Doom: The Dark Ages has drawn a lot of attention ever since its reveal in June 2024, with many fans immediately getting on board with the prospect of a grittier entry to the rebooted franchise based largely around Medieval themes and combat. The excitement around this project has only grown thanks to the recent Xbox Developer Direct event, with The Dark Ages getting a long time in the spotlight with a lot of pertinent details being revealed.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Doom: The Dark Ages is the way in which the title stands out from its predecessors in terms of its themes and narrative premise. A wide range of gameplay changes are also confirmed, which compounds this high level of change. Everything that is currently known about The Dark Ages suggests that the game will be a much slower and more methodical experience compared to the rapidly high octane core gameplay of Doom Eternal, so the weapons and combat of The Dark Ages need to be extremely engaging for this trade-off to work.
One Doom: The Dark Ages Change is Disappointing But Unsurprising
Despite the recent excitement around Doom: The Dark Ages, one hugely disappointing but predictable change for the franchise is hard to ignore.
Doom: The Dark Ages' Ambitious Pacing Change Requires Some Satisfying Weaponry
The reboot of the Doom franchise, starting with the 2016 title of the same name, has proven to be a successful venture for iD Software and Bethesda, with these fresh projects embodying a lot of the adrenaline-fueled and odds-defying gameplay of the series' original releases. Many fans consider the Doom reboot as the logical evolution of the franchise's earliest winning formula. Both Doom and 2020's Doom Eternal lean into different aspects of gameplay to give a multi-faceted approach to the IP's new identity.
ID Software recently described the gameplay ethos of 2016's Doom as "run and gun," with this being a sensibly simplistic approach to ease fans into this new era for the franchise, while also describing Doom Eternal's core philosophy as "jump and shoot." This refers to the consistent prevalence of platforming puzzles and exploration throughout Doom Eternal's narrative, with the game featuring a huge amount of vertical movement options that could be used smartly to enter and exit tense combat scenarios.
While this platforming gameplay was somewhat divisive, these same game mechanics had a lot of combat applicability, making Eternal one of the most fast-paced and enjoyably chaotic Doom entries that the franchise has ever seen. ID Software has taken a distinctly different approach with the upcoming Dark Ages, condensing the project down to the phrase "stand and fight."
The Dark Ages and Doom Eternal Have Wisely Taken Different Paths
This, combined with the revealed gameplay for The Dark Ages, paints a much slower and heavier level of gameplay for the upcoming title, especially when compared to Eternal's breakneck speed. The slower pace of Dark Ages will come at the cost of Eternal's heart-thumping movement mechanics, putting a lot of pressure onto the weapons and combat of the upcoming game. The arsenal of Dark Ages needs to be massively varied and unique to replace the intricate movement pathways and techniques of Eternal, and it seems as if iD Software has taken this into account.
The Dark Ages has already shown off skull-crunching shrapnel launchers, shield saws, rail guns, colossal mech fights, and dragon-mounted combat. This makes it clear that attention has shifted towards combat as opposed to the previous focus of exploration and movement in Eternal. With new enemies hopefully adding unique dynamics to how the player has to respond to different combat situations, The Dark Ages might be able to offer enough variety to make the complex movement systems of Eternal seem like a thing of the past.
Alongside conventional ranged weapons, Doom: The Dark Ages is set to include the widest range of melee weapons ever seen in a Doom title, including a gauntlet, mace, flail, and the aforementioned saw shield.
DOOM: The Dark Ages
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- May 15, 2025
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- id Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda Softworks
WHERE TO PLAY
BECOME THE SLAYER IN A MEDIEVAL WAR AGAINST HELL
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. In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is a dark fantasy/sci-fi single-player experience that delivers the searing combat and over-the-top visuals of the incomparable DOOM franchise, powered by the latest idTech engine.
REIGN IN HELL
As the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw. Players will stand and fight on the demon-infested battlefields in the vicious, grounded combat the original DOOM is famous for.
STAND AND FIGHT
Experience an epic story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage in this cinematic and action-packed story. Bound to serve as the super weapon of gods and kings, the DOOM Slayer fends off demon hordes as their leader seeks to destroy the Slayer and become the only one that is feared. Witness the creation of a legend as the Slayer takes on all of Hell and turns the tide of the war.
DISCOVER UNKNOWN REALMS
In his quest to crush the legions of Hell, the Slayer must take the fight to never-before-seen realms. Mystery, challenges, and rewards lurk in every shadow of ruined castles, epic battlefields, dark forests, ancient hellscapes, and worlds beyond. Armed with the viciously powerful Shield Saw, cut through a dark world of menace and secrets in id's largest and most expansive levels to date.
- Engine
- id Tech
- Franchise
- DOOM
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
