Pixel Sundays: Wolfenstein – From the father of FPS to the modern story shooter
The Wolfenstein franchise is one of the oldest and most influential shooter franchises in gaming history. It started back in 1981 with Castle Wolfenstein. Early on, Wolfenstein focused more on stealth than pure action, which was unusual and new at the time. You had to sneak around to avoid enemies and approach situations strategically. However, the franchise truly became big in 1992 with Wolfenstein 3D.
Summary
- The beginnings – How Wolfenstein shaped the shooter genre
- Reboot and story focus – The new generation of Wolfenstein
- Gameplay – Brutal action meets modern shooter mechanics
- Highs and weaknesses – A series in transition
- The future of the series – What comes after Blazkowicz?
- Conclusion – Why Wolfenstein still matters today
Wolfenstein 3D introduced the first person perspective and fast, direct gunplay as a new standard. This gave the franchise a huge influence on later shooters. The games focus on alternative stories around World War II. There is a mix of Nazi technology, science fiction, and exaggerated enemies. You often see experimental weapons and supernatural elements. Early games featured simple level structures, but later titles evolved into more complex game worlds. Modern entries also focus on cinematic presentation and storytelling.
The beginnings – How Wolfenstein shaped the shooter genre
The origin of the Wolfenstein franchise dates back to Castle Wolfenstein in 1981. The game focused less on pure action and more on planning and stealth. You had to use enemy uniforms, avoid enemies, and manage your resources. This approach was very innovative at the time and introduced tactical gameplay. Back then, there was no first person perspective, and the game was played from a top down view.
The big breakthrough came in 1992 with Wolfenstein 3D. Developed by id Software, the game was technically ahead of its time. It introduced the first person perspective as a core gameplay element. This led to fast gameplay with direct gunplay instead of complex systems. You move through maze like levels filled with enemies and secrets. Typical gameplay elements included:
- Collecting keys to unlock new areas
- Exploring secret rooms and hidden items
- Clear level structure without an open world
- Focus on reflexes and navigation instead of story
The story was minimal, but there was a clear motivation: escape and fight against the Nazi regime. The technical execution set new standards for 3D visuals in gaming. This gave the game a major influence on later shooters like DOOM. With its innovative gameplay, Wolfenstein 3D laid many foundations for the FPS genre such as perspective, level design, and pacing. The developers inspired many others and defined the genre for years. That is why Wolfenstein is considered one of the most important foundations of modern shooters.
In 2001, Return to Castle Wolfenstein was released under Activision as publisher, featuring modern graphics and gameplay. After that, smaller titles followed such as the multiplayer shooter Wolfenstein Enemy Territory or the mobile game Wolfenstein RPG with turn based combat. In 2009, a new Wolfenstein developed by Raven Software was released, but it was not hugely successful.
Reboot and story focus – The new generation of Wolfenstein
In 2009, the brand was taken over by Bethesda Softworks and received a complete reboot. The new games have since been developed by MachineGames. The first title was released in 2014 under the name Wolfenstein: The New Order. You can clearly see a shift away from pure shooter gameplay towards story driven campaigns. The new games focus heavily on character development, dialogue, and emotional moments. The presentation is modern, with cutscenes, cinematic style, and a clear story structure. The main character remains William B J Blazkowicz, just like in earlier entries.
William is portrayed in a much more human way in the newer games, with themes like trauma, resistance, loss, and hope taking center stage. You can clearly feel his thoughts, doubts, and motivations. The key titles of the reboot include Wolfenstein The New Order as a successful restart with a dark alternative world and strong story focus. The direct sequel is Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, which puts even more focus on characters and emotional storytelling. In total, five games were released between 2014 and 2019.
The setting of these games is based on the idea that the Nazis won World War II. You see a dystopian world with technological superiority. It is a mix of science fiction, oppression, and resistance movements. The gameplay combines brutal shooter action with narrative depth. There are intense battles with heavy weapons and fast gunplay. At the same time, dialogue and story progression create quieter moments. The balance between action and emotional storytelling makes the reboot stand out.
Gameplay – Brutal action meets modern shooter mechanics
The reboot games deliver classic run and gun gameplay as the core of the series. Movement is fast, combat is aggressive, and the overall flow is high paced. You are rewarded for playing actively instead of defensively. One of the defining features of the modern games is dual wielding, allowing you to use two weapons at once, even combining heavy weapons. This leads to chaotic, over the top, and extremely intense fights. It enhances the feeling of power and speed in gameplay.
The games still offer a mix of stealth and direct combat. You can either eliminate enemies silently or attack head on. Stealth reduces enemy numbers since no reinforcements are called, giving you a tactical advantage. Open fights are intense, fast, and often challenging. The level design offers multiple paths to your objective, including alternative routes, hidden areas, and tactical options. This gives you the freedom to approach situations in different ways and increases replayability, since you can choose different paths in each playthrough.
There is also a progression system based on your playstyle. Perks are unlocked by frequently performing certain actions. For example, more stealth gameplay improves your stealth abilities. This rewards individual playstyles instead of a traditional XP grind. The game also features seamless transitions between gameplay and cutscenes. Many cinematic moments happen directly during gameplay. Explosions, dramatic scenes, and story events feel like they come straight from a movie. This makes the gameplay both accessible and varied.
Highs and Weaknesses – A Series in Transition
The modern Wolfenstein series achieved major success with its strong focus on storytelling. In particular, Wolfenstein: The New Order was praised for its dense atmosphere and powerful narrative, while Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus also impressed with its bold story and intense presentation. Character development and emotional moments were highlighted as key strengths. At the same time, it became clear that not every new direction is equally well received.
The latest game in the series is Wolfenstein: Youngblood and it moved significantly away from the previous formula. The focus of this game is on co op gameplay instead of a classic single player campaign. It also introduced some RPG elements such as a level system and enemy levels. Many fans criticized the changed game structure and the grinding. Common points of criticism include:
- Less focus on story and presentation
- Repetitive missions and less varied design
- Unbalanced enemy strength due to the level system
- Forced co op instead of a classic solo experience
This led to discussions within the community. People started asking how much innovation a series can handle without losing its identity. The developers need to find a balance between classic shooter gameplay and modern systems. On top of that, there are different fan expectations, some want more classic run and gun action, while others want more story and characters. Despite these weaknesses and issues, Wolfenstein remains relevant in the shooter genre. The series has repeatedly reinvented itself without completely losing its roots, even if the latest entry with only 44% positive reviews was not well received.
Future of the Series – What Comes After Blazkowicz?
After the events of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and Wolfenstein: Youngblood, many story questions are still unresolved. In particular, the fate of William B J Blazkowicz and the resistance against the regime is not fully concluded. The series clearly suggests that another major conflict is coming. The last game was released in 2019 and many fans are now waiting for a clear continuation of the main story. The series was originally planned as a trilogy and a potential Wolfenstein 3 could complete the story trilogy. The developers at MachineGames have also hinted multiple times that the story will continue.
Since MachineGames has spent the last few years working on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, this release was delayed. But now that the Indiana Jones game and its DLC have been released, the studio can focus on Wolfenstein again. Reports about casting and production suggest that a new entry is actively in development.
The final part of the trilogy could place a stronger focus on characters beyond Blazkowicz. With a modern engine, larger levels, better AI, and more realistic presentation are possible, which would benefit the franchise. A mix of story focus and intense action is still expected. The challenge remains to combine innovation with classic strengths. Since the publisher Bethesda Softworks is now part of Microsoft, the studio has access to more resources and platforms, which could help deliver a strong third entry in the Wolfenstein series. The future of the franchise remains promising despite the last game’s failure, but still uncertain.
Conclusion – Why Wolfenstein Still Matters Today
Wolfenstein is much more than just another shooter franchise, it is a core pillar in the development of the entire genre. From the early stealth elements in Castle Wolfenstein to the groundbreaking first person perspective in Wolfenstein 3D, the series has consistently set new standards. The modern titles from MachineGames in particular show that the franchise can evolve successfully by combining classic run and gun action with emotional storytelling.
Despite some weaknesses and controversial experiments like Youngblood, Wolfenstein remains a relevant and influential name in the shooter genre. The open future around B J Blazkowicz and potential new titles offers strong potential to strengthen the series again. If it manages to balance innovation with its classic strengths, the next chapter could cement the series as a timeless classic.
Hey, I’m Kilian, but online you’ll probably know me as “Tux1243.” I've been part of the team for almost two years now, always trying to keep you in the loop with the latest and coolest gaming news. I also have a huge passion for doing deep dives and detailed analyses of entire game series and franchises. I love getting to the bottom of things and exploring the little details and backstories that make game worlds so fascinating.
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Comments (115)
OMG! Never knew about Castle Wolfenstein (1981) until today's AKS article! :o You're the best!
Wolfenstein...what we can say about this old and great fps franchise?, it's just simply amazing, they inspired a lot of other franchises. Discord: Raizelth
The Wolfenstein Games are just great, I hope the next one will be also good!
Wolfenstein series is a wonderful classics. I love it so much! 4ssen
This series is a real gem of action-packed fun :) I love fast-paced FPS games and this is perfect for me