Wolfenstein: Youngblood Reviews
Whether or not you enjoy Wolfenstein: Youngblood is going to depend on a lot of factors. If you loved the previous games for their narrative depth, linear story, and simplified gameplay, this might be a tough sell for you. Youngblood is still fundamentally Wolfenstein in almost every way that matters but, like its rookie heroines, it’s a little unpolished and rough around the edges. If you’re looking for something new, innovative, and daring, and can overlook a few flaws (some more glaring than others) then it’s time to suit up, gear up, and once again prove that the only good Nazi is a dead one.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood reminds me of that follow-up movie that no one asked for, with a new director that poorly attempts to live-off and replicate the great work done by its predecessors.
Wolfenstein Youngblood is an awesome third chapter in the latest Wolfenstein series. The fast gameplay, weapon customization, and AI make this a great FPS, but it doesn't live up to the same cinematic level as the first two games.
An interesting and entertaining attempt at bringing the main Wolfenstein series' shooting mechanics into a co-op adventure that for the most part succeeds as long as you bring a friend. Solo play is disappointing but functional and fun times can be had regardless of how you play.
A frustrating and completely pointless game, devoid of any meaning of reason to be, that breaks the good streak that the series was having with its last MachineGames' titles.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Regardless, with graphical improvements, constant performance updates, and an upcoming RTX implementation on Nvidia’s side of things – Wolfenstein: Youngblood could very well be one of the greatest the series has to offer in quite some time. Our only complaint? The minor audio and video jitters that do happen once in a very blue moon.
This sequel will come as a surprise to hardcore fans, as the developers took a big risk trying to redefine their first person shooter. But while it retained certain DNA from the previous titles, it failed in distinguishing its structure from those games.
Overall, Youngblood is a welcome reinvention of the series, but lacks the personality of what makes a Wolfenstein game. Microtransactions aren't as bad they're made out, but it is still understandably going to impact each person differently. The extensive replay incentive and a charming, albeit short, story are appreciated. If you are a Wolfenstein enthusiast, this game definitely deserves at least one playthrough— just make sure you won't have any interruptions during your sessions.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood isn’t bad, but it’s not amazing either. It’s a serviceable Wolfenstein entry with some great standout parts—like the gunplay—but also has odd coop mechanics that detract from the gameplay. The difficulty feels unbalanced: you start out super weak and enemies are super bullet spongy. This eases over time as you gain levels and purchase gun upgrades, but it’s a slow grind.
"Tango takes two."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Wolfenstein: Youngblood is a stylish detour that allows the series to safely explore some new directions while setting the scene before the next game. But it's not taking the risks where it really counts. In an era where right-wing extremism is an increasing threat, and the line between fantasy and reality becomes blurred, the visible politics of Wolfenstein can't shoulder the weight of the game alone.
If you're a Wolfenstein fan, don't buy this game. Not yet at least, wait until it's at least 30-50% off. This game is not worth full price.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood feels like a short co-op experience stretched out over a barebones RPG skeleton. It doesn’t feel comfortable in its own skin. It’s too thin in some parts while being bloated and lumpy in others. Whatever it is, I don’t really want to touch it. Ultimately, it’s just a disappointing sidestep in an otherwise fantastic franchise.
In the end, Youngblood is a budget priced spinoff that works in the gameplay department just like the previous games, but lacks in a lot of other areas.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood falls dramatically short of its predecessor in most ways and feels like a missed opportunity for a great focused, story-driven co-op game. That said, killing all of Hitler's best friends with a co-op partner at your side isn't without its enjoyable moments.
An interesting idea, but sadly a weak game for single players, or people looking for random people. It’s a game that could have worked, but bugs and microtransactions hold it back
Wolfenstein: Youngblood is hurting without B.J.. While he was sort of made out to be a tool in The New Colossus, his daughters are insufferable dude-bros who only want to kill - they just so happen to use Nazis as an excuse to justify their bloodlust. There are no more soulful internal monologues, instead these girls cause tons of collateral damage, and the game acts like its cute. The gameplay is so flawed on a fundamental level that it is beyond saving and all of it is for the sake of padding.
It breaks my heart a little to slap a relatively low score on this. Both The New Order and The New Colossus were fantastic reinventions of a venerated gaming franchise, delivering satisfying gunplay with surprisingly touching narrative hooks. Youngblood still has that great feel, it's just wrapped up in a co-op focused bubble which detracts from the traditional flow of the game.
More so, if you're a fan of the series, don't force yourself to try it for the sake of nostalgia, as it has almost nothing "Wolfenstein-ish" left in it.
While I can appreciate that Machine Games may have wanted to push the envelope and try something new with a series they’ve been hard at work on for years, I think they may have pushed the boat a little too far all at once. This is a very different Wolfenstein experience, and while it’s not bad, it’s certainly not what I’d expected from them based on the history of the series and the pre-release previews of the game. I’m still very much interested in seeing where they take the Wolfenstein franchise from here though.