Wolfenstein is a series of video games that imagine a different version of World War II. Most of the games follow William "B.J." Blazkowicz, an American Army captain, as he fights against the Axis powers. Earlier games in the series focus on Nazi efforts to use magical or supernatural powers, while later games take place in a world where Nazis have successfully used science fiction technology to win World War II.
The first two games, Castle Wolfenstein and Beyond Castle Wolfenstein, used stealth gameplay and showed the player's view from above. Starting with Wolfenstein 3D by id Software, the series shifted to and helped make popular a type of game called first-person shooter, where players see through the eyes of the character. After ZeniMax Media bought id Software, including the Wolfenstein franchise, the company MachineGames became the main developer for the series.
History
Castle Wolfenstein was created by programmer Silas Warner, along with Dale Gray and George Varndell. It was published in 1981 by Warner’s company, M.U.S.E. Inc., which later became known as Muse Software. Warner is recognized as a pioneer in the early development of video games, especially in the stealth genre.
The idea for Castle Wolfenstein came to Warner after he watched the 1961 British-American war film The Guns of Navarone, which tells the story of Allied soldiers trying to destroy a strong German fortress. That same day, Warner played an arcade game called Berzerk, where players move through a maze filled with laser-shooting robots. After playing, Warner thought about changing the robots in Berzerk to Nazis. He eventually decided to make a game based on the shoot-'em-up genre, where players avoid enemies instead of fighting them directly. The goal became escaping a castle, not killing enemies, making shooting guards a tool to help achieve the main objective.
Castle Wolfenstein is often considered one of the first video games in the stealth genre because it focuses on avoiding or disarming enemies, with killing them as a last option. It was the first computer game to use digitized speech and influenced later games like Metal Gear and Thief. Muse Software released a follow-up game, Beyond Castle Wolfenstein, in 1984. The company officially ended operations on October 7, 1987.
In November 1991, a new video game company called id Software was formed by programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack. After finishing a contract with their previous employer, Softdisk, the team planned their next major game. Initially, they considered making a science fiction game called It’s Green and Pissed, but John Romero suggested a 3D remake of Castle Wolfenstein. The team liked the idea because they had all enjoyed the original 1981 version. They later discovered that the trademark for Castle Wolfenstein had expired by 1986, so they could use the name.
Development of Wolfenstein 3D began on December 15, 1991. The team planned to include features from the original game, such as dragging and looting dead bodies. They also added ideas inspired by the stealth elements of Castle Wolfenstein, like swapping uniforms with guards and attacking enemies stealthily. However, these features were later removed because they slowed down the game. John Romero explained that the game was most enjoyable when it was fast-paced and focused on quickly moving through levels while fighting enemies.
Wolfenstein 3D was released on May 5, 1992, by Apogee Software. The game helped create the first-person shooter genre and changed the direction of the Wolfenstein series. It was the first game to use a first-person view and 3D graphics, moving away from the stealth-focused gameplay of the original. The game introduced William “B.J.” Blazkowicz, an American spy of Polish Jewish descent, who became the main character in the series.
id Software hoped to earn about $60,000 from the game when it was released. By the end of 1993, Wolfenstein 3D had sold over 100,000 copies, and its prequel, Wolfenstein 3D: Spear of Destiny, had sold an additional 100,000 copies.
Games
A stealth-adventure game set during World War II, where the player controls an unnamed American prisoner of war. The goal is to steal German files with secret war plans and escape a Nazi stronghold. The player must avoid, disarm, or sometimes kill enemy guards.
The first game in the series was created and released by M.U.S.E. Inc. in 1981.
A sequel to Castle Wolfenstein, set during World War II when Adolf Hitler was Germany’s leader. The player must travel through levels of a secret Berlin bunker where Hitler holds meetings. The goal is to retrieve a bomb placed inside the bunker and move it to the room where Hitler is meeting, similar to a real event called the July 20 Plot.
Beyond Castle Wolfenstein was the second and final game made by Muse Software, released in 1984. After the original game designer, Silas Warner, passed away, his wife released a version of the game that works on different platforms and shared the original code in 2004.
After the Nazis capture an American spy named William "B.J." Blazkowicz, who was sent to stop Nazi plans, they imprison him under Castle Wolfenstein. Blazkowicz finds a way to disable a guard, takes a stolen gun, and moves through the castle’s underground floors to uncover the truth about "Operation Eisenfaust" and destroy it.
Wolfenstein 3D was the first game in the series made by id Software and published by Apogee Software. It was the first game in the series to use the first-person shooter style, which became very popular.
Spear of Destiny is an expansion pack for Wolfenstein 3D, made by id Software and published by FormGen Corporation. The story happens before Wolfenstein 3D and follows Blazkowicz as he tries to reclaim the Spear of Destiny from the Nazis. Spear of Destiny had two additional expansions made by FormGen: Return to Danger and Ultimate Challenge.
Two agents from an Allied spy group, William "B.J." Blazkowicz and Agent One, are captured by the Nazis while investigating a secret Nazi project called the SS Paranormal Division. Agent One is killed during questioning, but Blazkowicz escapes. He later learns the Nazis are working on a plan called "Operation Resurrection," which involves using supernatural forces to help them win the war.
This game was made by Gray Matter Studios and published by Activision, released in 2001 for Microsoft Windows. It was later made available for consoles two years later.
Originally planned as an expansion to Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Enemy Territory was released as a free multiplayer-only game instead. It did not include a single-player story but expanded on the multiplayer features from the previous game. Enemy Territory was made by Splash Damage and published by Activision.
A later game called Enemy Territory: Quake Wars was released in 2007 as a follow-up.
During a mission to investigate the Nazi Paranormal Division, Blazkowicz is captured and imprisoned in The Tower. He escapes and works to stop the Nazis’ supernatural activities by infiltrating Castle Wolfenstein.
This is a mobile phone game made by Fountainhead Entertainment and published by EA Mobile in 2008. John Carmack, who helped create Wolfenstein 3D, worked on this game as the only programmer.
Blazkowicz finds a strange medallion with supernatural powers on a German battleship. He learns the Nazis are mining for rare crystals called "Nachtsonne" to access a hidden dimension called the "Black Sun." The OSA sends Blazkowicz to a town called Isenstadt, where the Nazis are mining these crystals.
A 2009 game was a loose sequel to Return to Castle Wolfenstein, made by Raven Software, produced by id Software, and published by Activision.
The New Order is set in an alternate universe where the Axis powers won World War II. In 1946, OSA agent Blazkowicz is sent to kill General Deathshead as part of a final Allied attack. The mission fails, and Blazkowicz is seriously injured and put into a coma.
In 1960, Blazkowicz wakes up in an asylum, unaware of his past. He escapes after Nazis plan to destroy the asylum and joins the Resistance to fight the Nazis.
After Activision gave the publishing rights to Bethesda Softworks, The New Order was developed by MachineGames starting in 2010.
The Old Blood is a prequel to The New Order, following Blazkowicz and Agent One as they infiltrate Castle Wolfenstein to find General Deathshead’s location. Agent One is killed, but Blazkowicz escapes. He later learns about supernatural activities led by a Nazi scientist named Helga von Schabbs.
This game is a remake of Return to Castle Wolfenstein, with similar story elements and characters. It was made by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks, released in 2015 as an expansion to The New Order.
Set five months after The New Order, Blazkowicz wakes from his coma on a stolen Nazi submarine controlled by a resistance group. After an attack by Frau Engel, the resistance leader is killed, and Blazkowicz takes over leadership. He plans to free America from the Nazis and use it as a base to liberate the rest of the world.
Television series
In 2012, movie producer Samuel Hadida and Panorama Media announced plans to create a movie version of Wolfenstein. Roger Avary was going to write and direct the film.
In July 2025, a TV series version of Wolfenstein was announced to be in development at Amazon MGM Studios. Patrick Somerville is the creator and showrunner, and Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, Athena Wickham, James Altman, and Jerk Gustafsson are the executive producers.