Sports games with annual releases often face the same problem of functioning more like an update to the previous year’s installment rather than being a completely new experience. There are rare instances when an entry will give a significant overhaul to features or add something that breathes fresh life back into the series – such as the surprisingly fresh FIFA 23. Unfortunately, its studio-mate NHL 23 falls victim to the genre’s yearly release cycle, and prioritizes small refinements over reinvention.
