Last year I stumbled on a sealed copy of doom the dark ages vinyl at a local record fair, and I almost walked right past it. I knew the mod was a cult favorite among old-school Doom fans, but I had no idea the limited run vinyl pressing was already one of the most sought-after retro game soundtrack releases of the last decade. If you’re a Doom fan, vinyl collector, or both, you’ve probably heard whispers of this release floating around niche forums and social media groups. It’s not just a record—it’s a piece of modding history that captures the gritty, atmospheric tone of one of the best total conversions ever made for the classic Doom engine.
What Makes Doom the Dark Ages Vinyl Stand Out From Other Game Soundtracks
For anyone who hasn’t played the mod, Doom the Dark Ages is a total conversion that swaps the classic hellish setting of original Doom for a grim medieval world overrun by undead knights, corrupted witches, and demonic feudal lords. The soundtrack, composed by a long-time Doom modder who goes by the handle Vile, blends sludgy doom metal riffs with traditional medieval folk instruments to match the game’s unique tone. Unlike most mass-produced game soundtrack vinyl, this release was a passion project created in close partnership with the full mod development team.
I’ve picked up a lot of game soundtrack vinyl over the years, but none have the same raw, immersive feel as this one. The opening track for the first level, “Cursed Citadel”, mixes downtuned doom metal riffs with medieval lute notes that make you feel like you’re actually storming a demon-infested castle, not just playing a 2D retro game. All first pressings include a hidden bonus track of a scrapped level theme that never made it to the final mod build, which is a huge draw for long-time fans of the mod who have played through every existing level dozens of times.
The physical quality of the release is also a step above most indie game vinyl drops. All official pressings are 180g weight, with gatefold packaging that features never-before-seen concept art from the mod’s early development stages. Only 1500 total copies were pressed in the original 2016 run, split between 1000 smoky gray variants and 500 blood red variants, which is part of why it’s so hard to find a legitimate copy today.
How to Spot an Authentic Doom the Dark Ages Vinyl Pressing
Because of its rarity and high resale value, bootleg copies of this record have flooded the market over the last five years. I almost bought a bootleg copy on eBay back in 2021 before I knew what to look for, so I know how easy it is to get tricked if you’re a new collector. There are a few key, hard-to-replicate details you can check to confirm a copy is legitimate before you hand over your money:
- Official copies have a hand-numbered sticker on the back of the gatefold, with numbers ranging from 1 to 1500 for the first pressing run. Bootlegs usually have printed numbers instead of handwritten, or no number at all.
- The inner sleeve includes a full print of the mod’s original 2010 release poster, with signatures from the core 4-person dev team printed along the bottom edge. Bootlegs often leave out the poster print entirely, or use low-resolution scans that look blurry.
- Colored variants (smoky gray and blood red) have a tiny etched "DTDA" mark on the runout groove of side B, which bootlegs almost never replicate. You may need to hold the vinyl up to a light to see the etching clearly.
Another easy red flag is price. If someone is selling a sealed copy for less than $150, it’s almost certainly a fake, even if the listing photos look real. A lot of bootleggers steal photos from legitimate old listings to trick buyers, so always ask for photos of the specific copy you’re buying, including clear shots of the back gatefold, inner sleeve, and runout groove on side B. If a seller refuses to send those photos, walk away immediately.
Current Market Value and Where to Find Legitimate Copies
The market value for this record has climbed steadily over the last three years, as more retro Doom fans discover the mod and start collecting game vinyl. As of the latest data from Discogs sales history, opened copies in very good condition sell for between $150 and $220, depending on the variant and whether all original packaging is intact. Sealed copies sell for significantly more, with smoky gray variants going for $250 to $320, and the rarer blood red variants selling for $350 to $400. Last month, a sealed blood red variant sold on Discogs for $415, which is the highest recorded sale price for this record to date.
You won’t find this record at mainstream record stores, so you’ll need to shop at niche, trusted outlets to avoid bootlegs. Only buy from Discogs sellers with 1000+ positive ratings and a history of selling rare video game vinyl to minimize your risk of getting a fake. Private sales in official Doom modding Discord groups or dedicated retro game vinyl Facebook groups are also a good option, since most group mods will verify listings for high-value items like this before they’re posted.
So if you don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars for a secondhand copy, there’s another low-cost option. The mod dev team occasionally does small, limited represses of the vinyl for charity events, sold at the original $40 retail price. These drops are announced exclusively on their official social media accounts, and they usually sell out in under 10 minutes, so you’ll need to act fast if you want to grab one at retail cost.
Pro Tips for Storing and Maintaining Your Copy
Once you’ve tracked down a legitimate copy, you’ll want to take proper care of it to preserve its value and sound quality for years to come. Keep the record in its original gatefold and inner sleeve at all times, because replacing the packaging can drop its resale value by up to 30% for rare pressings like this. If you want extra protection, you can slip the full gatefold into a 3mm polypropylene outer sleeve, which will prevent scuffs and wear on the cover art without damaging the original packaging.
Store the record upright in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, to prevent the colored vinyl from fading and the gatefold from warping. I made the mistake of leaving one of my colored game vinyls on a windowsill for a week last summer, and the sun faded the blue pigment so much it looked almost gray. Don’t make the same mistake with your Doom the Dark Ages copy, because faded vinyl drops the value significantly for collectors.
If you plan to play your record regularly, take a few simple steps to avoid scratching the grooves. Use a carbon fiber brush to wipe off dust before every play, and make sure your turntable stylus has a tracking force between 1.8 and 2 grams to avoid digging into the vinyl. You can buy a digital copy of the OST directly from the dev team’s Bandcamp page for just $7 if you want to listen to the soundtrack regularly without wearing out your physical copy. That way you can keep your vinyl in mint condition for collectors, while still being able to blast the soundtrack while you play the mod.
At the end of the day, the doom the dark ages vinyl is more than just a collector’s item. It’s a tribute to the passion of modders who spent years creating a totally new Doom experience for free, for the love of the game. Whether you’re buying it to play on your turntable every weekend, or keeping it sealed as part of your retro game collection, it’s a piece of gaming history that holds its value and brings joy to anyone who loves the gritty, chaotic energy of classic Doom mods. Don’t rush to buy the first copy you see, take your time to verify it’s authentic, and you’ll end up with a record you’ll treasure for years to come.
