Wolfenstein: Youngblood puts two agents back into the fight against the forces of the Third Reich, and the result is a shooter that knows exactly what it wants to be. It is loud, fast, and built around co-op play. It is also, in places, a little thin on ideas beyond that core loop. The game asks a lot of its players but offers a limited world in return.
Trailer, via Bethesda Softworks.
Two Agents, One Fight
Wolfenstein: Youngblood is a direct sequel to the 2017 reboot, set years after BJ Blazkowicz disappeared and left his daughters to carry on the fight. The game splits the action between two playable characters, both of whom share the same basic moves but gain distinct abilities as they progress. Switching between them mid-fight changes the pace, since each agent handles guns, gadgets, and movement slightly differently.
The game leans heavily on co-op play, and it shows. Playing alone feels like a reduced version of the experience, with the screen split awkwardly between the two characters and the game trying to balance its difficulty across both. Playing with a friend, though, turns the whole thing into a smoother, faster affair. The pacing shifts, the enemies react differently, and the level design opens up in ways it does not when played solo.
Levels Built for Mayhem
The levels themselves are mostly corridors and chambers built for combat. They are not deep, but they rarely feel wasted. Each area is packed with Nazis, guards, and mechanical horrors, and the game trusts the player to keep moving through them. The level design favors wide open spaces over narrow corridors, which suits the twin-stick shooter mechanics well.
Boss fights stand out as the strongest moments. They are designed to test both players at once, forcing coordination between the two agents. The game saves its best ideas for these set pieces, and they often feel more alive than the stretches of corridor running between them.
Guns and Gadgets
The weapons in Wolfenstein: Youngblood are a highlight. The game hands out a steady stream of new guns, each with its own feel and sound, and the player is encouraged to switch between them constantly. The shotgun, the machine gun, and the rocket launcher all carry distinct weight, and the game rewards players who experiment with combinations.
The gadgets are less memorable. Players can deploy turrets, traps, and grenades, but none of them feel essential. They are useful in a pinch, but the game rarely pushes players to lean on them outside of boss fights. The guns carry the weight of the combat, and the gadgets sit beside them as a small bonus rather than a central pillar.
Difficulty and Balance
The difficulty curve is uneven. Early sections are forgiving, almost too much so, while later chapters ramp up the enemy count and health bars without giving the player much room to learn the new threats. This shift can feel jarring, especially in solo play, where the game does not scale down gracefully.
The game does not always communicate what it expects of the player. Some encounters are designed to punish a single mistake, and the game does not always make clear what that mistake looks like until it happens. That can leave players feeling lost rather than challenged, especially in the harder sections where the game demands quick reactions.
Co-op as the Star
Playing with a second person is where Wolfenstein: Youngblood shines brightest. The game is built for two agents working together, and it rewards players who coordinate their attacks and share the load. Playing alone is a decent experience, but it never quite reaches the same heights. The game is at its best when the two agents are working in tandem, sharing cover and swapping roles as needed.
The game does not hide this fact. Its marketing, its tutorials, and its level design all point toward co-op as the primary way to play. Anyone playing alone is getting a different, smaller version of the game, and that version does not always hold up.
Sound and Look
The audio design is strong. Gunfire, explosions, and the mechanical shrieks of the game’s robotic enemies all carry weight. The soundtrack is minimal but effective, staying out of the way during combat and stepping up during boss fights. The game does not waste its sound budget on filler tracks, and that restraint pays off.
The visual style is bright and cartoonish, which fits the tone of the series. The game is not trying to be grim and realistic, and it does not pretend otherwise. The colors are bold, the lighting is dramatic, and the game rarely lets its scenery get in the way of the action. It is a clean, readable look that serves the gameplay well.
Where It Falls Short
The game’s ambitions are clear, but its execution sometimes falls short. The world outside the combat zones is thin, and the game rarely stops to let players explore or breathe. There is little in the way of side content, and the main path through the game is mostly a straight line from one fight to the next.
The pacing suffers as a result. The game can feel like a constant push forward, with little room for players to slow down or wander. That lack of variety can wear on players who want more than a steady stream of gunfire.
Numbers Worth Knowing
- Title: Wolfenstein: Youngblood
- Platforms: Stadia, PS4, PC, XONE
- Release: 2019
- Critical Score: 7.1/10
| Feature | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Co-op Play | Best mode, tight coordination | Solo play feels reduced |
| Weapon Variety | Diverse, satisfying | Gadget systems feel minor |
| Difficulty Curve | Early sections forgiving | Later sections punishing |
| Visual Style | Bold, readable | Thin world outside combat |
Final Word
Wolfenstein: Youngblood is a solid, if unambitious, addition to the series. It is at its best when played with a second person, and at its worst when forced to stand alone. The shooting is sharp, the levels are functional, and the tone is confident. It is not a reinvention, but it does not need to be one.
For players looking for a weekend of co-op fun, it delivers. For players hoping for a deeper, more varied adventure, it comes up short. The game is a competent entry in the series, but it is not the best one has seen.
