Easy Guide to Playing the Wolfenstein Series in Order – What to play first?

Wolfenstein is one of the longest-running first-person gaming franchises of all time and it went through a lot of changes during its run. The series started out with an entirely different concept which turned into the Nazi-killing first-person shooter that players enjoy so much. 

For new players, it might be pretty confusing to decide where to start the Wolfenstein series. Wolfenstein contains a rich and illustrious history that newcomers will enjoy. They might be surprised as to how much the series changes as the games go on, with more twists and turns and the later games focusing more on the story. 

If you’re a new player who wants to try out the Wolfenstein series, either in its chronological order or its release order, then you’re in the right place. The series has a little something for everyone so sit tight and enjoy the Wolfenstein experience. 

1. The Chronological Order to Play the Wolfenstein Series

The Wolfenstein series puts you into the shoes of William “B.J.” Blazkowicz – an army captain who fights his way through the series in a mission to defeat the Axis powers. You’ll be fighting the Nazis in a World War II setting. 

If you want to play the Wolfenstein series in chronological order, then you should know that there are two timelines to follow throughout the series. Following the timelines in chronological order will provide you with a well-flowing narrative and the ultimate Wolfenstein experience. 

The first timeline is the Classic Timeline while the second timeline is known as the New Order Timeline. Here, take a look at all the Wolfenstein games in the Classic Timeline. 

I. The Classic Timeline

• Castle Wolfenstein
• Beyond Castle Wolfenstein
• Wolfenstein 3D
• Return to Castle Wolfenstein
• Wolfenstein

The Classic Timeline’s plot is based around a mission to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Now, let’s take a look at the New Order Timeline. 

II. The New Order Timeline

• Wolfenstein: The New Order
• Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
• Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
• Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot
• Wolfenstein: Youngblood

The New Order Timeline is set in an alternate universe. In the universe, the world is overrun by the forces of Nazi Germany and it’s up to the protagonist, B.J. Blazkowicz to take care of them. 

III. The Spin-Offs

• Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory 
• Wolfenstein RPG 

Enemy Territory was a multiplayer game that lets you take sides with either the Axis powers or the Allied forces while the RPG was a mobile game for JAVA, Brew, and iOS platforms. The reason they’re spin-offs is that they don’t actually play into the mainline plot of the Wolfenstein games. 

2. The Release Order to Play the Wolfenstein Series

You may want to follow the Wolfenstein release order in order to play all the games, and that’s perfectly fine. Take a look at the release order for the games below along with the year they were released in:

• Castle Wolfenstein (1981)
• Beyond Castle Wolfenstein (1984)
• Wolfenstein 3D (1992)
• Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001)
• Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory (2003)
• Wolfenstein RPG (2008)
• Wolfenstein (2009)
• Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014)
• Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (2015)
• Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (2017)
• Wolfenstein: Youngblood (2019)
• Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot (2019)

3. Which Wolfenstein should you play first: The Old Blood Or The New Order? 

Old Blood is a prequel to The New Order. Hence, playing Old Blood will provide you with insight into The New Order. However, many players familiar with the series tend to skip the prequel altogether and start The New Order. 

Some state Old Blood as a prequel that’s “worth missing”. If you want to play The New Order first, then go ahead as you’ll understand the story, even without playing Old Blood first. After you’ve completed The New Order, you may move on to The New Colossus. 

4. Are all Wolfenstein games connected? 

The New Order Timeline is completely different from the Classic Timeline. It is best to separate both of them to prevent any further confusion. Hence, you can play the New Order Timeline without playing any of the games from the Classic Timeline. 

The New Order Timeline is more of a reboot than a direct continuation of the previous Classic Timeline. The developers haven’t confirmed anything about the games being connected so it’s best to separate them and think of the New Order Timeline as a new beginning for the Wolfenstein series. 

5. Is Doom connected to Wolfenstein? 

You’d be surprised to hear that Doom indeed has a connection to the Wolfenstein series. Turns out that Wolfenstein’s B.J. Blazkowicz is Commander Keen’s grandfather. If you’re unfamiliar with who Commander Keen is, he’s the father of the Doom Slayer or the Doomguy. 

This is officially cannon as the developers behind the Doom series have confirmed it. It is definitely a fun little connection to another legendary first-person shooter franchise, Doom. 

6. About Return to Castle Wolfenstein

Return to Castle Wolfenstein is an Activision published first-person shooting game. It houses both single-player and multiplayer gameplay. Even though RTCW was released in 2001, its multiplayer element is still talked about as it is the most well-known aspect of the game.

Set in the time of World War II, gamers play as B.J. Blazkowicz, an American spy who is sent on a mission to inspect the peculiar experiments that are being conducted by Nazi scientists. Players will have to fight all sorts of horrors to stop the evil scientists from creating super zombies.