With DOOM: The Dark Ages, Bethesda and id Software are bringing back a true veteran of gaming history and providing a breath of fresh air with a sci-fi fantasy setting. But the slayer’s new adventure also has a lot to offer in terms of gameplay, as our DOOM: The Dark Ages review proves. Is this the best DOOM yet?
DOOM: The Dark Ages at a glance
| Title | DOOM: The Dark Ages (official homepage) |
| Genre | First-person shooter |
| Developer: id Software | id Software |
| publisher | Bethesda Softworks |
| Release date | May 15, 2025 |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X/S |
| Number of players | 1 |
| Price | € 69.99 * |
Bring the Slayer
- manageable story
- some exciting wow moments
- fresh sci-fi fantasy setting
The story of DOOM: The Dark Ages is, as is typical of the series, quickly overdone, although the new offshoot finally puts it in the limelight with coherent, visually impressive cutscenes.
The Dark Ages sees itself as a prequel to the previous parts of the series and takes place before the other excursions into the DOOM universe. You slip into the skin of the taciturn DOOM Slayer, who is tasked with supporting the Sentinels of Argent D’Nur in their fight against the demonic legions of hell. What? Never mind, it’s not that important.
Basically, it’s all about ridding the game’s spacious sections of all manner of demon spawn. But let me say this: you can look forward to some truly impressive confrontations and moments over the course of the campaign.
To this end, the title relies on a fresh scenario that skillfully combines science fiction elements with fantasy set pieces and thus creates a very unique and extremely dense mood within the dark atmosphere.
The new DOOM
DOOM: The Dark Ages is a welcome departure from the challenging platformer gameplay of the last installment (DOOM: Eternal) and the tubular levels of the previous offshoots. Instead, the new adventure focuses on larger, more expansive areas that can be freely explored – and also feature a number of secrets, collectible items and hidden areas.
However, the latest installment also retains the greatest strength of the shooter series. Namely the brute, fast-paced and quite satisfying combat gameplay. After just a few minutes in the tutorial, The Dark Ages puts you into an incomparable flow as you race through the hordes of enemies with your double-barrel shotgun.
In direct comparison to Eternal, however, the combat remains on the ground – apart from a few smaller jumps and punishing jumps, of course. And yet the title is a breath of fresh air among series veterans, because with the shield saw, which the Slayer wields in his left hand, the development team gives you an incredibly cool, powerful and versatile tool.
Apart from the fact that it can be used to block, parry and even counter enemy projectiles and melee attacks, you can also throw the shield into the enemy hordes later on, whereupon the saw blades of the defensive item turn everything in its trajectory into kindling.
The battles in DOOM: The Dark Ages
- massive battles
- 15 different weapons
- Lack of variety in the second half of the game
No question: DOOM: The Dark Ages unleashes its true strengths in combat. When we fire projectiles back at the right moment, shred through enemies with the shield and even kill big demons with glory kills, which gives us new energy, armor and ammunition, it’s simply a real joy for adult shooter fans.
Especially as a number of new firearms or melee weapons, 15 in total, are added during the course of the game. In the long run, however, the demon battle platform runs out of steam a little. Especially in the second half of the game, after the arsenal and enemy types have been largely established, the action title runs out of steam a little.
Although numerous old and new adversaries are waiting to be sent back to hell by you, the selection of enemies could have been a little more varied. This is where the lack of the movement component from DOOM: Eternal becomes painfully apparent. This is because The Dark Ages clearly lacks verticality and relies almost exclusively on intense arena battles, albeit in much larger and more expansive sections of the game.
Dragons and mechs
- Varied mech and dragon sections
- 20 hours of gameplay, but…
- … no endgame and no multiplayer
Although battles against all kinds of standard enemies or bosses make up a large part of the gaming experience in DOOM: The Dark Ages, the developers have nevertheless woven a lot of variety into the gameplay.
Some easy puzzle and skill passages provide a welcome break from the hectic hacking and slashing. However, the sections in which you cling behind the joysticks of a giant mech robot or swing yourself onto the back of an armed dragon are much more refreshing.
In the cockpit of the Atlan mech, the Slayer takes on particularly powerful demon giants. However, the flights with the dragon are particularly fun, as you fortunately have full control over the flying mount at all times. Flying through fine fire with dodging rolls and firing back from all angles never gets boring.
And even if the mech and dragon sections don’t play quite as smoothly as the shooter sections, they provide a welcome change from the classic battles and ensure that the 20-hour campaign never gets boring.
It hardly matters that the development team has cut out endgame challenges or a multiplayer mode.
French fry fork up
DOOM: The Dark Ages garnishes the successful game concept with coherent technology. From a graphical point of view, the high-end shooter has a lot going for it. However, the PC version of the title also places quite high demands on your hardware and is considerably more demanding than DOOM: Eternal.
At least 8 GB of VRAM on the graphics card is just as mandatory as 16 GB of RAM. For 1440p with a high level of detail, you even need 10 GB VRAM and 32 GB RAM, and ray tracing is active at all times.
It’s impressive what the development team has managed to tease out of the id Tech 8 engine: the technical side is absolutely stunning. The lighting and special effects in particular, as well as the detailed environments, are a great addition to the title.
The graphics are garnished with an absolutely harmonious soundtrack. From the powerful weapon sounds to the roaring demon spawn and the somewhat generic but driving metal soundtrack, there’s a lot to listen to here.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Review: Conclusion
Despite the lack of variety in the second half of the game and the straightforward plot, id Software delivers the best offshoot of the cult shooter series to date with DOOM: The Dark Ages. The title owes this above all to the excellent core gameplay, which skillfully spices up the brutal carnage with puzzle, mech and dragon sections and transports it to more extensive, open areas.
The gritty, fast-paced battles in particular provide the adrenaline rush typical of the series, and the shield saw and upgrade system are some successful new features. With a length of around 20 hours, the campaign is also pleasantly extensive. This makes it easy to get over the fact that the title lacks endgame content or a multiplayer mode.
Shooter fans who are in the mood for massive, long-term action in a fresh setting will undoubtedly get their money’s worth with DOOM: The Dark Ages.
VORTEILE
- Great, intense battles
- Successful shield gameplay
- Varied arsenal of weapons
- Impressive technology
- 20 hours of gameplay
NACHTEILE
- Battles a bit repetitive in the long run
- No multiplayer
- Less verticality than in Eternal
Fazit
Brutal, fast and beautiful to look at: DOOM: The Dark Ages is the best part of the series to date.
