If you’re a long-time Doom fan who’s been itching to dive into the franchise’s grittiest, most medieval-inspired entry yet, you’ve probably already got your eye on Doom the Dark Ages Premium Edition PS5. I picked up my copy three days after launch, and I’ve put nearly 20 hours into it so far, testing every exclusive perk, secret level, and combat tweak that comes with the premium tier. It’s not just a few extra skins thrown in for extra cash, either—this edition adds enough content to feel worth the extra investment for anyone who plans to sink dozens of hours into the game’s campaign and multiplayer modes. I’m breaking down everything you need to know before you buy, plus actionable tips to get the most out of your purchase right out of the box.
What Makes Doom the Dark Ages Premium Edition PS5 Worth the Extra Cost?
First, let’s cut through the marketing fluff and talk about the actual content you get that standard edition owners don’t. The biggest draw for single-player fans is the exclusive 2-hour prequel campaign that explores the Doom Slayer’s arrival in the medieval realm, and fills in key plot gaps that make the main campaign’s story make far more sense. You also get three exclusive weapon skins with custom finish animations, plus a hidden rune you can only unlock by beating the prequel that gives you a permanent combat buff for the entire main story.
For multiplayer fans, you get two weeks of early access to all post-launch multiplayer map packs, plus exclusive custom horde mode settings that won’t roll out to standard edition users for three months after launch. It also comes with 4 exclusive trophies for completionists, which is a nice perk if you’re like me and love chasing platinum trophies for your favorite franchise entries. The only downside is if you only plan to beat the main campaign once and never touch multiplayer, you won’t get enough value to justify the extra cost.
Core Combat Tips to Master the Medieval Doom Loop
The premium edition’s exclusive content changes up the core combat loop just enough that even veteran Doom players will need to adjust their usual strategies. The new holy water grenade mechanic is a game-changer for crowd control, and the glory kill system now gives you extra armor instead of just health when you execute high-level demon enemies. I’ve tested dozens of different playstyles over my 20 hours of play, and these three tips have made the biggest difference for me:
- Use the exclusive Crusader Shotgun skin’s faster reload animation during horde waves to cut down on downtime between shots; it shaves 0.2 seconds off each reload, which adds up fast when you’re surrounded by 10+ imps
- Unlock the prequel campaign’s hidden rune first to get a permanent 10% damage boost against possessed knight enemies, which are some of the hardest foes in the main campaign
- Save your glory kill charges for large boss fights instead of regular mobs, since the premium edition’s exclusive boss phases have far higher health pools than standard edition boss fights
I made the mistake of wasting my glory kills on small imps during my first run of the exclusive boss fight, and I ended up dying three times before I adjusted my strategy. The rune from the prequel campaign also makes the mid-game sections far less frustrating, since possessed knights show up every 10 or 15 minutes once you hit the third act. You don’t have to play the prequel first, but I highly recommend it if you want to make your main campaign playthrough as smooth as possible.
Multiplayer Perks Exclusive to Premium Edition Owners
If you’re someone who plays more multiplayer than single-player, the premium edition’s perks are even more valuable. The early map access means you can learn the layouts of new multiplayer maps before the general player base, so you’ll have a clear competitive edge for the first two weeks each new pack drops. You also get access to custom horde mode difficulty sliders that let you tweak everything from enemy spawn rate to item drop frequency to make matches as easy or as brutal as you want.
I’ve hosted a few custom matches with my friend group, and we’ve had a blast turning the spawn rate up to max for chaotic 30-minute runs that feel way more dynamic than the standard multiplayer modes. You also get a free 20-tier premium battle pass with exclusive skins, emotes, and nameplates that will never be available to standard edition owners. So if you care about standing out in lobbies, that’s a huge perk you can’t get anywhere else.
Common Mistakes to Avoid With Your Premium Edition Copy
After talking to dozens of other premium edition players online and testing my own playthrough, there are a few common mistakes almost everyone makes at first. First, don’t skip the prequel campaign just to jump into the main story. A lot of people I’ve talked to online skipped it, and they missed out on that permanent damage rune and key story context that makes the main campaign’s ending hit way harder.
Second, don’t waste your premium currency on common skins right away. The in-game shop rotates exclusive premium-only skins every week, and some of the rarer ones are way more unique than the default options you see when you first boot up the game. Third, don’t forget to claim your digital art book and soundtrack from the PSN store after you purchase the edition—many players miss this because the download prompt only shows up once when you first install the game, and you have to go to your purchased content library to find it later if you skip it. I almost missed it myself, and the extended soundtrack has some of my favorite tracks from the entire Doom franchise, so it’s well worth tracking down.
At the end of the day, whether Doom the Dark Ages Premium Edition PS5 is right for you depends entirely on how much time you plan to spend in the game’s world. If you’re a casual player who only wants to beat the main campaign once and move on, you can save your cash and stick to the standard edition. But if you’re a diehard Doom fan who wants all the exclusive content, early access to new updates, and extra challenges to keep you busy for months, it’s one of the best premium editions I’ve bought for a PS5 game in years. Take the tips I’ve shared here to heart, and you’ll get far more value out of your purchase than you would if you just jumped in blind.
