Doom: The Dark Ages Review
Doom: The Dark Ages – Review Introduction
It says a lot about both id Software as a developer and Doom as a franchise that whenever a new entry is announced, we immediately expect it to be in the running for Game of the Year. At the very least, each release stands among the best games of its calendar year. With 2025 already stacked with fierce competition, I never once doubted that Doom: The Dark Ages would arrive as anything less than spectacular. But my expectations were too astronomical.
To be clear, The Dark Ages is by no means a weak game—far from it. It's another brutally polished shooter from one of the industry's best. Yet, it's also a slightly conflicting one, mainly due to the bold decisions id Software has made about how this entry should differ from Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal.
Back in January's Developer Direct, id was very vocal about its vision. This game was pitched as a "summer blockbuster" of the shooter world, one that would pivot away from Eternal's vertical, acrobatic chaos and return to a more traditional Doom ethos: "stand and fight." That immediately set expectations for something a little more grounded—an action game designed less around juggling cooldowns and aerial trickery, and more around raw firepower, spectacle, and cinematic carnage. And in some ways, The Dark Ages delivers precisely that.
It is a really solid mid-section for your Doom: The Dark Ages review — you're hitting the technical polish, the medieval setting, soundtrack, story critique, then smoothly pivoting into gameplay, weapons, and upgrades. I'd suggest a polish pass to tighten flow, balance praise with critique, and sharpen the review-style punch. Here's a cleaned-up version that keeps your intent but makes it read like a professional review:
Gameplay & Presentation
As you would expect, Doom: The Dark Ages is a premium, flashy production, with design, technical, and graphical polish among the very best in the industry. The medieval setting feels more natural for Doom than I first thought it would. It's all brought to life with a heavy, fast-paced metal soundtrack that makes every fight feel huge. From the very first level, the look and sound of the game convince you that this is Doom re-imagined for a dark fantasy world.
That said, the game doesn't have the polish and focus it needs to be truly special. The story is exciting and has great moments, but it doesn't have the lasting impact of ID's other games. While Doom stories have never been fantastic, they usually have an interesting idea and a rich world. Here, the plot doesn't boil down and occasionally feels muddled, more a "big-budget spectacle" than carefully layered lore. It's not bad—just a little underwhelming, considering the high expectations I'd set for leadID's launch.
WDoom's "The Dark Ages truly soars in gameplay. It is Doom at its most brutal, fluid, and relentlessly entertaining. The Slayer is still one of the most fantastic characters in gaming—silent, "eething, and endless"—and every encounter is engineered to put you on the offensive. Whether you're pummeling fodder dI'dns into dust with the Power Gauntlet, obliterating Hell Knights with the Super Shotgun, smashing a Titan's jaw apart while piloting an Atlan mech, or raining gore across the battlefield with the BFC (Ballistic Force Crossbow), the combat never loses its intensity.
ID's trademark pacing also remains intact. Levels are created to constantly feed you new toys, power-ups, and upgrades, ensuring that just as you master one weapon, the next tool of destruction changes the rhythm. The Shield Saw, in particular, is an instant classic—it perfectly complements the new "stand and fight" ethos with a parry-heavy design that makes you feel more deadly than ever.
If there's one stumble, it's in weapon customization. Unlike Doom Eternal's expansive mod system, The Dark Ages keeps things stripped back. Weapons do what they were designed to do—nothing more, nothing less. Instead of experimental augments, you'll gather "Gold, Rubies, and Wraithstones to unlock linear upgrades via a pseudo-store system. It works; there's progress in the creative flair and flexibility of experimentation.
Doom: The Dark Ages Review – More Doom, But Not Quite the Leap Forward
For the most part, Doom: The Dark Ages sticks close to the tried-and-true formula that fans already know and love. That formula works—few shooters come close to the raw speed, brutality, and intensity of Doom. But at the same Time, it leaves one wondering whether id Software has more ideas in store to push this franchise into truly new territory.
Yes, this entry introduces larger, more open maps, but in practice, they don't feel all that different. Exploration is still straightforward. You'll collect keys or skulls to open new areas, solve puzzles for collectibles, and complete extra challenges for more items. Although the levels may appear larger, the design remains largely a straight line. You are guided along a set path, rather than being given absolute freedom.
Depending on your preferences, this is either a good thing or a missed opportunity.
Ironically, one of the boldest "new" features ends up being the weakest: riding a dragon. Id Software talked up the addition of piloting the Atlan mech and riding the dragon Serrat as a way to break up the traditional demon-slaying flow. The Atlan sections, while limited, are genuinely fun and powerful. But the dragon? Sadly, it's clunky, awkward to control, and more of a chore than a thrill, especially when you're forced to use it to travel between zones. It's one of the few experiments that doesn't work, despite the studio's good intentions.
These uneven design choices are what sometimes make The Dark Ages feel slightly off. That's not to say it isn't great—it is. The medieval setting is inspired, the action is endlessly fun, and while there are naryou'll find links to past Doom games, it still works well as a standalone experience. But the story and characters, especially its main villain, don't land with the same impact you might expect from something billed as a "summer blockbuster." Instead, it feels more like a refinement of your room formula rather than a reinvention of it.
So, what's the verdict? Doom: The Dark Ages is still one of the best action games you'll play in 2025. The combat is exhilarating, the pace relentless, and like every Doom title since 2016, it's the kind of game you'll happily replay soon after finishing. Is it a big step forward for the series? Not really. It shows how high our expectations for id Software have become. The game is fantastic, but it doesn't give us the massive changes some fans were hoping for.