NHL '98 on SNES is one of those games that just feels right when you pick up the controller. The second you hit the ice, you’re thrown into that classic hockey chaos—skating feels smooth, checks land with a satisfying crunch, and slapshots actually have weight behind them. I remember being surprised at how fluid the animations were for a 16-bit game.

You’ve got all the original NHL teams (though rosters are a time capsule of the late '90s), and the AI isn’t afraid to play dirty—expect a lot of elbows and breakaways. The controls are simple enough to pick up fast, but mastering dekes and one-timers takes practice. And that soundtrack? Pure nostalgia, with those crunchy arena organ riffs between plays.

It’s not the deepest hockey sim out there, but for quick matches or a full season mode, it still holds up way better than it should. Just try not to break your controller when the CPU goalie saves your 10th straight shot.