Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus built on the successful reboot of the series, moving the fight against the Nazi regime straight into occupied America of an alternate 1960s. The player once again takes on the role of B. J. Blazkowicz, this time a badly wounded and physically deteriorating hero who nonetheless sets out to spark a rebellion. Developer MachineGames leaned into contrast: between intensely brutal firefights come long, quiet, and surprisingly intimate scenes aboard a captured submarine, where a story unfolds about family, guilt, and the decision to fight.

The action itself is fast and aggressive. The game rewards constant movement, dual-wielding two weapons at once, and switching between open assault and quietly eliminating officers who would otherwise call in endless reinforcements. The arsenal ranges from classic automatic weapons to heavy energy cannons, and the player gradually unlocks abilities that change how levels can be tackled, such as squeezing through narrow gaps or smashing through walls. The levels are varied, from a devastated Manhattan to a flooded city, blending straightforward arenas with spaces that offer more than one way forward.

Technically, on PlayStation 4 the game leaned on high fluidity and striking interior lighting, and visually on a heavily stylized vision of America under the swastika that is strongest in the quiet moments between battles. The performances and dialogue rank among the best the genre has offered, and the score alternates between dark industrial soundscapes and period motifs. Critics received the game very well, praising the storytelling and pacing in particular, while some players complained about the high difficulty and the protagonist's fragility. Today, The New Colossus stands as proof that a classic shooter can carry a dark, satirical, and unexpectedly moving story. Alongside the main line, the game offers a set of side missions for supporting characters and the chance to return to already-visited areas, though the campaign itself is fairly short, dense, and deliberately free of padding.