EA SPORTS NHL 18 introduces the thrill and creativity of today's young NHL superstars through new Creative Skill Stick gameplay controls, a brand new 3-on-3 arcade-inspired hockey experience in NHL Threes, and the most multiplayer options to play cooperatively or competitively with friends ever delivered in a sports videogame.
New Creative Skill Stick controls let you execute the highlight-reel, jaw-dropping plays seen in the new NHL by the likes of Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine. On attack, all-new creative dekes freeze goalies and defenders with between-the-legs shooting, one-handed dekes, band-handed toe-drags and much more - including linked dekes for moment-to-moment decision making. New through-passing allows you to pass pucks into space for players to skate onto, or bank them off the boards to teammates and to yourself to beat a defender. On defense, the all-new Defensive Skill Stick lets you get creative on defense with poke check targeting, extended pokes, and controlled stick sweeps to cover zones of the ice and takeaway passing lanes. New Creative A.I. also means your teammates leverage all the same creative tools as you, making for beautiful, intelligent decision-making all over the ice.
Introducing a bold new take on the insane, over-the-top action of 3-on-3 hockey with NHL Threes – an all-new arcade-inspired hockey experience with faster skating, harder hits, and pick-and-up-and-play fun to score big goals. Enter wild arenas with all-new commentary and pick your style of play, from fast-fun couch modes to fully competitive online team play where you choose the game rules and modifiers. Take on the NHL Threes circuit mode and play through regional circuits, from minor leagues to the big show, completing challenges and unlocking surprises along the way. NHL Threes combines the best arcade era fun with authentic 3-on-3 overtime action that is made to be played with friends.
No other sports game allows you to team up with friends and hit the ice like NHL 18. Whether you’re playing cooperatively or competitively, offline on the couch or online with up to 12 players, NHL 18 delivers more than 64 combinations to team up with or against friends locally or online. Team up cooperatively with a friend on the couch and another friend online. Or play as a team with three friends on the couch and two friends online, all playing competitively against 6 other players online. No matter how you want to play, NHL 18 offers more ways to play multiplayer with your friends or against your rivals than any other sports videogame.
Experience the brand new NHL first in NHL 18 with the all-new Vegas Golden Knights as the 31st NHL team. Take on the head office role and be the first to draft the Golden Knights using the all-new Expansion Draft feature in Franchise Mode, complete with the authentic jerseys and arena. Or change the face of the league completely by creating and drafting an entirely new 32nd team wherever you choose, including the arena, logo, jersey, and even the mascot.