Doom: The Dark Ages Previews
Check out Doom: The Dark Ages previews from Critics around the web.
I expect I will eventually get a handle on Stand and Fight, and maybe even learn to appreciate how the new style of combat can benefit the Doom formula. I came into this preview excited to find out how id Software had managed to outdo Doom Eternal, but now I’m not sure that it has.
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Combine this more open approach with the excellent fast-paced combat from DOOM Eternal, where you will be finishing off enemies to have extra life and ammo fall out of their bodies, combos and well-timed attacks being rewarded with more to keep you going, and you have a recipe for greatness.
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Even if its medieval aesthetic is occasionally lost, The Dark Ages looks absolutely brilliant too. However, I’m disappointed that the new set pieces didn’t quite hit the mark. Maybe there are some more, better-realized unique moments to come in the full campaign, but even if there aren’t, I think I’ll be more than satisfied wreaking havoc the old fashioned way – as good old Doom Slayer himself.
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This is a bold reimagining, a brave departure, and even though I have reservations about some things in The Dark Ages, I do not have reservations about id.
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Although there are some elements that didn’t blow us away, the overall fun factor of Doom: The Dark Ages is undeniable. With a shield in one hand and a gun in the other, this latest Doom Slayer adventure promises another hellishly great time.
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Whether you want it to be a friction-free power trip or a synapse-straining punishment, Doom: The Dark Ages seems to have the flexibility to allow any level of player to become a god tier Slayer.
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It certainly feels like the freedom to forge a new path is keeping the developers interested in their own work. The weapons, world, and monsters of The Dark Ages drip with the kind of adolescent enthusiasm you only see when an artist is given permission to get a bit weird. Meanwhile, the implementation of new mechanics seems judicious and thoughtful.
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These days, the games industry seems risk-averse, producing sequels that feel too much like rehashes of whatever came before. Judging by the demo, which was only about four hours of play, the Dark Ages could be the difference, delivering the brutal feel of fighting through a Doom game with entirely new systems, weapons and mechanics as medieval as its theme.
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While I have some reservations about the Atlan and dragon sections, the core gameplay is as brutally satisfying as ever, and the open-world elements feel like a natural evolution for the series. The ability to fine-tune the experience to your liking is a fantastic addition, and I can already tell that cranking up the game speed and diving into the carnage will be my go-to setup.
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But what does come as a surprise is just how different Doom: The Dark Ages feels from what I'd expect from Doom, while still feeling extremely Doom. While I'm yet to be charmed by every departure, every addition to the core loop feels like an amazing idea that I'd never have thought would work for Doom in a million years, but feels so natural to play here.
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Overall then, my time with the game has me salivating for more. The best bits of being this new iteration of Doom Slayer complete with wicked-cool shield saw, and I can’t wait to jump back into the suit for that reason alone.
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While I may not be instantly convinced by some of the game’s more gimmicky elements, the gameplay of Doom: The Dark Ages is unimpeachable. The changes made to movement and weapons make for a game that sits comfortably between 2016 and Eternal, and I think it’s set to outshine both of them.
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After playing for just four hours, Doom: The Dark Ages went from being something I was vaguely curious about to one of my most anticipated games of 2025.
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DOOM: The Dark Ages is easily my most anticipated game of 2025, and I’m confident enough to even call it my future Game of the Year. Somehow, the maniacs at id Software have done it again. The Dark Ages is liable to be the most jaw-dropping entry the franchise has seen.
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After wrapping up my demo, it feels like The Dark Ages might be the most comprehensive Doom game to date. Id Software is bringing a lot of new mechanics and ideas to the series, while maintaining its hypnotic flow state.
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But as far as this nu-est of nu-Dooms is concerned, it seems to be striking a decent balance with that shield. Different but familiar. Slower but not too slow. Defensive and offensive, all at the same time.
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Doom: The Dark Ages was not what I expected, but it was still a great, ridiculous power fantasy in the few hours I got with it, trading in running-and-gunning for rocking-and-socking in a way that still makes perfect sense for the series. It wasn't perfect and I still have questions, but I came away from my hours with The Dark Ages a lot more eager to play the full thing.
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Doom: The Dark Ages has quickly gone from a promising upcoming release to one of our most anticipated games of the season, and we can't wait to get back into the medieval brutality of exploring the Slayer's origins and early years.
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DOOM: The Dark Ages felt like an exciting return to simpler times with plenty of modern conveniences. The shield saw is a fun change to simply shooting up nearly everything that moves, including ranged combos that felt satisfying to execute, and relatively easy to grasp.
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But it was the rhythmic combat and the intriguing narrative hook that has kept me thinking about it long after wrapping up the preview session. Admittedly, not everything was stellar. A few gameplay elements in particular felt like subpar distractions from everything I’ve raved about here. But on the whole, Doom: The Dark Ages is shaping up to be far better than most are expecting.
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If our limited hands-on time is any indication, DOOM: The Dark Ages likely has much more to offer than what we’ve experienced. The fact that we found ourselves thoroughly engaged with just a fraction of the full game speaks volumes about its potential.
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Watching a Dark Ages cutscene feels like when Mad Max: Fury Road’s War Boys huff chrome paint before going into battle — you can’t see one and not want to rip the heart out of a demon immediately afterward. Lucky for you, Doom: The Dark Ages will let you rip out hearts and tear through armor as much as you’d like, and it’ll pump you up to previously unimaginable heights before letting you loose.
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