Doom 3

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 9,056 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Doom 3 Game Cover
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"Doom 3" is a horror/action first-person shooter that includes the original 2004 game and the Resurrection of Evil expansion. In the game, you must fight your way through a demonic invasion at the Union Aerospace Corporation's Mars Research Facility and investigate a mysterious beacon in the facility's ruins in the expansion. The game includes new demons and weapons to battle them with. The BFG Edition of the game is also included, offering a remastered version of the original gameplay experience.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Virtual Reality
  • Web Browser
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Android
  • Cloud
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Play​Station VR
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
  • Xbox Game Pass
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 9,056 reviews
story396 positive mentions
stability58 negative mentions
  • story1,858 mentions

    The story in "Doom 3: BFG Edition" is more developed than in previous entries, featuring a narrative that unfolds through cutscenes, audio logs, and emails, which provide context to the horror elements and gameplay. While some players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and the inclusion of the new "Lost Mission" campaign, others criticize it for being slow-paced and lacking depth, often feeling like a collection of recycled content. Overall, the game attempts to blend horror and action with a more substantial plot, but opinions vary on its effectiveness and engagement.

    • “Doom 3 is almost a 'reboot' but it follows its role; it has a story, cutscenes, dialogues, and was extremely 3D... 'realistic for the time'.”
    • “In my opinion, though, Doom 3 was the best title of the 'Doom' series so far - in this game, there's a real story being told, like in an atmospheric, dense, and dark interactive horror movie.”
    • “The story is quite good! It’s a well-balanced story in terms of pace.”
    • “Ok, first off the story... it's so cutscene heavy that you'll age 15 years before even getting into your first combat encounter.”
    • “The storyline is non-existent.”
    • “The pacing can be uneven, and the plot twists may not resonate as strongly.”
  • graphics1,244 mentions

    The graphics in Doom 3: BFG Edition have received mixed reviews, with many praising the enhanced visuals, improved lighting, and textures that contribute to a more immersive experience compared to the original. However, some players feel that the graphical upgrades are minimal and that the game suffers from outdated aesthetics, particularly in character models and environmental details. Overall, while the graphics were groundbreaking at release, they may not hold up to modern standards, leading to a polarized reception among players.

    • “The game features enhanced visuals, including improved lighting, textures, and sound, all of which contribute to a more immersive experience.”
    • “The graphics have aged decently.”
    • “The lighting is spectacular, the graphics are impressive for 2004, and while the demons look more alien than before, they're most definitely still creatures of hell.”
    • “Ragdolls don't stack, everything's too bright, the flashlight attachment sucks, no multiplayer, no coop, barely any mods work for it, no muzzle flashes from your weapon, oh and if you have a multi-monitor setup then it will sometimes crash unless you disconnect one of your monitors or edit the graphics config.”
    • “The last thing I want to talk about is the aesthetics, which do not hold up in terms of the art style, the details of the textures aren't defined enough, even by its generation's standards, the lighting for the most of the time is non-existent and strains the eyes, it also doesn't do a good job at hiding the ugliness of its generation's graphics like how Fear does, the animations of the demons aren't aggressive, but sluggish, which further harms their already lacking intimidation, and combat isn't visceral enough, it all just doesn't add up to be a good horror theme.”
    • “The graphics are outdated, people are whining about the ability to use flashlight whilst still holding a gun (which you can't do in the original version) and there's not much of a story line in this game.”
  • gameplay1,008 mentions

    The gameplay of Doom 3 has been a point of contention among players, with many noting its shift from the fast-paced action of earlier titles to a slower, horror-focused experience. While the BFG Edition introduces quality-of-life improvements, such as a shoulder-mounted flashlight and increased ammo availability, it also detracts from the original's tension and challenge, leading to a more forgiving and less immersive experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as engaging yet repetitive, with a mix of solid mechanics and frustrating elements that may not satisfy fans of the classic Doom formula.

    • “The gameplay mechanics remain faithful to the original while benefiting from some quality-of-life improvements.”
    • “With enhanced graphics, additional content, and improved gameplay mechanics, it offers a thrilling journey for both newcomers and returning fans.”
    • “The game mechanics are fluid and intuitive, allowing for seamless interactions with the environment and a wide variety of satisfying weapon choices.”
    • “It's just an infinite hallway with little to no change in gameplay.”
    • “Overall it's an incredibly repetitive and frustrating gameplay loop.”
    • “Doom 3 gameplay feels a little like this: get keycard, open door, fight enemies in a dull environment for 5 minutes and repeat.”
  • atmosphere716 mentions

    The atmosphere in Doom 3 is widely praised for its immersive and chilling qualities, effectively drawing players into the eerie environments of the UAC facility on Mars. The game's use of lighting, sound design, and environmental storytelling creates a tense, horror-focused experience that contrasts sharply with the fast-paced action of earlier entries in the series. However, some players feel that the remastered versions have diminished the original's atmospheric intensity, making it less effective in delivering the intended horror experience.

    • “The atmospheric environments are beautifully rendered, drawing players into the eerie world of the UAC facility on Mars.”
    • “The chilling soundtrack and unsettling audio cues immerse players in the dark atmosphere, making every encounter feel impactful.”
    • “With its eerie atmosphere and heart-pounding combat, Doom 3 is a chilling trip to hell and back!”
    • “Compared to the original, this remaster or whatever you want to call it lacks any sense of atmosphere or tension that the game carried.”
    • “Unfortunately this version takes the two aspects of the original doom 3 that made it quite enjoyable and throws them out of the window: atmosphere and challenge.”
    • “BFG edition manages to remove a ton of customization options and ruins the game's atmosphere.”
  • music382 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of a substantial soundtrack during gameplay, relying instead on ambient sounds that contribute to the eerie atmosphere. While some praise the chilling main menu theme and the atmospheric sound design, others criticize the absence of memorable tracks and the inability to adjust audio settings, leading to a feeling of laziness in the game's audio implementation. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as insufficient compared to previous entries in the series, with many longing for the iconic heavy metal music that characterized earlier Doom games.

    • “The chilling soundtrack and unsettling audio cues immerse players in the dark atmosphere, making every encounter feel impactful.”
    • “The soundtrack and the sound design is amazing, and just pumps up the atmosphere even more.”
    • “Great atmosphere, great music, great story.”
    • “Also, there are no audio options at all in this game; you can't even turn the music off. Just sheer laziness to leave out such basic audio settings.”
    • “This game has no music (except in the main menu).”
    • “There's virtually no music.”
  • optimization100 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to run smoothly on lower-end hardware, while others report significant performance issues, including stuttering and frame drops, particularly in Doom 3. Many users noted that the original Doom titles are poorly optimized and recommend alternative methods for playing them. Overall, while there are improvements in graphics and performance for modern systems, the game still suffers from notable optimization flaws.

    • “It's very well optimized, even though this is a pretty old game, it can run on almost every toaster in this world.”
    • “Doom 3, Resurrection of Evil, and the all-new ‘Lost Mission’ have all been optimized in stereoscopic 3D (on supported hardware), further immersing the player in the demonic world of this terrifying horror masterpiece.”
    • “If you want modern resolutions and performance out of the box, I'd say get this one.”
    • “Don't buy this game just for Doom 1 & 2; they don't run well at all, they aren't optimized and are basically unplayable. You're better off downloading GZDoom (enhanced Doom engine) and getting the WADs for them from various fan websites.”
    • “The visuals are okay, but there's no disguising that the game is horribly optimized.”
    • “Terrible optimization, rivaled only by the developer's technical support.”
  • humor74 mentions

    The humor in Doom 3 is a mixed bag, with some players finding it unintentionally funny due to its over-the-top horror elements and bugs, while others feel the humor feels out of place in a game trying to be serious. Many appreciate the comedic aspects of gameplay, such as the absurdity of certain enemy designs and the humorous logs, but some criticize the game for failing to deliver genuine scares, leading to moments that are more amusing than frightening. Overall, the humor is often seen as a quirky contrast to the game's darker themes, providing a lighthearted counterpoint to its horror elements.

    • “Hilariously excessive amount of ammo and health pickups.”
    • “Combine that with the hilarious turkey punch out arcade cabinet found in the canteen, and this is a prize winner!”
    • “Main character still makes hilarious faces during cutscenes.”
  • stability72 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and crashes that hinder gameplay. Many players experienced issues such as freezing during saves, scripting glitches, and graphical problems, particularly with the Doom 3 version. While some found the game playable on lower-end systems, the overall consensus suggests that troubleshooting is often necessary, making it a frustrating experience for many.

    • “No bugs, no glitches - nice.”
    • “Runs great even on a potato.”
    • “Other than that, it runs great and looks beautiful and is quite fun.”
    • “Sad to say you're better off skipping unless you want to deal with a significant amount of troubleshooting to get it running.”
    • “I can tell you the game was shipped with the last update without being tested; on the first levels, there are already scripting glitches.”
    • “And the icing on the cake is that the game freezes every time it saves or you quicksave, and prepare yourself, there is no way to skip cutscenes and intro videos.”
  • grinding70 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tediousness, with many players expressing frustration over repetitive combat, confusing level designs, and excessive backtracking. The gameplay often feels monotonous, leading to a sense of boredom as players encounter the same enemies and mechanics repeatedly. While some appreciate the atmosphere and enemy design, the overall consensus is that the grinding experience detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The main complaint I have with this title is the tediousness of taking one step to have something spawn behind you and having to do that every freaking step you take.”
    • “Not scary, not fun, not hard, just tedious and annoying; just play Doom 1, 2, and 2016.”
    • “After about the 4th imp, you learn to just sidestep, and it very quickly becomes tedious.”
  • replayability58 mentions

    Overall, the replayability of the game is mixed, with many users noting a lack of replay value due to unskippable cutscenes and a scripted experience. However, the inclusion of Doom 1 and 2 in the BFG Edition, along with new achievements and minor enhancements, adds significant replayability for those seeking nostalgia and additional challenges. While some players find the game easy and lacking in depth, others appreciate the bundled content and improvements that enhance the overall experience.

    • “The game comes with endless replay value, following nostalgic bonuses, and shouldn't be missed by anyone.”
    • “Replayability at its best with all the DLCs and both previous titles.”
    • “Bought for the nostalgia, stayed because it's an awesome replayable set of games I'll always enjoy.”
    • “There’s not much replayability here, sadly.”
    • “Maybe a mod fixes it, but this game has no replayability if that's what you want.”
    • “- you can't skip cutscenes, which really hurts replay value.”
  • monetization16 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users labeling it as a "cash grab" and expressing disappointment over the lack of meaningful improvements or content. While some appreciate the absence of microtransactions and loot boxes, the overall sentiment suggests that the game feels exploitative and not worth the investment.

    • “No microtransactions, no lootboxes, just plain good old fun.”
    • “Resurrection of Evil was a cash grab; it wasn't even made by id.”
    • “We fell for a massive cash grab!”
    • “A disappointing cash grab that is very frustrating.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game lacks emotional depth and impactful moments, with players expressing a desire for more engaging and memorable scenes. While some moments evoke nostalgia or joy, particularly in gameplay mechanics, the overall emotional resonance is seen as insufficient, leaving players wanting a more profound psychological experience.

    • “I begin my analysis by saying that this game would have needed more depth, twists, or in any case some peculiar and emotional scenes, capable of impressing and leaving their mark on a psychological level.”
    • “I didn't even play Doom 3 that much because the port of old Dooms made me cry.”
    • “It's about how sometimes, I want to cry tears of joy because in some situations, you don't actually need a flashlight at all!”
  • character development8 mentions

    The game suffers from a significant lack of character development, featuring an anonymous protagonist and unoriginal NPC designs that detract from the experience. Players seeking depth in character arcs will be disappointed, as the story fails to provide meaningful growth or engagement.

    • “The game's story and character development are somewhat lacking.”
    • “You play an anonymous marine with no character development at all.”
    • “So if you are looking for a game with character development, you will not find it here.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Doom 3

Play time

11hMedian play time
13hAverage play time
11hMain story
37hCompletionist
3-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 30 analyzed playthroughs

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