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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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How It Works • Games & Tech

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.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Wolfenstein is a long-running video game series that began in 1981 with stealth-based top-down games and later helped define the first-person shooter genre. The franchise follows protagonist William "B.J." Blazkowicz through World War II and alternate-history settings where the Nazis won.

What it is

Wolfenstein is a video game franchise that started with Castle Wolfenstein (1981) and Beyond Castle Wolfenstein (1984), both stealth-focused top-down titles. The series shifted to first-person shooting with Wolfenstein 3D (1992), which is widely credited with popularizing the genre. Modern entries, developed by MachineGames, are set in an alternate timeline where the Axis powers won World War II.

Key details

The series' main character is William "B.J." Blazkowicz, an American soldier fighting Nazi forces. Early games were created by Muse Software, but Wolfenstein 3D brought id Software into the picture. After ZeniMax Media acquired id Software, MachineGames became the primary developer for recent titles, blending historical settings with occult themes and advanced technology.

Why it matters

Wolfenstein 3D is a landmark title that helped establish the first-person shooter genre, influencing countless games and developers. The series has been widely released in North America, including Canada, and remains a touchstone for both stealth and action gameplay in video game history.

In short

  • Wolfenstein began in 1981 as a stealth series and shifted to first-person shooting with Wolfenstein 3D.
  • The protagonist is William "B.J." Blazkowicz, who fights Nazis in historical and alternate-history settings.
  • Wolfenstein 3D helped popularize the first-person shooter genre.
  • Modern games are developed by MachineGames under ZeniMax Media.
Canadian angle

Wolfenstein has been released widely in North America, including Canada, and is part of the broader history of first-person shooters that influenced Canadian gaming audiences and developers.

Quick questions

What is Wolfenstein?
Wolfenstein is a video game series that mixes World War II settings with stealth, shooting, and alternate-history fiction, starting in 1981.
Who is the main character?
The main recurring protagonist is William "B.J." Blazkowicz, an American soldier who appears in most games.
Which Wolfenstein game is most historically important?
Wolfenstein 3D (1992) is the landmark title that helped popularize the first-person shooter genre.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfenstein
    Supports: Series overview, original developer, gameplay evolution, protagonist, alternate-history setting, MachineGames role
  2. Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfenstein_(Computerspielreihe)
    Supports: Series history, ownership context, Wolfenstein 3D's role in defining first-person shooters
  3. Wolfenstein Wiki — https://wolfenstein.fandom.com/wiki/Wolfenstein_Wiki
    Supports: Protagonist, story themes, alternate-history premise
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfenstein_(2009_video_game)
    Supports: Modern-era title context and lineage within the series