Doom: The Dark Ages
Most streamers rate Doom: The Dark Ages worth playing.
8 streamer verdicts· Released 2025-05-15Streamer Verdicts
8 of 8
Significant departure that remains fun with engaging tactical combat despite being a risky direction.
Prequel with fantastic weapons and combat animations undermined by color-coded Simon Says mechanics forcing specific combos. Doesn't feel like traditional Doom. Mech and dragon sections are terrible.
A more grounded, heavier Doom that drops the Slayer into a techno-medieval setting and makes him feel like a tank again. The new shield is the centerpiece: an aggressive, accelerative tool for charging, parrying neon attacks, and tossing as both weapon and puzzle solution. Tactical rather than slow, it rewards mindful shooting and killing in the right order, with vast open battlefields, mech and dragon set pieces, and classic Doom charisma. Really good.
Fun Doom game balancing Eternal complexity with 2016 simplicity. Shield parry mechanics and new weapons shine, though story and music are forgettable.
A bold evolution of the Doom formula that successfully integrates medieval mechanics like parrying, shields, and armor-breaking without losing the franchise's fast-paced essence. While slower than Eternal and some objectives overstay their welcome, the deeper systems, weapon variety, and satisfying combat make it a standout entry.
GameSpot praises Doom: The Dark Ages for its satisfying melee-focused combat, expanded exploration, and intelligent weapon design while noting some weaker moments in vehicle sections and storytelling.
Combat is rhythm-action Simon Says, not traditional aiming; accessible yet worth playing even for skilled FPS players.
About
- Released
- 2025-05-15
- Genre
- Shooter
Creator Mentions · 5
- JJake Baldino😐 mixed
“Jake celebrates how Doom: The Dark Ages innovates on the franchise with a shield-based system and medieval setting while maintaining fast-paced combat. He praises the parrying mechanics, visual design, and how it evokes feelings from the original Doom despite being a modern game.”
Watch - GGmanLives😐 mixed
“A solid Doom game that delivers mechanically but loses some of the franchise's identity. The new shield parry mechanics are central to gameplay but feel un-Doom-like, and the emphasis on reacting to enemy patterns rather than controlling the flow makes it feel like a step backward compared to Eternal, though still worth playing.”
Watch - SSensession😐 mixed
“id Software has created an excellent entry in the DOOM franchise with Dark Ages, featuring improved story, engaging medieval-fantasy setting, refined gameplay mechanics with the shield system, and a stunning new graphics engine. The reviewer highly recommends it as one of the essential action games of 2025.”
Watch - Aarhn.eu😐 mixed
“A bold reimagining of the Doom franchise that successfully finds a new identity by shifting away from Eternal's Quake-influenced verticality and returning to darker, grittier gameplay inspired by Quake 1 and the original Doom. The reviewer praised the addictive combat rhythm, excellent optimization, and design direction despite minor flaws in pacing elements.”
Watch - Qquaz9👍 positive
“An interesting and unconventional take on the Doom formula that respects the series' core identity while introducing new mechanics. The reviewer appreciated the fun and fast-paced gameplay despite some gameplay balance issues and pacing changes from previous installments.”
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