Doom: The Dark Ages

Parry with a shield-saw, stomp demons in an Atlan mech, and ground-pound through medieval Hell — heavier, slower, and deliberately grounded.

Last reviewed: August 5, 2026 Patched 1w ago

Released May 2025 Singleplayer / Atmospheric / First-Person

The shield-saw parry trades Eternal's dash-juggling for something heavier and just as sharp — Revelations alone earns the price, if you can stand the slower pace.

8.6 /10

Strong

Previously an Editor's pick

For you if

You want a Doom with parry and shield-saw mechanics over Eternal's dash-heavy flow.
You loved Doom 2016 but found Eternal's platforming and speed a barrier.
You're a high-hour player seeking a campaign plus a meaty DLC challenge.

Not for you if

You expect Eternal's breakneck, acrobatic combat and punishable dodges.
You hate cutscenes and story interrupting the kill loop.
You demand long post-campaign content without buying the DLC.

What players love

The campaign and Revelations DLC form a complete package, with the shield-saw parry the move every veteran calls the standout.

What frustrates them

Pacing shifts from Eternal's sprint to a tank-like weight divide fans; some find the puzzle detours break the kill flow.

See the reviews behind this →

Latest patch

Patched 1 weeks ago

Update 4 Hotfix 2

What critics say

4/5Eurogamer
a more grounded Doom, but one that's as brisk and playful as ever
Christian Donlan Read review →
9/10IGN
replaces it with a very weighty and powerful style of play that is different from anything the series has done
Read review →
9.5/10Game Informer
modern Doom executed better than ever. It's a bloody, challenging, and strategic thrill ride
Marcus Stewart Read review →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly

Which weapons are best in Doom: The Dark Ages?

Doom: The Dark Ages doesn't have classes or builds — your loadout is the weapon mix you carry. The Super Shotgun and Rocket Launcher remain top-tier mainstays, the new Chainshot specializes in cracking armored enemies, the Impaler handles flying targets, and the Ballistic Force Crossbow (BFC) clears armies in a single shot for boss arenas. Pair the Shield with parries to enable the Slayer's signature melee counter-flow — most encounters are designed around shield-and-blade rhythm, not just ranged DPS.

Source: PC Gamer Weapons Guide

What difficulty should a new Doom: The Dark Ages player pick?

Doom: The Dark Ages has six difficulty presets plus dozens of granular sliders for projectile speed, parry window, damage taken, and more — easily the most accessible Doom yet. Pick "Hurt Me Plenty" (the default) for a baseline test of skill, drop to "Aspiring Slayer" if you want the spectacle without combat punishment, or jump to "Ultra-Violence" or "Nightmare" if you've cleared Doom Eternal on the same. You can change difficulty mid-campaign without penalty.

Source: Game8 Difficulty Settings

Are any collectibles or content missable in Doom: The Dark Ages?

No — every collectible (Codex pages, secrets, weapon upgrades) is mop-up-friendly thanks to Chapter Select, which lets you re-enter any completed mission from the main menu. You can roll credits with whatever you found, then go back chapter by chapter to clean up the rest at your own pace. Nothing is permanently locked once a chapter ends.

Source: PowerPyx Collectibles Guide

Do I need to play Doom 2016 or Doom Eternal before Doom: The Dark Ages?

No — The Dark Ages is a prequel set well before Doom (2016), so it's a clean entry point with a self-contained narrative. The story explains who the Slayer is, why he's at war with Hell, and which factions are involved without expecting prior knowledge. Playing Doom (2016) and Eternal first does reward you with payoff on certain references and lore beats, but the gameplay is its own beast — slower, melee-heavy, and shield-driven, not the air-dancing arena combat of Eternal.

Source: Game Rant Timeline Guide

Is there content to do after beating Doom: The Dark Ages?

There's no traditional New Game Plus, but every chapter is replayable from the main menu — useful for harder difficulties (Ultra-Violence, Nightmare) once you've learned the encounter design. Achievement hunters return for Chapter Select cleanup of missed Codex entries and secrets, and the higher difficulties meaningfully change pacing (tighter parry windows, fewer health drops). If you want a roguelike-style replay, no — but if you treat Doom as a skill-improvement loop, the campaign holds up to repeat passes.

Source: Game8 New Game Plus Info