Summary
- Doom Eternal offers one of the best single-player campaigns with top-notch visuals and fast-paced run-and-gun gameplay.
- Fans of Doom Eternal can satisfy their slaying needs with alternative games like Quake 2 Remastered, Prodeus, and Turbo Overkill.
- These alternative games provide similar mechanics, speed, and violence, allowing players to switch off and indulge in satisfying gunplay and intense action.
With Doom Eternal, gamers get to experience one of the best single-player campaigns of this generation. The top-notch visuals and impeccable framerate have been designed to get the best out of their respective platform. Doom Eternal, like its predecessor, is a brutal shooter that does away with modern gameplay mechanics like cover shooting and stealth in favor of old-school run-and-gun.
There is still a great deal of emphasis on strategy and tactics in using the environment to take down enemies as efficiently as possible in adrenaline-inducing gunfights. Unfortunately, like all good single-player campaigns, they have to end, but there are some great alternatives for fans of Doom Eternal to satisfy their slaying needs.
Updated August 19, 2023, by Michael Llewellyn: Fans of the Doom series love the adrenaline-infused nature of the gunplay. It is fast-paced, gruesome, and violently satisfying. Few games can match the speed or the level of power fantasy the series provides. Mechanically, Doom is the opposite of methodical shooters like Ghost Recon or Rainbow Six. Instead of stealth, the Doom series forces players to think fast and react with skill and good timing. Even though Doom Eternal will remain the best for many players, that does not mean there are no viable alternatives. This list has been updated to include more great games like Doom Eternal.
21 Quake 2 Remastered
- Released: 2023
- Developer: id Software and Machine Games
- Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Launching 26 years after the original Quake 2, the Quake 2 Remastered is a dream come true for fans of old-school shooters. It features 4K support, smoother gameplay, and cross-platform multiplayer. The remaster also includes more accessibility features to give it a modern sheen. Moreover, it has the original DLC, with The Reckoning, Ground Zero, and the Doom 64 missions. The remaster includes an expansion from i Wolfenstein's Machine Games with 28 new levels.
20 Prodeus
- Released: 2022
- Developer: Bounding Box Software
- Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
After spending time in Early Access, retro-inspired shooter Prodeus launched in 2022. The game was inspired by the Doom and Quake titles from the 90s; it looks and feels similar to the Quake 2 Remastered and is perfect for fans of the classics and Doom Eternal.
Yet despite the retro aesthetic, Prodeus feels and plays like a modern Doom game with its gunplay, accessibility, speed, and rendering techniques. Fans of the classics will love Prodeus, but there is enough here to please fans of modern shooters too.
19 Turbo Overkill
- Released: 2023
- Developer: Trigger Happy Interactive
- Platform: PC
Turbo Overkill is another retro-inspired shooter that fans of Doom Eternal will love. Instead of demons and alien-like creatures, Turbo Overkill is a cyberpunk action shooter with similar mechanics, speed, and pacing to Doom. It even manages to outdo most of its inspirations with the amount of blood and gore on display with its creative and gruesome kills - the chainsaw leg mechanic is particularly memorable and fun to pull off.
Turbo Overkill plays like a mash-up of Doom, Quake, and the Serious Sam series. There is a more prominent emphasis on shooting and killing everything in sight than its inspirations. Turbo Overkill is a great way to switch off and conduct an orchestra of violence from start to finish.
18 Left 4 Dead 2
- Released: 2008
- Developer: Valve
- Platform: PC and Xbox 360
The second entry in the Left 4 Dead series capitalized on the influx of zombie films and games of the late 2000s and early 2010s. It is still a popular game with horror and action fans, with many still hoping for a proper sequel even after the launch of its spiritual successor, Back 4 Blood.
Although the game has a thoroughly enjoyable single-player campaign, the multiplayer modes made Left 4 Dead 2 stand out. The game was also highly regarded for its enemy variety which demands that players are on their toes as each comes with its strengths and weaknesses.
17 Unreal Tournament 3
- Released: 2007
- Developer: Epic Games
- Platform: PC, PS3, and Xbox 360
Developed by Epic Games, Unreal Tournament 3 was ahead of its time, especially for consoles, as it focused primarily on online play. Like the rest of the series, Unreal Tournament 3 adopts tried and trusted game modes like capture the flag and deathmatch.
One change from the previous iterations of the series is that the single-player campaign has a more in-depth story. Rather than being based around the Tournament Grand Championship like its preceding games, the single-player in Unreal Tournament 3 features a Necris attack on a human colony.
16 Back 4 Blood
- Released: 2021
- Developer: Turtle Rock Studios
- Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
As a spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood was developed by the team that created the original co-op zombie shooter. As with its predecessor, Back 4 Blood does have a single-player element, but it is designed to be played as part of a team.
That said, the action and gunplay in Back 4 Blood are particularly satisfying, fast-paced, and violent - everything a fan of Doom could ask for. There is a good selection of weapons, and the undead monsters are gruesome.
15 Painkiller
- Released: 2004
- Developer: People Can Fly
- Platform: Android, iOS, PC, and Xbox
Released in April 2004, Painkiller is the oldest entry on this list. Polish developer People Can Fly teamed up with DreamCatcher Entertainment to release a Doom clone with an emotional story centered around the death of the protagonist and his wife.
The playable character, Daniel, must fight through hordes of monsters as he attempts to leave purgatory and join his wife in heaven. Like most games on this list, Painkiller has a multiplayer mode that features the classic modes Capture the Flag and Deathmatch.
14 Bioshock
- Released: 2007
- Developer: 2K Games
- Platform: iOS, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One
With an eye-watering score of 96, Bioshock is one of the highest-rated games on Metacritic. The beloved shooter from 2K Games has more of a survival horror element to it than the Doom series, as players struggle to stay alive amidst the threat of avoiding numerous enemies, such as the notorious Big Daddies.
Bioshock is more story-driven and immersive than the action-packed Doom series. Even so, Bioshock will appeal to Doom fans with its excellent FPS combat that requires a more tactical approach. However, players should still be prepared for some frantic and brutal battles against the residents of Rapture.
13 Titanfall 2
- Released: 2016
- Developer: Respawn Entertainment
- Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One
Developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by EA, the first Titanfall game had some excellent ideas but struggled to keep the interest of many players months after its launch. Titanfall 2 initially continued this trend of having a disappointing player base, as the game went under the radar potentially due to EA launching it just one week after Battlefield 1.
However, despite the slow start, Titanfall 2 gained more fans through constant word-of-mouth praise from active players, and the fast-paced shooter is still going strong today thanks to its excellent single-player and multiplayer modes.
12 Metro Exodus
- Released: 2019
- Developer: 4A Games
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
Metro Exodus is a post-apocalyptic action horror game with an emphasis on survival. Its pacing and gunplay are very different from Doom Eternal, but the variety of hideous monsters and stunning visuals make it an experience that all FPS fans should consider.
The use of customized weapons and satisfying gunplay make Metro Exodus one of the best horror shooters available. Despite being a sequel, the player can jump into Metro: Exodus without feeling lost, as it serves as a solid introduction to the games and books.