Franchise Hockey Manager 12 Reviews

fub to play

So much money for so little

Franchise Hockey Manager 12 is a highly detailed hockey management simulation developed and published by Out of the Park Developments, built for players who want to control the sport from the executive chair rather than from the rink itself. It focuses on the long-term challenge of running a hockey organization, from building a competitive roster and developing prospects to handling trades, contracts, tactics, finances, and season-by-season planning. With official NHL licensing, real teams, players, logos, and the goal of chasing the Stanley Cup, the game immediately feels authentic for hockey fans who care about realism and managerial depth. What makes this entry stand out is how much more involved the management side has become. The new preseason training and regular-season targeted training systems give managers more direct control over player growth, making development feel less passive than before. Instead of simply waiting for prospects to improve, you can guide their progress toward specific roles and attributes, which adds more meaning to roster planning and long-term scouting. This is especially rewarding for players who enjoy rebuilding weaker teams or shaping a young core over several seasons. The improved draft experience is another major highlight. Draft day now feels more alive, with trade discussions, news updates, and shifting opportunities creating pressure and excitement. It is no longer just a simple list of names to choose from; it becomes a strategic event where patience, preparation, and quick decision-making can change the future of a franchise. The expanded trade news and smarter team behavior also help the league feel more believable, as other clubs act with clearer motives depending on whether they are rebuilding, contending, or reshaping their roster. Franchise Hockey Manager 12 also offers strong appeal for historical and international hockey fans. The inclusion of World Championship tournaments going back to 1929, along with World Cup content, gives the game impressive replay value beyond modern NHL management. Players can explore alternate hockey histories, guide legendary teams in new directions, or create entirely different outcomes across decades of competition. This historical scope is one of the game’s greatest strengths, especially for players who enjoy simulations that evolve over long periods. The tactical side has also been made more convenient through the ability to save and reload systems, which encourages experimentation without forcing players to rebuild strategies from scratch. Combined with refined player generation that makes elite talents feel rarer and more special, the game maintains a strong sense of realism over long careers. College hockey, junior development, and transfer portal activity also receive attention, making the prospect pipeline feel closer to the modern hockey landscape. Its biggest limitation is that it remains a very menu-heavy and data-driven experience. The presentation is practical rather than flashy, and players looking for action gameplay or cinematic visuals may find it dry. However, that is also part of its identity. Franchise Hockey Manager 12 is built for people who enjoy statistics, planning, scouting reports, contracts, and organizational control. For that audience, the depth is the main attraction, and the interface serves the purpose of giving access to an enormous amount of information. Overall, Franchise Hockey Manager 12 is an excellent choice for dedicated hockey fans who want a serious and authentic management simulation. Its expanded training tools, richer draft presentation, improved AI behavior, broader historical content, tactical flexibility, and deep league systems make it one of the strongest entries in the series. It may be intimidating for newcomers, but for players who enjoy detailed sports management games, it offers a rewarding and highly replayable hockey experience. Rating: 7/10

I got this game refunded after less than 30 minutes. It started to crash if I clicked too quickly on menus. It's too bad because I enjoy some of the previous releases.

I recommend this game and its historical mode but it has issues that need to be addressed. The good: Having the minor professional leagues of old is great. The effort to get more and more realistic is appreciated. What needs to be improved: All years before 1956-57 ought have penalties go the full two minutes regardless of how many powerplay goals are scored against. The Minor league rosters still do miss some players from time to time. The Affiliation system in the late 1960s for the Pittsburgh Penguins is messed up as they are given the Quebec Aces as a farm team which is Philadelphia. The Affiliation system in General is lacking as during the Original Six teams had multiple affiliates and this is not shown for example, in 1965-66 the Toronto Maple Leafs had the Tulsa Oilers, Rochester Americans, and the Victoria Maple Leafs. Montreal had the Houston Apollos, the Quebec Aces, the Cleveland Barons, and the Seattle Totems. Or post expansion, Pittsburgh had Amarillo and Baltimore. For FHM 13 I would recommend working on this.

honestly once you get past the initial overwhelming layout the game is fun

Still has its issues but overall I found this years version had significant improvements that made this game much better