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DOOM: The Dark Ages
Action
Single-player
Steam Achievements
Full controller support
Steam Trading Cards
Color Alternatives
Adjustable Difficulty
Surround Sound
Steam Cloud
HDR available
Family Sharing

DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. Players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.

Developers: id Software
Publishers: Bethesda Softworks
Release Date: May 14, 2025
Price (USD): $69.99
Current Players: 1.2k

Links:  Steam Store  SteamDB

Very Positive(86%)
combat intensity
visual design
optimization
creative risks
shield mechanics
riding dragons and mechs
mediocre story
inconsistent difficulty
technical issues
music comparison
The general sentiment around Doom: The Dark Ages and its execution indicates a game that falls short of its predecessors. Combat is praised for the intensity with innovative features, but the extensive cutscenes and changed pace were seen negatively by hardcore fans. Its presentation, while visually stunning, had some critical technical flaws including crashing, bugs, and high system requirements. The music and story elements didn’t live up to expectations compared to other Doom titles, and the use of the parry mechanic created a divisive response over its fit in the franchise. Overall, loyal followers of Doom were left with mixed emotions, as disappointing narrative and musical elements did not complement the intense and visually appealing experience they anticipated.

Positive Points

  • The game's combat is intense, satisfying and at times reminiscent of Doom (2016) with a unique shield mechanic.
  • The visual design and level graphics are praised as beautiful, particularly for the cosmic and infernal landscapes.
  • The game maintains high performance and smooth gameplay with impressive optimization.
  • There is appreciation for the game's innovative approach in not just replicating previous Doom games and taking creative risks.

    • Negative Points

  • The story felt mediocre and unnecessary, reliant on extensive cutscenes that some players found detracted from gameplay.
  • The difficulty was seen as inconsistent, being easier compared to Doom Eternal, which might disappoint hardcore fans.
  • There are technical issues including crashes, bugs, and required high system specifications causing performance trouble.
  • The music and soundtrack were considered inferior compared to previous Doom games, missing the impact of Mick Gordon's work.

    • Mixed Points

  • The shield and parry system received mixed reactions; it was seen as innovative by some, but others found it not fitting well within the traditional Doom style.
  • The game implements new features like riding dragons and mechs, which are either enjoyed as fun diversions or criticized for interrupting the core gameplay flow.

    • Common Themes

  • There was a common sentiment that the game did not live up to Doom Eternal, often being compared negatively.
  • The art and visual universe, while praised for its aesthetic, didn’t always support compelling gameplay mechanics.
  • Players have a love-hate relationship with the game's desire to innovate with new mechanics and settings, diverging significantly from past iterations.
    • Updated 11/25/2025, 12:02:01 AM UTC
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