Can I play Wolfenstein 3D online for free?

Yes — you can play Wolfenstein 3D right here in your browser for free, with no installation and no plugins, on both desktop and mobile.

What platform does Wolfenstein 3D run on?

Wolfenstein 3D is a MS-DOS / PC game from 1992.

When was Wolfenstein 3D released?

Wolfenstein 3D was released in 1992.

Who made Wolfenstein 3D?

Wolfenstein 3D was developed by id Software.

What genre is Wolfenstein 3D?

Wolfenstein 3D falls under: Action.

Are there cheats for Wolfenstein 3D?

Yes, you'll find cheats and codes for Wolfenstein 3D in the Cheats section on this page.

How do I save my progress in Wolfenstein 3D?

Save inside the game itself — via its own menu, or F2/F3. And if you log in (free), your position is also stored in the cloud, so you can continue on another computer or phone.

Is it legal to play Wolfenstein 3D online here?

You play it in your browser via an emulator. For how we handle abandonware and copyright, see our "Is it legal?" page.

How do I control Wolfenstein 3D?

The controls are in the Controls section on this page. The keyboard is usually all you need — arrow keys to move and Ctrl, Alt or Space for actions.

Can I play Wolfenstein 3D on mobile?

Yes — it runs right in your browser on phones and tablets too. Just tap Play, nothing to install.

Wolfenstein 3D

– MS-DOS

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ControlsArrows/mouse move & aimCtrl fireSpace useEnter/Space start/selectEsc menuShareware

1992 · Action · id Software · MS-DOS / PC

Game info_□✕

About Wolfenstein 3D

Wolfenstein 3D, released by id Software in 1992, is widely credited with popularising the first-person shooter and setting the stage for the genre's explosion. Built by the same core team behind Doom, it dropped you into the boots of B.J. Blazkowicz, an Allied spy shooting his way out of the Nazi stronghold Castle Wolfenstein. The premise was pure pulp, but the technology behind it was revolutionary: a fast raycasting engine that rendered smooth, textured corridors on ordinary PCs of the day.

The gameplay was direct and exhilarating. You navigated maze-like floors hunting for keys, secret doors and the exit elevator, blasting guards and attack dogs while collecting treasure, ammo and health. The escalating arsenal, from a humble knife and pistol up to the roaring chaingun, gave each encounter real punch, and the boss fights, including the memorably absurd mechanised Hitler, capped off the episodes with over-the-top spectacle. Finding hidden rooms stuffed with gold became an addictive habit in itself.

By modern standards the level design is flat and the enemies simple, but the raw speed and pace still make it enjoyable. There is a clarity to Wolfenstein 3D that later, more complex shooters sometimes lost. It also helped cement the shareware distribution model that let id build its empire. Playing it now is both a genuinely fun blast and a lesson in how an entire genre was born.

Controls

Hold Shift with an arrow key to run or turn fast.
F8 quick saves and F9 quick loads. Pause pauses the game.
With a mouse or joystick, button 1 fires and button 2 strafes.

Versions and ports

Apogee released Wolfenstein 3D for MS-DOS on May 5, 1992 as shareware, and only the first episode, Escape from Wolfenstein, was free. The full game has six episodes. Spear of Destiny, a separate prequel from FormGen, followed on September 18, 1992. The last DOS builds are all version 1.4.

Ports include Super NES and Atari Jaguar (1994), 3DO (1995), Game Boy Advance (2002) and Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (2009). id Software released the engine source code in 1995, which is why so many modern source ports exist.

System requirements

The 1992 release runs on an 80286 with 640 KB of RAM and a VGA card, and supports AdLib and Sound Blaster. The later Activision CD edition lists MS-DOS 5.0, a 386 at 33 MHz, 640 KB of RAM and 3 MB of disk space.

How to run it today

Episode 1, the free shareware version, plays on this page in your browser. For a local copy, the DOSBox compatibility list marks Wolfenstein 3D and Spear of Destiny as supported. ECWolf is a free source port for Windows, macOS and Linux that needs the original data files, either the shareware ones or a copy bought on Steam or GOG, which it finds automatically on Windows.

Where to buy it legally

Both stores sell all six episodes plus Spear of Destiny for Windows. Get it on GOG or Steam.

You're playing the free shareware version of Wolfenstein 3D — the first episode its creators released for free. The full game is still on sale:

Wolfenstein 3D PC – eBay »

Factory sealed originalWolfenstein 3D Vintage Sealed PC Big Box Game NIB SEALED RARE COVER ActivisionView on eBay »

Factory sealed originalWolfenstein 3D IBM-PC 3.5" Big Box Brand New Sealed GrailView on eBay »

Original big box from 1992Wolfenstein 3D (PC, 1992) Original Early Release CIB Big Box PC Grail 3.5"View on eBay »

Vintage Retro Wolfenstein Men's T Shirt Assorted ColorsView on eBay »

affiliate links

Videos and guides

Longplaythe whole game start to finish · YouTube Walkthroughhow to get through when you are stuck · YouTube Soundtrackmusic from the game · YouTube Manualthe original game manual · Archive.org

Wolfenstein 3D cheats and codes

Reveal cheats (spoiler)

Wolfenstein 3D has two layers of cheats. The first works in a normally launched game. The second needs debug mode, which is switched on with a command-line parameter — in a browser you may not be able to reach it, because the game boots straight into play. The browser also tends to swallow the Tab key, so click inside the game window first.

Code	Effect
M + L + I (held together)	Restores health to 100% and grants all weapons, full ammo and keys
-goobers / -debugmode (startup parameter)	Enables debug mode; only then do the Tab combinations work. The shareware release uses -goobers, the registered one -debugmode
Tab + G	God mode
Tab + I	Tops up health, ammo and keys
Tab + E	Ends the level immediately
Tab + W	Warp to any level
Tab + S	Slow motion
Tab + F	Shows the player position and facing
Tab + C	Counts the objects in the level
Tab + Q	Quits the game at once

The same codes work in Spear of Destiny and in the dozens of fan patches that only swapped the art and the maps — the engine underneath is identical. If the Tab combinations do nothing, the game almost certainly is not running in debug mode; MLI is the one cheat that always works.

Wolfenstein 3D FAQ

Can I play Wolfenstein 3D online for free?: Yes — you can play Wolfenstein 3D right here in your browser for free, with no installation and no plugins, on both desktop and mobile.
What platform does Wolfenstein 3D run on?: Wolfenstein 3D is a MS-DOS / PC game from 1992.
When was Wolfenstein 3D released?: Wolfenstein 3D was released in 1992.
Who made Wolfenstein 3D?: Wolfenstein 3D was developed by id Software.
What genre is Wolfenstein 3D?: Wolfenstein 3D falls under: Action.
Are there cheats for Wolfenstein 3D?: Yes, you'll find cheats and codes for Wolfenstein 3D in the Cheats section on this page.
How do I save my progress in Wolfenstein 3D?: Save inside the game itself — via its own menu, or F2/F3. And if you log in (free), your position is also stored in the cloud, so you can continue on another computer or phone.
Is it legal to play Wolfenstein 3D online here?: You play it in your browser via an emulator. For how we handle abandonware and copyright, see our "Is it legal?" page.
How do I control Wolfenstein 3D?: The controls are in the Controls section on this page. The keyboard is usually all you need — arrow keys to move and Ctrl, Alt or Space for actions.
Can I play Wolfenstein 3D on mobile?: Yes — it runs right in your browser on phones and tablets too. Just tap Play, nothing to install.