Every EA Sports NHL Video Game in Order: Complete List Through NHL 26

The main EA Sports NHL series runs from NHL Hockey, released in 1991, through NHL 26, released in 2025. Under that annual-series definition, there are 35 main installments. The sequence includes the unusually named NHLPA Hockey ’93 and treats NHL 16: Legacy Edition as the older-console version of the NHL 16 release year rather than a separate annual entry.

This chronology does not mix in mobile games, arcade spin-offs, NHL 94 Rewind or hockey series from other publishers. NHL Hitz and NHL 2K, for example, are NHL-licensed games but are not part of EA’s annual simulation line.

Complete EA Sports NHL games list in release order

The year in a game’s title usually points toward the hockey season it represents, while its retail release occurred during the preceding calendar year. That is why NHL 26 appears below with a 2025 release. Platform entries are grouped at a practical family level; some early computer, handheld and regional versions used slightly different names or dates.

No.	Game	Release year	Major original platforms
1	NHL Hockey	1991	Genesis/Mega Drive; later computer version
2	NHLPA Hockey ’93	1992	Genesis, Super NES; related DOS version
3	NHL ’94	1993	Genesis, Super NES, Sega CD, DOS
4	NHL 95	1994	Genesis, Super NES, DOS and handheld versions
5	NHL 96	1995	Genesis, Super NES, DOS/Windows
6	NHL 97	1996	Genesis, Super NES, PlayStation, Saturn, Windows
7	NHL 98	1997	Genesis, Super NES, PlayStation, Saturn, Windows
8	NHL 99	1998	PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Windows
9	NHL 2000	1999	PlayStation, Windows, Game Boy Color
10	NHL 2001	2000	PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Windows
11	NHL 2002	2001	PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows, Game Boy Advance
12	NHL 2003	2002	PS2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows, Game Boy Advance
13	NHL 2004	2003	PS2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows
14	NHL 2005	2004	PS2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows
15	NHL 06	2005	PS2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows
16	NHL 07	2006	PS2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, Windows
17	NHL 08	2007	PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Windows
18	NHL 09	2008	PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Windows
19	NHL 10	2009	PS3, Xbox 360
20	NHL 11	2010	PS3, Xbox 360
21	NHL 12	2011	PS3, Xbox 360
22	NHL 13	2012	PS3, Xbox 360
23	NHL 14	2013	PS3, Xbox 360
24	NHL 15	2014	PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
25	NHL 16	2015	PS4, Xbox One; Legacy Edition on PS3/Xbox 360
26	NHL 17	2016	PS4, Xbox One
27	NHL 18	2017	PS4, Xbox One
28	NHL 19	2018	PS4, Xbox One
29	NHL 20	2019	PS4, Xbox One
30	NHL 21	2020	PS4, Xbox One
31	NHL 22	2021	PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
32	NHL 23	2022	PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
33	NHL 24	2023	PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
34	NHL 25	2024	PS5, Xbox Series X|S
35	NHL 26	2025	PS5, Xbox Series X|S

This is a historical release list, not a promise that every game can still be purchased or played online. Digital delistings, expired music licenses, closed servers and modern-system compatibility can all affect access to an older sports game.

The 16-bit beginning: NHL Hockey through NHL 98

NHL Hockey established the series on Sega Genesis/Mega Drive in 1991 with season and playoff play. In Europe, licensing differences led to the EA Hockey name and a national-team presentation. The second entry created the first naming wrinkle: NHLPA Hockey ’93 used the players association license but not the NHL team license, so it could feature players while identifying clubs by city rather than official team names and logos.

NHL ’94 followed in 1993 and became the early installment that endured most strongly in hockey-game culture. It also illustrates the title-year pattern: a game branded for 1994 reached players during the previous calendar year. The releases that followed expanded modes and rosters while spreading across Genesis, Super NES and computers.

By NHL 97 and NHL 98, the series straddled two hardware eras. Versions appeared for the aging 16-bit systems as well as PlayStation, Sega Saturn and Windows. The precise experience could differ by platform, so a title name alone does not always identify the same graphics, controls or feature set.

The multi-platform PC era: NHL 99 through NHL 09

From the late 1990s into the 2000s, Windows was a routine home for EA’s hockey series. NHL 99 paired PC with PlayStation and Nintendo 64. The next releases moved through PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube while the Windows version remained part of the annual lineup.

That history explains why “NHL game for PC” remains a common search even though the modern series is console-only. The final main EA NHL release for Windows was NHL 09 in 2008. The following year, NHL 10 launched on PS3 and Xbox 360 without a PC version.

If you are looking for a modern Windows release, our NHL 26 PC and Steam availability guide explains the current status and compares legitimate hockey alternatives. An old NHL 09 copy remains a historical product; it does not have the current rosters, support or guaranteed Windows compatibility of a new PC game.

The console-only HD era: NHL 10 through NHL 21

NHL 10 through NHL 14 stayed on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. This five-game run is one of the simplest stretches in the platform history: two competing HD consoles, one annual EA hockey game, and no Windows edition.

NHL 15 then crossed generations, appearing on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. NHL 16 concentrated the main edition on PS4 and Xbox One while NHL 16: Legacy Edition served PS3 and Xbox 360. Keeping Legacy Edition in the same row prevents the chronology from counting two separate hockey seasons as if they were two annual installments.

From NHL 17 through NHL 21, the main series settled on PS4 and Xbox One. Nintendo Switch did not receive a main annual EA NHL version during this period, and Windows did not return.

Current-generation NHL: NHL 22 through NHL 26

NHL 22 began another transition. NHL 22, NHL 23 and NHL 24 each appeared on PS4 and PS5 as well as Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Buyers needed to pay attention to the generation named on the product because cross-generation releases were separate console builds, not universal licenses for every device.

NHL 25 ended support for PS4 and Xbox One, leaving PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. NHL 26 followed that same current-generation platform pair. EA’s official NHL 26 details give a worldwide release date of September 12, 2025 and list only those two console families.

In practical terms, NHL 24 is the last main annual entry for PS4 or Xbox One, NHL 09 is the last for Windows, and NHL 26 requires a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. Those cutoffs are more useful to a buyer than the title number by itself.

Which EA NHL game should you start with?

There is no single best entry for every player. Start with the hardware and experience you actually want:

• Current rosters and current support: choose the newest officially supported title for your console and confirm its live store listing.
• PS4 or Xbox One: NHL 24 is the final main-series release for that generation.
• Classic 16-bit hockey: NHL ’94 is the natural historical starting point, but use a lawful copy or official reissue available for your hardware.
• Historical Windows play: understand that NHL 09 is the cutoff and that installation on a modern PC may require legacy compatibility work.
• Franchise collecting: verify region, platform and disc condition; games with the same title can differ across systems.

Do not assume that an old online mode still has active servers or that a historical title remains in a digital storefront. Sports games often contain licensed music and league content that can complicate long-term digital sales. Check the platform holder’s current listing before buying a code or subscription.

The game series follows the rhythm of the real league. You can compare it with the current NHL schedule, see NHL games happening today, or use the season calendar tools. The guide to 2026-27 NHL season dates provides the current real-world timeline behind the newest roster cycle.

EA Sports NHL series FAQ

What was the first EA NHL game?

NHL Hockey was the first main game in the series. It was released for Genesis/Mega Drive in 1991, with related computer and regional versions following in the early series period.

Why was there no game called NHL ’93?

The second entry was called NHLPA Hockey ’93. It had the NHL Players’ Association license but not the NHL team license, which is why the branding and team presentation differed from NHL Hockey and NHL ’94.

How many main EA Sports NHL games are there through NHL 26?

There are 35 under this article’s annual-series definition, counting NHL Hockey through NHL 26 and treating NHL 16: Legacy Edition as part of the NHL 16 release year. A broader count that includes mobile games, arcade spin-offs or reissues will produce a different number.

What was the last EA NHL game on PC?

NHL 09, released in 2008, was the last main EA NHL installment for Windows. NHL 10 began the console-only run in 2009.

Are NHL Hitz and NHL 2K part of EA’s series?

No. They used NHL licensing but belonged to separate publishers and franchises. They are excluded here so the list remains a chronology of EA’s main annual simulation series.