Table of Contents
Introduction: When Hell Meets the Middle Ages
The Doom franchise has been a cornerstone of first-person shooter gaming for decades, delivering pulse-pounding action, relentless demon-slaying, and some of the most satisfying gunplay in gaming history. Now, with Doom: The Dark Ages, id Software is taking the series in a direction nobody saw coming—straight back to medieval times. This isn’t just another sequel; it’s a bold reimagining that trades plasma rifles for crossbows and space stations for crumbling castles.
If you’ve ever wished someone would toss a Doom game into a blender with medieval mayhem, then Doom: The Dark Ages might just be your new favorite obsession. This latest chapter in the legendary first-person shooter series takes everything fans love—fast-paced combat, killer weapons, and unrelenting demons—and throws it into a gritty, medieval setting. That’s right: no more space stations or high-tech corridors. It’s heavy armor, flaming catapults, and skull-shattering melee instead.
But is it any good? Let’s dive into our comprehensive review and see how Doom: The Dark Ages holds up in the age-old battle between old-school violence and modern gaming innovation.
The Story: Origins of the Doom Slayer
A Prequel That Actually Matters
In many ways, Doom: The Dark Ages feels like a grand step backward—and that’s not a complaint. Set long before the events of Doom Eternal, this prequel gives us the origin story of the Doom Slayer, the unstoppable force we’ve controlled through countless waves of hellspawn. For fans who’ve been following the lore scattered throughout the previous games, this is the deep dive you’ve been waiting for.
The narrative explores how the legendary warrior came to be, detailing his transformation from a mortal warrior into the demon-destroying force of nature we know today. While Doom has never been primarily about storytelling, The Dark Ages strikes an impressive balance—giving lore enthusiasts plenty to sink their teeth into without bogging down the action that makes Doom, well, Doom.
World-Building Done Right
While it sheds the futuristic setting of its predecessors, it replaces it with its own kind of grandeur. Think crumbling castles, dragon-like monsters, and weapons that feel raw and savage. It’s like someone looked at Game of Thrones and said, “Can we add a chainsaw to this?”—and then actually did it.
The game takes you through various kingdoms and realms, each with its own distinct visual identity and environmental challenges. From the frozen wastelands of the North to the burning hellscapes that have consumed once-great cities, every location tells a story of a world on the brink of demonic annihilation.
Why the Medieval Setting Works Perfectly
Breathing New Life Into a Classic Formula
This move to medieval Europe-inspired chaos breathes new life into the series. It’s still Doom at its core—ultra-violent, fast, chaotic—but it has a fresh flavor that gives longtime fans something new to chew on. Literally.
The medieval setting isn’t just window dressing; it fundamentally changes how you approach combat and exploration. The architecture is different, with more verticality and environmental hazards that feel organic to the time period. Instead of jumping across industrial platforms, you’re scaling castle walls and navigating collapsing bridges over moats filled with demonic creatures.
A Bold Departure That Pays Off
Some fans might initially be skeptical about moving away from the sci-fi aesthetic that has defined Doom since the beginning. However, this bold creative decision proves that the core DNA of Doom—the fast, aggressive combat and overwhelming sense of power—can thrive in any setting. The medieval backdrop actually enhances these elements by making every encounter feel more visceral and personal.
Weapons and Arsenal: Medieval Warfare Meets Demonic Annihilation
Dark Age Weaponry Reimagined
Instead of plasma guns or laser beams, you’ll lean on an entirely new arsenal that perfectly captures the brutal essence of medieval combat while maintaining that signature Doom punch:
Brutal maces and war hammers: These aren’t your typical medieval weapons. Each swing carries devastating weight, capable of crushing demon skulls and shattering armor with satisfying impact feedback. The melee combat in The Dark Ages has been significantly expanded compared to previous entries, making close-quarters combat not just viable but often preferable.
Heavy crossbows: These aren’t simple medieval weapons—they’re engineered instruments of destruction. Various crossbow types offer different firing modes, from rapid-fire bolts to explosive-tipped ammunition that can clear groups of enemies. The reload animations are particularly satisfying, emphasizing the mechanical nature of these weapons.
The Shield-Saw: Perhaps the most innovative addition to the Doom arsenal, this massive shield doubles as a buzzsaw. It’s like Captain America had a baby with a circular saw. You can use it defensively to block incoming attacks, but the real magic happens when you go on the offense. The shield can be thrown to ricochet off walls and enemies, slice through demon hordes, and even be used to traverse certain environmental obstacles.
Siege weapons: Scattered throughout levels, you’ll find various siege equipment that can be turned against the demonic invaders. Catapults, ballistae, and even portable cannon-like devices add strategic variety to combat encounters.
Beast-Riding Action: A Game-Changing Mechanic
Yes, you read that right—at times, you’ll be riding a mechanical dragon into battle. This isn’t just a cutscene or scripted moment; these sequences put you in full control of a massive, fire-breathing mount that can lay waste to entire armies of demons.
The dragon sections break up the traditional FPS gameplay in meaningful ways, offering a change of pace without disrupting the game’s momentum. These moments feel epic in scale, with sweeping aerial battles and ground assaults that showcase the game’s impressive technical capabilities.
Other rideable creatures and mechanical beasts appear throughout the campaign, each with unique abilities and combat applications. These sections are carefully integrated into the level design, never feeling tacked on or gimmicky.
Gameplay: Classic Doom Energy Meets Medieval Muscle
The Core Combat Loop
If you’ve played Doom 2016 or Doom Eternal, you’ll know how these games handle: blazing speed, non-stop action, and “push-forward” combat that rewards aggression. That core gameplay loop remains in The Dark Ages, but with a few new wrinkles thanks to the new time period.
The fundamental philosophy hasn’t changed—standing still gets you killed, and the best defense is an overwhelming offense. Health, armor, and ammunition are still obtained primarily through aggressive play, encouraging you to stay in the thick of combat rather than retreating to cover.
The Combat Still Slaps (Hard)
Shooting demons still feels incredible. There’s a sense of weight and impact in every swing of your mace or pull of your hefty medieval crossbow. Enemies explode in fountains of gore, keeping that cathartic Doom destruction alive and well.
However, the magic lies in how it cleverly integrates the setting into its mechanics. The shield mechanic fundamentally changes how you approach combat encounters. Instead of constantly circle-strafing, you now have the option to deflect attacks, parry at the right moment for devastating counters, and even use enemy projectiles against them.
The melee combat has been significantly expanded, with multiple combo chains and execution moves that vary depending on the weapon you’re holding and the enemy type you’re facing. Each successful melee kill triggers spectacular glory kill animations that are unique to the medieval setting—think more dismemberment and crushing blows rather than the high-tech brutality of previous games.
Enemy Design and Variety
The demon roster has been completely reimagined for the medieval setting. While you’ll recognize familiar enemy archetypes from previous Doom games, their designs have been overhauled to fit the new aesthetic. Imps now look like corrupted medieval soldiers, Hell Knights wear twisted plate armor, and the Cacodemon has been given a more organic, dragon-like appearance.
New enemy types specific to The Dark Ages include:
Corrupted Knights: Former warriors possessed by demonic forces, these enemies fight with medieval weapons and tactics, requiring you to break through their defenses before finishing them off.
Siege Demons: Massive creatures that carry their own weaponry and can deploy smaller demons onto the battlefield. Taking them down requires targeting specific weak points while managing the adds they spawn.
Spectral Wraiths: Fast-moving ethereal enemies that can phase through walls and attack from unexpected angles, keeping you constantly alert.
Dragon Lords: Boss-tier enemies that serve as the game’s most challenging encounters, combining aerial attacks with ground-based devastation.
Challenging, But Fair
The difficulty naturally ramps up in the later sections, but the game never feels cheap. You’re constantly encouraged to keep moving, stay alert, and use your whole arsenal wisely. That rhythm is incredibly satisfying, especially when you clear a room after a brutal, sweaty fight.
The Dark Ages introduces a new difficulty system that goes beyond simple damage scaling. Higher difficulties change enemy compositions, introduce new attack patterns, and require more strategic use of your abilities. However, the game always provides the tools you need to succeed—it’s up to you to master them.
For players seeking an even greater challenge, there’s a permadeath mode and various modifiers that can be applied to customize your experience. These options make the game accessible to newcomers while still offering hardcore veterans the brutal difficulty they crave.
Level Design: A Medieval Playground of Destruction
Verticality and Environmental Storytelling
The level design in Doom: The Dark Ages is some of the best in the series. Each environment is meticulously crafted to support the fast-paced combat while telling environmental stories about the world’s fall to demonic invasion.
Castles aren’t just simple corridor shooters—they’re multi-tiered fortresses with courtyards, throne rooms, dungeons, and battlements that you’ll navigate during intense firefights. The verticality is impressive, with multiple paths through each area that reward exploration with secrets, upgrades, and lore collectibles.
Destructible Environments
A new addition to the series is the extensive environmental destruction. Certain walls can be blown apart, bridges can collapse (hopefully not while you’re on them), and structures can be brought down on top of enemies. This adds a strategic layer to combat, as you can use the environment itself as a weapon.
Presentation: A Gothic Feast for the Eyes
Visual Design Excellence
Doom: The Dark Ages looks amazing. This new setting has allowed the developers to stretch their design muscles, and it shows. Sweeping vistas of ruined kingdoms, torch-lit crypts, and hellish battlefields make every section feel like a level straight out of a dark fantasy painting.
The game runs on id Tech 8, the latest iteration of id Software’s legendary engine, and it shows in every frame. The lighting is particularly impressive, with dynamic shadows and atmospheric effects that create a genuinely oppressive atmosphere when needed, while still maintaining the visual clarity necessary for fast-paced combat.
Highlights of the Visual Design
Heavy armor design: The Doom Slayer looks like a knight of doom (literally). His armor is a masterpiece of medieval-meets-demonic design, with every upgrade visible on his character model. Plates of dark metal, chain mail, and cloth tabards create an imposing silhouette that evolves throughout the game.
Demon redesigns: Familiar creatures are reimagined with more medieval horror influence—think skeletal wings and rotting armor. Each demon type has clearly visible weak points and attack telegraphs, maintaining the visual language that makes Doom combat so readable despite the chaos.
Environmental detail: The sheer amount of detail in every environment is staggering. Blood and gore persist throughout battles, decorating walls and floors with the evidence of your carnage. Tapestries flutter in hellish winds, stonework shows centuries of wear, and every throne room and dungeon feels like it once belonged to a living, breathing kingdom.
Cinematic flair: Story-driven moments sprinkled throughout provide just enough narrative without slowing everything down. These cutscenes are sharp, quick, and stylish, often using in-engine graphics that seamlessly blend with gameplay.
Performance and Technical Excellence
On current-generation consoles (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S), the game offers multiple graphics modes. Performance mode targets 60 FPS with dynamic resolution, while quality mode pushes visual fidelity at the expense of frame rate. There’s even a balanced mode that attempts to find middle ground.
PC players will find extensive graphics options to tune the experience to their hardware. The game is well-optimized, with even mid-range systems capable of hitting high frame rates at respectable settings.
Soundtrack: Metal Meets Medieval
Mick Gordon’s Triumphant Return
What’s a Doom game without a killer soundtrack? Thankfully, Doom: The Dark Ages delivers. Composer Mick Gordon returns with a score that blends pounding metal riffs with eerie, Gregorian chant vibes. It’s the type of music that makes you want to punch through your monitor—in the best way possible.
The soundtrack adapts dynamically to the action, building during combat encounters and pulling back during exploration. The combat music features heavy, distorted guitars layered over aggressive percussion, but with the addition of medieval instruments like war horns, drums, and even church organs to create a unique sonic identity.
Audio Design That Enhances Combat
Beyond the music, the sound design is exceptional. Every weapon has a distinct audio signature that makes switching between them feel impactful. The crunch of armor being crushed, the satisfying thunk of crossbow bolts finding their mark, and the demonic roars of enemies all combine to create an audio landscape that’s as important to the experience as the visuals.
Every encounter is backed by a pulse-pounding rhythm that turns battles into blood-soaked ballets. Go ahead, crank it up—your neighbors will understand.
Multiplayer and Replayability
Battle Mode Returns, Medieval Style
The Dark Ages includes an updated version of Battle Mode, the asymmetric multiplayer mode introduced in Doom Eternal. In this medieval incarnation, one player controls the Doom Slayer while others take on the roles of various demon types, attempting to overwhelm the lone warrior.
The mode has been expanded with new demon classes specific to The Dark Ages setting, and the maps are designed around the medieval environments, offering unique tactical opportunities for both sides.
Invasion Mode: A New Competitive Option
A completely new multiplayer component is Invasion Mode, where players can join others’ campaigns as elite demons, attempting to stop their progress through levels. This Dark Souls-inspired feature is optional but adds an unpredictable element to the campaign experience.
Replayability Through Mastery
The single-player campaign offers extensive replay value through multiple difficulty levels, collectible hunting, and challenge modes. Master Levels return, offering remixed versions of campaign levels with significantly increased difficulty and altered enemy placements.
Completing challenges unlocks new skins for the Doom Slayer, weapon cosmetics, and even cheat codes that can be used in subsequent playthroughs for different experiences.
Platform Availability and Value Proposition
Where Can You Play?
It’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC—and more good news: it’ll launch day one on Xbox Game Pass. That means if you’re subscribed, there’s basically no reason not to give it a try. This day-one Game Pass inclusion makes it incredibly accessible to millions of players who might otherwise have hesitated to try a new entry in the series.
PC players can purchase the game through Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store, with cross-save functionality between platforms for those who own multiple versions.
DLC and Post-Launch Support
id Software has confirmed that The Dark Ages will receive post-launch support, including additional campaign content, new multiplayer maps, and potentially even new game modes. Season pass details haven’t been fully revealed, but the studio’s commitment to supporting the game long-term is encouraging.
Pros and Cons: The Complete Picture
What Works Exceptionally Well
Creative setting that feels new while staying true to Doom’s roots: The medieval backdrop isn’t just aesthetic—it fundamentally changes how combat encounters are designed and executed while maintaining the core Doom DNA.
Brutally satisfying combat with fresh weapons and mechanics: The expanded melee system, shield mechanics, and new arsenal create combat scenarios that feel distinct from previous Doom games while maintaining the series’ signature intensity.
Stunning visuals full of medieval detail and apocalyptic vibes: The art direction successfully merges dark fantasy with Doom’s hellish aesthetic, creating environments that are both beautiful and horrifying.
Outstanding audio design and soundtrack: Mick Gordon’s return brings the sonic identity that Doom needs, perfectly complementing the on-screen carnage.
Excellent level design with meaningful exploration: Secrets are thoughtfully placed, encouraging players to explore without disrupting the game’s pacing.
Beast-riding segments that feel epic: These moments break up traditional FPS gameplay without feeling like a different game entirely.
Things to Keep in Mind
The slower pace might not suit players who loved the ultra-fluid parkour of Doom Eternal: While still fast-paced by most standards, The Dark Ages doesn’t quite match Eternal’s breakneck momentum. The heavier medieval weaponry and armor give combat a different feel—more weighty and deliberate.
Some narrative elements feel underdeveloped: While the story is more present than in some previous Doom games, certain plot threads and characters could have used more development. But hey, it’s Doom—you’re here to rip and tear, not debate philosophy.
Learning curve for new mechanics: The shield system and expanded melee combat require time to master, and some players might initially find themselves overwhelmed by the new options.
Occasional pacing issues: A few sections slow down more than necessary, particularly some of the exploration-heavy segments between major combat encounters.
Tips for New Players
Master the Shield Early
The shield is your best friend and most versatile tool. Practice the parry timing, learn to deflect projectiles back at enemies, and don’t forget you can throw it. Mastering this weapon early will make the entire game more manageable and enjoyable.
Don’t Neglect Melee
Unlike previous Doom games where melee was primarily for finishing off weakened enemies, The Dark Ages makes melee combat a core pillar of gameplay. Experiment with different weapons and learn the combo chains—they’re not just flashy, they’re effective.
Exploration Pays Off
Taking time to explore levels thoroughly rewards you with valuable upgrades, lore entries, and resources. The game generally does a good job of signaling when you’re about to enter a major combat encounter, giving you time to backtrack if you want to search for secrets.
Use Your Entire Arsenal
The game encourages weapon switching by making different demons vulnerable to different weapon types. Don’t just find one weapon you like and stick with it—versatility is key to success, especially on higher difficulties.
Final Thoughts: Rip, Tear, and Conquer the Castle
A Bold New Chapter
Doom: The Dark Ages feels like a love letter to both medieval fantasy and over-the-top shooters. It’s got the blood-splattered charm we expect from the franchise, wrapped in chainmail and dipped in dragon fire. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like an unholy mix of a knight and a tank, this is your moment.
The game successfully proves that Doom can thrive outside its traditional sci-fi setting while maintaining everything that makes the series special. This isn’t a gimmick or a one-off experiment—it’s a fully realized vision that stands proudly alongside the best entries in the franchise.
Does It Belong on Your Gaming Radar?
So, is Doom: The Dark Ages worth playing? Without question. It takes the tried-and-true Doom formula and spins it into something bold, fresh, and downright fun. Even if you’re not a hardcore Doom fan, this entry’s medieval setting and creative arsenal might be just the hook you’re looking for.
Whether you’re a longtime series veteran curious about how the Doom Slayer’s origin story unfolds, a medieval fantasy enthusiast looking for a more action-focused experience, or simply someone who enjoys exceptional first-person shooter gameplay, The Dark Ages delivers on all fronts.
So grab your shield, ready your mace, and step into this nightmare of swords, demons, and glory. Whether you’re a longtime Doom fan or a medieval fantasy junkie, Doom: The Dark Ages is one ride you don’t want to miss.
The Verdict
Doom: The Dark Ages earns its place in the franchise hall of fame by taking risks that pay off spectacularly. The medieval setting isn’t a downgrade from the futuristic environments of previous games—it’s a lateral move that brings fresh energy and creative possibilities to the series. With its outstanding combat, gorgeous visuals, and memorable soundtrack, this is essential gaming for fans of first-person shooters and action games.
If you try it, let us know: What’s your favorite weapon to crush demons with? Sound off in the comments below!
Final Score: 9/10
A masterful reinvention that proves Doom can conquer any era, The Dark Ages is brutal, beautiful, and absolutely essential for fans of the series and action games in general.