Hockey is a favored past-time that has been around since 600 B.C and has seen iterations all throughout the globe as it is depicted as one of the most popular sports of our modern era as a universally engaging medium for the graceful yet powerful team-based action.

Of course, this means that it has been presented on small screens, practically since the invention of video games themselves and the level of enjoyment has varied from a small amount of a challenging novelty to the intense simulation and realistic depiction that makes it almost (if not more) competitive than the actual sport itself.

Furthermore, hockey games are some of the most infamous among their fans (specifically the NHL fan base) as being highly debatable. Every gan has their own experience with their video games respectively.

Whether it is skating physics, the realism of being able to play as real-life legends, the satisfaction of scoring a goal or just the ability to recreate the bloody fights that occur on a normal base in the NHL, there is no limit to a number of aspects that these fans can argue.

So considering all these, along with presentation, legacy, popularity and sheer production value, these are the most notable hockey games that have ever existed in video game history, and for better or worse have left a notable impact on the extremely brutal sport and the way it is forever depicted from here on out as the medium keeps evolving.

15 Best: Saying Good-Bye To PS2 (NHL 2006)

via gamespot.com

Starting off with an instant classic for the hardcore fans of the NHL, this title from 2005 was intricately produced by EA when they were still taking the helm and trying to convince gamers of how much time and care was put into this game. The production team even cited the fan-favorite smash hit NHL ’94 (and even including the game on the PS2 version) as one of their biggest inspirations for this title, and it is clear in the crisp but simple controls that allow for a smooth skating and scoring experience that is hard to put down. Graphically this game was a huge step up for a promising era that was a glimpse into the simulation-type visuals of our future titles that have graced the next generation consoles.

14 Worst: Ruining The Sport (NHL Stanley Cup)

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This SNES title was an ambitious attempt at using the powerful new processors in Nintendo’s exciting new console but fell flat as a boring iteration of an otherwise exciting sport. What makes this game so boring is how brutally slow the game is, completely ignoring the fast-paced action that definitely would not be present in a real Stanley Cup showdown. It should be noted that this is one of the earliest console attempts at providing a “real” looking graphic engine but was hard to watch with all the clashing polygons and terrible ice skating physics. Clunky would not even begin to describe just how much of a muddled mess this shameful entry is, and how it got past debuggers should be a question to all.

13 Best: This Is What Hockey SHOULD Look Like (NHL 16)

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EA gets a lot of flak for their highly questionable business practices when it comes to their cash-grabbing method of releasing games, but after a disappointing year (This will be elaborated on soon) the franchise did a complete 180 and gave the fans exactly what they were craving. Boasting a striking similarity to the real-life counterpart, this is a feature heavy title that brought back some classic modes like Season Mode and a customizable Ultimate Hockey Team that makes this a really fun game to explore. Add in some satisfyingly responsive controls, an upgraded tutorial mode that helps transition new players to the game, this is a fun way to experience hockey if you can get past the lackluster online that is just better off unmentioned.

12 Worst: How Do You Mess U SOO Badly (NHL 15)

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Ah, this is the EA that has garnered that negative stigma from the video game community and alienates their fans by making terrible decisions that are easily avoidable. This game was severely lacking as it removed modes like Season Mode, GM Mode, and overall showed a lack of effort on the part of the developers as the game played like a slow-motion version of a real game. Of course, this game did look like it was made in 2014, but even some dazzling graphics could not hold back gamers from giving the developers a piece of their mind as they infamously reversed their decision with NHL 16 and returned the series to the roots that have made the franchise popular. NHL 15 was a step down of quality and gamers knew it, which may be one of the missteps that made EA wake up to their mistakes.

11 Best: We Used To Have Fun (Mutant League Hockey)

via YouTube.com (ShiryuGL)

Taking a wise side step from a number of games that were attempting their best at making a simulation game in a time where graphics were not up to speed with how the presentation of major hockey leagues, this game made a bold decision and drew respect from the player as a truly unique title. Offering monster-type creature teams and allowing for special abilities completely changed the way hockey was played. It was able to draw in gamers that were not familiar with the sport with the colorful graphics and easy-to-learn controls but never alienating fans of the sport by providing a truly fun immersion into this alternate world of hockey. While there may be some other notable Sega Genesis hockey games, this offbeat release still stands the test of time for many gamers.

10 Worst: ESPN SUCKS (ESPN NHL Hockey)

YouTube: John Godgames

ESPN should really stick to what they know, and that is presenting sports and not attempting to cash in on making second-rate titles that rarely satisfy gamers despite the attempts at a realistic simulation. What makes this PlayStation 2 title so disappointing is that fans were eager to see what ESPN was going to do with the NHL license and was excited to see how the PS2’s graphical capabilities would tie in with the game. What was released, however, did not go hand in hand with gamer’s expectation as they received a choppy camera, disastrous controls and a waste of a major sports license that could have gone to much better use. Otherwise simple tasks like merely keeping the players in camera become a pain for gamers, and the best part of this game was just turning it off.

9 Best: One More Match — Again (NHLPA 93)

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Fun, arcade-like, and debated as the better game between passionate gamers as better than the classic NHL 94. This Sega Genesis title was as smooth as it was iconic for many impressionable fans and while the latter holds its place as an iconic title, NHLPA 93 probably holds the title for best in-game fighting engine in a hockey video game. Sure, the skating was satisfying, the breakaways were powerful and the usage of real players was a huge bonus, but it is the detailed fighting that had players hooked. You could move, grab, punch and throw in this strangely addictive addition that is as unexpected as pleasant for fans of the sport. Sure it would have a strange rip-off of the Stanley Cup in place as its championship mode, but it was still a solid entry that is still talked about to this day for good reason.

8 Worst: Hockey. You've Heard Of It?? (Great Ice Hockey)

via YouTube.com Arthur D Wolfe)

The developers at Sega were a bit overzealous when they decided to title this game as “great” but one has to look at the game just to see how much of a terrible decision it was to give it such a title. Using the infamously unreliable Sega Sports Pad analog controller, this game was as hard to look at as it was to actually play as one would have to go through the hellacious task of finding a controller that actually works. Then the game featured a sickening set of color palettes that did not reflect the vibrant ice and colorful jerseys that are normally present in the sport. Add that with the disappointing 6 on 6 gameplay while the system only allows for 3 skaters to be controlled at a time and this comes out as a great mistake on Sega’s part.

7 Best: Things Were Simpler Back Then (NHL Hitz 2002)

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Brash, exciting, and visually entertaining, this loud exaggeration of NHL action was an attempt by touted arcade sports publishers Midway Games to recreate the legendary fun that NBA Jam was for a generation of basketball fans on the ice rink and give hockey fans that fast-paced action without holding back. This title is as edgy as its early 2000s pop soundtrack and was an important launch title for the Nintendo Gamecube, but still had its run as a famous game on the PS2 and Xbox. Make no mistake, this is a fondly remembered title for its 3-on-3 action that streamlines the rules of the game and relaxes the player into a hectic state of enjoyment. The presentation of this game is not realistic, but it is really addictive, and friendships could be made and broken with a few fast-paced games.

6 Worst: For Shame. ABSOLUTE SHAME. (ESPN National Hockey Night)

YouTube: 10 Min. Gameplay

As noted, ESPN really does not know how to make a game, and while ESPN NHL Hockey was already a sad display for the PS2, this precursor on the Super Nintendo should have been the beginning and end of the line of their attempts at reaching the video game foray. As would be the problem later on, the game features a terrible camera that wildly changes direction with the puck whilst ignoring the in-game players as gamers struggle just to figure out where their teammates are. The puck physics are wild, and breakaways are usually too difficult to control and result in an experience that is practically unplayable for gamers with even the most mundane standards of hockey games. Hockey fans that have not played this game are in a lucky majority as the game would go on to be completely overshadowed by better, faster, and more accurate hockey games.

5 Best: Suprise! Don't Knock It Till You Try (NHL Slapshot)

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In an era when the Nintendo Wii was having a fandom that was divided by the game’s controversial motion sensor controls as it made for a difficult transition for those accustomed to joysticks and buttons, this gimmicky title actually utilized the controls in a fun way that made a seamless approach to EA’s engine. Toning down the realism factor and downgrading the graphics to adhere to the Wii’s weak graphical capabilities, fans were untrustworthy of this game when initially being presented with the strange Wii controller accessory that essentially made it a small hockey stick. Of course, if the player can avoid smacking their friend with the motion controller, this allowed for an admittedly distinct difference between the other games on this list and was unfortunately never explored upon again.

4 Worst: It's Darkest Before The Light (Wayne Gretzky Hockey)

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Wayne Gretzky is one of (if not the most) legendary hockey players to ever lace up a pair of ice skates, but this game is just a disgrace to his great name and should have never been released to the public. Released on the NES by Bethesda Softworks (well before they would garner global recognition and fame for their stellar Fallout series) unceremoniously released this game that was meant for computer software like Mac OS, DOS, and Amiga on the famous home console to disappointing effect. Lacking in the crowd effects that are prevalent in almost every other iteration of the sport, and removing the character models of players in favor of small uncontrollable dots with arms, this is a game you would not want to play for longer than a few minutes before begging to switch.

3 Best: Now We're Cooking With Gas (NHL 17)

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This is it: the crowning achievement in decades of progression and an accurate representation of this majestic sport that is an absolute thrill to play that has almost no flaws that distract from the game’s excellence. NHL 17 is EA’s prime example of how they can take care of a franchise if given the time, as it stormed the shelves and instantly became beloved by NHL fans. It is beautiful, capturing the fast-paced action with grace and sounding like a true NHL broadcast with harrowingly accurate play-by-play commentary that makes it seem like the real thing during replays. Of course, the game handles like the hockey games of many fan dreams and is satisfying to play with an in-depth breakaway and faceoff animations, but does not detract first time players as it is not difficult to learn these smooth controls.

2 Worst: Don't Cry For Me (NHL Blades Of Steel)

YouTube: 10 Min. Gameplay

One of the most embarrassing usages of the NHL license, this attempt at reviving the original NES classic were thwarted when players were treated to this hideous rendition. Somewhere stuck between wanting to play like a simulation and an arcade, this mess just does not play right whatsoever and was probably best off just being left off shelves entirely. Players cannot go far before being knocked to the ground by slow-skating opposing players in a disruptive attempt to introduce violence as a part of the game's style, and trying to simply aim the puck is a daunting task. It does not help that the strange alien-looking character models are disgusting to look at, and at a time when the Dreamcast was boasting realistic graphics on NHL 2K, there was just no excuse for this awful title.

1 Best: The Original Winner (NHL 94)

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A pop culture icon, competitively viable, and an example of how to make the perfect hockey game that gave every developer a benchmark that still has not been reached today, it is the legendary NHL 94. Forever immortalized in Jon Favreau’s debut film Swingers, only the filmed reaction of competitive trash-talking from Vince Vaughn’s character could describe the sheer excitement that comes from playing this addictive game. From the vulgar fights that mimic real-life to the groundbreaking addition to bleeding in a sports game, and the heart-pounding pace of slick controls to the thrilling sounds of players grunting, referees blowing whistles and the crowd going nuts, this is the greatest hockey game of all time and its place at the top may never be dethroned.