Wolfenstein: The New Order

Wolfenstein: The New Order
The game's cover art. The text "Wolfenstein" is in the centre, with the text "The New Order" written underneath it, aligned to the left. Behind the text is an enemy soldier, holding a gun in his hands.
Developer(s)MachineGames
Publisher(s)Bethesda Softworks
Director(s)
  • Jerk Gustafsson
  • Jens Matthies
Producer(s)Lars Johansson
Designer(s)Jerk Gustafsson
Programmer(s)Jim Kjellin
Artist(s)
  • Kjell Emanuelsson
  • Axel Torvenius
  • Tor Frick
Writer(s)
  • Jens Matthies
  • Tommy Tordsson Björk
Composer(s)Mick Gordon
SeriesWolfenstein
Engineid Tech 5
Platform(s)
Release20 May 2014
Genre(s)Action-adventure, first-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Wolfenstein: The New Order is a 2014 action-adventure first-person shooter video game developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was released on 20 May 2014 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The game is the sixth main entry in the Wolfenstein series and the first since 2009's Wolfenstein. Set in an alternate history 1960s Europe where the Nazis won the Second World War, the story follows war veteran William "B.J." Blazkowicz and his efforts to stop the Nazis from ruling over the world.

The game is played from a first-person perspective and most of its levels are navigated on foot. The story is arranged in chapters, which players complete in order to progress. A morality choice in the prologue alters the game's storyline; some characters and small plot points are replaced throughout the two timelines. The game features a variety of weapons, most of which can be dual wielded. A cover system is present.

Development began in 2010, soon after id Software gave MachineGames the rights for the franchise. The development team envisioned Wolfenstein: The New Order as a first-person action-adventure game, taking inspiration from previous games in the series and particularly focusing on the combat and adventure elements. The game attempts to delve into character development of Blazkowicz, unlike its predecessors—a choice from the developers to interest players in the story. They aimed to portray him in a heroic fashion.

At release, Wolfenstein: The New Order received generally positive reviews, with praise particularly directed at the combat and the narrative of the game. Critics considered it a positive change to the series and nominated it for multiple year-end accolades, including Game of the Year and Best Shooter awards from several gaming publications. A stand-alone expansion, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, was released in May 2015 and is set before the events of the game. A sequel, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, was released in October 2017.