An NHL 96 that polishes the formula further without shaking things up. Still snappy and pleasant, holds up despite age.
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Category
Sports4 players3+
Description
NHL hockey simulation for the 1995-96 season with improved visuals. Published by EA Sports, released in Europe in 1995. 1995-96 season rosters, new shot and body check modes and reworked visuals. Third EA Sports NHL on Super Nintendo.
The European PAL SNES edition of EA Sports' NHL 96 from 1995, the last main NHL entry on SNES PAL with a reduced print at the end of the cycle. The PAL cart is rarer than the previous NHL titles and stands as the completion piece of the NHL SNES PAL sub-collection. PAL boxed CIB in the original cardboard box climbs steadily, sustained by real physical scarcity and by the sports coherence of a complete EA Sports SNES PAL collection.
Better with friends
A polished iteration of the console's star hockey, fuller in modes and still built for four-player rivalry. The competition rewards reading the play and shot precision, in a snappy tempo where any counter can hit home. Solid and accessible, it stays an excellent excuse for sports evenings, punctuated by snatched goals and comebacks that leave lasting memories.
Is NHL 96 still worth playing in 2026?
NHL 96 closes the 16 bit trilogy with even more depth, namely a polished fight system, coaches with contrasting profiles and a more accomplished TV presentation. The pace stays in line with the series, but the balance between arcade and simulation is probably the best calibrated of the trio. The cartridge remains a favorite for EA Sports SFC hockey purists. Recommended to anyone seeking the best compromise between sharpness and depth in the 1990s NHL line.
