10 Great Video Games (With Terrible Storylines)

10. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (2017)

Despite a few shortcomings, Bethesda’s revival of Id’s famous Wolfenstein franchise has been relatively well-received. Though the first game was, ironically, pretty narrative-heavy for a game bearing the Wolfenstein name, it was nonetheless one of the most well-remember games of 2014.

It’s sequel, however, didn’t quite get the same treatment. The series’ alt-history storyline drastically jumped the shark. Plus, for what it’s worth, the overall Steam reviews for Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus are mixed.

While the original series reboot was a satisfying tale of perseverance and revenge, the new game’s plot is all over the place. After surviving a decapitation at the hands of the nefarious Frau Engel—a ludicrous plot point in itself—franchise protagonist William Blazkowicz embarks on a long-winded tour of American cities which eventually culminates in a trip to the planet Venus—yes, seriously.

2014’s Wolfenstein game did see players touring a secret Nazi moon base, but that felt entirely practical when compared to some of the shenanigans which occur in the sequel. This is by no means an indictment of Bethesda or Machine Games, but, if this is to become a trilogy, it would be nice to tone things down just a notch.