If you’ve been following the Doom franchise for years, you know id Software loves to shake up the formula while keeping the core fast-paced, demon-slaying chaos intact. Doomguy Doom: The Dark Ages is the latest iteration that swaps the hellish industrial landscapes of previous titles for grim, mud-soaked medieval battlefields, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the most exciting entries in the series to date. I went in expecting a cheap reskin of Eternal, and I was very wrong. I’ve spent 12 hours playing the early access build, and I’m breaking down everything you need to know before you jump in, from lore deep dives to pro tips that will keep you alive even when you’re surrounded by hordes of possessed knights.
The Core Lore of Doomguy Doom: The Dark Ages
Most long-time fans know Doomguy (or the Doom Slayer, as he’s been called in recent entries) is an immortal warrior cursed to fight demons for eternity, but this title explores a little-explored chapter of his story set during Earth’s medieval dark ages. He’s not an interloper dropped into this time period by a hell rift, either – he’s living as a wandering mercenary in the region now known as Western Europe, hiding his true power while trying to lay low after a devastating battle with hell’s forces a century prior. Hell has followed him to this era, though, corrupting local lords, knights, and even peasant communities to build a new portal that would let their forces overrun the entire planet.
The lore leans heavily into real medieval folk tales of demons and monsters roaming the countryside, which adds a surprising amount of weight to the story. You’ll run into villagers who have never seen a demon before, and you have to earn their trust before they’ll give you access to their blacksmiths or healing supplies. It’s a far more grounded story than the over-the-top cosmic lore of recent Doom titles, and it works really well with the darker, grittier aesthetic.
New Gameplay Mechanics You’ll Encounter First
Don’t go into Doomguy Doom: The Dark Ages expecting the same run-and-gun loop you know from Doom 2016 or Eternal. The medieval setting means most of your weapons are melee or primitive ranged, and movement is slower, heavier, and way more punishing if you make a mistake. I died three times in the first 30 minutes of my playthrough because I tried to rush a group of demons like I would in older titles, and I learned very quickly that patience and strategic positioning matter more than pure speed here.
- Stamina meter: Every swing of your axe, roll out of danger, or sprint uses stamina, so you can’t spam attacks or run forever without pausing to catch your breath. Stamina regens fast if you stand still for a second, so you’ll need to learn to pause between attack strings to avoid getting caught off guard.
- Divine boons: You’ll earn blessings from local shrines that grant temporary buffs, like fire damage on your weapons or 50% reduced damage from demon projectiles, that only last for one combat encounter. You can only carry one boon at a time, so pick the one that fits the fight you’re about to start, not the one that sounds coolest.
- Armor degradation: Your medieval plate and chain armor breaks over time as you take damage, so you’ll have to scavenge replacement pieces from fallen knights or blacksmiths in friendly villages. Rare armor pieces have passive buffs, so it’s worth swapping out even if your current set is only slightly damaged.
That doesn’t mean the classic Doom feel is gone, though. You still get a glory kill mechanic, only now it’s tailored to medieval weapons – you can drive your battleaxe through a demon’s skull, or snap a possessed knight’s neck with your bare hands to regain small amounts of health. The combat still feels visceral and satisfying, it just requires a little more thought than holding down the fire button and running in circles.
Optimal Builds for First-Time Playthroughs
There are no strict classes in Doomguy Doom: The Dark Ages, but you can spec your skill points to lean into three distinct play styles, depending on what you enjoy most. I’ve tested all three extensively, and there’s no bad choice, but some are way more forgiving for new players who aren’t used to the slower combat pace.
First, the heavy melee build is the easiest for beginners. Put all your skill points into stamina regen, melee damage, and armor durability, and you’ll be able to wade through most groups of common demons without taking too much damage. Pair it with a two-handed battleaxe and a tower shield, and you can even take on early boss fights without needing to chug more than one or two health potions. The only downside is you’ll have a harder time hitting flying demons, so keep a small crossbow on hand for those encounters.
If you prefer a more fast-paced play style, the ranged build is a solid pick, though it has a steeper learning curve. You’ll rely on a heavy crossbow with explosive bolts, and skill points that boost your reload speed and projectile damage. You have to keep your distance from enemies to make this work, though, so you’ll need to memorize every map’s layout to find good vantage points before fights start. I only recommend this build if you already have a few hours of playtime under your belt and know what to expect from enemy spawn points. The stealth build is the most challenging, but it’s a lot of fun if you want a totally different Doom experience – you can sneak past most fights entirely, and take out enemies with silent backstabs for bonus experience points.
Hidden Secrets and Collectibles to Track Down
Id Software has always hidden tons of fun easter eggs and collectibles in Doom titles, and Doomguy Doom: The Dark Ages is no different. There are 42 hidden collectibles scattered across the game’s 12 main missions, ranging from classic Doom comic book pages to replica weapons from older entries, and collecting all of them unlocks a secret bonus mission where you get to play with the iconic BFG 9000 for 10 minutes of unfiltered demon slaying chaos.
Most of these collectibles are hidden behind breakable walls or in locked chests that require keys you can find from defeating mini-bosses. I missed 11 of them on my first playthrough, because I was rushing through levels to get to the next boss fight, so take your time to explore every side path and check every cracked wall if you want to find everything. Some of the hidden shrines also grant permanent buffs, like +10% maximum health or stamina, that make the endgame way easier, so they’re worth hunting down even if you don’t care about 100% completion.
There are also a bunch of fun easter eggs for long-time fans, like a hidden room with a working copy of the original 1993 Doom, and a cameo from a very familiar demonic bunny. You won’t run into any of these if you just follow the main quest path, so it’s worth veering off course every chance you get.
Doomguy Doom: The Dark Ages is a fresh, exciting take on the classic Doom formula that still keeps everything fans love about the series intact. It’s challenging, it’s gory, and it has way more lore depth than I expected going into my early access playthrough. Whether you’re a long-time Doom fan who’s played every entry or a new player who’s just dipping their toes into the franchise for the first time, there’s something here for you to enjoy. I’ve already pre-ordered the full release, and I can’t wait to spend another 50 hours hunting down every last secret. Just remember to take it slow on your first run, don’t be afraid to adjust the difficulty if you’re getting stuck, and take time to explore every corner of the map for those hidden buffs and collectibles.
