The current video game landscape isn't appetizing right now. In the land of remakes and carbon copies, few things stand out in the genre. It's no wonder fans are turning to the classics such as Super Mario Bros. and Ocarina of Time. Of course, there's NHL 25, which offers cutting-edge aspects such as... a sleek scoreboard and better defensive play.
Speaking of the classics, there are some old-school hockey games that Vegas Golden Knights fans should try. These will remind fans of simpler times, where fans could plug in the game and play for countless hours. This was back when people weren't worrying about taxes, their mortgage, or the kids.
Besides, what will fans do when the Golden Knights aren't playing at T-Mobile Arena or on the television? Will they sit at home and twiddle their thumbs? Or will they pass the time, fire up the PlayStation 5, and play as their favorite team while Jack Eichel scores 200 goals in a season? The answer is obvious, for nobody's taking the former.
Still, there are three classics that Golden Knights fans should try out. These video games are a far cry from today's video games, giving fans a taste of life during hockey's past. With nostalgia being a big driver in today's buying and leisure habits, why not dive into some old-school games and share some memories with your children? Here are three hockey games that Golden Knights fans should play for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
NHL 96 (Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo)
Growing up, this was the game I'd always play for my hockey fix. This was when the Colorado Avalanche were still the Quebec Nordiques and the Carolina Hurricanes were still playing the "Brass Bonanza" in Hartford. It was the climax of millennial hockey fans like myself, enjoying solid teams like the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings.
Speaking of the Red Wings, that was the go-to team for this game (and others). Here, I would create a player named Jack Kravitz and have his stats maxed out. He was a center and was the superstar of Detroit, It didn't matter if he was in the defensive zone or at the opponent's point. All he did was score. Imagine Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys talking about being the next Wayne Gretzky, only it was achieved in a video game.
Fans might not think of the Super Nintendo/Sega Genesis (baby, baby) games, especially when compared to modern installments like NHL 25. However, you can't beat the classics, where time stands still. Fans will appreciate a simple format from a top-down perspective and in 16-bit form, although they might have a problem with penalties being called every five seconds.