What are the pros of DOOM: The Dark Ages?

Exceptional soundtrack and sound design that enhance the atmosphere.. High-end visual effects, animations, and overall graphical polish.. Satisfying core gunplay and stylish execution mechanics..

What are the cons of DOOM: The Dark Ages?

Combat pace is significantly slower and less aggressive than previous modern DOOM titles.. Rigid, forced mechanics like parrying and shield-blocking interrupt the gameplay flow.. Perceived lack of value at full price due to low replayability and simplified exploration..

DOOM: The Dark Ages

DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. Players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.

88%

Very Positive

Developerid Software

PublisherBethesda Softworks

Release DateMay 14, 2025

$69.99

Peak Players31.4K

Controllerfull

PlatformsWindows

Action

AI Review Summary

DOOM: The Dark Ages delivers a visually stunning and sonically powerful experience with high-quality gunplay, but it marks a controversial shift toward a slower, more scripted combat style. While the production values are top-tier, many players feel the new parry-heavy mechanics and lack of exploration make it a step backward from previous modern entries.

Pros

Exceptional soundtrack and sound design that enhance the atmosphere.95%
High-end visual effects, animations, and overall graphical polish.90%
Satisfying core gunplay and stylish execution mechanics.85%

Cons

Combat pace is significantly slower and less aggressive than previous modern DOOM titles.90%
Rigid, forced mechanics like parrying and shield-blocking interrupt the gameplay flow.85%
Perceived lack of value at full price due to low replayability and simplified exploration.80%

Notable Mentions

Performance has improved significantly since launch for high-end PC users.
Secrets are now explicitly shown on the map, reducing the sense of discovery.

Confidence: 97%

Based on the 200 most relevant reviewsGenerated on Aug 12, 2026

Game Vitals

Live snapshot

Player Activity

Current peak

2.4K

Peak · last 90 days

13.8K

All-time peak

31.4K

Price

Current price

$69.99

Lowest tracked

$23.09since Jan 3, 2026

Review Sentiment

Launch week

—

Last 30 days

91%

All-time positive

88%

Review Statistics

Total Reviews45.6K

Positive: 40.3K (88%)Negative: 5.3K (12%)

Reviews from Steam Deck

Dev Response Rate

19h

Avg Playtime at Review

68%

Credible Reviews