Wolfenstein 3D

About

Wolfenstein 3D is a single player shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by id Software and was released on August 3, 2007. It received very positive reviews from players.

In Wolfenstein 3D, play as agent B.J. Blazkowicz and escape from Castle Wolfenstein during World War II. Fight against Nazis, scientists, and mutants using various weapons in this early 3D first-person shooter. This classic game is known for starting the modern FPS genre and includes the Spear of Destiny expansion.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,603 reviews

gameplay45 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Wolfenstein 3D is a classic that laid the foundation for the FPS genre, making it a must-play for any gaming enthusiast.
The gameplay is simple yet addictive, with satisfying gunplay and a fun premise of shooting Nazis.
Despite its age, the game still holds up well and provides a nostalgic experience for players.

The controls are clunky and outdated, making it difficult for modern players to enjoy without using a source port like ECWolf.
The level design can be confusing and maze-like, leading to frustration when trying to navigate through the game.
The game lacks variety in weapons and enemies, which can make the gameplay feel repetitive over time.

gameplay
247 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
77%
5%
The gameplay of *Wolfenstein 3D* is characterized by its simplicity and straightforward mechanics, focusing on fast-paced action and exploration through maze-like levels filled with enemies and secrets. While it remains addictive and historically significant as a pioneer of the first-person shooter genre, many players find the repetitive gameplay and dated controls to detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a nostalgic charm and a glimpse into the evolution of FPS design, making it a worthwhile play for fans of retro gaming.
- “The gameplay itself is brutally efficient.”
- “Despite its age, the gameplay loop remains addictive and surprisingly modern in feel.”
- “One of the most impressive aspects of Wolfenstein 3D is its gameplay, which is both intuitive and challenging.”
- “But ultimately, Wolfenstein 3D has a very repetitive game loop, a super boring (maze) level design reminiscent of Windows 3D maze screensaver, quite clunky gameplay (controls are just not pleasant) and let's not even start talking about the lowbrow, bad taste theme, typical of late 80s early 90s.”
- “Regardless of how you play it though, the level design is going to be ugly and the gameplay is going to get stale pretty quickly.”
- “Unfortunately, the majority of the gameplay in this game involves key hunting in order to progress to higher floors which can be a tedious task at times especially on later floors where the maps are extremely big and maze-like.”
graphics
232 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
72%
8%
The graphics of *Wolfenstein 3D* are widely regarded as primitive by modern standards, showcasing a retro pixel aesthetic that has aged into a charming style for many players. While the visuals were groundbreaking at the time of release in 1992, they now appear simplistic and can be challenging to navigate due to low resolution and limited draw distance. Despite their dated nature, the graphics still evoke nostalgia and are often appreciated for their historical significance in the evolution of the first-person shooter genre.
- “The art style, though simple, captures a grim caricature of wartime horror, balancing cartoonish exaggeration with genuine tension.”
- “Even by today's standards, the game's visuals are impressive, with detailed environments, intricate character models, and a sense of atmosphere that is simply unmatched.”
- “Wolfenstein's graphics, although dated nowadays, were considered stunning at the time of its release and coupled with the fact that no other PC games on the market looked this good, made it much more appealing to buyers.”
- “The graphics are ultra-pixelated, made worse by the very short draw distance.”
- “The controls are clunky and confusing, the graphics are god awful and the game is just generally incredibly boring.”
- “The graphics are a bit of a blurry mess since this game was meant to be run on those old cathode tube monitors.”
story
168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
91%
4%
The story of "Wolfenstein 3D" is minimal yet straightforward, centering on the protagonist, B.J. Blazkowicz, as he escapes a Nazi castle and aims to defeat Adolf Hitler. The narrative unfolds primarily through gameplay and text-based summaries at the end of each episode, with the first three episodes forming the main storyline and the subsequent "Nocturnal Missions" serving as a prequel. While the plot lacks depth and complexity, it effectively supports the game's action-oriented mechanics, allowing players to engage emotionally through interaction rather than traditional storytelling.
- “Instead, the story unfolds through gameplay: the creaking of metal doors, the guttural shouts of German guards, and the echo of gunfire reverberating down dimly lit corridors.”
- “More than that, it demonstrated that video games could elicit emotion through interaction rather than scripted storytelling.”
- “The story is minimal but effective: you play as B.J. Blazkowicz, an American hero on a mission to stop the Nazi regime.”
- “The story is minimal but effective: you play as B.J.”
- “The closest you get to a story in this game is a short 1-2 page sample of text at the end of each episode, which summarizes the episode you just completed and previews the next one.”
- “It is fair to say that the story isn’t this game's strongest suit, but what it lacks in story, it makes up for in other aspects.”
music
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
47%
7%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and memorable compositions, primarily crafted by Bobby Prince, which enhance the gameplay experience and evoke nostalgia. While some players appreciate the retro charm and unique atmosphere created by the soundtrack, others note that it can become repetitive and dated over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some criticisms regarding its variation and sound quality.
- “The music alternates between triumphant marches and ominous tones, reinforcing the feeling that you are both predator and prey in a deadly labyrinth.”
- “The soundtrack by Bobby Prince paces the adventure well.”
- “The music adds to the game's retro feel and will have you humming along as you mow down Nazis.”
- “Gameplay remains unchanged, as do the music tracks.”
- “Unfortunately, the music is pretty bad and gets annoying after a short amount of time.”
- “The gunshots are pretty boring, and the music (while well composed) is repetitive.”
humor
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by its dark and absurd elements, featuring exaggerated Nazi iconography and memorable boss fights, including a comedic portrayal of Hitler. Players appreciate the tongue-in-cheek dialogue, meme-worthy voice lines, and the overall lighthearted tone that contrasts with its violent themes, making the experience both entertaining and memorable. The humor is further enhanced by goofy enemy interactions and a playful approach to serious historical contexts, resulting in a game that doesn't take itself too seriously.
- “It's pulp action at its purest, with a touch of dark humor embedded in the design.”
- “Sense of humor: the game doesn't take itself too seriously, and you'll encounter plenty of tongue-in-cheek moments and references to pop culture.”
- “The tongue-in-cheek humor, funny voice work ('mein leben!' is stuck in my head now), and challenging gameplay made for a fun time.”
grinding
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is often tedious, with players needing to navigate sprawling, maze-like levels and hunt for keys, which can feel repetitive and frustrating. Many suggest using source ports like ecwolf to alleviate some of the navigation issues and enhance the experience, as the original design can lead to a grindy gameplay experience that detracts from enjoyment. Overall, while the fast-paced action is enjoyable, the excessive backtracking and key hunting can make sessions feel laborious.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Unfortunately, the majority of the gameplay in this game involves key hunting in order to progress to higher floors, which can be a tedious task at times, especially on later floors where the maps are extremely big and maze-like.”
- “Unlike secrets in other games, Wolfenstein also just hides them entirely with nondescript walls, so if you want to uncover everything, you essentially have to just interact with every single surface in the entire level; which is tedious.”
replayability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
52%
16%
The game offers high replayability through multiple episodes, difficulty levels, and a scoring system that encourages players to chase high scores and discover hidden secrets. While some users note that it may require mods for an enhanced experience, the overall consensus is that there are ample reasons to revisit the game, especially for those who enjoy exploring and completing challenges. However, a few reviews suggest that it may not have the same enduring charm or replay value as other classics in the genre.
- “Designed for replayability with high-score chasing, hidden secrets, and multiple difficulty settings.”
- “Replayability: even after you've beaten the game, there's still plenty of reason to keep playing.”
- “Once you've finished the 6-8 hour long campaign, there's plenty of replayability to be had if you enjoy finding secrets, collecting treasure, killing all enemies, and beating a par time for each level (there are 60 in total, including the 6 secret levels).”
- “It doesn't really contain the same charm or have the replay value that Doom did, but it's worth visiting, especially since it can be beaten so quickly on lower difficulties.”
- “It has an extremely minor crashing problem, and it doesn't have much replay value, but that doesn't stop it from being great.”
- “Replayability: other than the curiosity or nostalgia factor, there is a scoring system and secrets to find, but it’s unlikely many people would be compelled to keep playing.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
Overall, the optimization of the game is mixed; while some users report excellent performance with no stuttering, others highlight that the vanilla Steam version is not well-optimized for modern systems, leading to issues that can be resolved through the use of source ports. Many recommend using these ports for a smoother experience, as they allow for higher resolutions and better framerates, especially on older hardware.
- “Since it's on Steam, it should run smoothly on Windows and Proton without the need to tamper with other software.”
- “I'd recommend giving a source port a try if you'd like to experience the best performance on modern systems.”
- “Luckily, though, there are source ports for these games that allow them to run smoothly at 60fps and at higher resolutions.”
- “This game is really good but do not play the vanilla Steam version; it has not been optimized for modern computers.”
- “Even after following some guides to get the performance to a comfortable standard, Wolfenstein 3D shows its age in a lot of places.”
- “Performance: this didn’t even tax computers 20 years ago.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly when running on Proton, which can hinder gameplay and cause frustration. While some players experienced significant issues, such as getting stuck on levels and sound playback problems, others noted that the game remains enjoyable despite these flaws. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, many find the experience fun and manageable with careful saving practices.
- “This is still fun though and runs great.”
- “The true pioneer of the first-person shooter genre may be old, but it is still a lot of fun and relatively bug-free due to its simple programming.”
- “This old DOSBox version is buggy on Proton; I had to spam enter to launch the game in the select screen.”
- “I picked this up on a Black Friday sale for practically free, and when I went to launch it, the game was so buggy and laggy I couldn't get past the first level.”
- “The sound playback seems to be incompatible with modern cards, leading to weird sound glitches. I'm not sure if this is something wrong with my settings or a legitimate incompatibility with either my sound card or playback devices.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of claustrophobic environments, a limited color palette, and iconic music that enhances the eerie vibe. While some players appreciate the nostalgic and gritty feel, others find the repetitive gameplay and monotonous design detract from the overall experience. Despite its age, the visuals and sound effects still contribute to a compelling atmosphere, though opinions vary on its depth and engagement.
- “The limited color palette, flat textures, and blocky environments contribute to a claustrophobic atmosphere that suits its premise perfectly.”
- “Tracks like 'suspense', 'enemy around the corner', and 'into the dungeons' let off a really creepy vibe, creating a very eerie atmosphere when you are traveling down a long empty corridor and hear a door open or close in the distance.”
- “Even by today's standards, the game's visuals are impressive, with detailed environments, intricate character models, and a sense of atmosphere that is simply unmatched.”
- “Repetitive gameplay, poor level design, monotonous environments, and a lack of atmosphere makes for a boring experience.”
- “The vast majority of the secrets are hidden among identical looking walls, gameplay boils down to corner camping the basic AI, and there's really, really not much to say, since the entire game is a basic package with nothing more than basic floor layout with only right angles, and the sound is nothing but muffled sound effects they could pull off at the time with a small group of MIDI's used repeatedly for atmosphere.”
- “While you can play this game via a source port, if you want a more enthralling shooter experience, while also keeping the basic level design, art style, and atmosphere.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as deeply impactful and draining, with players experiencing a mix of excitement and discomfort. The narrative evokes a sense of nostalgia and reflection, while also challenging players' emotional resilience through its intense themes and gameplay mechanics. Overall, it leaves a lasting impression that resonates on multiple levels.
- “It is the most deep, emotionally draining, twisted game I have ever had the joy to experience.”
- “The difficulty comes with the human body quickly adjusting to excitement and seeking a state of homeostasis (the original emotional state before excitement).”
- “Made me feel nauseous.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game encourages players to utilize aiming down sights (ADS) for precision shots, suggesting that the game may incentivize skillful play through its mechanics. However, the mention of hip firing implies that there are alternative strategies available, potentially indicating a balance between skill and accessibility in gameplay.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with other players.”
- “The prices for in-game items are outrageous, and it ruins the overall experience.”