Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey ’98

Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey ’98 grabs you with quick, physical hockey that never asks you to wait long for a scoring chance. Its two modes make the pitch simple: pick simulation for a brisk version of NHL rules, or choose arcade when you want penalties gone and power shots flying.

This is a modest update, but the official 26-team NHL and NHLPA roster gives season, playoff, exhibition, and practice games a welcome sense of purpose. If you enjoyed the earlier Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey, the refreshed teams and added statistics make this an easy return trip rather than a major reinvention.

Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey ’98 is at its best when you want a hockey game that gets straight to the good stuff: skating hard, throwing the puck around, and finding a shot before the defense can settle. Even its simulation option stays fast compared with more methodical hockey games, so the first few minutes have an immediately accessible, pick-up-and-play energy.

The split between simulation and arcade is the feature that matters most. Simulation aims for a relatively realistic game while retaining that quick Midway-style pace. Arcade throws penalties out entirely and adds a power shot, turning matches into looser, more aggressive contests. Neither mode asks you to commit to a radically different game, but the choice is useful: simulation suits a proper hockey session, while arcade is the better fit when you just want to trade chances with a friend.

You have enough ways to play to keep that core action from going stale. Exhibition is there for instant games, practice gives you room to get comfortable, and full seasons and playoffs provide a longer reason to stick with a chosen club. With all 26 NHL teams and real-life athletes under the NHL and NHLPA licenses, the season structure carries more weight than it would with anonymous stand-ins.

The limitation is also clear: this is essentially the previous game with refreshed teams and new statistics rather than a dramatic step forward. If you already wore out the earlier entry, you may quickly feel that familiar foundation underneath the updates. But if that foundation is what you wanted more of, ’98 does not overcomplicate it.

Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98 — screenshot 1

Graphics

The game is built around 3D hockey action, putting the focus on a rink full of moving skaters rather than a side-on broadcast view. Real NHL teams and athletes add recognizable league flavor to the on-ice matchups, which helps the season and playoff modes feel tied to actual pro hockey.

Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98 — screenshot 2

Story

There is no scripted narrative here; the season is the story you make for yourself. Choosing a real NHL team, pushing through the schedule, and trying to reach the playoffs gives the game its natural arc.

That structure works because hockey already produces its own small dramas. A close exhibition can become a quick bragging-rights match, while a season run asks you to stay invested over more than one hot streak. The licensed clubs and athletes give those wins a little more context than a fictional league would.

Don’t come in expecting character scenes or a campaign with authored twists. The payoff is competitive rather than narrative: take a team through a season or playoffs and see whether your fast-paced style holds up.

Overall Experience

Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey ’98 is a solid, quick-moving hockey game whose biggest strength is knowing how little downtime you want between faceoff and scoring chance. It gives you a respectable simulation route without losing its energetic pace, then offers an arcade mode for nights when rules feel like dead weight.

The full NHL and NHLPA license, 26 teams, and selection of exhibition, practice, season, and playoff options make it more than a one-evening novelty. You can play a casual match or settle into a longer run, and the two rulesets help the game meet you at either mood.

Its 7.1 reputation feels fair because the update is conservative. Fans of Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey will find a familiar game with updated teams and extra stats, not a bold new direction. Still, if fast, approachable 3D hockey is what you want, that familiarity is more comfort than compromise.