DOOM: The Dark Ages

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DOOM: The Dark Ages is a single player shooter game with fantasy and science fiction themes. It was developed by id Software and was released on May 14, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Buy DOOM: The Dark Ages on PlayStation Store. Become the DOOM Slayer once more in this prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal.

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Single-Player

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 23,657 reviews

gameplay2.3k positive mentions

stability280 negative mentions

Engaging and satisfying combat system featuring shield and parry mechanics that reward skill and strategic timing, creating a fresh tactical gameplay experience.
Stunning and immersive visuals with a unique medieval-sci-fi blend, delivering larger, more detailed environments and impressive level design that balances classic Doom arenas with sprawling battlefields.
Strong atmosphere and lore expansion that enrich the Doom universe, complemented by cinematic cutscenes and a heavy metal-inspired soundtrack that enhances the power fantasy feel.

The slower, parry-focused combat feels repetitive and tedious for some players, detracting from the traditional fast-paced Doom experience and pacing.
Technical issues including inconsistent optimization, frequent crashes, forced ray tracing with high hardware demands, and various bugs hinder smooth gameplay across multiple platforms.
The story and character development are regarded as bland, disjointed, and overly serious, failing to engage some players and disrupting gameplay flow, while the music is often seen as generic and less impactful compared to previous entries.

gameplay
6,955 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
Doom: The Dark Ages introduces a slower, more tactical gameplay style centered around a new shield and parry mechanic that offers a fresh yet divisive take compared to the faster, weapon-swapping combat of Doom Eternal. While some players praise its satisfying melee-shield combos and solid core gunplay, others find the parry system repetitive and slowing, with the inclusion of mech and dragon segments seen as underdeveloped distractions. Overall, the game delivers engaging and rewarding combat once the mechanics "click," but the change in pace and focus on blocking over mobility makes it a distinct experience that may not appeal to all fans of the modern Doom series.
- “The gameplay is a thunderous, blood-soaked return to form that masterfully fuses the raw brutality of the series' roots with modern, refined gameplay mechanics; shifting away from eternal’s hyper-aerial ballet into something more grounded, vicious, and deliberate while layering shields, parries, bone-crunching melee, and devastating new weapons into combat that feels like a violent chess match played at shotgun pace; every arena demands aggression, timing, and brutality, with the mech battles and dragon phases adding scale and variety without losing Doom’s core identity; bosses are colossal and cinematic yet demanding mastery of your tools; and the music absolutely slaps, driving every fight into overdrive and making every kill feel heavier and meaner—rip and tear until it is done.”
- “Doom: The Dark Ages nails the blend of classic Doom gameplay with a fresh medieval twist; the shield throws and parrying are incredibly satisfying mechanics that change the combat flow, encouraging both defensive and aggressive playstyles; the flail adds a meaty melee component, complementing the gunplay; the combat loop is fresh, tight, and complex, rewarding skill and strategic use of shield, melee, and weapons; the game flows well once the mechanics click, with satisfying rhythm-based combat and the pace being deliberate yet thrilling.”
- “The gameplay brilliantly reinvents itself by focusing on a 'stand and fight' style centered around a shield and parry mechanic, diverging from the fast-paced, weapon-swapping chaos of previous entries; combat encourages timing and strategic counterattacks, with parrying projectile color-coded for clarity; the shield mechanics and melee combat feel natural and impactful, giving a sense of being a tank-like unstoppable force; the gameplay loop is easy to get into but deep enough to reward mastery, with difficulty sliders allowing tailoring of pace and challenge, resulting in an addictive and satisfying experience.”
- “The parry mechanic is overwhelmingly boring and I feel as though I'm simply trudging through each combat encounter, eyes glazed over, numb to everything and at some point the level ends and I remain numb and bored.”
- “Compared to id software's predecessors in the series, TDA fails to give nuanced gameplay that provides a challenge; it is more akin to popping a few quarters into a Time Crisis machine at an arcade in the 2000s. The mechanics have been dumbed down to the point all combat has become so monotonous and grating; I'd rather clock in for a shift at Subway.”
- “Gameplay often turns into 'wait for enemy to attack so I can parry' which ends up feeling more like Sekiro than Doom (in a bad way).”
story
5,134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
Doom: The Dark Ages places a greater emphasis on story and cinematic cutscenes than previous entries, delivering a more detailed narrative about the slayer's origins and conflicts with demons. While the story is generally considered serviceable and engaging for a Doom game, it often comes across as somewhat generic, disjointed, and occasionally burdensome to the gameplay flow, with mixed reception on character development and pacing. However, fans appreciate the richer lore and cinematic moments that enhance the power fantasy experience, even as some criticize the storytelling for lacking cohesion and the inclusion of less well-received mech and dragon mission segments.
- “Runs great on Linux, shield mechanics are just plain fun, and the story is awesome.”
- “Ever since the reboot in 2016, the game has only continued to upscale itself in terms of story, performance, and energy.”
- “Doom: The Dark Ages is id software firing on all cylinders and then setting the engine on fire just to watch hell burn brighter, delivering a brutal medieval sci-fi prequel that somehow feels both heavier and more mythic than anything before it, with a story that finally puts real weight behind the legend of the doom slayer as a living weapon forged in the endless war of Argent D’Nur, fighting alongside kings, betrayers, and gods against hell’s full invasion; the gameplay shifts away from Eternal’s hyper-aerial ballet into something more grounded, vicious, and deliberate without ever losing speed, layering shields, parries, bone-crunching melee, and devastating new weapons into combat that feels like a violent chess match played at shotgun pace; every arena demands aggression, timing, and brutality, and when the game cuts loose with Atlan mech battles it becomes pure power fantasy, letting you stomp, punch, and annihilate demon armies at kaiju scale in moments that feel ripped straight out of a heavy-metal album cover; the dragon phases push that fantasy even further, letting you rain fire and lead from the skies before diving back into the slaughter on foot, adding scale and variety without losing Doom’s core identity; the bosses are colossal, punishing, and cinematic, leaning into myth and spectacle while still demanding mastery of your tools, and the level design balances classic Doom arenas with sprawling battlefields that reward exploration and carnage alike; and then there’s the music—absolutely slapping from start to finish—with crushing riffs, industrial aggression, and war-drum energy that may not be Mick Gordon himself but hits that same primal nerve, driving every fight into overdrive and making every kill feel heavier, louder, and meaner; Doom: The Dark Ages doesn’t just expand the franchise, it reforges it into something ancient, savage, and unstoppable, a blood-soaked power fantasy that proves Doom is eternal and the Slayer was always inevitable—10/10, rip and tear until it is done.”
- “The story is horribly bland but feels like they are trying hard to make you interested in it, but man, some retro Mario games have more depth in terms of story than this.”
- “The story is barely making any sense and was disjointed as hell, but didn't matter because demon gets smashed.”
- “There are a lot of things like plot armor of the protagonist and the villain, which in the predecessor weren't a problem because of the story not taking itself seriously that much and being delivered much better than here, but they are a problem in this game because someone decided it would be a good idea to make this a "serious story", like some kind of attempt to get an award for it or something, with real effort apparently, just to be the same kind of slop you see in every third American movie for the last some decades.”
music
5,113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The music in Doom: The Dark Ages generally receives mixed to negative feedback, with most agreeing it is a noticeable step down from the iconic, adrenaline-pumping soundtracks by Mick Gordon in Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal. While Finishing Move Inc. delivers a competent metal soundtrack that fits the game's medieval theme, it is often described as generic, forgettable, and lacking the dynamic intensity and memorable riffs that defined the series’ previous entries. Many players find the music subdued or poorly mixed in-game, diminishing its impact during combat and reducing overall immersion.
- “The stunning visuals and spectacles are bigger and better than any of the previous titles, the gameplay is smooth and enjoyable allowing you to tweak anything and everything you want, the soundtrack is amazing (I miss Mick Gordon too and even Levy + Hulshult, but this soundtrack is fire and you can't tell me otherwise), and the power fantasy is unreal.”
- “The combat is so clunky and slow in comparison, the enemy design is bleh, the graphics are overall bleh, the music is whatever, the weapons feel like they lack impact, the level design is lacking (at least so far).”
- “Doom the dark ages is id software firing on all cylinders and then setting the engine on fire just to watch hell burn brighter, delivering a brutal medieval sci-fi prequel that somehow feels both heavier and more mythic than anything before it, with a story that finally puts real weight behind the legend of the doom slayer as a living weapon forged in the endless war of Argent D'nur, fighting alongside kings, betrayers, and gods against hell's full invasion; the gameplay shifts away from eternal's hyper-aerial ballet into something more grounded, vicious, and deliberate without ever losing speed, layering shields, parries, bone-crunching melee, and devastating new weapons into combat that feels like a violent chess match played at shotgun pace; every arena demands aggression, timing, and brutality, and when the game cuts loose with Atlan mech battles it becomes pure power fantasy, letting you stomp, punch, and annihilate demon armies at kaiju scale in moments that feel ripped straight out of a heavy-metal album cover; the dragon phases push that fantasy even further, letting you rain fire and lead from the skies before diving back into the slaughter on foot, adding scale and variety without losing doom's core identity; the bosses are colossal, punishing, and cinematic, leaning into myth and spectacle while still demanding mastery of your tools, and the level design balances classic doom arenas with sprawling battlefields that reward exploration and carnage alike; and then there's the music—absolutely slapping from start to finish—with crushing riffs, industrial aggression, and war-drum energy that may not be Mick Gordon himself but hits that same primal nerve, driving every fight into overdrive and making every kill feel heavier, louder, and meaner; Doom: The Dark Ages doesn't just expand the franchise, it reforges it into something ancient, savage, and unstoppable, a blood-soaked power fantasy that proves doom is eternal and the slayer was always inevitable—10/10, rip and tear until it is done.”
- “The music is degraded to some background noise and doesn't even address the setting at all (medieval, space, spooky pirates, etc.); you could have done so much, but this is so disappointing that I stopped playing the game after a few levels.”
- “Music deserves a special mention too, as the lack of both Gordon and Hulshult is most definitely felt as most tracks are very generic and formulaic, lacking the brutalism that reboot Doom is known for.”
- “The music is quite weak – it's forgettable and completely fails to deliver the epicness and raw rage you expect from a Doom game.”
graphics
2,240 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals, detailed art style, and atmospheric design that blends medieval and sci-fi aesthetics, creating a fresh and immersive Doom experience. However, many users report significant performance issues due to the mandatory ray tracing requirement, which demands high-end hardware, causing frame rate drops and crashes, especially on mid-range or older GPUs. While the visuals surpass previous entries in fidelity and scale, optimization struggles and a lack of adjustable ray tracing settings limit smooth gameplay on less powerful systems.
- “The game looks incredible — the graphics are seriously impressive — and performance was smooth for me with little to no bugs, which made the experience even better.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the enviroment is topnotch, the story is pretty good, I really like that there are more cut scenes in this one.”
- “The visuals are gorgeous, the art direction is wild, and the performance is impressively smooth.”
- “In docked mode, the graphics look worse than original Doom and still don't get close to 30fps.”
- “The graphical fidelity is an enormous downgrade from Doom Eternal, and even Doom 2016.”
- “The default graphics settings make the game look blurry and hard to look at, so you'll definitely need to change those settings to avoid it being a smudged-up graphical headache.”
optimization
1,577 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
56%
13%
The optimization of the game is deeply divisive: while many praise its generally smooth and stable performance on high-end systems despite mandatory ray tracing, a significant portion of users report poor optimization, forced ray tracing leading to severe performance drops, frequent crashes, and the need for DLSS or other upscaling techniques to achieve playable frame rates. Compared to previous Doom titles renowned for their exceptional optimization, this installment is widely seen as a step backward due to high hardware demands and forced features that hinder accessibility for lower-end setups.
- “The optimization is great, I average 70-80 fps on nightmare at 1440p (with FSR quality, no frame generation) and native resolution nets me closer to 45-60 fps average at 1440p with the same settings.”
- “Performance wise, I was getting 200+ fps on nightmare settings with frame generation set to 2x, felt like pure freshly churned butter.”
- “Despite heavy system demands due to mandatory ray tracing, there's absolutely no stuttering – id software's optimization remains top-tier.”
- “No idea what they did to crush the performance on this new iteration of idtech, probably the mandatory ray tracing (that hardly adds anything).”
- “This is unacceptable, the game is very hardware-demanding because it is very poorly optimized; on an Nvidia 4070 Super with 12GB VRAM I can only get about 40fps at 2K resolution (without DLSS frame generation), which honestly is not enough given the very fast-paced nature of the fights.”
- “Performance is beyond terrible, I'm unable to get an average fps of 60 with above recommended settings; I drop as low as 40fps.”
stability
385 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
2%
73%
The game's stability is notably inconsistent: while many users report smooth performance and great optimization on high-end systems, a significant number experience frequent crashes, freezes, glitches, and bugs that disrupt gameplay. Troubleshooting and driver rollbacks sometimes help, but pervasive technical issues remain, making the experience highly variable across different setups.
- “Game is really well optimized and bug free.”
- “Runs great, on high settings 1440p DLSS quality, 90 to 100 fps and frametime graph is super smooth, not a single stutter.”
- “Runs great, plays great, feels great, also that BS saying you need a NVMe SSD is false; I'm running it on a SATA HDD and I've encountered zero stutters so far.”
- “It is loaded with glitches and bugs, invisible enemies and weapons, sound glitching in and out, and eventually none at all.”
- “I experienced very often crashes to desktop with 'bugsplat' popup as well as complete screen freezes (music and sound were still playing as if nothing has happened) forcing me to close the app via task manager.”
- “The game constantly freezes after 10-20 minutes of play time, forcing me to reset the game forcefully and setting me back in-game by a good margin each time.”
atmosphere
338 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
47%
3%
Doom: The Dark Ages delivers a dark, gritty, and immersive medieval atmosphere that many fans find a compelling return to the tone of Doom (2016), blending gothic and Lovecraftian elements with brutal combat and striking visuals. While the soundtrack and ambiance capture a heavy, intense mood fitting the "medieval-tech" setting, some critics feel it lacks the iconic industrial-metal impact and atmospheric finesse of previous entries. Overall, its rich level design and cohesive atmosphere stand out as a major strength, though opinions vary on how well it aligns with traditional Doom themes.
- “Moreover, Doom: The Dark Ages seems to usher in a return to the atmosphere that I fell in love with in 2016: wild and over-the-top, yes, but also super dark, gritty, gruesome, gory, and grotesque, with enough substance to be taken seriously despite the subject matter.”
- “The medieval hell aesthetic is fresh, atmospheric, and surprisingly immersive.”
- “The atmosphere is top-tier: dark medieval meets Lovecraft, and it works brilliantly.”
- “Generic level design with an utterly dull, lifeless atmosphere; weak, lame-@ss guns that feel like plastic made-in-china guns you buy at your local dollar store; cardboard enemies that just stand there and don't do anything; slow, boring, repetitive gameplay that puts you right to sleep, I could go on and on.”
- “There is no real medieval atmosphere, no grounded dark-age setting, and no coherent era.”
- “The soundtrack is extremely underwhelming and the atmosphere of the game is no way near how it was in the other two.”
grinding
276 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
7%
91%
Grinding in the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, especially due to backtracking in large open levels, hunting for secrets and collectibles, and slow weapon mastery progress. Dragon and mech sections often feel boring or clunky, adding to the sense of chore-like gameplay, while aura farming is a prominent but sometimes monotonous aspect. Though some players find the combat satisfying initially, the overall experience can become a slog, detracting from pacing and replayability.
- “Map exploration isn't too tedious, and the map is very helpful for finding all the secrets.”
- “I can also see that 100%-ing the game is not tedious, since I tried to reach ~95%.”
- “'Open' levels are really well done, they are not tedious even if you go for 100% completion.”
- “Some of the masteries for weapons seem to not proc always and if you want to 100% the game (and get all achievements) you are constantly, constantly grinding masteries some of which progress at a glacial pace (I'm looking at you ricochet bullets mastery).”
- “Giant map that you have to cross over at least 2 or 3 times, several arena style/just open area fights, 'secrets' that are basically necessary to upgrading the Doom Slayer, constant backtracking for said 'secrets', and the most boring, drawn out, tedious methods of getting said 'secrets.'”
- “Almost half the time in my campaign was spent doubling back through the massive levels to find resources for weapon upgrades alongside keyed off secret areas, this can become quite tedious.”
replayability
242 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
61%
16%
Replayability for the game receives mixed feedback: while some praise its challenging combat, customizable difficulty sliders, and arena modes for added replay value, many criticize the lack of multiplayer, limited post-campaign content, absence of master levels or horde modes, and repetitive gameplay. Compared to predecessors like Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal, it generally offers less depth and incentive for multiple playthroughs, making the game feel less replayable and questioning its value at higher price points. Future updates or DLC could potentially enhance its longevity and replay appeal.
- “The addition of the Ripatorium adds so much replayability to the game, offering an official horde mode which significantly enhances replay value.”
- “The gameplay in this game is incredibly fun and challenging, with difficulty sliders adding great replayability, allowing customization of the experience and enabling players to create unique challenge modes.”
- “The game's flexible difficulty settings and customizable combat variables provide a massive level of replayability, making it enjoyable to revisit and master over multiple playthroughs.”
- “Despite impressive aesthetics, the core loop becomes repetitive by the midpoint, hurting the game's replay value.”
- “After playing it on Xbox Game Pass and Steam and getting all achievements unlocked, it’s safe to say that even though the game itself is visually impressive and presents some new ideas, I find that 100%-ing this game is more tedious than fun and doesn’t provide any sort of proper replayability, not to mention that I have to start a stage all over again just to get some coins.”
- “This is a good game but for $70 offering no multiplayer and 0 replay value and a 12 hour story this should be $30.”
humor
139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
1%
2%
The humor in this game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating quirky, over-the-top moments and amusing weapon and enemy animations, while others feel it lacks the natural, irreverent humor present in previous Doom titles like 2016 and Eternal. Although some find certain elements—such as the shield mechanics, bugs, and character comparisons—funny and entertaining, many note the story and cutscenes are more serious and less humorous, contributing to a tonal shift that some describe as humorless or forced. Overall, the game features sporadic funny moments but does not consistently capture the playful spirit and comedic charm that defined earlier entries in the series.
- “The designers have their own sense of humor, e.g., when Slayer pulls the heart out of the upgradable demons, they stretch out their arms like Gollum reaching for the ring, and when you use Impaler to fight the mutant Azirak, you can see the big nails on his body, and one nail actually is in his mouth—that's very funny :)”
- “The story has been moved out of the codexes, which is honestly the most enjoyable part so far; having the Doom Slayer be the silly overpowered, unwavering demon hater is always funny to watch, but this time it’s all in service of set pieces.”
- “They basically broke the fourth wall and had the Doom Slayer saying, "This is a bunch of nonsense—forget this and let's just rip and tear", and it was hilarious and fun.”
- “On top of this, it is so poorly optimized it is unfunny.”
- “They have a literal green paint 'joke', but it's not funny because of how many design mistakes litter this mess.”
- “The enemy AI for some demons is weird, if not funny.”
emotional
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
9%
The emotional impact of Doom: The Dark Ages is mixed, with many players feeling a lack of meaningful narrative depth and emotional connection compared to previous entries like Doom Eternal or 2016. While some appreciated moments of genuine engagement and satisfying combat, others found the story boring, the music underwhelming, and the overall emotional experience flat or even disappointing. The game’s emphasis on slower, less intense pacing and heavy lore delivery clashes with expectations of Doom’s traditional visceral and fast-paced action, resulting in a divisive emotional reception.
- “Doom: The Dark Ages is my first entry into the series, and it instantly made me feel in control as I tore through demonic creatures.”
- “The cut scenes are very cinematic, provoking an emotional attachment.”
- “Overall, the game is a masterpiece and made me cry more times than I can count.”
- “Long story short, a very fun game, but with a boring story and characters with too much of it; it takes itself too seriously and lacks soul and self-awareness.”
- “It's antithetical to the vision of the first game, which has a metanarrative about how no one cares about a boring story—only for this game to dump lore and cutscenes on your face every chance it gets.”
- “Boring story filled with many slow-paced cinematics, which is very jarring.”
monetization
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
35%
57%
The monetization of the game divides opinion, with some praising the absence of microtransactions, battle passes, and major paywalls, resulting in a straightforward single-player experience. However, many criticize it as a rushed cash grab, citing misleading advertising, mandatory online requirements, and concerns about franchise disrespect. Overall, while there are no aggressive monetization schemes in-game, the marketing approach and perceived lack of passion have left some players wary.
- “This is the first AAA title I've played in almost a decade that has actually innovated continuously instead of feeding me the same slop over & over for $70-100 before microtransactions, which the game doesn't have.”
- “Tda has been released in a complete and fully playable state with no major bugs, no crashes, and no microtransactions.”
- “No additional monetization (microtransactions) and no battlepass nonsense.”
- “Clearly a cash grab.”
- “Unfortunately, it gives off lazy, uninspired vibes, as if it was made solely for a quick cash grab rather than out of passion for the franchise.”
- “You can tell this game has been rushed, so Bethesda can do another quick cash grab, which they have been known to do before, but to the Doom franchise, of all the games you had to pick to screw over, why Doom?!?!?!”
character development
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
45%
10%
Character development in the game is minimal to nonexistent, with many users noting a lack of meaningful story and character growth despite strong visual and design elements. While character designs and animations are widely praised for creativity and fitting the game's atmosphere, the narrative and depth behind the characters are seen as shallow or generic. Overall, the game focuses more on gameplay and aesthetic appeal than on developing its characters.
- “Dark Ages is really good. We get to punch giants with sentinel fists and kicks, ride Doom Guy's new best bud Serrat, and have characters that actually treat Doom Guy like he is an actual human. Dark Ages lays the groundwork for a sequel to Eternal, showing more of the Wraiths and that there might be beings more powerful than the Dark Lord. Also, story, gameplay, cutscenes, lore, environment, character design: 10 out of 10. Can't wait for the DLC!”
- “Heck, you even get some story and character development.”
- “[Character design]: 9/10 (greatly improved over previous titles, each character has unique lively animations).”
- “Another unfortunate trend carried on from Eternal is the emphasis on story; I just don't need a lot of background lore and character development in a game about shooting demons.”
- “There is no character development whatsoever.”
- “The game's narrative attempts to explore the Doom Slayer's origins but falls short due to shallow character development and a disjointed plot.”

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18h Median play time

54h Average play time

7-25h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 154 analyzed playthroughs

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