If you’re a fan of fast-paced boomer shooters and the iconic Doom franchise, you’ve likely seen the hype around the medieval-themed Doom spin-off, and asked yourself is doom the dark ages worth it. I’ve put 47 hours into the game across single player runs, horde mode climbs, and chaotic co-op sessions with friends, so I’ve got a clear picture of who will love this title, and who should probably skip it. It’s not a perfect entry in the Doom franchise, and it deviates from the standard formula more than many fans expected, but it fills a very specific niche that a lot of players didn’t even know they wanted. I went in with pretty low expectations after seeing mixed early reviews, and ended up binging most of the campaign in one weekend.
What Makes Fans Ask Is Doom The Dark Ages Worth It?
For decades, Doom has been tied to sci-fi hellscapes, futuristic guns, and the iconic Doom Slayer ripping and tearing through demonic hordes on Mars or in the depths of hell. This spin-off swaps that setting for a cursed medieval realm overrun by a mix of classic Doom demons and twisted medieval monsters, from possessed knights to plague-ridden villagers and fire-breathing gargoyles. A lot of long-time fans were skeptical that the franchise could pull off a fantasy twist without losing the core charm that makes Doom games so fun to play.
The good news is the core combat loop stays true to Doom’s signature fast-paced, high-octane flow even with the medieval rework. You still move at blistering speed, dodge enemy attacks constantly, and chain glory kills to regain health and ammo. The new setting just adds extra layers to that loop, rather than replacing what works. Even with these small tweaks, the shift is big enough that many players are understandably cautious about dropping full price on a spin-off that feels so different from mainline entries.
Core Pros of Playing Doom The Dark Ages
The biggest win for this spin-off is its unique setting that feels fresh but familiar. The level designers went all in on the gothic medieval hell theme, with maps ranging from crumbling castle keeps and fog-shrouded cursed villages to lava-filled catacombs and floating demonic spires. Each map is built for vertical combat, with lots of platforms, secret passages, and jump pads that let you zip around the battlefield to avoid attacks and get the drop on enemies. The art style is gritty, colorful, and packed with little Easter eggs for long-time Doom fans to find.
You also get expanded combat mechanics that add depth without bloat. You still have classic Doom staples like the super shotgun and plasma rifle, but you also get access to medieval-inspired weapons like a holy greatsword, explosive throwing axes, and magic abilities like holy fire blasts and time slow. You can chain these weapons and abilities together for massive combo kills, which reward creative play instead of just spamming the same gun over and over. I spent hours experimenting with different loadouts, and I still find new combo strings 40 hours in.
Last but not least, the game has strong co-op and replay value that extends its lifespan far beyond the base campaign. You can play the entire story with up to 3 friends, and the difficulty scales automatically to match the number of players in your lobby. There’s also a wave-based horde mode with weekly rotating challenges that give out exclusive weapon skins and character cosmetics for completing them. Some of my favorite gaming moments this year have come from chaotic co-op runs where my friends and I barely survived the final wave of a high-difficulty horde match.
Standout features that make the game worth picking up for most fans include:
- Fully customizable difficulty sliders that let you tweak enemy health, damage, and spawn rates to match your skill level
- 15+ unique enemy types that require different combat strategies to take down efficiently
- Post-launch free content updates that add new maps, weapons, and game modes at no extra cost
- Full modding support on PC, so you can add custom maps, skins, and gameplay overhauls to keep the game feeling fresh
Even with these small flaws, most players will find that the answer to is doom the dark ages worth it is a resounding yes if they fall into the target audience.
Biggest Drawbacks to Consider Before Buying
The most common complaint from players is the shorter main campaign than mainline Doom entries. If you play on normal difficulty and don’t stop to explore every secret area, you can beat the base campaign in 8 to 10 hours, which is roughly half the length of Doom Eternal’s single player story. If you only care about single player content and don’t plan to play co-op or horde mode, you might feel like you’re not getting your money’s worth at full price. I beat the campaign in 9 hours my first run, but I’ve put another 38 hours into co-op and horde mode since then, so it wasn’t an issue for me.
There are also small weapon balancing issues for late game content. Most of the melee weapons feel underpowered on the highest difficulty levels, so you’ll likely end up relying on the same 2 or 3 guns for most late game fights. The devs have released several patches to adjust weapon balance since launch, but there’s still work to be done to make melee builds viable for endgame content. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but it is a little disappointing if you were excited to play a full melee-focused build.
The first half of the campaign also suffers from limited enemy variety. The first 4 levels only have 4 different enemy types, so the combat can feel a little repetitive until you unlock the later areas. I almost put the game down during the second level because it felt like I was fighting the same 3 enemies over and over, but I’m glad I stuck around because the later areas introduce way more creative enemy types and level design. These drawbacks don't ruin the experience by any means, but they are important to consider if you’re weighing up is doom the dark ages worth it for your specific playstyle.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Buy Doom The Dark Ages
This game is an easy buy if you fit into any of these groups. First, if you’re a long-time Doom fan who wants to try a fresh take on the classic combat loop, you’ll love the medieval twist and expanded mechanics. Second, if you regularly play co-op shooters with friends, the 4-player campaign and horde mode are worth the price of admission alone. Third, if you’re a fan of other boomer shooters like Serious Sam, Cultic, or Dusk, you’ll feel right at home with the fast movement and high-stakes combat.
On the other hand, you should probably skip this game, or at least wait for a sale, if you fall into these groups. If you only play single player games and prioritize long, story-heavy campaigns, the short base story won’t give you enough content to justify the full price. If you hated Doom Eternal because you thought it had too many mechanics to keep track of, the added melee and magic systems here will likely feel overwhelming. If you’re on a very tight budget and only buy games that give you 20+ hours of content out of the box, you’ll get more value out of a mainline Doom entry or a longer open world game.
At the end of the day, answering is doom the dark ages worth it comes down to what you want out of a shooter. If you care more about fun, fast combat and replayable co-op content than a 20+ hour single player campaign, you’ll get dozens of hours of enjoyment out of this title. If you’re still on the fence, wait for a 30% or higher sale, but even at full price, it’s a solid addition to any boomer shooter fan’s library.
