Return to Castle Wolfenstein
January 16, 2026
After playing the original I was curious to see how the series actually found its footing before the well known New Order and New Colossus. Outside of expansions for the original game, it wasn't until 2003 where we'd receive Return to Castle Wolfenstein. A new more dark interpretation for the modern era.
The game has that moody early 2000s lightning, which tends to be quite dark at times, but the vibe they were going for is less of a Nazi killing romp, and more of a paranormal experience while you discover the German plans to build the Uber Soldat. While the game starts off a typical WWII shooter, it quickly transitions into zombies, super soldiers, spies, and crazy machines. Sounds good on paper, but in execution I think much was to be desired.
This game suffers most from resource starvation, this isn't a survival horror, but it certainly plays like one in some sections. Not because there are so many troops sent your way you are just whittled down, but in a the soldiers see you before you can react and now half your health is missing because you didn't realize that one fucker was sitting on a rooftop 10 miles away with a sniper that you couldn't see because of the aggressive fog. Some of these design choices and AI placement really made the game un-enjoyable at times, and its a big surprise to myself that I saw it through. Really reminded me of the frustration I felt in COD United Offensive with that fucking train depot mission. Just starved for resources, and just wanting the onslaught to end.
I really did think this game started off stronger than it ended. Wolfenstein is a game about killing Nazis, with a little bit of goofy paranormal thrown in there to spice it up a little. At least that's my experience with the newer games, and perhaps that is what the series desperately needed to focus on. I really wanted to like this - the mood, the look, and the gameplay seemed right up my ally, but overall I think most of it was poorly executed, and left a less than favorable taste in my mouth. Curious to see if the series actually gained footing in any game before MachineGames picked it up for New Order, or if Wolfenstein was always a jumping point for a more popular and better executed game like the Dooms after it.
C-
Wolfenstein (2009)
January 23, 2026
An unfortunately forgotten entry in the series, Wolfenstein (2009) was a much better experience than it's predecessor. It follows the direct path after Return to Castle Wolfenstein, with BJ helping out a few local groups of insurrectionists in the town of Einstad. Right off the bat the difference was very apparent. With the 360 generation well underway, the Id team had plenty of tools available to make a great next gen iteration of the Wolfenstein series, and largely I think they succeeded in doing so. The look was very distinctive for the time period, the music unfortunately was largely forgettable, and the story was nonsense much like the previous game. However, through it all was a relatively fun experience, and certainly a far less frustrating one than before.
What I really liked the most about this version, is that you start off with paranormal powers. The first game in this new series set up the paranormal as...well, normal. You start off with a special medallion that you upgrade to give yourself powers. Powers like foresight, damage boost, slowing time, and a shield for yourself. All of the powers good in there own right, and naturally fit into the gameplay quite smoothly. There is a rock paper scissors type of play around the powers, meaning damage boost kills shield guys, shields protect you against fodder, slow mo helps shoot those stupid flying douchebags etc etc. The fact that the entire game revolved around these powers, paranormal enemies, and super weapons, made the whole experience feel cohesive, and that I really enjoyed.
The studio was following in some footsteps of giants of the era, aka Bioshock, by crafting a semi "open world" that you can tackle objectives in different orders. However, unlike Bioshock, Wolfenstein is set in a random german town, and the level design felt cramped and difficult to navigate without looking at the map or the nav marker on your screen. A little disappointing because the idea is there, but again execution was not. The town was brown brick, on brown steets, with brown doors, and really didnt make me want to explore, nor care about landmarks so I knew where I was going. The best thing about the "open world" was the "dungeons" that you went to clear. Whether it be a generals house, a secret underground growing base, or a factory turned secret mega weapon manufacturing plant. These sections were pretty varied, and made for a memorable experience, even though you had to make your way back to the town to progress the story.
Coming from the previous entry, I was really exhausted, and I almost didn't start this game. Glad that I did though. Unfortunately the game is abandonware, so I did what most people do and get a totally legal copy from some random guy online. Luckily its not stuck on the 360, and I was able to play mostly without a hiccup (aside from some initial light modding to get things setup for modern hardware). If you get the chance to, and you like the Wolfenstein games, I think this one is worth a shot. I think it being a pretty poorly selling game at the time, has earned its right to be placed in one of those "good games you've never played before" videos on social media. Worth a look, but probably not anyone's favorite.
B-
Wolfenstein: The New Order
January 26, 2026
Wolfenstein: The New Order When I started The New Order again after roughly 10 years since I’ve played it, I knew it was good, I just didn’t remember quite how good it was. Especially in comparison to the previous entries in the series. For a rookie developer to come out with such a well done game on their first iteration, and have that game be part of an established franchise is truly special. Machine Games did a great job at taking the previous games, figuring out what made them special, and focusing on those elements to deliver a refined wolfenstien experience for the new generation.
From what I remember of The New Order, this felt like a retelling of the Wolfenstein story. You start at the classic Castle Wolfenstein, only to be placed in a coma and recovering for 14 years. Long story short the nazis won the war, now you are finding and helping the resistance take down a nazi leader called deathshead. Cool, pretty typical Mr Evil Bad Guy story, I enjoyed it quite a bit on first play through. I have more context now, and wow…this game is continuing the story of the previous entries! I don’t think a lot of gamers who played this, me included! Not only are you fighting with some of the same characters from previous titles, you are fighting THE Mr Evil Bad Guy, your arch nemesis from when you took down his paranormal division in the war. A welcome find, and honestly made the experience even better on second play through. Paired with excellent gameplay and music, The New Order was very much worth revisiting.
Gameplay wise, it plays like any modern shooter. Tight controls, smooth shooting, and easy to read gameplay all make for a fun experience. Move forward, duel wield your guns, shoot nazis, repeat. A really satisfying loop, that was made even better by the downtime portions of the game. You were based out of a secret underground lair right under the germans nose in Berlin the majority of the game, and some of these moments here in the base were the most memorable in the game. It was just really nice to absorb yourself with all the people you were working with, and it was tastefully done in a way that made you not regret having to do the "slow story missions". I really enjoyed the simplicity of the mechanics. A small array of weapons that all had their distinct advantages and disadvantages, and a way to dual wield and/or change the firing mode just made for a experience that felt like I could fit the play style into what I preferred. Compared to New Colossus (which I distinctly remember not liking the mechanics behind dual wielding from my previous playthrough), I felt the "simpler" approach made this game more enjoyable. Machine games knew what they were doing, and if this was the only game they developed under the Wolfenstein IP, then it would be a great one off I would love to replay again sometime.
A
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
January 30, 2026
When you play a good game, often times you just want more. And when waiting for the sequel, a little more is all you need to satisfy that itch. In comes The Old Blood - a standalone expansion to The New Order, that sets up the prequel story leading into the first (MachineGames) game. Simply put, its more Wolfenstein: The New Order, just set a few years before the start of that game, with the same mechanics, feel, and fun of its predecessor.
What I really liked about this expansion, is that it was more of what I already liked about the previous game. Still set in the same universe, and still taking place as BJ. This entry kinda rectifies some of the older games fumbling around with the paranormal, and has you trying to infiltrate Castle Wolfenstein to get ahold of coordinates to DeathHeads secret nazi base. Naturally things go wrong and you almost immediately get busted trying to pose as a nazi officer, and you and your compadre are taken to the gulag, and BJ is forced to sneak his way out. On first playthrough I remember this being kinda shitty as you dont get to go guns blazing but instead are sneaking your way around, to find your way to a more advantageous spot. Not bad on second playthrough, and Im certainly glad that it didnt overstay its welcome. Now onto the fun part.
Once you get outfitted with weapons again, and find yourself blasting your way out of the Castle, I found something very familiar - a cable car section! Just like Return to Castle Wolfenstein all the way back in 2003! "Is this game just a modern retelling of Return to Castle Wolfenstein?" he asked, while maiming about 100 nazis on the way to activate the cable car to escape. A welcome surprise, and I would not have had the context if I had not played the previous entries. After getting into the next sections, fight off more baddies, meet up with the resistance, and attempt to find more information about DeathsHead's compound, you find a plot to resurrect an ancient evil - the paranormal division is here in full swing.
The next sections of the game are a zombie romp through an old german town as you desperately try to find the old chapel and catacombs so that you can put a stop to Mrs. Evil Bad Woman™, and its less about memorable story at this point and more about cool experiences. How about a section of sneaking through a bunch of guards and Uber Soldats? Sure, next. How about running through the same area again, with a mech this time with nothing standing in your way? Awesome! The game more or less takes beats like that until the end, where you face off with a giant monster man before killing him and heading out to DeathsHeads compound, where the first game is about to take place.
What I liked about this entry, is that it was simple, stupid, and didnt over stay its welcome. A perfect addition to keep the palate moist while waiting for the next game. Honestly a lot of good fun here, and coming in only 5 hours, a perfect weekend game. Not something I would play on repeat, but something I would definitely replay when Im feeling like shooting some nazis.
