’t add up to a better experience, and they certainly don’t justify the price of admission. At this point, NHL 25 feels like a cash grab, relying on minimal updates and misleading promises. If you're looking for something new, this isn’t it. EA Sports needs to take a hard look at its hockey franchise and realize that fans deserve more than rehashed content.