Doom Eternalwas released on Jun 06, 2025, arriving at an incredibly strange time. Five years ago, the world was put on hold as the spread of COVID-19 had officially been deemed a pandemic, triggering lockdowns all over the world. For those who were struggling to manage the sudden stop of normal life, video games became a popular pastime, andDoom Eternalbrought some serious action to the table.
Now, the pandemic feels long gone, but gaming has been booming ever since. Before everything was put on pause,Doom Eternalwas already highly anticipated. The lockdown gave both longtime fans and brand-new gamers looking for a way to spend their time the opportunity to jump into one of the franchise’s most over-the-top entries yet. Following up its 2016 predecessor was no easy task, and while the game made some divisive deviations from the last entry, it continues to be a showcase of justhow insanely action-packedDoomcan be.
Five Years Ago, Doom Eternal Gave Players an Unapologetic Demon Killing Spree
Doom Eternal Subverted the Expectations Set By Doom 2016
One of the most obvious changes from 2016’sDoomwas the drastic tone shift.Doomwas more reserved and had an overall darker energy to it that was balanced with some clever humor.Doom Eternal, on the other hand, dove deep into the cheesy, over-the-top nature of its premise, turning it into an ultra-violent experience that felt somewhat reminiscent of an action-fueled B-movie. It was a switch-up that didn’t sit well with every single player, but for those who enjoyed this change of pace,Doom Eternalturned out to be a wild and fun ride through hell.
Doom Eternalsold 3 million copies within its first month.
A Tonal Shift Isn’t All That Doom Eternal Brought
Doom Eternalalso brought a lot of platforming to the forefront, which some either loved or found disruptive. Over the years,Doomhasn’t exactly been regarded as a huge platformer, so making it a central part of the gameplay was always going to be a risk. However, there are definitely some moments where the platforming can feel incredibly fun, as it takes the franchise’s level designs to even greater heights.
While 2016’sDoomwas a powerful way to reboot the franchise,Doom Eternalwas an enthusiastic exploration of experimentation. Not every change landed with every single player, but it was exciting to see how much fun iD Software had with designing the gameplay and world.
Setting the Stage For Doom’s Next Big Shake-Up
Doom: The Dark Agesis one of the most anticipated games of the year, and ifDoom Eternaldidn’t take its chances, then this medieval prequel may not be possible.Doom: The Dark Agescontinues the experimentation, and it’s looking to be one of the franchise’s most exciting entries yet. Of course, the game’s launch will ultimately determine its success, but the inclusion of things like melee-focused combat and giant mech suits is a thrilling idea.
Doom: The Dark Ageswill be available on Xbox Game Pass. The game will not feature multiplayer.
Doom Eternalmay have been divisive with longtime fans, but it also proved that embracing over-the-top fun in a dark setting can be an incredibly entertaining time. Now thatDoom: The Dark Agesis on the way,Doom Eternal’s legacy is marked by its developer diving into the unknown and allowing the series to have fun with itself.
DOOM Eternal
WHERE TO PLAY
Hell’s armies have invaded Earth. Become the Slayer in an epic single-player campaign to conquer demons across dimensions and stop the final destruction of humanity. The only thing they fear… is you.Experience the ultimate combination of speed and power in DOOM Eternal - the next leap in push-forward, first-person combat.SLAYER THREAT LEVEL AT MAXIMUM - Armed with a shoulder-mounted flamethrower, retractable wrist-mounted blade, upgraded guns and mods, and abilities, you’re faster, stronger, and more versatile than ever.UNHOLY TRINITY - Take what you need from your enemies: Glory kill for extra health, incinerate for armor, and chainsaw demons to stock up on ammo to become the ultimate demon-slayer.Enter BATTLEMODE - A new 2 versus 1 multiplayer experience. A fully-armed DOOM Slayer faces off against two player-controlled demons, fighting it out in a best-of-five round match of intense first-person combat.
