NHL 17 Review Roundup

NHL 17 doesn't come out until next Tuesday, September 13, but reviews for the latest entry in EA's long-running and well-regarded series started to show up today.

To help you decide if the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One game is worth your time and money, we've collected some review scores and editor opinions. You can see an initial group of these below, while we'll add more in the days ahead as they come online.

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You may not have to wait until next week to play NHL 17, however, as Xbox One owners with an EA Access membership can start playing a time-restricted version of the full game right now.

• Game: NHL 17
• Developer: EA Canada
• Platform: PS4, Xbox One
• Release Date: September 13
• Price: $60

GameSpot -- 7/10

"NHL 17 is a great game of hockey, but unlike last year, there isn't a standout mode or feature that makes this game substantially better than its predecessor. It rides off a lot of what NHL 16 did, and the new additions don't add anything crucial to the experience. It's still a lot of fun to trade players in Franchise, build a formidable roster in Hockey Ultimate Team, and actually play matches, but if you were hoping NHL 17 would be a significant step forward for the series, you're out of luck." -- Mat Paget [Full review]

Destructoid -- 8/10

"When compared to NHL 15, NHL 17 is miles ahead; when compared to NHL 16, it's incrementally better. That's the EA Sports way. There are some new features and improvements, but nothing mind-blowingly innovative. That's perfectly fine. There's a good hockey game at the core, and a lot of options on the periphery. That's all we ever wanted." -- Brett Makedonski [Full review]

USGamer -- 3.5/5

"NHL 17 has some real strengths, but it still feels like it hasn't quite made it out of the previous generation. The gameplay is strong but increasingly dated; the feature set feels haphazard, and there are lots of niggling quality-of-life issues. It feels more and more like the series is stuck in a rut, and it's hard to say where EA Canada should take it next. For now, NHL 17 is another decent outing, but the next step remains elusive." -- Kat Bailey [Full review]

Hardcore Gamer -- 3.5/5

"EA Sports has three different sports titles under their belt. Each one is built on the same engine and feel quite similar. Underneath that veil of uniformity, however, there is something that makes all of their games distinct and unique. In NHL 17 it's everything that surrounds the actual gameplay of it. From the presentation to the deep franchise mode, NHL 17 has everything away from the on-ice action nailed down to a T. If the experience of playing the game fell into the same pristine category instead of being too overbearing for its own good, this would be a near-perfect game of hockey." -- Charles Blades [Full review]

PlayStation Universe -- 8.5/10

"While staying true to its ideals, NHL 17 is a set piece for all sports titles on the market, offering more freedom, flexibility, and customization across many different levels, which puts it at the top of the sports gaming genre among the likes of NBA 2K. It'll take a bit to get used to possession of the puck again, and playing as a goalie is more boring than it should be, but NHL 17 has more than enough to validate a purchase for both veterans and newcomers alike." -- Timothy Nunes [Full review]