The DOOM series has always been all about sheer speed, demon killing, and hyperkinetic weapons. With DOOM The Dark Ages, id Software is pushing the series into a new direction, blending the series’ defining chaos with a dark fantasy medieval setting.
Revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, DOOM The Dark Ages is proving to be the next massive evolution in the DOOM Slayer saga. Fans are eagerly anticipating how this installment blends the gore of DOOM Eternal with new lore, combat mechanics, and Middle Ages-inspired weaponry.
DOOM The Dark Ages Release Date and Platforms
So far, DOOM The Dark Ages has a release date of 2025. Microsoft has confirmed that it will be coming out on:
- Xbox Series X|S (Day One on Xbox Game Pass)
- PC (Steam & Microsoft Store)
- PlayStation 5 (confirmed even though it’s a Microsoft-owned IP)
This guarantees that players on all platforms can enjoy the next generation of DOOM with no limitations.
DOOM The Dark Ages Storyline
A change from the sci-fi environments of DOOM 2016 and DOOM Eternal, this game looks back to narrate a prequel tale of the origins of the Slayer.
Principal story points are:
- Uncovering the Slayer’s background as a medieval warrior prior to emerging as the legend we know
- Confronting demonic invasions in a dark fantasy realm
- Developing the mythology of the Sentinel armies
- A more in-depth exploration of the Slayer’s relationship with Hell’s enemies
This new take adds richness to the lore without sacrificing the quick, violent tone that DOOM enthusiasts enjoy.
DOOM The Dark Ages Gameplay Features
Here’s what we’ve learned (and anticipate) about gameplay in DOOM The Dark Ages:
- Brutal close combat with swords, maces, and shields
- Classic DOOM shooting with medieval flair
- Mounted combat with a huge dragon-like beast
- Non-linear levels with exploration
- Finishers and glory kills reimagined for medieval weapons
- New demonic enemy classes based on dark fantasy
- Bigger fights with AI comrades fighting alongside the Slayer
- Combat dynamic that combines ranged and close combat
For the puzzle and adventure seekers read our blog on ‘RECUR Game – A Time-Bending Puzzle Platformer That Could Redefine Indie Gaming‘.
DOOM The Dark Ages Weapons and Arsenal
Weapons are at the center of every DOOM game, and DOOM The Dark Ages is introducing new twists to the Slayer’s armory.
Confirmed and rumored weapons are:
- Crucible Sword 2.0 – an energized blade that can cut demons in half
- Flail & Shield combination – enabling both defense and devastating melee attacks
- Medieval Shotgun – reimagined in brutal style
- Crossbow-like launcher – expelling explosive bolts
- DOOM classics such as the Super Shotgun and BFG with dark-age visual styles
The marriage of medieval melee and high-tech firepower has the potential to form a distinctive combat loop unlike the rest of the DOOM franchise.
DOOM The Dark Ages Graphics and Technology
Based on id Software’s fast id Tech engine, DOOM The Dark Ages promises to bring:
- Photorealistic worlds combining gothic castles and hellscapes
- Smooth 4K performance at high FPS on next-gen consoles
- Ray tracing and advanced lighting for immersive battles
- Bigger maps for epic scale combat
- Seamless cutscene/gameplay transitions
DOOM The Dark Ages Why The Fans Are Champing At The Bit
The fans of the franchise are champing at the bit because:
- It offers a new medieval fantasy world
- Richens the Slayer’s history
- Merges melee combat with classic DOOM gunplay
- Features enormous new enemies and allies
- Day One Xbox Game Pass launch makes it readily available
DOOM The Dark Ages Key Features
- Release: 2025
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5
- Story: Slayer’s medieval origin prequel
- Combat: Melee + Guns + Mounted combat
- Arsenal: New medieval-themed weapons + DOOM staples
- Enemies: Demonic creatures reimagined with fantasy twists
- Visuals: id Tech engine driving visuals with ray tracing
DOOM The Dark Ages vs DOOM Eternal
Whereas DOOM Eternal took speed, platforming, and mobility to the limits, DOOM The Dark Ages seems to be more about melee combat, lore richness, and dramatic scale battles.
Eternal – futuristic, high speed, acrobatic
The Dark Ages – medieval, brutal melee warfare, epic scale wars
They both carry the DNA of DOOM, but The Dark Ages is a bold remake in the sense that it doesn’t feel like an expansion.
Final Verdict
The DOOM The Dark Ages is positioning itself as a series-defining entry. Through its exploration of the Slayer’s medieval history, new melee mechanics, and greater-than-life battles, id Software is demonstrating again why DOOM is one of the greatest video game franchises of all time.
For enthusiasts who are hungry for grotesque combat, epic storytelling, and a new environment, DOOM The Dark Ages appears set to deliver in 2025.
For the puzzle and adventure seekers read our blog on ‘RECUR Game – A Time-Bending Puzzle Platformer That Could Redefine Indie Gaming‘.
