Wolfenstein

Wolfenstein is a long-running series of World War II-themed video games that began with Castle Wolfenstein and Beyond Castle Wolfenstein in the early 1980s.

Wolfenstein is a long-running series of World War II-themed video games that began with Castle Wolfenstein and Beyond Castle Wolfenstein in the early 1980s. The series is best known for Wolfenstein 3D, which helped popularize the first-person shooter genre, and for later alternate-history games centered on William "B.J." Blazkowicz and Nazi rule. The franchise blends historical settings with fictional elements such as occult themes and advanced technology.

Overview

Wolfenstein is a long-running franchise whose early titles focused on stealth and later titles expanded into first-person shooter gameplay. The series blends historical World War II settings with fictional elements such as occult themes, advanced technology, and alternate history.

Gameplay and style

The earliest games, Castle Wolfenstein and Beyond Castle Wolfenstein, emphasized stealth and top-down movement. Starting with Wolfenstein 3D, the series became associated with fast-paced first-person shooting.

Story and characters

The series' main recurring character is William "B.J." Blazkowicz, an American soldier who opposes Nazi forces across multiple games. Later entries place him in an alternate timeline where Nazi Germany has achieved victory in World War II.

Development history

Wolfenstein was created by Muse Software and later became closely associated with id Software through Wolfenstein 3D. After id Software was acquired by ZeniMax Media, MachineGames took over as the main developer for the modern series.