NHL '94
NHL '94 — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is NHL '94 on?
- NHL '94 was released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, DOS, Sega CD, PlayStation 4, Xbox One.
- When did NHL '94 release?
- NHL '94 was first released on October 1, 1993.
About NHL '94
Aside from the licenses, the gameplay for this edition sees for the first time the inclusion of the devastating one-timer shot, but to keep forwards (literally) in check, defenders also feature harder body checks, with new animations. For an additional challenge, players can also choose to control the goalkeeper manually. A popular feature in previous editions, fighting is completely removed from the game. Game modes include exhibition games (or "regular season" in-game), playoffs (best of one or best of seven) and an all new shoot-out mode. The main options remain basically the same couple since the establishment of the series - period length (5, 10 or 20 minutes), line changes (off, manual or the new automatic mode) and penalties. (off, on, on but no offsides).
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, DOS, Sega CD, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Developer
- EA Canada
- Publisher
- EA Sports
- Game modes
- Single player
- Series
- NHL
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega GenesisDetails ↓ | 1993 | $11 | $20 | $40 | 90% | Low |
| Sega CDDetails ↓ | 1993 | $12 | $19 | $61 | 2 reviews | Low |
The cheapest way to own it loose is the Sega Genesis version ($11).
Also released on: Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · DOS · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Prices are per version and are not interchangeable, and neither are the reviews: conversions in this era were often built by a different studio than the original, so a score earned on one machine says nothing about how another plays.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $14 | $32 | $61 |
What it needs to play
- Some modesSave battery (inside the cartridge) — saves to memory kept alive by a battery inside the cartridge; if that battery has died, saves are lost (MAME cartridge records).
How often it sells
- Loose: about 2 times a week
- Complete: about 2 times a week
- Sealed: about once a month
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $0.45 in Oct 2007, $10.50 five years ago, and $11.49 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $0.82 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $0.75 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $0.87 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $0.90 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $0.87 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $2.49 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $8.99 | $12.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $7.00 | $14.99 |
| Jan 2016 | $5.99 | $9.97 |
| Jan 2017 | $8.99 | $12.99 |
| Jan 2018 | $9.99 | $12.09 |
| Jan 2019 | $11.04 | $14.99 |
| Jan 2020 | $9.00 | $15.13 |
| Jan 2021 | $10.16 | $12.99 |
| Jan 2022 | $11.00 | $15.88 |
| Jan 2023 | $7.90 | $13.62 |
| Jan 2024 | $7.15 | $21 |
| Jan 2025 | $9.95 | $19.99 |
| Jan 2026 | $10.14 | $19.99 |
| Oct 2026 | $11.49 | $20 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Barcode |
|---|---|---|
| North America | September 1993 | 014633072280 |
| Europe / PAL | October 1993 | 5015839254994 |
- Region
- NA+EU
- Released
- 1993
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Genesis version
A landmark Genesis hockey game that is cheap, and best with friends.
EA Sports published NHL '94, developed by High Score Productions. It was the third game in the NHL series and the first to be officially licensed by both the NHL and the NHL Players' Association. It reached North America in September 1993 and Europe in October 1993.
European reception of the Mega Drive version was highly positive, and GamesMaster ranked it 65th in its 1996 list of the top 100 games of all time.
What the press said at the time
| MegaTech Issue 23 | November 1993 | 90% |
“NHL Hockey “94 demonstrates that the people at EA not only make games, but play them as well. Hockey fans, rejoice!”
“it still contains all that was good about the original, including hard tackles and smart shots.”
“if yoi) really feel you need to have super-fast, four-player ice hockey action then this is definitely the game to get.”
“This year’s version of NHL was far better than previous editions, due primarily to its four-and five-way play on the Genesis and SNES, respectively.”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
Mark Lesser programmed the Genesis version, focusing on the camera angle, scrolling, puck control and speed, and developed the one timer, which became one of the game's defining additions.
The Super NES version was derived from Lesser's Genesis code.
Also on other platforms
Super NES · Sega CD · MS-DOS · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One
| Super NES | EA Canada |
- Super NES. A Japanese Super Famicom edition has all the important text in Japanese, though passwords still use ASCII letters and numbers.
Before you buy
Among US carts this sits below the median. The European cart usually costs somewhat less than the US one. Sega Retro lists it as working with EA's 4 Way Play; EA's 4 Way Play and Sega's first Team Player do not run each other's games, while Sega's later Team Player (MK-1647) runs both in its EXTRA mode. The cartridge saves to a battery inside it, so test that a save holds; a replaced battery is a normal repair and not a sign of a fake.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega CD · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-11-02
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release (NHL Hockey '94) | $19 | $42 | $157 |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a month
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about 6 times a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-11-02.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $0.75 in Oct 2008, $14.55 five years ago, and $11.70 as of Nov 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2009 | $0.75 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $0.75 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $0.25 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $0.87 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $1.47 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $4.50 | $6.49 |
| Jan 2015 | $2.99 | $8.40 |
| Jan 2016 | $3.26 | $2.25 |
| Jan 2017 | $5.22 | $7.99 |
| Jan 2018 | $8.00 | $10.27 |
| Jan 2019 | $5.51 | $13.63 |
| Jan 2020 | $9.50 | $14.96 |
| Jan 2021 | $13.90 | $14.30 |
| Jan 2022 | $15.00 | $19.05 |
| Jan 2023 | $12.58 | $22 |
| Jan 2024 | $9.77 | $18.92 |
| Jan 2025 | $12.49 | $19.99 |
| Jan 2026 | $9.99 | $18.35 |
| Nov 2026 | $11.70 | $19.26 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Nov 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 1993 | T-50015 | 014633072327 |
| Europe / PAL | March 1994 | T-50015-50 | 5015839254925 |
- Region
- NA+EU
- Released
- 1993
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega CD version
EA's hockey game with real NHL video clips and digitized commentary, best for a Sega CD owner who doesn't have the cartridge.
This is the Sega CD version of NHL '94, developed by High Score Productions for EA Sports. It came out in North America in 1993 and in Europe in March 1994, where it carries the title NHL Hockey '94. Sega Visions listed what the disc adds over the cartridge: lots of digitized voice describing players, new sounds such as the tink of a post, over 100 video clips and a Player Card feature, with one to four players.
Real footage meant getting permission from the league, and the NHL had EA Sports remove fighting from this version. Sega Pro thought you would be a fool not to buy it if you owned a Mega-CD but not the cartridge, but saw nothing in it to make a hockey fan buy a CD unit: more a bargain than a ground-breaker.
What the press said at the time
| MegaTech Issue 28 | April 1994 | 91% |
| Sega Pro Issue 35 | August 1994 | 82% |
“You would be a fool not to consider buying NHL '94 if you're a Mega- CD owner without the cart version”
“NHL ‘94 for the Sega CD is a hockey fan’s dream, and will undoubtedly be on the cutting edge of sports simulations”
“In fact I would go as far as saying that NHLPA ’94 is about as close to a perfect, fun ice hockey game as you can get.”
“Take one of the best sports games in ages, jazz it up a bit for CD owners, release it at a price cheaper than the original cartridge and you will have this. Great value for money.”
Also on other platforms
Genesis · Super NES · MS-DOS · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One
Before you buy
Among North American Sega CD games the US disc sits below the middle on price. The European disc usually costs noticeably more, loose and especially complete, and it needs a European Mega-CD, as the US disc needs a North American Sega CD. Check that the case and manual are the right ones for the game.
NHL '94 screenshots
Watch on YouTube
Listings on The Game Traders
No active listings for NHL '94 yet.
Be the first to list →Buyers looking for this
No active want ads for NHL '94 yet.
Post a want ad →More games like NHL '94
Latest news mentioning NHL '94
No recent news mentions in our 30-day feed window.