Wolfenstein: Youngblood Deluxe (v2023.05.04)

Nazi-occupied Paris becomes a neon-lit killing ground in this co-op-focused first-person shooter, where BJ Blazkowicz’s twin daughters take the fight underground and across the city. Set nearly two decades after Wolfenstein II, Youngblood trades the previous games’ solitary war story for a faster, more flexible hunt for a missing father. Jess and Soph bring plenty of the series’ trademark excess: brutal close-range executions, absurd sci-fi weaponry, towering mechanized enemies, and an alternate-history regime that remains suitably vile. The mood is still defiant and violent, but the sibling banter gives the campaign a lighter, more playful edge than its predecessors.

Combat revolves around choosing the right tool for each armored enemy, upgrading weapons, and coordinating attacks with a partner. Players can dual-wield guns, lean into stealth with suppressed weapons and melee takedowns, or storm objectives with heavy firepower, while shared “pep signals” let the sisters heal, buff, or revive one another. Paris is organized around a catacomb hideout and several revisitable districts, allowing missions, side objectives, collectible hunts, and assassination-style raids to be tackled in different orders. Experience earned in battle unlocks abilities and weapon improvements, although stronger foes and RPG-style levels can make direct assaults punishing if you ignore upgrades or arrive underprepared. Solo play remains fully available with an AI-controlled sister, but the design clearly works best when two players communicate.

Youngblood stands apart from earlier modern Wolfenstein entries through its cooperative structure and more open mission selection, rather than a purely linear cinematic march. Its Deluxe edition is most appealing for players who want to bring a friend along, thanks to its Buddy Pass feature, alongside cosmetic extras that add some visual flair without changing the core campaign. The looser story and repeated missions do not reach the dramatic heights of The New Order or The New Colossus, yet the shooting still feels sharp, aggressive, and satisfyingly chaotic. Fans of Borderlands-style progression mixed with Doom-like gunplay, especially duos looking for a compact co-op shooter, find the most to enjoy here.