Doom Eternal

About

In DOOM Eternal, players take on the role of the Slayer, battling through an epic single-player campaign against hell's armies invading Earth. Utilize an arsenal of brutal weapons, fierce movement techniques, and powerful upgrades to defeat the forces of darkness and save humanity. With intense combat, stunning visuals, and a heavy metal soundtrack, DOOM Eternal delivers a thrilling and adrenaline-fueled experience from start to finish.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 111,016 reviews

gameplay5k positive mentions

grinding770 negative mentions

gameplay
13,861 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
The gameplay of "Doom Eternal" is widely praised for its fast-paced, frenetic action and intricate mechanics that require players to master a variety of skills, including resource management and weapon switching. While many players appreciate the depth and challenge of the gameplay, some find the numerous mechanics overwhelming and feel that they detract from the core experience of relentless demon-slaying. Overall, the game is seen as a significant evolution from its predecessor, "Doom (2016)," offering a more complex and engaging combat system that rewards skill and adaptability.
- “Every mechanic works so seamlessly together, and it's such a smooth experience all the way through; it just feels so good to play.”
- “The weapon variety and upgrades make every fight feel different, and mastering each weapon’s unique mechanics is extremely rewarding.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and intense, with a variety of weapons and abilities at your disposal.”
- “The flow of the game is constantly interrupted by puzzle sections, platforming sections, cutscenes, and new mechanic introductions such that you spend maybe 35% of the game actually fighting in the arenas.”
- “The gameplay loop is hyper focused so you are constantly dodging, platforming and switching weapons to dominate the waves of unique enemies this game throws at you.”
- “The gameplay is fast and innovative, a major step up from doom (2016).”
story
11,885 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
66%
6%
The story of "Doom Eternal" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it attempts to expand the lore and provide a more intricate narrative compared to its predecessor, "Doom (2016)," it often feels convoluted and less engaging. Some players appreciate the additional depth and character backstories, while others criticize the story for being overly complex and detracting from the core gameplay experience, which is primarily focused on fast-paced action and demon-slaying. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, with many players choosing to skip cutscenes and lore in favor of the intense combat.
- “The story is a beautifully crafted masterpiece with tons of extra optional lore through the use of hidden collectibles found throughout the different levels if you wish to read them.”
- “The story is engaging and intriguing with its mystery.”
- “The story is surprisingly rich and deep with a ton of lore for you to explore!”
- “The story is a bit convoluted and doesn't make much sense, especially for newcomers to the series.”
- “The story feels like a forced addition that detracts from the core gameplay experience.”
- “The story is poorly presented and often feels like an afterthought, making it hard to stay engaged.”
music
10,037 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The music in "Doom Eternal" has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its heavy metal soundtrack composed by Mick Gordon, which enhances the game's intense and fast-paced gameplay. Many players highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, often describing it as one of the best in gaming history, with tracks that perfectly complement the action and elevate the overall experience. However, some reviews note that the music's integration into gameplay is less effective than in its predecessor, "Doom (2016)," leading to mixed feelings about its impact during combat.
- “Mick Gordon's soundtrack is nothing short of legendary, perfectly capturing the intensity and atmosphere of each encounter.”
- “The heavy metal soundtrack perfectly complements the high-octane action, pumping you up as you tear through demons.”
- “The soundtrack is a masterpiece and combined with the gameplay makes for an unforgettable experience as they both complement each other.”
- “Music and art direction are repellent to anyone with actual taste.”
- “The soundtrack seems to be lacking and the lack of the 'darkness' of the 2016 Doom is my biggest negative.”
- “The music is gory peak.”
graphics
5,803 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
43%
3%
The graphics of "Doom Eternal" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and vibrant art style, showcasing a significant improvement over its predecessor, "Doom 2016." Many players appreciate the game's ability to maintain high frame rates even on lower-end systems, while the detailed environments and character designs contribute to an immersive experience. However, some critiques highlight a shift towards a more cartoonish aesthetic, which may detract from the darker, grittier tone of earlier entries in the series. Overall, the graphics are considered a major highlight, enhancing the fast-paced and brutal gameplay.
- “Graphically, it's a great-looking game with lots of distinct style.”
- “Incredible graphics with work on the Vulkan API and the atmosphere of the levels; you feel the adrenaline in your blood.”
- “The graphics are stunning, with every detail meticulously crafted to bring the game to life.”
- “Mediocre world building, bland graphics, and shallow game mechanics... found Borderlands, Destiny, Rage, and many other FPS style games immensely more engaging.”
- “The graphics feel like a step back from Doom 2016 and the game looks like something I might've played 10 years ago.”
- “The graphics are too cartoonish and distracting, breaking the realism and immersion of the last entry.”
optimization
1,906 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
45%
6%
The optimization of Doom Eternal has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its ability to run smoothly across a variety of hardware configurations, including older systems. Users report impressive frame rates, even at high settings, and minimal performance issues, highlighting the game's efficient use of resources and the effectiveness of the id Tech 7 engine. However, some players have experienced performance drops related to the addition of Denuvo anti-cheat software, which has led to mixed reviews regarding overall stability and performance consistency.
- “Everything is functional, the game works properly, and is very well optimized.”
- “The game is well-optimized too: I managed to get a stable 60 fps on my Steam Deck OLED with medium-high settings.”
- “This game is incredibly optimized for PC; very rarely did I dip under 60 fps, and I had everything on high.”
- “But this game's optimization is just irritatingly bad.”
- “The game runs really well until 10 minutes of time which the game has been open for, after which it starts stuttering really bad and the only way of fixing it is restarting.”
- “I kind of can't believe this game is so poorly optimized nearly 2 years after launch, especially when 2016 doom was so great.”
grinding
907 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
14%
85%
The grinding aspect of "Doom Eternal" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and frustrating. Critics highlight the constant need for resource management, such as farming ammo and health through glory kills and chainsaw usage, which disrupts the fast-paced combat flow. Additionally, the platforming sections and certain enemy mechanics, particularly the marauder, are often described as overly complicated and detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “The challenges were just long enough to be difficult but not tedious.”
- “The constant requirement to double jump etc. becomes really tedious.”
- “The platforming can get tedious but it's still fun to do.”
- “The gameplay is tedious and very linear in the sense that you can't approach fights the way you want and you're constantly farming for resources akin to what feels like a hopped up version of breath of the wild.”
atmosphere
769 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
51%
6%
The atmosphere in "Doom Eternal" has received mixed reviews compared to its predecessor, "Doom (2016)." While some players appreciate the vibrant graphics and intense gameplay, many feel that the game lacks the darker, more immersive atmosphere and storytelling that defined the earlier title. Critics note that the shift towards a more arcade-like, cartoonish aesthetic detracts from the sense of dread and tension, making the experience feel less cohesive and atmospheric overall.
- “Mick Gordon's soundtrack is nothing short of legendary, perfectly capturing the intensity and atmosphere of each encounter.”
- “The atmosphere is immersive, and the Doom Slayer is as badass as ever.”
- “The level design is amazing and atmospheric, really setting the tone of the game with the grim landscapes.”
- “For me, the main downside of the game (once you have accepted its special gameplay) is the lack of atmosphere and decent storytelling: it is absolutely not an immersive nor a believable world.”
- “This game is missing all of the atmosphere of Doom 2016 and that makes it repetitive, tedious, and boring.”
- “The dark atmosphere of Doom 2016 is pretty much gone as the game feels oddly more cartoonish and cheerful than its 2016 counterpart, which yes pays homage to the original Doom but on the other hand abandons the amazing atmosphere of Doom 2016.”
replayability
767 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
4%
Overall, "Doom Eternal" is widely praised for its high replayability, with many players highlighting the game's various difficulty levels, collectibles, and master levels that encourage multiple playthroughs. The fluid gameplay and combat mechanics, combined with the addition of cheat codes and challenges, contribute to an engaging experience that keeps players returning. However, some reviewers noted that the campaign's linearity and lack of extensive multiplayer options may limit replay value for certain players.
- “The replay value of this game is also awesome; you get better and start playing at harder difficulties which are even more fun. Every time you play, you come up with newer strategies, whether it is movement or switching weapons. You are literally learning throughout. It's beautiful. This game is up there; it's on the top, there's nothing beyond... this is it... this is as good as demon slaying gets.”
- “The game has a fair bit of replay value due to it having various difficulties, and the game taking about 8-12 hours if you're really focused. The replayability of this game allows you to continue to come back for more and more.”
- “Endlessly replayable and full of free, unlockable skins and rewards to keep you playing long after the campaign ends.”
- “The game is alright, but it really doesn't offer much replayability.”
- “While the addition of collectibles and hidden challenges adds some replay value, it may not be enough to fully engage those seeking a robust post-campaign experience.”
- “The only downside is the replayability is pretty limited and the multiplayer seems inaccessible or overly tedious, too much monster spam in the arena.”
stability
730 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
1%
79%
The stability of "Doom Eternal" has received mixed feedback from players, with many reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly in the DLCs, which can lead to game freezes and crashes. While the base game runs well on various systems, including lower-end hardware, numerous users have experienced frustrating issues such as soft locks, audio glitches, and random freezes that disrupt gameplay. Overall, while the game is praised for its performance and visuals, the persistent bugs detract from the experience for many players.
- “This game runs great even on under-powered rigs.”
- “The game runs great and looks good but the gameplay is a disaster in my opinion.”
- “The game looks and runs great; I have a laptop from 2016 and was still able to play on the highest settings (at 1080p) and get a pretty much constant 75 fps.”
- “Many other people like me are having issues where the game just freezes up and so now I can’t even play the game.”
- “The game doesn't work anymore, I bought it a while ago and it used to run fine now it freezes and crashes constantly and there is no fix.”
- “The game is extremely buggy, multiple crashes to desktop, game didn't launch until I changed startup lines, it's a real piece of shit, Bethesda fail again.”
humor
712 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
2%
The humor in "Doom Eternal" is described as a mix of dark, slapstick, and self-referential comedy, often resulting in hilarious moments during gameplay, particularly through exaggerated gore and absurd enemy interactions. While many players appreciate the game's lighthearted tone and comedic elements, some feel that the humor can become repetitive or forced, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully balances intense action with a playful sense of humor, making it both entertaining and engaging.
- “The marauder is so glitchy and unstable that it's hilarious.”
- “It's a great main game, with some dark but funny moments.”
- “The humor in many of the NPC dialogues had me chuckling out loud, which is rare for a game these days.”
- “Now the holograms are randomly placed on Earth and are super overblown, out of place, and just not funny.”
- “This is a completely unfunny game trying its best to be funny with visual humor that belongs in a slapstick cartoon.”
- “Like yeah, I get the joke, but it's not funny the 20th time I hear it.”
emotional
288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of feelings ranging from empowerment and nostalgia to frustration and disappointment. Many players express a sense of invincibility and joy while engaging in the fast-paced combat, often feeling like a "badass" or "god" as they slay demons, which evokes a strong emotional connection to their childhood gaming experiences. However, some also report moments of frustration due to gameplay mechanics and story presentation, leading to a complex emotional experience that oscillates between exhilaration and discontent. Overall, the game is frequently described as a wholesome, family-friendly experience with underlying themes of resilience and triumph.
- “This game made me feel like I was going to go into cardiac arrest, so pretty good I guess.”
- “This game was literally so good that I shed a tear for how much fun I was having.”
- “I cried when my favorite demon got cut in half over and over again.”
- “Only downsides are probably a boring story (or actually the way it is presented) and the randomness of maps.”
- “But Doom is not about ridiculous platforming, climbing, endless upgrading, or boring storytelling!”
- “This means you often have to visit different planets, and all to service an incredibly boring story (three hell priests are leading the invasion of Earth, kill all three and the invasion ends zzzzzzzz).”
monetization
203 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
53%
39%
The monetization aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players expressing frustration over intrusive ads, mandatory account creation, and a plethora of microtransactions that detract from the overall experience. Critics describe the game as a cash grab, lamenting the shift from a once-passionate project to a corporate-driven model filled with paywalls and cosmetic purchases. While some players appreciate the absence of traditional microtransactions in the single-player campaign, the presence of ads and the push for additional paid content have left a sour impression on the community.
- “The monetization policy in this game is amazing; the battle pass system you don't pay for and you earn everything. My only 'complaint' is that doing horde mode mod seems to break the battle pass (this isn't fair though as I am using a mod).”
- “No microtransactions, cheat codes, unlockables, dope soundtrack, amazing mechanics, specifically in upgrades.”
- “No microtransactions that I know of as of yet.”
- “A bevy of paywalls and cash grab cosmetics for sale leaves a bad taste.”
- “It's sad how a work of passion became a corporate cash grab and it diminished a cool game into something that feels tedious and lazy.”
- “The first experience you have with this game is navigating all the in-game ads and promotions for cosmetics or other junk.”
character development
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
7%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the impressive character and enemy designs, but criticizing the lack of depth in character arcs and storytelling. While some players appreciate the visual aesthetics and the nostalgic nods to previous titles, others feel that the character development feels forced or minimal, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game excels in design and atmosphere, but falls short in delivering a compelling narrative or significant character growth.
- “The attention to detail in both environments and character designs is astounding, with every demon, gore-spattered wall, and weapon gleaming in meticulous detail.”
- “The Doom Slayer’s character development is by far the game’s most compelling story element.”
- “Yes, there are more cutscenes, lore, dialogue, character development, etc. id Software decided that Doom Eternal needed more than just ripping and tearing... and boy were they right.”
- “Put simply, she's an insufferable brat incapable of listening - this isn't itself a problem, as unlikeability is a perfectly reasonable place to start with a character, but that tends to rely on there being character development in play.”
- “The worst part is the writer's brain in me can see these things working, given the right execution - Ava going from obnoxious punk to distraught and angry at the loss of her mentor, to matured fighter is a course of character development that absolutely could work, but none of the legwork needed to make that happen believably was actually put in, and it's really easy to tell.”
- “Zero character development, undecipherable story, tons of exposition, brutal fast-paced bloody combat... would totally play again!”