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\n \t\t\t7 Best Villains In Bethesda’s Games, Ranked<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n
Bethesda has a long history as one of the best game studios in the world, but which of their villainous characters have been the very best?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Updated on November 3, 2025, by Mark Sammut:<\/strong> The galleries have been tweaked for every Wolfenstein game<\/strong>, and we’ve added “worth playing?” sections for the titles that do not have an obvious answer.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n 14 <\/span>\n The Prequel Game Used For Mac\n\n Platforms: <\/strong>SNES, Jaguar & Macintosh\n <\/li>\n\n Released: <\/strong>1994\n <\/li>\n\n Developers: <\/strong>iD Software\n <\/li>\n\n System:<\/strong> SNES, Jaguar & Macintosh\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>\nAlthough there were several different versions of Wolfenstein 3D<\/em>, only Original Encounter<\/strong><\/em> really counted itself as a separate game because it actually contained such a drastically different story. Posing as a very similarly-styled game but set before the events of Wolfenstein 3D<\/em>, Original Encounter<\/em> tells the story of Blazkowicz’s first attempt to assassinate Hitler.<\/p>\nThis fascinating entry provides a valuable piece of the franchise’s lore for fans who want to see and experience every part of the storyline that they can. Although the gameplay is very similar to the vanilla version, this addition saw a few changes and was released in several different ways, even being marketed as Wolfenstein 3D<\/em> for the Macintosh.<\/p>\n\n Is Wolfenstein 3D: Original Encounter Worth Playing? Original Encounter<\/em> is a fine enough early FPS, but it is one of those games that is quite difficult to go back to in this day and age.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n 13 <\/span>\n The Fascinating Mobile Spin-Off That Almost Worked Built similarly to the Doom RPG<\/strong><\/em>, this spin-off from the main Wolfenstein<\/em> franchise was released for mobiles in 2008. It allowed players to return to the world of the series with turn-based combat, which was a first for the franchise and remains the only instance of it in the series. Mobile gaming has become a huge industry, and the Wolfenstein<\/em> franchise has always been a part of big innovations in gaming, meaning it made perfect sense to see it try to permeate this new market significantly.<\/p>\nFor a mobile release, the Wolfenstein RPG<\/strong><\/em> put a lot of emphasis on the story, producing another fascinating one in the history of an already impressively narrative-based franchise. With many great role-playing elements added, a lot of humor, and great writing, Wolfenstein RPG<\/em> became an impressive hit.<\/p>\n\n Is Wolfenstein RPG Worth Playing? Well, Wolfenstein RPG<\/em> is pretty much impossible to get legally nowadays, so it really depends on whether you already have it. It is quite a silly and goofy game, but that works for Wolfenstein<\/em>. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n 12 <\/span>\n Attempted To Pull The Franchise Into VR Many different franchises decided in the last few years to diversify their new entries by introducing VR in an attempt to dominate the market. While VR gaming still hasn’t really taken off, Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot<\/strong><\/em> was one of the most interesting attempts to make use of the new format. Again, this was a game that thoroughly showcased Wolfenstein’s<\/em> continuing attempts to reinvent itself as a franchise through new styles of gaming.<\/p>\nMost VR games from this time weren’t well-loved or played because the platform was fairly expensive, and the games were mostly limited in their capabilities. Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot<\/em> made a bold attempt to get the format to work by having players take on the role of a French Resistance Fighter who is able to hack into different machines and take control of them, all set around the same time as Wolfenstein: Youngblood<\/em>. Though it isn’t one of the best-remembered entries in the series, Cyberpilot<\/em> has done for VR what this franchise has always done: offered a view of a different aspect of the gaming industry through the lens of Wolfenstein<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n Is Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot Worth Playing? If you are a die-hard Wolfenstein<\/em> fan and have the necessary technology already, Cyberpilot<\/em> is one of the more visually impressive VR games on the market. That said, the mecha gameplay is very different from other entries in the series, and it is not extremely intuitive. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n 11 <\/span>\n The Separate Game DLC That Added To Wolfenstein 3D There haven’t been a lot of separately released DLCs in the history of the Wolfenstein<\/em> franchise. However, Spear of Destiny<\/strong><\/em> was a major release and a separately retailed game. It expanded upon Wolfenstein 3D<\/em> and told a new story that remains an enjoyable throwback for fans today. It also served as both a prequel and sequel through different episodes to Wolfenstein 3D<\/em>, prompting fans to explore this when replaying the beloved entry.<\/p>\nWhile mostly forgotten, the Spear of Destiny<\/em> plotline about the spear that pierced the side of Christ, falling into the hands of the Nazis, has permeated into other media. The ideas behind the gameplay, which retained many similarities to Wolfenstein 3D<\/em>, managed to keep the legacy of that game alive and kicking. A hugely enjoyable game in its own right, Spear of Destiny<\/em> remains a fantastic old-school shooter for gamers to revisit.<\/p>\n\n Is Wolfenstein 3D: Spear Of Destiny Worth Playing? If you enjoy Wolfenstein 3D<\/em>, Spear of Destiny<\/em> is a must-play. However, definitely start with the base game.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n 10 <\/span>\n A Surprisingly Excellent Futuristic Spin-Off And Story Taking place twenty years after the events of Wolfenstein: The New Colossus<\/em>, Wolfenstein: Youngblood<\/strong><\/em> is a shorter entry that features the daughters of B.J. Blazkowicz as they attempt to find their father, who disappeared without a trace while on a secret mission to help the French Resistance still fighting against the Nazi regime. It is highly worth playing, if only because of the focus on a completely different sort of story.<\/p>\nYoungblood<\/em> wasn’t as large or well-regarded an entry as the other recent additions to the franchise. But the change of pace, with Jessie and Zofia Blazkowicz following in the footsteps of their father, featured a great story and solid gameplay within the realms of what fans came to expect. Additionally, with the game being on new platforms like the Nintendo Switch, and being excellently ported there, too, it is well worth checking out for the accessibility that comes with playing a Wolfenstein<\/em> game on a handheld device for one of the first times.<\/p>\n\n Is Wolfenstein: Youngblood Worth Playing? This might be the most difficult question to answer out of all of these. For the most part, Wolfenstein: Youngblood<\/em> is a competent co-op shooter, with the gunplay being unsurprisingly top-notch. Frankly, it is an easier recommendation than a few games that rank higher; however, it is also far worse than any of the other non-VR modern Wolfenstein<\/em> games.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n 9 <\/span>\n A Forerunner For Stealth Games & The Start Of A Franchise\n
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\n \t\t\t\t\t\tCastle Wolfenstein\n <\/p>\n
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One of the very first stealth games and the first game in the franchise, Castle Wolfenstein<\/strong><\/em>, was a thrilling ride for its time. This influential early game was a huge hit, even before it turned to the first-person shooter style that would make the franchise so popular. A great example of how a franchise can innovate and change over time to remain relevant, Castle Wolfenstein<\/em> is still hugely replayable despite showing its age.<\/p>\nThe game was focused on a soldier who was trapped as a prisoner in the titular castle and was tasked with finding Nazi war plans and escaping. Castle Wolfenstein<\/em> had many stealth options and elements that are retained in the genre to this day, even though the gameplay itself has been surpassed. Castle Wolfenstein<\/em> could easily be ripe for a remake soon, since a major one has never happened.<\/p>\n\n Is Castle Wolfenstein Worth Playing? Honestly, Castle Wolfenstein<\/em> is mainly worth playing for its historical significance. Don’t get me wrong, it is fantastic for its era, but a lot has changed over the last 40 years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n 8 <\/span>\n A Stealthy Sequel That Upped The Ante\n
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\n \t\t\t\t\t\tBeyond Castle Wolfenstein\n <\/p>\n
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\n Released<\/strong>\n <\/dt>\n\n <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1984-07
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This direct sequel to Castle Wolfenstein<\/em> was the last entry in the Wolfenstein<\/em> franchise before the FPS genre became the mainstay for the series. With several improvements over the first game, Beyond Castle Wolfenstein<\/strong><\/em> gave players more of the ahead-of-its-time gameplay they got from the first game.<\/p>\nThe story this time was the opposite of the first game. Instead of attempting to escape Castle Wolfenstein, players attempt to break into the bunker of Hitler himself. This helped bring a sense of completion to the story of these early entries, as well as upping the stakes for the sequel. While much of the gameplay remained the same from the first Castle Wolfenstein<\/em>, this title managed to expand upon the capabilities it had at the time to make something greatly improved.<\/p>\n\n Is Beyond Castle Wolfenstein Worth Playing? If you really want to play one of the franchise’s pre-3D efforts, Beyond Castle Wolfenstein<\/em> is the one to pick. That said, it is primarily just an artifact of a bygone era.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n 7 <\/span>\n One Of The First FPS Games And A Wildly Entertaining Ride Wolfenstein 3D<\/em> deserves credit as one of the most influential games of all time. While many today consider Doom<\/strong><\/em> to be the titular FPS that led to all the others in the genre, it was Wolfenstein 3D<\/em> that got there first and was credited as having popularized the FPS genre. The many additions and different versions of this game, and the way it manages to still be a lot of fun to play today, showcase just how iconic it and the franchise around it really are.<\/p>\n\n
Related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n \t\t\t8 Best Years For First Person Shooters In Gaming History <\/p>\n<\/h5>\n
First-person shooters are as popular as ever, but they were especially noteworthy during these particular years.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Swinging the franchise away from the earlier top-down perspective stealth games, Wolfenstein 3D<\/em> was based on William Blazkowicz as he escapes from Castle Wolfenstein and engages in a variety of missions against the Nazis. The gameplay was revolutionary and similar in style to what the early Doom<\/em> games would later use, providing gamers with a look into the future. Wolfenstein 3D<\/em> has no right to remain as fascinating as it is today, but it is still great to look back on it as more than just a piece of gaming history.<\/p>\n\n Is Wolfenstein 3D Worth Playing? Wolfenstein 3D<\/em> is by far the most influential game in the series, and it holds up pretty well considering its age. You are not going to mistake it for a modern shooter, but you can still have fun even if you never grew up with the game. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n 6 <\/span>\n A Long-Awaited Sequel For A New Era Of Gaming\n
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\n \t\t\t\tWolfenstein<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n
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\n Released<\/strong>\n <\/dt>\n\n <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAugust 18, 2009
\n ESRB<\/strong>\n <\/dt>\n\n <\/p>\n\t\t\t\tMature 17+ \/\/ Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language<\/p>\n
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Wolfenstein 2009 <\/strong><\/em>failed at a number of things, partially because it was more obsessed with other franchises, such as the recently popularized Call of Duty<\/em> series, than it was with the Wolfenstein<\/em> games. The shifting trends of the gaming industry took control of the production process for this game. As such, it was a bit of a stylistic mess.<\/p>\nNevertheless, it successfully put together a sequel to the hugely successful Return to Castle Wolfenstein<\/strong><\/em> and managed to garner some interest for the franchise at a time when that was an incredibly difficult feat to accomplish. It’s not the most intriguing game to return to now, but it’s still a reasonably memorable part of the franchise\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n Is Wolfenstein 2009 Worth Playing? If you already have it? Sure, play it. Wolfenstein<\/em> is a very solid FPS. Unfortunately, the game is delisted nowadays, so you cannot just buy it. GOG, please fix that. <\/p>\n\n\n
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Everything after this point is 100% worth playing.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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\n 5 <\/span>
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