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NHL 09

Review · Sports · PlayStation 2 · PlayStation 3 · PC

NHL 09

Reviewed: 01 May 2026

PlayStation 2 · PlayStation 3 · PC · Xbox 360

Electronic Arts Canada · 2008

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

57 /100

Automated review

NHL 09 is a realistic hockey simulation that develops hand-eye coordination and problem solving, with potential for frustration.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 41 · R 4
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

41

Risk (RIS)

4

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.34
B2Social-emotional
0.37
B3Motor
0.65

NHL 09 offers a realistic ice hockey simulation, promoting strategic thinking, hand-eye coordination, and reaction time through engaging gameplay. The 'Be A Pro' mode encourages long-term goal setting and progression. Multiplayer modes foster teamwork and communication.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.03
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.11

Competitive aspects may lead to some frustration, and a focus on individual identity within the 'Be A Pro' mode could, for some players, be a minor risk if not balanced with real-world achievements. There is minor cartoon violence associated with the sport.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.33
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.00
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.00

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

Avg playtime~8 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is NHL 09 safe for kids?

Ludograph gives NHL 09 a rating of 57/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is NHL 09 appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for NHL 09, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is more lenient than ESRB E10+: industry ratings reflect content intensity, while ours also weighs how the game is designed to be played.

How long should kids play NHL 09?

Our session recommendation for NHL 09 is up to 120 minutes per day. It is derived from the game's own structure (natural stopping points, compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social dynamics), not from a universal screen-time dose.

Session recommendations are design-based heuristics. Evidence linking specific daily durations to child outcomes is limited, and context matters as much as time; treat this as a starting point for household rules, not a clinical threshold.

What are the main risks of NHL 09?

Competitive aspects may lead to some frustration, and a focus on individual identity within the 'Be A Pro' mode could, for some players, be a minor risk if not balanced with real-world achievements. There is minor cartoon violence associated with the sport.