NHL 20

NHL 20 is the best the series has been this console generation. Improving upon the changes made in NHL 19, the game has never felt better. The changes may seem subtle, but they really tighten up the gameplay enough for it to feel better than its predecessors. Besides the distracting scoreboard, the presentation has received the same treatment, truly immersing you in the action on the ice.

The presentation and animation take a small leap, and HUT seems slightly less grindy with the addition of Squad Battles and a more transparent model to receive card packs without being forced to spend real money. The new eliminator modes in CHEL are equally fun, but at the end of the day, this year doesn't feel as significant as the last. I'm curious where the franchise goes next year with the prospect of several new consoles on the horizon, but it has to step up things more than it currently does.

Not a milestone edition then, but even so this plays a more free-flowing style of hockey than ever before, bolstered by improvements to both skating and shooting – and the removal of the series’ dated NBC presentation feels like a breath of icy-fresh air. The looming presence of a new generation suggests more substantial changes must be on the way but until then, NHL 20 serves as a worthy culmination of the past few years.