NHL 97
NHL 97 — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is NHL 97 on?
- NHL 97 was released on Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, DOS, PC (Microsoft Windows), Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
- When did NHL 97 release?
- NHL 97 was first released on October 31, 1996.
About NHL 97
1997 edition of EA's NHL sport simulation series. Improvements in this edition come mostly in the graphical arena, with a refined version of the "virtual stadium" system that adds new camera angles (including the classical top-down one strangely missing from NHL 96), and polygonal players instead of the bitmap-based ones with motion-captured animations. Other extras include multiplayer support for up to 8 players through network or Gravis's GrIP system, the option to create new players and trade them around, and the usual amount of EA sports licensed multimedia flair, including an interesting "Goalie Mask Viewer" which lets you observe the elaboratedly decorated helmets of 30 goalies.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, DOS, PC (Microsoft Windows), Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- Developer
- Visual Concepts
- Publisher
- EA Sports
- Game modes
- Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Themes
- Non-fiction
- Series
- NHL
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Genesis | 1996 | $9 | $11 | $189 | Low |
Also released on: Sega Saturn · PlayStation · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · DOS · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Super Nintendo Entertainment System. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $11 | $33 | $43 |
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 once a week
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about 2 times a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $0.58 in Oct 2007, $7.41 five years ago, and $9.06 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $0.74 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $0.50 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $1.45 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $1.15 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $1.36 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $1.25 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $4.56 | $9.94 |
| Jan 2015 | $4.97 | $6.63 |
| Jan 2016 | $4.00 | $6.99 |
| Jan 2017 | $5.95 | $8.39 |
| Jan 2018 | $6.39 | $8.28 |
| Jan 2019 | $4.95 | $9.92 |
| Jan 2020 | $6.48 | $8.49 |
| Jan 2021 | $5.68 | $8.78 |
| Jan 2022 | $7.84 | $12.38 |
| Jan 2023 | $5.81 | $11.00 |
| Jan 2024 | $5.00 | $12.99 |
| Jan 2025 | $7.70 | $11.02 |
| Jan 2026 | $6.23 | $11.35 |
| Oct 2026 | $9.06 | $11.17 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Barcode |
|---|---|---|
| North America | October 1996 | 014633076035 |
| Europe / PAL | 1996 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU
- Released
- 1996
- Authenticity
- Low
A late EA hockey cart that Next Generation and GamePro rated highly, and a cheap one.
NHL 97 for the Genesis was developed by High Score Entertainment and published by EA Sports, with a North American release in October 1996 and a European release in 1996. Unlike the PC, PlayStation and Saturn versions, the Genesis game kept graphics similar to the previous games, with further improved animations.
Next Generation gave the Genesis version a rave review, saying it kept the classic feel of the series while improving the AI and adding special moves and fixes, and GamePro's Air Hendrix praised the new Skill Challenge and Practice modes. Sega Retro lists it as working with EA's 4 Way Play.
What the press said at the time
“Hence, another year brings us yet another update of this gaming masterpiece. … But my advice would be to skip it and invest the cash into a 32-bit machine and get with the nineties.”
“Still, you can buy it in the knowledge of getting an excel¬ lent sports simulation.”
“NHL '97 should offer up a challenge to diehard hockey aficionados—although fighting is noticeably absent.”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
The Genesis and SNES versions kept graphics similar to earlier games with further enhanced animations, while the PC, PlayStation and Saturn versions used motion-captured polygonal players.
GamePro said the Genesis version added sharp new features, including extra teams, new special moves, and Skill Challenge and Practice modes.
Also on other platforms
MS-DOS · Windows · Super NES · PlayStation · Sega Saturn
- Super NES. GamePro's Major Mike found the Super NES version almost identical to the previous year's game, with the same engine and options and updated rosters as the only real change.
- PlayStation. The PlayStation and Saturn versions made their debut with this game, and the shot speed in both is so slow that some skaters can beat a slapshot down the ice.
Before you buy
Among US carts it is below the middle. The European loose cart usually costs a little more than the US one, and a complete European copy usually costs much more. 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. A complete US copy means the case, cartridge and manual.
NHL 97 screenshots
Watch on YouTube
Listings on The Game Traders
No active listings for NHL 97 yet.
Be the first to list →Buyers looking for this
No active want ads for NHL 97 yet.
Post a want ad →Popular games right now
Latest news mentioning NHL 97
No recent news mentions in our 30-day feed window.