Doom: The Dark Ages vs High On Life 2
Both pitch a comeback for a beloved shooter, but one refines its identity while the other loses its edge.
Updated 27d ago
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.
Falls short of HoL1's voice-cast peak — HoL2 trades sharper writing for skateboard mechanics, leaving the gunplay split 56/44 among critics.
By the numbers
Prices checked Sep 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 7.
| Measure | Doom: The Dark Ages | High On Life 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value Too close to call | ||
| Price now | $44.39 −11% · Fanatical | $39.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $19.17 | $39.99 |
| Cost / hour | $3.12/hr $44.39 · 14 h main story | $3.38/hr $39.99 · 12 h main story |
| Off its low | +132% low was Feb 2026 | At its low low was Aug 2026 |
| Main story | 14 h | 12 h |
| Health Doom: The Dark Ages wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 88% 46k reviews | 72% 3k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 89% 1k votes · vs 88% lifetime | 74% 61 votes · vs 72% lifetime |
| Peak players | 5,265 Aug 2026 · ↓ 62% MoM | 125 Aug 2026 · ↓ 52% MoM |
| Launch peak | 17% of May 2025 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | 4% of Feb 2026 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 |
| All-time peak | 31,401 May 2025 | 2,937 Feb 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 8 weeks ago | 4 months ago |
| Patch cadence | 3 in last 90 days | 0 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Gold | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Doom: The Dark Ages
The campaign and Revelations DLC form a complete package, with the shield-saw parry the move every veteran calls the standout.
Pacing shifts from Eternal's sprint to a tank-like weight divide fans; some find the puzzle detours break the kill flow.
from our August 2026 verdict
High On Life 2
Improved puzzles and humor over the first game are the highlights long-time players consistently enjoy.
Recurring bugs and soft locks across levels are the frustrations that undermine many playthroughs.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Doom: The Dark Ages if
- You appreciated Doom 2016 but found Eternal's dash-heavy pace exhausting.
- You like high-hour value with a DLC campaign and chunky parry combat.
- You prefer a slower, heavier shooting rhythm that rewards timing.
Pick High On Life 2 if
- You finished High on Life and crave more Squanch-style absurdist humor.
- You're open to skateboard traversal gimmicks in your FPS.
- You want a short 12-hour shooter and accept the comedy-first tone.
Bottom line
Pick Doom: The Dark Ages for a stronger, cheaper shooter experience that respects your time; skip High On Life 2 unless you're a die-hard HoL fan.