Wolfenstein: The New Order

The New Order's humanity makes it something truly memorable

83%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

optimization, stability

90% User Score Based on 32,597 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 36 reviews

Platforms

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About

Wolfenstein: The New Order is a single player shooter game with horror, fantasy, warfare, historical and others themes. It was developed by MachineGames and was released on May 19, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Wolfenstein: The New Order" is a first-person shooter game that takes players on a mission across Europe to bring down a powerful war machine. The story follows war hero B.J. Blazkowicz, who awakens from a 14-year coma to a world overtaken by the Regime's advanced technology and force. Fight against high-tech legions and take control of super-weapons to turn the tide of the war.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

+14

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 32,597 reviews

story7.6k positive mentions

optimization277 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics with detailed environments that enhance the atmosphere and overall experience.
The narrative is engaging, with strong character development and emotional depth, making it a standout in the first-person shooter genre.
The gameplay offers a satisfying blend of fast-paced action and optional stealth mechanics, allowing for varied playstyles.

The game suffers from optimization issues, particularly on AMD graphics cards, leading to performance problems and crashes.
The gameplay can feel repetitive and linear, with forced stealth mechanics that detract from the overall experience.
While the story has depth, some players find it incoherent and criticize the pacing due to excessive cutscenes.

story
15,419 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The story of "Wolfenstein: The New Order" is generally praised for its engaging narrative and character development, set in an alternate history where the Nazis won World War II. Players appreciate the emotional depth and the blend of intense action with moments of reflection, although some criticize the pacing and the frequent interruptions for cutscenes. While the plot can feel over-the-top and at times lacks coherence, it successfully immerses players in a world filled with memorable characters and moral dilemmas, making it a standout in the first-person shooter genre.
- “Rather than relying solely on swastika-drenched aesthetics, it succeeds through strong writing, polished presentation, and a surprisingly human story.”
- “The writing gives depth to both heroes and villains, transforming what could have been a simple revenge story into a compelling human drama.”
- “The story is surprisingly strong for a shooter, with moments of emotional depth and characters that you actually care about.”
- “The story kinda lost me when they went to space...”
- “The story is tired.”
- “The story is basically the nazis find out that jews have invented crazy technologies and they steal them to conquer the world.”
gameplay
6,742 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
The gameplay of "Wolfenstein: The New Order" is characterized by a blend of fast-paced shooting mechanics and optional stealth elements, allowing players to choose between aggressive combat or a more tactical approach. While many players praise the satisfying gunplay and diverse weaponry, some criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the forced stealth mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is well-received for its engaging narrative and solid mechanics, making it a standout title in the first-person shooter genre.
- “Wolfenstein: The New Order blends solid, familiar shooter gameplay with outstanding writing, memorable characters, and a grounded yet imaginative take on Nazi alternate history.”
- “The gameplay is fast, the weapons are fun, and the levels are interesting.”
- “The gameplay is a perfect blend of tactical shooter mechanics and high-octane action, allowing players to choose between stealth and aggressive playstyles.”
- “The main gameplay loop is weirdly off-putting: you're encouraged to play fast and loose, but you die too fast for that style of gameplay to be viable, so you're forced to play in a boring, crawling forward kind of way.”
- “The gameplay is too repetitive; most enemies are the same, the game is too linear, stealth is not fun because enemies are completely braindead, and as many others have said, you will spend half the time looking at the floor and pressing 'E' looking for ammo and armor.”
- “The gameplay is linear but never feels restricted or too guided.”
graphics
4,276 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
The graphics of "Wolfenstein: The New Order" receive a mixed reception from players. Many praise the game's detailed environments, impressive art style, and overall visual fidelity, especially considering its 2014 release, with some noting that it still holds up well today. However, there are frequent mentions of graphical issues, such as texture pop-ins and performance problems, particularly for users with AMD graphics cards, which detracts from the experience for some players. Overall, while the graphics are generally regarded as good, they are not without their flaws.
- “The graphics are stunning, showcasing detailed environments that enhance the atmosphere of desperation and rebellion.”
- “The graphics are very detailed, which is excellent for conveying the fidelity of your nazi stabbing, shooting, dismembering, etc. The story is a little incoherent, but I think they were going for that, and anyway the only story that matters is here's an army of nazis we need them not alive anymore, you in?”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the environments are immersive, and the soundtrack will have you feeling like a badass as you storm through enemy territory.”
- “While the visuals are obviously dated, the presentation holds up much better than you might expect, with texture resolution being the main offender.”
- “The graphics are definitely dated by now, but it's still an amazing Nazi slaughtering masterpiece.”
- “The graphics are a bit dated, but if you're able, utilize NVIDIA RTX dynamic vibrance and RTX HDR to polish things up a bit.”
music
1,658 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The music in "Wolfenstein: The New Order" has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many praising the heavy metal and industrial influences that enhance the game's intense action sequences. Composed by Mick Gordon, the soundtrack features a mix of original tracks and German covers of popular 1960s songs, adding a unique twist to the game's alternate history setting. However, some players noted issues with audio mixing, which occasionally muted the music during gameplay, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The soundtrack, composed by Mick Gordon and others, perfectly complements the game’s tone—dark, heavy, and cinematic.”
- “Coupled with a dramatic, pulse-pounding soundtrack, the game delivers an unforgettable sensory experience.”
- “The music score helps build suspense and drive the action.”
- “I struggled with audio all through the game; I was forced to turn my audio up to maximum just to hear anything and turn music off completely, which is a shame because the music was actually really good.”
- “The soundtrack could have been a bit more prominent; the music that was there usually played very quietly in the background, but it was good.”
- “The music is basically nonexistent as far as I can tell.”
optimization
917 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
45%
30%
The optimization of "Wolfenstein: The New Order" has received significant criticism, particularly for its poor performance on AMD graphics cards, leading to frequent stuttering, frame drops, and crashes. While some players with NVIDIA cards report smooth gameplay, many others struggle with inconsistent performance, requiring extensive tweaks and fixes to achieve playable conditions. Overall, the game's optimization issues detract from an otherwise engaging experience, making it difficult to recommend for users with certain hardware configurations.
- “The game runs smoothly and looks great, which enhances the overall experience.”
- “The animations, models, mechanics, menus, and optimization are so good!”
- “The game is very well optimized, no matter what happens on the screen I always have smooth 60+ fps on high-ultra settings.”
- “The game is poorly optimized.”
- “This is like, the least optimized game I've ever played.”
- “The performance issues are a bit annoying, but those things will be fixed.”
emotional
678 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of "Wolfenstein: The New Order" is widely praised for its surprising depth and complexity, blending intense action with a heartfelt narrative. Players connect deeply with the characters, particularly protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz, whose personal struggles and relationships add significant emotional weight to the story. Many reviewers noted that the game effectively balances its over-the-top violence with poignant moments, resulting in a compelling experience that can evoke genuine feelings, from joy to heartbreak.
- “Wolfenstein: The New Order combines over-the-top action with a deeply personal narrative, featuring memorable characters, emotional stakes, and striking alternate-history storytelling that elevates it above a typical shooter.”
- “But what's interesting is the emotional core of the journey, as BJ is fighting for love and freedom, but he's also fighting inside a world that has given up both, because the regime has won.”
- “The story is surprisingly deep, with emotional moments and character development that you wouldn’t expect from a game that lets you dual-wield shotguns.”
- “35%+ of the game is dedicated to cutscenes and boring story levels where you don't do much shooting (the game's one strength).”
- “New order really shines when it lets you kill Nazis, instead of trying to shove its forgettable, boring story down the player's throat.”
- “Cliché characters with a boring story, and even more boring linear gameplay.”
replayability
594 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
60%
9%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting the presence of two branching timelines based on an early choice, which adds some incentive for a second playthrough. However, the differences between these paths are often seen as minimal, leading to a general consensus that while there are collectibles and alternate gameplay modes to explore, the overall replay value is limited. Many reviewers suggest that the game is enjoyable enough for a single playthrough, but may not warrant repeated runs unless players are completionists or particularly invested in uncovering all secrets.
- “The game has great replay value and goes on sale pretty often; I highly recommend it!”
- “The game also includes several branching choices — notably a critical decision early on that determines which of two allies survives — that impact certain gameplay elements and narrative scenes throughout the campaign, adding a layer of replayability.”
- “The replay value is great: there are two timelines that branch from a certain event that causes the story and gameplay to be slightly different, so you can play through the game twice and experience a bit of variation in the campaign.”
- “However, while the game is fun and engaging on the first playthrough, it doesn’t offer a ton of replayability.”
- “The story is still worth experiencing on a first playthrough and might get tiring after a few more, as most story beats are unskippable, thus significantly reducing replayability.”
- “The game has replay value but the cutscenes drag it down considerably.”
atmosphere
560 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
3%
The atmosphere in "Wolfenstein: The New Order" is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive quality, effectively capturing a dystopian world where the Nazis have triumphed. Reviewers highlight the game's detailed environments, haunting sound design, and a compelling soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, creating a sense of tension and urgency throughout. The combination of strong narrative elements and atmospheric visuals contributes to a gripping gameplay experience that resonates with players long after they finish the game.
- “What makes this game truly stand out is its ability to craft a terrifyingly plausible dystopian world; it's the masterful, oppressive atmosphere that stays with you long after the credits roll.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing, the sound creeps me out and gives me so much adrenaline!!”
- “The atmosphere has this almost 'chaotic suspense' energy, especially during many of the combat encounters, and it's just so, I don't know, scary but energizing, because you feel like a badass when you clear a room with enemies that are ten times more well equipped than you are.”
- “Also, there's a very noticeable lack of background music in specific sections, which really takes the atmosphere away and makes the experience boring.”
- “The atmosphere is dark, everything is taken over by nazis, their propaganda is everywhere, and everyone who's not into tyranny is either oppressed or killed.”
- “The game lacks any kind of atmosphere.”
humor
463 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Wolfenstein: The New Order" is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with absurdity in a way that enhances the game's over-the-top action. Players appreciate the balance between serious themes and comedic moments, often finding themselves laughing at the ridiculousness of the scenarios, such as the exaggerated portrayal of Nazis and the absurdity of the game's alternate history. The dialogue, character interactions, and various humorous elements, including Easter eggs and quirky situations, contribute to an entertaining experience that keeps the tone light amidst the violence.
- “Wolfenstein: The New Order is basically 'kill nazis, smash robots, and look ridiculously cool doing it.' You’re running through over-the-top levels with guns that feel like they were designed by someone who clearly hates subtlety, while the story somehow manages to balance drama, humor, and absurdly evil enemies.”
- “By the end, you’re not just playing Wolfenstein—you’re laughing at the ridiculousness, marveling at your own firepower, and wondering why every day isn’t spent storming futuristic castles with rocket launchers.”
- “The story is obviously very dark given the subject matter, but there are some genuinely funny moments sprinkled throughout to help lighten the mood.”
- “The sprint slide is not funny and it ruined the game for me.”
- “In that endeavor, story moments become gratuitous, cringey, or unintentionally hilarious.”
stability
339 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
2%
84%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various graphical glitches, particularly during cutscenes and loading screens. While some users found that adjusting settings, such as resolution, helped reduce these issues, others experienced persistent problems that rendered the game unplayable. Overall, the game is described as buggy, with performance issues varying significantly depending on hardware configurations, especially for those using AMD GPUs.
- “Runs great out of the box and still looks good to this day - yes, there are some bits you may notice like textures and/or buildings not being fully rendered from a distance, but that's the id tech 5 engine for you.”
- “The game runs great, looks great, and the story fits the whole way around.”
- “It's refreshingly bug free and smooth, and a lot of fun.”
- “Worse, the game always freezes your entire system during cutscenes or at the start of cutscenes and loading screens. You can’t alt-tab or do anything except hit ctrl+alt+del and cancel, which happens way too often.”
- “The game freezes at the first cutscene and I could not get past.”
- “I can't get out of the first mission; it freezes at the cutscene.”
grinding
290 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
18%
80%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages where bullet-sponge enemies and fetch quests dominate gameplay. While some appreciated the perk system and achievement hunting as enjoyable, others felt that the overall pacing suffered due to excessive grinding and poorly designed mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, players noted that while the game has its fun moments, the grind can detract significantly from enjoyment, especially during boss fights and certain missions.
- “Achievement hunting was also very fun and not tedious at all.”
- “Fun exploration on every map, and no tedious achievement hunting for those who want to go for that.”
- “Getting 100% and all achievements is also bearable; I managed to do it in around 36 hours, and it wasn't tedious at all.”
- “The gameplay is very easy to learn, yet can be a bit tedious, but the tediousness is always solvable through wit and brute force awesomeness.”
- “The game has its fair share of cool and fun moments, but almost the same amount of plain tedious sections.”
- “The action in the game can be fun and intense at times but some of the missions can be really, really tedious.”
character development
216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
53%
6%
Character development in "Wolfenstein: The New Order" receives mixed reviews, with many praising the depth and emotional resonance of the protagonist, B.J. Blazkowicz, and the overall narrative. While some players appreciate the well-developed characters and engaging story arcs, others feel that secondary characters lack sufficient development and that certain plot elements remain unresolved. Overall, the game is noted for its surprising character depth, especially for a first-person shooter, but it also faces criticism for inconsistencies and missed opportunities in character exploration.
- “The character development is deep and meaningful, and Blazkowicz's character becomes more fleshed out and humanized as a result.”
- “Character development is another area where 'The New Order' excels.”
- “There's meaningful character development, plot twists, personal relationships between the characters, side stories to help you learn about and build rapport with the other characters in the game.”
- “Not enough character development.”
- “The story was simple and to the point with very little attempts to deepen the plot or character development.”
- “There just isn't enough character development for any of the members of the resistance cell.”
monetization
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
26%
67%
The monetization aspect of the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, DLC, and other monetization tactics that often plague modern titles. Reviewers noted that the game offers a complete experience without the need for additional purchases, allowing players to enjoy the gameplay without interruptions or paywalls. However, some critiques mentioned that the ads within the game can be distracting and affect gameplay, but overall, the lack of aggressive monetization strategies has been seen as a refreshing change in the current gaming landscape.
- “No microtransactions in this singleplayer game!”
- “No cash grab DLCs, you buy the game, you play the game.”
- “This complete out-of-box experience is sadly a rare breed in today's gaming market and comes as a huge refreshment to witness such dedicated focus to the final product rather than grubby monetization or corporate feature box-ticking.”
- “Microtransactions over gameplay!”
- “Microtransactions that significantly affect the gameplay.”
- “Nowadays, with AAA games, you get stupid monetization, skins, DLC, a half-baked game that was made because it had potential to make money, games that clearly have no love in them, bad combat systems and no politics (thank god) despite this being a historical game with Nazis.”

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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 36 critic reviews

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13h Median play time

26h Average play time

11h Main story

25h Completionist

9-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 196 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Wolfenstein: The New Order is a shooter game with horror, fantasy, warfare, historical and others themes.

Wolfenstein: The New Order is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 11 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 25 hours to finish. On average players spend around 26 hours playing Wolfenstein: The New Order.

Wolfenstein: The New Order was released on May 19, 2014.

Wolfenstein: The New Order was developed by MachineGames.

Wolfenstein: The New Order has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Wolfenstein: The New Order is a single player game.

Similar games include Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Rage, Tomb Raider, The Evil Within and others.

Wolfenstein: The New Order

Platforms

machine gun