Brutal Games Like Doom You Need To Play

Since the widely acclaimed Doom was released in 1993, video games have based their design around the series. Doom is a sci-fi first-person shooter that is known for being the earliest to put the genre on the map. Someone was even audacious enough to get Doom running on a McDonald's cash register! Decades later, Doom continues to be relevant with a 2016 reboot.

In between entries of this legendary FPS franchise, players have time to try other first-person shooters along the lines of Doom. Doom (2016) has a story that deals with the afterlife and is complicated enough that it isn't convoluted or unnecessary. Set on the planet Mars, the protagonist Doom Slayer must endure an onslaught of demonic entities. There are many brutal games like Doom that fans of the franchise need to play.

Updated December 30, 2024, by Hamza Haq: If there is one game that can take the credit for influencing the FPS genre the most, it's the forever-classic 1993 title by id Software, Doom. A lot of games since—first-person shooters, in particular—have tried to recapture the same feeling to varying success. A title doesn't necessarily need to be based around killing demons and guns to be similar to Doom, though visceral gunplay is an absolute must.

34 Prodeus

A Boomer Shooter With Everything Fans Of Classic Doom Could Ask For

Prodeus combines both the old and the new to make for a tantalizing combination of eras that fans of classic FPS games will have a great time with. It doesn't take an expert to see that this game is very much in the same vein as the original Doom, with its unique art style and brutal combat making it a perfect pick for fans of this genre-defining FPS.

The gameplay in Prodeus rewards mobility and ingenuity in combat. Players must be on their toes and not become a sitting duck for the many attacks aimed at their way, which can spell certain doom if they don't play the game as it should be.

33 Metal: Hellsinger

Combines Rhythm Games And FPS Gameplay With Doom-Inspired Visuals

Metal: Hellsinger

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Rhythm

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Released

September 15, 2022

Developer(s)

The Outsiders

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PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Genre(s)

FPS, Rhythm

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Indie gaming has been a breath of fresh air for an industry that has been mired in soulless cash grabs for quite some time now. The idea of combining the rhythm genre with a fast-paced first-person shooter is something that no one could've imagined.

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Now, games like Metal: Hellsinger show just how viable this combination is. The hellish imagery is very much in line with Doom, and players will love the soundtrack as they blast their way through levels and take out enemies with great finesse.

32 BPM: Bullets Per Minute

Arguably Kickstarted The Rage For Rhythm-Action Hybrid Games

A game that came out of nowhere and grabbed every player's attention from the get-go, BPM: Bullets Per Minute was a great showcase of how adhering to the rhythm of a beat could make something as simple as an FPS way more engaging.

The soundtrack is amazing and BPM's action places it a cut above most other FPS titles that aim to channel Doom's frenetic action. The gameplay loop is both unique and familiar at the same time, contributing to BPM's appeal as one of the best indie shooters fans can get their hands on.

31 F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon

Combines Action-Packed Shooting, Smart AI, And Horror Elements In A Riveting Package

It's a shame that the F.E.A.R. Series has become a fragment of the past, with this series being a technical marvel in its heyday. To this day, the AI of this game still wows players with how tactical enemies are, making sure to give players a hard time as they try to take out the many foes that stand in their way.

The atmosphere of F.E.A.R. Is easily one of its best parts, and players who finish this game won't be forgetting Alma Wade anytime soon. The frenetic action of this title makes it a classic old-school FPS that fans of Doom should check out, as long as they don't get too scared by its underlying horror elements.

30 Wolfenstein: The New Order

A Return To Form For B.J. Blazkowicz With Amazing Shooting Action

Wolfenstein: The New Order

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May 20, 2014

Developer(s)

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PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

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Another series that received a successful reboot just like Doom is Wolfenstein: The New Order. The last thing most people expected from a legendary video game series about killing Nazis was a story-driven experience, so it's genuinely impressive just how high-budget and exciting The New Order's narrative is.

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The balance between story and gameplay was perfect, and many fans felt like the sequel put too much emphasis on the story while adding repetitive side missions that didn't feel all that fresh. Players who want to see what a good video game reboot is all about should play Wolfenstein: The New Order.

29 I Am Your Beast

FPS With The Most Satisfying Headshots In All Of Gaming

I Am Your Beast is a level-based, fast-paced FPS where players assume the role of a special agent gone rogue, refusing to comply with his employer's demands for another assassination. In response, the company sends its goons to take him down, and the player's job is to turn these hunters into the hunted while escaping the predicament they find themselves in.

Gameplay is structured around short levels with a clear objective and a time limit, and the only obstacles in the way are the enemies with guns cocked. The only weapons on hand are the ones the players pick up off an enemy's dead body, ranging from pistols to knives. Headshots are the optimal way to blitz through a zone and are highlighted with a large, satisfying red X sign when achieved. The head hitbox is also extremely generous, with the clear aim of making the player feel like a badass if they put only a moderate amount of effort into getting good at the game—a Doom-esque philosophy that works wonderfully.

28 Dusk

An Ode To The Golden Age Of FPS Games, Including Doom

The rise of indie gaming has led to the development of several titles that have tried to capture the magic of retro FPS titles, with Dusk being one such game. It is developed by the man behind indie breakouts like Iron Lung and Rust, David Szymanski.

Dusk is a fun Lovecraftian-themed FPS where players battle several nightmarish horrors as they uncover the mystery surrounding the eponymous rural town. The gunplay is tough yet engaging, and players have to hone their skills to get through the tougher sections of this game unscathed.

27 Ion Fury

A Fast-Paced FPS With Shades Of Duke Nukem And Doom

After Bombshell turned out to be a critical and commercial failure, it's genuinely impressive that the developers didn't give up on this IP, as is the norm with most other video game flops in gaming's modern era. This time, instead of a top-down shooter approach, Ion Fury took on a classic first-person approach that ended up paying dividends.

Ion Fury was a fun game in every way and a title that fans of Doom and Duke Nukem 3D should check out. The fact that the voice actor of Duke himself appears as the main villain is a testament to how well this title understands its target demographic.

26 Superhot

Fast-Paced Shooter With Time Freeze Mechanics

Superhot is a fast-paced shooter with a major focus on intense level design and satisfying gunplay. The game is level-based, with each level requiring the player to defeat a certain number of red enemies in a single room using various types of guns.

In Superhot, combat is blisteringly fast, with enemies coming at the player in a relentless assault that's impossible to react to, especially in later stages. This is where the game's unique freeze-time mechanic comes in. As long as the player stands still, time remains frozen, but as soon as they start moving, time does, too. This creates a tense gameplay loop where, despite the game's quick pace, players are given plenty of time to stop and strategize the best possible solution to the problem. Additionally, guns are not the only tools available to the player; everything in the environment can become a weapon.

25 Ghostrunner

Amazing Combination Of Platforming, Fast-Paced Action, And Brutal Difficulty

Ghostrunner is a fast-paced first-person action-platformer hybrid that will scratch the itch of many players who love hardcore gameplay. Dodging attacks in midair and killing enemies in a cool and brutal manner is one of the biggest draws of this title that never ceases to be engaging.

While Ghostrunner doesn't feature any shooting gameplay, most fans of Doom won't mind after seeing just how cool this game is. Surpassing a challenge after struggling for ages makes for a great time indeed and is one of the biggest draws of this title's addictive gameplay loop.