Doom: The Dark Ages
Updated: 12/10/2025, 5:17:49 PM Wikipedia source
Doom: The Dark Ages is a 2025 first-person shooter game developed by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the eighth main entry in the Doom franchise, following Doom Eternal (2020). The game is set many years prior to Doom (2016) and follows the Doom Slayer's efforts to save humanity during a war against Hell. id Software began work on The Dark Ages following the completion of Doom Eternal's post-launch campaign The Ancient Gods in 2021, entering full production by August 2022. It was announced in June 2024. Doom: The Dark Ages was released on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on May 15, 2025, with it being included as a day one launch for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. It received positive reviews and reached 3 million players in its first week.
Infobox
Developer
id Software
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Director
Hugo Martin
Artist
Emerson Tung
Writer
Hugo Martin
Composer
Finishing Move
Series
Doom
Engine
id Tech 8
Platforms
mw- PlayStation 5WindowsXbox Series X/S
Release
WW: May 15, 2025
Genre
First-person shooter
Mode
Single-player
Tables
Aggregate scores
Metacritic
Metacritic
Aggregator
Metacritic
Score
(PC) 85/100(PS5) 83/100(XSXS) 85/100
OpenCritic
OpenCritic
Aggregator
OpenCritic
Score
96% recommend
| Aggregator | Score |
| Metacritic | (PC) 85/100(PS5) 83/100(XSXS) 85/100 |
| OpenCritic | 96% recommend |
Review scores
Destructoid
Destructoid
Publication
Destructoid
Score
9.5/10
Digital Trends
Digital Trends
Publication
Digital Trends
Score
3.5/5
Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Publication
Eurogamer
Score
4/5
Famitsu
Famitsu
Publication
Famitsu
Score
35/40
Game Informer
Game Informer
Publication
Game Informer
Score
9.5/10
GameSpot
GameSpot
Publication
GameSpot
Score
8/10
GamesRadar+
GamesRadar+
Publication
GamesRadar+
Score
3.5/5
Hardcore Gamer
Hardcore Gamer
Publication
Hardcore Gamer
Score
5/5
IGN
IGN
Publication
IGN
Score
9/10
PC Gamer (US)
PC Gamer (US)
Publication
PC Gamer (US)
Score
80/100
PCGamesN
PCGamesN
Publication
PCGamesN
Score
8/10
Push Square
Push Square
Publication
Push Square
Score
8/10
Shacknews
Shacknews
Publication
Shacknews
Score
9/10
The Guardian
The Guardian
Publication
The Guardian
Score
4/5
Video Games Chronicle
Video Games Chronicle
Publication
Video Games Chronicle
Score
4/5
VG247
VG247
Publication
VG247
Score
4/5
VideoGamer.com
VideoGamer.com
Publication
VideoGamer.com
Score
8/10
| Publication | Score |
| Destructoid | 9.5/10 |
| Digital Trends | 3.5/5 |
| Eurogamer | 4/5 |
| Famitsu | 35/40 |
| Game Informer | 9.5/10 |
| GameSpot | 8/10 |
| GamesRadar+ | 3.5/5 |
| Hardcore Gamer | 5/5 |
| IGN | 9/10 |
| PC Gamer (US) | 80/100 |
| PCGamesN | 8/10 |
| Push Square | 8/10 |
| Shacknews | 9/10 |
| The Guardian | 4/5 |
| Video Games Chronicle | 4/5 |
| VG247 | 4/5 |
| VideoGamer.com | 8/10 |
· Reception › Awards
2025
2025
Year
2025
Award
The Game Awards 2025
Category
Best Action Game
Result
Pending
Innovation in Accessibility
Innovation in Accessibility
Year
Innovation in Accessibility
Award
Pending
2026
2026
Year
2026
Award
22nd British Academy Games Awards
Category
Music
Result
Longlisted
Technical Achievement
Technical Achievement
Year
Technical Achievement
Award
Longlisted
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
| 2025 | The Game Awards 2025 | Best Action Game | Pending | |
| Innovation in Accessibility | Pending | |||
| 2026 | 22nd British Academy Games Awards | Music | Longlisted | |
| Technical Achievement | Longlisted |
References
- As respectively depicted in Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal (2020).
- www.instagram.comhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DHEAENZPNyB/?igsh=bzRrem5mYTAwdDFs
- Emerson Tunghttps://emersontung.com/about
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/after-doom-eternals-intense-acrobatics-doom-the-dark-ages-will-focus-on-simplified-ergonomic-controls-you-shouldnt-be-fighting-the-controls-you-should-be-fighting-the-bad-guys/
- Eurogamer.nethttps://www.eurogamer.net/doom-the-dark-ages-gets-release-date-confirmed-will-make-you-feel-like-an-iron-tank-rather-than-the-fighter-jet-acrobatics-of-doom-eternal
- Polygonhttps://www.polygon.com/gaming/512422/doom-dark-ages-release-date-preview?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- VICEhttps://www.vice.com/en/article/as-if-doomguy-wasnt-strong-enough-doom-the-dark-ages-turns-the-power-fantasy-up-to-666/
- The Vergehttps://www.theverge.com/2025/1/23/24349379/doom-the-dark-ages-release-date-trailer-xbox-pc-ps5?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Game Informerhttps://www.gameinformer.com/2021/03/17/new-details-on-the-slayers-final-days-in-doom-eternal-the-ancient-gods
- Polygonhttps://www.polygon.com/22333698/doom-eternal-dlc-ancient-gods-part-2-sequels
- Pure Xboxhttps://www.purexbox.com/news/2021/11/id-software-is-hiring-for-a-long-running-iconic-action-fps-game
- ComicBook.comhttps://comicbook.com/gaming/news/doom-eternal-id-software-new-game-tease/
- The Vergehttps://www.theverge.com/2023/9/19/23880165/xbox-leak-ftc-documents-new-xbox-series-x-controller-next-gen
- The Vergehttps://www.theverge.com/2023/9/19/23880132/microsoft-ftc-documents-leak-oblivion-fallout-3-remaster-doom-xbox
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/xboxs-phil-spencer-acknowledges-massive-court-document-leak-so-much-has-changed
- Eurogamerhttps://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2025-doom-the-dark-ages-hands-on-tech-preview-id-tech-8-impresses-hugely-on-pc
- Xbox Wirehttps://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/09/21/welcoming-bethesda-to-the-xbox-family/
- Kotakuhttps://kotaku.com/doom-3-eternal-sequel-dark-ages-year-zero-xbox-june-1851500253
- The Vergehttps://www.theverge.com/24172041/doom-the-dark-ages-xbox-summer-game-fest-trailer
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/doom-the-dark-ages-announced-confirmed-for-ps5-xbox-games-showcase-2024
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/phil-spencer-briefly-explains-the-decision-to-bring-doom-the-dark-ages-to-playstation-5-ign-live-2024
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/doom-the-dark-ages-launch-time-release-date/
- PCGamesNhttps://www.pcgamesn.com/nvidia/doom-the-dark-ages-bundle
- IGN Indiahttps://in.ign.com/doom-the-dark-ages/229936/news/asus-unveils-limited-edition-doom-themed-nvidia-geforce-rtx-5080-rog-astral-gpu-with-exclusive-bundl
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/game/doom-the-dark-ages/critic-reviews/?platform=pc
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/game/doom-the-dark-ages/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/game/doom-the-dark-ages/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x
- OpenCritichttps://opencritic.com/game/18023/doom-the-dark-ages
- Destructoidhttps://www.destructoid.com/reviews/doom-the-dark-ages-review-a-gloriously-gory-prequel/
- Digital Trendshttps://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/doom-the-dark-ages-review/
- Eurogamerhttps://www.eurogamer.net/doom-the-dark-ages-review
- Gematsuhttps://www.gematsu.com/2025/05/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1900
- Game Informerhttps://www.gameinformer.com/review/doom-the-dark-ages/believe-in-the-shield
- GameSpothttps://www.gamespot.com/reviews/doom-the-dark-ages-review/1900-6418361/
- GamesRadarhttps://www.gamesradar.com/games/fps/doom-the-dark-ages-review/
- Hardcore Gamerhttps://hardcoregamer.com/review-doom-the-dark-ages/
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/doom-the-dark-ages-review
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/doom-the-dark-ages-review/
- PCGamesNhttps://www.pcgamesn.com/doom-the-dark-ages/review
- Push Squarehttps://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/doom-the-dark-ages
- Shacknewshttps://www.shacknews.com/article/144201/doom-the-dark-ages-review-rip-and-tear-and-parry
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/may/09/doom-the-dark-ages-review-id-software
- Video Games Chroniclehttps://www.videogameschronicle.com/review/doom-the-dark-ages-review/
- VG247https://www.vg247.com/doom-the-dark-ages-review
- VideoGamer.comhttps://www.videogamer.com/reviews/doom-the-dark-ages-review/
- Game Informerhttps://www.gameinformer.com/review-in-progress/2025/05/09/doom-the-dark-ages-review-in-progress
- "Doom: The Dark Ages review - The Old One"https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/doom-the-dark-ages-review/1900-6418361/
- PC Gamerhttps://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/doom-the-dark-ages-review/
- TheGamerhttps://www.thegamer.com/doom-the-dark-ages-review-ps5-pro/
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/article/doom-the-dark-ages-review-violent-video-games.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/video-games/2025/05/09/doom-dark-ages-review/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Windows Centralhttps://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/doom-the-dark-ages-3-million-players
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/gaming/news/game-awards-nominations-2025-list-1236583686/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/gaming/news/bafta-game-longlist-indiana-jones-ghost-yotei-split-fiction-1236604921/