Wolfenstein Video Game Series
A series of first-person shooters (FPS) set in an alternate version of World War II. The series was started by the Muse Software studio. Currently, the rights to the brand are in the hands of Bethesda Softworks, and id Software and MachineGames teams are involved in its development.
A distinctive feature of the games in the series Wolfenstein is the fact that, although their action is set in the Second World War realities, depending on which one you're talking about, they are embellished with fantasy elements (including in the form of magical creatures and objects) or science fiction (through a futuristic arsenal or robots controlled by artificial intelligence). Apart from the two earliest installments of the series, the gameplay in each of these productions combines elements of FPS and action games; the brand is also familiar with solutions taken from stealth games.
The main character of the main parts of the series - William "B.J." Blazkowicz - is a well-trained Allied soldier with Polish roots, who has to stop the Nazis from carrying out their sinister plans at all costs, eliminating hordes of enemies (helped by a wide array of powerful guns) and completing various tasks that push the plot forward. Although the mainstay of any Wolfenstein is the story campaign, in some games under this banner we will also find a multiplayer mode complementing it.
Father of the brand Wolfenstein brand is Silas Warner, who at Muse Software studio led the development of its first two parts - Castle Wolfenstein. Castle Wolfenstein (1981) i Beyond Castle Wolfenstein (1984). Both games became a source of inspiration for the developers at id Software, which in 1992 resulted in the release of a shooter titled Wolfenstein 3D (to this day mistakenly considered by some gamers as the first FPS ever). The adventures of William "B.J." Blazkowicz became a hit, which encouraged the developers to prepare a sequel later that year - Spear of Destiny.
For the next installment of the series, however, players had to wait as long as 9 years, that is, until 2001, when the following game was released on personal computers Return to Castle Wolfenstein, developed (under the supervision of id Software) by the Gray Matter Interactive and Nerve Software studios (1.5 years later, the production also appeared on PlayStation 2 and Xbox). An add-on was also planned by the developers; Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, for that was its name, finally saw the light of day only in 2003, as a separate (and made available for free) item intended for multiplayer play. After that, the development of the series was once again halted. The brand did not return until 2008 with the mobile spin-off Wolfenstein RPG, and its new full-fledged installment which is also a reboot of the series - Wolfenstein RPG. Wolfenstein - was not released until 2009.
Nearly five years later, the series lived to see another reboot in the form of the game Wolfenstein: The New Order, which was produced by Sweden's MachineGames. The title was an artistic and commercial success, so that three years later it was able to debut its direct sequel - Wolfenstein. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. Meanwhile, the year 2019 brought two spin-offs of the series, in the creation of which the MachineGames team was helped by Arkane Studios. We are talking about prepared for VR headsets Wolfenstein: CyberpilotCyberpilot, as well as the co-op-oriented game Wolfenstein: Youngblood.
Leaving aside the two earliest productions by Muse Software, the games in the series Wolfenstein use successive iterations of id Tech technology developed by id Software studio (the same technology that found its way into, among others, the cycles of Doom and Quake).
Wolfenstein Series Evolution
2020
Wolfenstein: Alt History Collection
2019
Wolfenstein: Youngblood
2019
Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot
2017
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
2014
Wolfenstein: The New Order
2009
Wolfenstein
2003
Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Operation Resurrection
2003
Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War
2001
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
1992
Spear of Destiny
1992
Wolfenstein 3D
Wolfenstein III
Action
TBA
The ninth installment in the Wolfenstein series, and a continuation of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. The production developed by the Swedish Machine Games studio once again puts the players in the role of B.J. Blazkowicz, who continues his fight against the Nazis.
Wolfenstein: Alt History Collection
Action
June 25, 2020
Collection of four Wolfenstein FPP shooters, developed by the Machine Games team. The Wolfenstein: Alt History Collection consists of games: Wolfenstein: The New Order, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and Wolfenstein: Youngblood.
Wolfenstein: Youngblood
Action
July 26, 2019
A Wolfenstein spin-off created by MachineGames. This time around, the game focuses on B. J. Blazkowicz's daughters. The twin sisters Sophie and Jessica get to Nazi-occupied Paris in order to aid the local resistance. Unlike the previous installments, apart from the single-player mode, the game introduces also the cooperative experience.
Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot
Action
July 26, 2019
Wolfenstein Cyberpilot is an action game developed for PCs using virtual reality devices. The player takes on the role of a hacker who helps the Parisian resistance movement to fight the Nazis by breaking into German systems and taking control of their combat robots.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Action
October 27, 2017
Another installment of the best-selling FPS series, and at the same time a direct continuation to Wolfenstein: The New Order created by Machine Games. The Action of Wolfenstein: The New Colossus is set in 1961 – after waking up from a coma B.J. Blazkowicz and his companions find the United States of America occupied by the Nazis. The main protagonist finds common ground with the leaders of the local resistance, and decides to help them fight the invaders. As in the previous Wolfenstein installment, the gameplay in The New Colossus features exploration, completing consecutive missions, and eliminating scores of diverse foes. The players are given a wide range of murderous weapons – including not only classic firearms but also some more elaborate pieces. Interestingly, once again the developers have decided to abandon health regeneration mechanics in favor of the old-school med-kit system. The game features high-quality 3D graphics – in comparison to its predecessor, the most significant are the texture and special effect enhancements that accompany the gunfights.
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus - Episode Zero November 7, 2017
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus - The Adventures of Gunslinger Joe December 14, 2017
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus - The Diaries of Agent Silent Death January 30, 2018
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus - The Amazing Deeds of Captain Wilkins March 12, 2018
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Action
May 20, 2014
A first-person shooter and the seventh major installment in the Wolfenstein series. This one was developed by Swedish studio Machine Games, founded by former members of Starbreeze Studios. Wolfenstein: The New Order tells an alternative history of the World War II, where the Third Reich won. The game’s main hero is B. J. Blazkowicz, a veteran of the American special forces. After spending 20 years in cryosleep, he has to stand up to the Nazis once more. The gameplay boils down to annihilating armies of enemies with all sorts of weapons, and occasionally solving simple puzzles. The game’s advanced graphics are powered by the efficient id Tech 5 engine, also known from Rage and The Evil Within.
- Wolfenstein: The Old Blood May 5, 2015
Wolfenstein
Action
August 18, 2009
The popular FPS series, dating back to 8-bit computers (1981's Castle Wolfenstein), returns after a few years of absence. As the official owner of the franchise, Activision decided that the game would be created by Raven Software, the company known for Quake IV or the Soldier of Fortune series. Once again, the player assumes the role of B.J. Blazkowicz, who is trying to stop the Nazis and prevent them from inventing a secret weapon known as Black Sun. The story is set in Isenstadt, a fictional city occupied by the Nazi Germany. Nonetheless, a resistance is on the rise, and their help is priceless during several story missions. Apart from the modern-looking visuals, the game offers a wide set of weapons - including both representations of real firearms and a variety of fictional ones. The player can also upgrade the superpowers of the protagonist, gaining additional benefits. The AI of the enemies was improved, and a morale aspect was introduced to the game, affecting the behavior of enemies in combat.
Wolfenstein RPG
RPG
May 11, 2009
An unusual attempt to combine one of the most cult shooters of all time with elements of turn-based RPG. In the game we play the hero of B.J. Blazkowicz's cycle, who, captured by agents of the Third Reich, has to get free and face the evil brought into the world by a secret SS unit called Paranormal Division. Just like in the home game, we observe the action from the first-person perspective, but the fight itself was carried out in the turn-based system.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Operation Resurrection
Action
May 27, 2003
Another installment in the cult series of first-person shooters, the action of which takes place in an alternative version of World War II. Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Operation Resurrection is a PlayStation 2 port of Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Once again the player assumes the role of B.J. Blazkowicz, an American commando who is tasked with stopping Hitler from creating an army of undead super soldiers. In order to do it the protagonist must infiltrate castle Wolfenstein and eliminate the threat during more than a dozen of missions. Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Operation Resurrection for PlayStation 2 contains an additional mission: prologue, during which Blazkowicz fights against Nazis (including a few new opponents) in the city of Ras el-Hadid in Egypt. The gameplay mechanics are based on the basic version of Return to Castle Wolfenstein. The protagonist fights overwhelming enemy forces with guns available during World War II and some more futuristic weapons. Thanks to stealth features he can eliminate the opponents quietly. In addition to story campaign the game offers several multiplayer modes.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War
Action
May 27, 2003
A first-person shooter belonging to one of the most popular game franchises ever created. The player witnesses an alternative course of the Second World War, in which Hitler struggles to create an army of undead super soldiers. The player is put in the shoes of B.J. Blazkowicz - an American commando, whose task is to eliminate the source of the threat located in the titular Castle Wolfenstein. Similar to PlayStation 2, the Xbox console received its own edition of Return to Castle Wolfenstein, which has been enriched with an additional assignment that takes place in Africa - it is the prologue that familiarizes the player with the events that took place before the protagonist got captured by the Nazis. In terms of the mechanics, the game is a robust shooter featuring stealth and action elements. Blazkowicz is able to perfectly handle various firearms used during the World War II as well as futuristic weapons. The protagonist encounters various enemies; among them, one can find regular enemy soldiers, mutants, skeletons or zombies for instance. The multiplayer mode for up to 16 players gathered via Xbox Live is an additional feature the game comes with.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Action
November 20, 2001
A first-person shooter set during World War II and an attempt at refreshing the legendary FPS Wolfenstein 3D, a breakthrough installment in the series that originally began in 1981. It was developed by a previously unknown studio called Gray Matter, although id Software, the creators of the original, kept watch over the development process. In the game, we assume the role of an American soldier of Polish descent, B.J. Blazkowicz, who is tasked with stopping a secret Nazi experiment that aims to resurrect prince Heinrich I and use his power to gain upper hand in war. During his mission, the protagonist has to face various enemies that include not only SS soldiers but also creatures that are the result of the secret German experiments and supernatural powers. The game’s multiplayer mode is its big asset—players are divided into Allies and Nazis, and each side has different tasks to perform. The high-quality graphics are powered by a modified Quake III engine.
- Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory May 29, 2003
Spear of Destiny
Action
September 2, 1992
A sequel to Wolfenstein 3D, a popular shooter developed by id Software. Spear of Destiny was released in 1992, soon after the debut of the first game in the series. Because of that, the gameplay mechanics of both titles are very similar. Once again the player assumes the role of William B.J. Blazkowicz, an American Special Forces commando sent to Nazi Germany. This time he is tasked with reclaiming the legendary Spear of Destiny, moved by the Nazis from Versailles and placed in an inaccessible stronghold at the beginning of World War II. Spear of Destiny offers more than a dozen of new maps as well as some new enemies. In contrast to Wolfenstein 3D, the levels aren’t divided into episodes but form a single long mission which ends with a battle against Adolf Hitler. The gameplay remained unchanged – the action is shown from a first-person perspective and the player travels through corridors filled with enemies whom he defeats mostly by using firearms. Defeating a boss is usually rewarded with a key that unlocks passage to a new location.
Wolfenstein 3D
Action
May 5, 1992
A 1992 cult shooter game, often called the “forefather” of 3D FPS games. Wolfenstein 3D was developed by the famous studio id Software, also known from such titles as Doom or Quake. You play as William “B.J.” Blazkowicz, an Allied special forces spy, who undertakes dangerous missions on enemy territory. Blazkowicz is sent to Nazi Germany to infiltrate Castle Hollehammer, a secret base where research on creating a super-soldier is conducted. The singleplayer campaign consists of six episodes, starting with getting out of the eponymous Castle Wolfenstein. In the enclosed locations of the game, you face various opponents, from guard dogs, through foot soldiers, to powerful mutants—at the end of every level, you have to fight a mighty boss enemy. The levels are labyrinth-like, and your primary task in each of them is to find the exit key and proceed to the next location.
Wolfenstein Series News
Will Wolfenstein 3 Ever be Made? Job Offer Gives New Hope
Although the game about the adventures of Indiana Jones seems to be the flagship project of MachineGames at the moment, there is reason to believe that the developers have not stopped working on the Wolfenstein game as well.
video games
Kamil Kleszyk
June 4, 2023
Brutal Wolfenstein Version 7.0 Delights
A new version of the excellent Doom II mod called Brutal Wolfenstein 3D has been released. The project recreates the campaign of the classic FPS in an upgraded and more brutal version.
Files and Mods
Adrian Werner
May 7, 2023
Fan Remake of Medal of Honor: Underground is the Pipeline; Demo Available
A demo of Medal of Honor Reborn, a fan project recreating the campaign from the console game MoH: Underground on the Return to Castle Wolfenstein engine, has been released.
Files and Mods
Adrian Werner
November 6, 2022
Cult Classics for Free as Part of Xbox Insider Program
As part of the Xbox Insider program, we can get access to the classic installments of The Elder Scrolls and Wolfenstein series.
video games
Krzysiek Kalwasinski
July 8, 2022
Rumor: Wolfenstein, Dishonored and Prey Coming to Xbox Series X/S
The ESRB has rated several unannounced next-gen game compilations by Bethesda Sotworks. The first one is Dishonored & Prey The Arkane Collection and the second one - Wolfenstein Alt History Collection.
video games
Christian Pieniazek
October 6, 2020
Swastikas and other Nazi symbols are no longer censored in German games. Here’s how it happened
Swastikas and other Nazi symbols, banned from German video games for two decades, are back. Learn what made them unlawful, how it affected the industry, and what it took to bring them back.
video games
Mathias Zulpo
August 10, 2018
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Is Partially Censored in Poland. How and Why?
The Polish version of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus' official website is censored not to include swastikas. Find out why.
video games
July 18, 2017
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood announced as standalone prequel to The New Order
Bethesda has announced a standalone prequel to Wolfenstein: The New Order. The plot of the expansion entitled The Old Blood will be set before the events shown in The New Order, and will arrive to PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 this year on 5th May.
video games
March 5, 2015