Debuting its take on Wolfenstein in 2014, MachineGames has delivered some excellent, and some not-so-excellent titles within the FPS series. Regardless of the quality of some entries, it has established its style in the genre as bombastic and action-packed.
Its first project outside the series was announced as an untitled Indiana Jones game. While we wait for the inevitable Wolfenstein 3 and what the studio's take on Indiana Jones will look like, let's glance back at some of its older games and how they fared on Metacritic.
5 Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot (PC) - 54
MachineGames took advantage of the modern gaming landscape to try out virtual reality with Cyberpilot. It accompanied Youngblood, as both games were released on the same day. Travel to 1980s France, as you play a hacker who causes mayhem for the Nazis and help the French resistance in your mech.
Co-developed with Arkane—the studio behind Dishonored—Cyberpilot received low to mixed reviews. The poor reception was mostly due to the story and combat. On the narrative side, it was felt that it didn't lend much to the world of Wolfenstein, and Combat-wise, it was repetitive with controls that felt off, making for weightless actions.
4 Wolfenstein: Youngblood (PC) - 69
A prelude to the third installment, with Arkane co-developing again. Youngblood was set in the 1980s and followed B.J.'s daughters, Jess and Soph, as they go to France to find their father. It can be played alone, but it has the option to play through the campaign co-op as either of the sisters. So, whether you liked it or not, at least you could experience it with a buddy.
You may want to say "nice" to its Metacritic score, but Youngblood was yet another entry in the series with a mixed reception. The characters and story were uninspiring. Compared to the memorable crew accompanying B.J., the daughters seemed absolutely bland. RPG mechanics were introduced, but failed to make any difference overall.
3 Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (PS4) - 76
Like Youngblood and Cyberpilot, The Old Blood was a standalone story within MachineGames' overarching Wolfenstein story. It was a prequel to The New Order and introduced a few new ideas to the series, like zombie Nazis. The added horror elements in this action-packed, eight-chapter story made for a welcomed change in the studio's growing catalog.
The blood-filled action made for a fun six-or-so hour long adventure. It was a blast for people wanting more of the gunplay they got to experience in The New Order. Unfortunately, due to its pacing, it does not have time to explore its story, themes, and characters fully. It shows that solid gameplay can do some heavy lifting, but more substance is also just as important.
2 Wolfenstein: The New Order (PC) - 81
Taking on an iconic series was a daunting task for the studio, especially for its debut. It had been years since Id Software touched the series; and Raven Software's 2009 entry received a mixed reception. In 2014, it was time for MacineGames to prove itself by taking on the beloved series.
The idea of Nazis winning World War 2 has been done nearly to death, but MachineGames added its own spin to it. The concept was well executed, with interesting characters too. The combat made it work, and proved that this team of devs could handle major series'. Guns that packed a punch with simplistic yet deadly stealth systems made for endless fun while taking down Nazis.
1 Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus (Xbox One) - 88
The story moves forward as B.J. and the resistance movement continues pushing back against the Nazis. The New Colossus also introduces flashbacks to the protagonist's childhood, with his abusive father and loving mother. On the gameplay front, new mechanics were introduced for both the core gameplay and certain segments of the campaign. For example, in the early parts of the campaign, you get to fight Nazis while in a wheelchair. After that, you get put into an exoskeleton that gives you a physical edge over most enemies.
The highest reviewed game in the rebooted series showed what MachineGames learned and improved over the years of the mainline and standalone Wolfenstein entries. The combat was more brutal and satisfying, showing that the team built upon their foundation set right from The Old Blood and The New Order. The writing was at its best, giving the player time to breathe and enjoy the cast of characters, along with dramatic beats and laugh-out-loud moments. In about 15 hours, the story and gameplay come together to deliver a rollercoaster filled with thrills, drama, horror, and loads of Nazi-killing fun.