Doom: The Dark Ages

A first-person action game where you parry and slam through demonic hordes with a shield-saw, pilot Atlan mechs, and chain pull to medieval battles.

Last reviewed: May 1, 2026

Released May 2025 Singleplayer / Atmospheric / First-Person

id traded Eternal's mid-air chess match for medieval ground combat and a parry button — heavier, slower, and divisive in ways Eternal wasn't.

8.5 /10

Strong

Previously an Editor's pick

For you if

You found Eternal's platforming + ammo-juggling combat exhausting and wanted Doom to feel weighty again.
Shield-as-weapon — parries, throws, saw-on-rim — sounds more interesting to you than another double-jump grappling-hook puzzle.
id's set-piece scale (giant Atlan mechs, multi-front demonic battlefields) appeals more than tighter corridor design.

Not for you if

Eternal was your peak Doom — Dark Ages slows the cadence in ways you won't get back.
Mech and dragon sequences as 'change of pace' chapters bother you — they're substantive here, not optional.
You want the franchise's deepest mechanical loop — late-game combat in Dark Ages doesn't compound the way Eternal's Master Levels do.

What players love

The tank playstyle with shield chainsaw and demon-upgrade system is a fresh, satisfying evolution that veterans embrace.

What frustrates them

The slower, more methodical combat compared to Eternal's frantic pace is a common disappointment for long-time fans.

See the reviews behind this →

What critics say

4/5Eurogamer
a more grounded Doom, but one that's as brisk and playful as ever
Christian Donlan Read review →
9/10IGN
replaces it with a very weighty and powerful style of play that is different from anything the series has done
Read review →
9.5/10Game Informer
modern Doom executed better than ever. It's a bloody, challenging, and strategic thrill ride
Marcus Stewart Read review →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly

Which weapons are best in Doom: The Dark Ages?

Doom: The Dark Ages doesn't have classes or builds — your loadout is the weapon mix you carry. The Super Shotgun and Rocket Launcher remain top-tier mainstays, the new Chainshot specializes in cracking armored enemies, the Impaler handles flying targets, and the Ballistic Force Crossbow (BFC) clears armies in a single shot for boss arenas. Pair the Shield with parries to enable the Slayer's signature melee counter-flow — most encounters are designed around shield-and-blade rhythm, not just ranged DPS.

Source: PC Gamer Weapons Guide

What difficulty should a new Doom: The Dark Ages player pick?

Doom: The Dark Ages has six difficulty presets plus dozens of granular sliders for projectile speed, parry window, damage taken, and more — easily the most accessible Doom yet. Pick "Hurt Me Plenty" (the default) for a baseline test of skill, drop to "Aspiring Slayer" if you want the spectacle without combat punishment, or jump to "Ultra-Violence" or "Nightmare" if you've cleared Doom Eternal on the same. You can change difficulty mid-campaign without penalty.

Source: Game8 Difficulty Settings

Are any collectibles or content missable in Doom: The Dark Ages?

No — every collectible (Codex pages, secrets, weapon upgrades) is mop-up-friendly thanks to Chapter Select, which lets you re-enter any completed mission from the main menu. You can roll credits with whatever you found, then go back chapter by chapter to clean up the rest at your own pace. Nothing is permanently locked once a chapter ends.

Source: PowerPyx Collectibles Guide

Do I need to play Doom 2016 or Doom Eternal before Doom: The Dark Ages?

No — The Dark Ages is a prequel set well before Doom (2016), so it's a clean entry point with a self-contained narrative. The story explains who the Slayer is, why he's at war with Hell, and which factions are involved without expecting prior knowledge. Playing Doom (2016) and Eternal first does reward you with payoff on certain references and lore beats, but the gameplay is its own beast — slower, melee-heavy, and shield-driven, not the air-dancing arena combat of Eternal.

Source: Game Rant Timeline Guide

Is there content to do after beating Doom: The Dark Ages?

There's no traditional New Game Plus, but every chapter is replayable from the main menu — useful for harder difficulties (Ultra-Violence, Nightmare) once you've learned the encounter design. Achievement hunters return for Chapter Select cleanup of missed Codex entries and secrets, and the higher difficulties meaningfully change pacing (tighter parry windows, fewer health drops). If you want a roguelike-style replay, no — but if you treat Doom as a skill-improvement loop, the campaign holds up to repeat passes.

Source: Game8 New Game Plus Info