Uploaded May 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Blasting goblins and trolls in id Software's Catacomb 3-D, arguably the most significant stepping stone to the legendary Wolfenstein 3D.
Released just seven months after Hovertank 3D, Catacomb 3-D (also known as Catacomb 3-D: The Descent) features a more advanced engine with texture-mapped walls and even background music. It's also one of the very first shooters to put players in control of an actual character as opposed to, say, a vehicle.
Interestingly enough, Catacomb 3-D is actually the THIRD game in the Catacomb series and sometimes goes by the name Catacombs 3. The first two entries, which were also made by the id Software team, were top-down action titles. Catacomb 3-D was followed by three more entries and although none of them were made by id, they all improved on 3-D's foundation by adding even more gameplay elements and complexity.
If you'd like to check out this historical game for yourself, you're in luck: the entire Catacomb series is available in one pack on GOG for just $5.99. You can grab it here:
gog.com/en/game/catacombs_pack
For more info on Catacomb 3-D and the Catacomb series, check out these links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacomb_3-D
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacomb_(video_game)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfenstein_3D#Development
Additionally, here's more info on id Software and Softdisk:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id_Software
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softdisk
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:24 Map 1: The Approach
01:14 Map 2: Nemesis's Keep
02:49 Map 3: Ground Floor
05:11 Map 4: Second Floor
06:54 Map 5: Third Floor
10:05 Map 6: Tower One
12:40 Map 7: Tower Two
13:04 Map 9: Access Floor
Blasting goblins and trolls in id Software's Catacomb 3-D, arguably the most significant stepping stone to the legendary Wolfenstein 3D.
Released just seven months after Hovertank 3D, Catacomb 3-D (also known as Catacomb 3-D: The Descent) features a more advanced engine with texture-mapped walls and even background music. It's also one of the very first shooters to put players in control of an actual character as opposed to, say, a vehicle.
Interestingly enough, Catacomb 3-D is actually the THIRD game in the Catacomb series and sometimes goes by the name Catacombs 3. The first two entries, which were also made by the id Software team, were top-down action titles. Catacomb 3-D was followed by three more entries and although none of them were made by id, they all improved on 3-D's foundation by adding even more gameplay elements and complexity.
If you'd like to check out this historical game for yourself, you're in luck: the entire Catacomb series is available in one pack on GOG for just $5.99. You can grab it here:
gog.com/en/game/catacombs_pack
For more info on Catacomb 3-D and the Catacomb series, check out these links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacomb_3-D
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacomb_(video_game)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfenstein_3D#Development
Additionally, here's more info on id Software and Softdisk:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id_Software
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softdisk
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:24 Map 1: The Approach
01:14 Map 2: Nemesis's Keep
02:49 Map 3: Ground Floor
05:11 Map 4: Second Floor
06:54 Map 5: Third Floor
10:05 Map 6: Tower One
12:40 Map 7: Tower Two
13:04 Map 9: Access Floor
