Wolfenstein: Youngblood

Youngblood doesn't offer the same variety in its mission or level design as Wolfenstein: The New Order, and it certainly doesn't match the ridiculous chaos born out of Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus' story, and what you're left with is a standalone spin-off that plays nice with others but can quickly become an exercise in frustration.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood is very clearly not Wolfenstein 3, and you shouldn't expect it to be. It's a side-story before the final chapter in MachineGames Wolf saga, and for what it is, it's a lot of fun. It doesn't succeed at everything it does – the RPG mechanics in particular feel tacked on and needless – but its open-ended nature and excellent level design still make it a really good Nazi-slaying time.

All MachineGames and Arkane Studios needed to do was make a straightforward, cooperative Wolfenstein experience. Instead, Youngblood replaces the series’ celebrated narrative twists and turns with humdrum XP grinding and a live-service model. It would be bad in most games, but the fact that it’s in a Wolfenstein title makes it sting a little bit worse.