SMRTR TechFeb 2, 2026Ars Technica

Looking back at Catacomb 3D, the game that led to Wolfenstein 3D

SMRTR summary

Despite earning only $5,000 compared to Commander Keen's much higher profits, id Software's experimental Catacomb 3D proved so immersive that team member Adrian Carmack had a visceral reaction to encountering an in-game troll. This powerful first-person experience convinced the developers to abandon their safer Commander Keen sequel after just two weeks of work, pivoting instead to create what would become the groundbreaking Wolfenstein 3D.

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