Canvas Hockey

Pretty enjoyable to play on quick play when you want to turn your brain off at the end of the day and relax, career mode is challenging, but not impossible, and it's a nice game to play in the couch and chill.

This is a great game for a great price. Smooth controls, well designed and has all you could want for a arcade hockey game.

I wanted to give this a in depth review due to the fact hockey games are close to my heart (if you grew up skating on frozen ponds and/or slapping the ball around during the summer with your Mylec, you’re my kind of peeps.) Also mind you, I just bought it today and had put a few hours in it right away to be past the refund time amount. I wanted to show that I was committed to a real review. Before I start, please understand that certain games follow a strict code of base build that can make or break. When it comes to hockey games, you do not want to reinvent the wheel. You can build off of it, but not rebuild it. Up front impression: Surprise! A new hockey game a few days before my birthday!?!? Don't mind if i do! Hardware - I tested this on two different computers, one runs an FX 8150 and the other a Ryzen 1600AF. Game runs better than a greased up goth chick from your favorite porn smash videos. I will be testing it out on my Phenom CPU’s to see if it can handle it. (Quad core @ 3.0 ghz and a Triple core [unlocked to a quad core] @ 3.2 ghz) Controllers - The first knock… This one was a padded bra letdown or tube sock stuff failure. I tried the game on multiple controllers to see how it felt...and let down city… Steam Controller - holy crap was it un-playable. I’m talking about The Last Jedi level of “WTF”. The controls were so sensitive that when you try to shoot, your guy would spin in an 180 fashion instantly. This Steam Controller is brand new, as the cherry was popped on it 4 days. (Yes, it’s been in the box this whole time) You will really have to configure the sensitivity of the controller to dial it down. Something this high tech and advanced, should not require this much work. Microsoft Sidewinder Plug and Play - As the creepy old guy from LOTR said, “You have no power here!” with an evil laugh. Windows 10 supports and accepts the controller, and you can play games with it...but not this game… This game won’t even recognize it…Just like that cute redhead at the bar you tried to score with...Rejected… Universal PS3 controller with dongle - (My fav controller) This is my go to for gaming, and I use it all the time with other hockey games on steam. Sadly...just like a proctologist going in 3 knuckles deep...This was a no go with the game… Keyboard - If you have played NHL 95 on PC, then you will remember this layout. Arrow keys to move and other keys to shoot - pass - dodge - body check. Playable and if you’re an old timer, memories… Xbox 360 cabled Controller - The mom jokes of gaming! We all fall back to this one every time when in need. Shooting is perfect on it and the controls feel like it was built for this controller. *Enter shock face* Music - The tunes are peppy and I do enjoy the feature of the overtime music. It feels like Thanos is coming for you… Actual Gameplay - Faceoff will make you go “oh...it’s going to be like that” type move. The opponent AI feels like it varies. It will jump from a shoot-shoot team to a defense type team type feel. Maybe it was me, but you could feel team play varied. Wait till you get to the championship game, the AI is done ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ around and will stretch your sphincter. Goalies - Or as I have called them, Sieves and Colanders… The goalies were drafted from the local beer league rink games, because they can’t stop a beach ball. The only thing on this planet who can rival how open these goalies were, would be Gianna Michaels. She gets paid to be that open and she makes it look good. Shooting - Shooting feels wonky at first, but once you understand that there is a delay, you will plan better. What I don’t agree with is, there are low percentage zones on the ice where an attacking player should not score from, and I have seen goalies let that in. I mean, least soccer goalies have a reason they are horrible...Cause it’s soccer…But this game, if you get a goalie to hug the pipes, they're going to let it in like catching covid. Passing - It works...mostly...it’s passing, it would be a crime against humanity to bork this. Checking - By far, the dirtiest thing you can do in this game. You need to use this...all the time… It’s the Konami code of this game. Treat it like your teen years, if it moves, you bang it… Leveling system will bring you back to the SNES days, and allows you to pimp your player out that way you want and tailored to your play style. Tips: Hit everything...often… On the faceoff, if you’re going to be slow to the puck, you murder the trailing defensemen and remove him from the equation. Breakouts can be turned into goals if you are playing defense and the AI on your team is making a break. How? You nail the trailing defender who is chasing your offense. Do not play the puck once you pass it out of the zone, you play the body and remove that defender from trailing your man. By doing this, you will buy him the needed seconds to pick his spot. You are not Bobby Orr… Do not try that coast to coast crap or you will have your toys on yard sale. When you get your player pimped out, maybe you can do it, but if you want to win early. Play as a team player and you will win. Scoring is very easy. I think I put up 5 quickies in one period due to puck placement. Understand that you can score more with puck placement versus one timers. You will need 1-2 seconds to earn that puck placement and that is achieved by removing the other teams plays from the equation. Which requires you to do so, on the faceoff… Also, if you use the boards and skate along the boards, you force the other team to commit to you, opening the ice for your player to use the speed burst. If you always go down the middle, the AI will clog the lane. We call this “Gap hockey”, you play to the open ice, and force the other team to react. You want them to commit to you accepting the open ice, and then you can make them eat it for doing so. What would I like to see implemented into the game? Better controller support Controller customization/Key Binding Old school blue ice and yellow lines as an option for rinks. This game would look really cool in that format. Frozen pond for a rink. Very simple layout as the boards are replaced with snowbanks, ect. Two tone player colors. I know i know...picky picky...but Bruins fans love to see their colors or pretend to see the Northstars out there again. (Unless it’s Blades of Steel and they made the Northstars purple...purple...because the Vikings were purple…) If inspiration is needed for the player and rink design, look at the movies Mystery Alaska, Youngblood, and Slapshot. Organs need to make a return! Maybe add in the good ole organ music when you score? (if the Dev wanted to be evil) introduce the SNES NHL 95 “Spin’o’Rama” feature and players will scream in rage! Final verdict - Is this game worth it? Yes...Yes it is… It can be a fun couch game where you revisit those old hatred filled “I play winner” type matches you had with your brothers. Or...if you have better brothers than I do...Can be on the same team… I would say that this game is in the top three best PC hockey games currently out and made within the last few years that have been released on Steam. It has the juice to be more, and from what I have seen from the Dev, this game will receive updates and is an affair of passion. Which is what we need from Dev’s. Go get it and go dangle.

This game is a load of fun for any hockey fan, whether hardcore or casual. From the career mode, to tournaments, to playing with friends, you can always find something to do on here. The Leaderboards also in my opinion add a bit of friendly competition, just looking at your stats in comparison to others I feel gives you a bit more drive to wanna do your best if you're the competitive type. I'm for the game all the way, a great pickup especially alongside a friend!

It's no secret that hockey is a totally underserved sport on PC especially. This game has a really novel gameplay feel compared to others on steam, and is impressively flesh out! Really fun, would totally recommend!

Career mode is the best for when you have any time to kill. There are so many different builds to use to make your character good. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to play with other players yet, but it definitely seems fun in a party setting!

This is such a fun and interesting little game. It's stripped-down arcade-y hockey that feels like the offspring of Clusterpuck 99 and Super Mario Strikers. The career mode is surprisingly deep, but this is definitely a game that is best enjoyed on the couch with other people. There are precious few hockey games on Steam, and none of them look and play like this one.

This game has a beautifully unique art style and fun gameplay. Great for casual sessions. Highly recommend!

Canvas Hockey is a delightful breathe of fresh air. The pick up and play controls make this an accessible title for fans and newcomers alike. The 1v1 or 2v2 battles are augmented by tournament play for up to 12 people. The endless career mode allows players the opportunity to create the HOFer of their dreams while climbing the ladder to wards the ultimate goal of earning the CHL cup. https://youtu.be/wc6XvbJ3ETA for a full video review This review was completed via a review code requested for by me after discovering it from another indie developer. No compensation was given.

After 30+hrs now and beating the career mode I can say without a doubt this is a must-buy for any pc hockey fan, and a super satisfying gaming experience. Winning the cup was akin to the feeling of accomplishment in recent gaming memory of beating a Hades boss for the first time. Super responsive dev as well, had a couple quality of life requests as well as the below AI complaint (which I'll leave in for context) and I got a response and a week later updated with exactly what I asked for as well as a new mode which adds some replay-ability after the campaign, seems like it will only continue to get better (Would 100% purchase a canvas hockey 2, maybe with 5-on-5 play) I was honestly not expecting much with this I just wanted some kind of hockey game on the pc for a few minutes here and there considering the notable void of such games, but I have been quite pleasantly surprised. It's very bare-bones visually but the game-play is suitably crunchy and fast-paced and the career mode has a surprising amount of progression and customisation for an arcade-y game. My couple gripes are the somewhat janky AI at times (my opponent stuck in the net or corner a couple times) and the lack of ability to change your keybindings or controls but considering I've already gotten much more out of this than I thought I would and can see myself coming back to the career mode for a good while, this is definitely a thumb's-up from me.