After years of teases and cryptic trailers, the next entry in the iconic Doom franchise is finally available to reserve ahead of launch. If you’re looking to pre order Doom the Dark Ages, you’ve probably got a ton of questions about what bonuses you’ll get, which edition is worth your money, and if locking in a purchase early is even worth it. I’ve covered every Doom pre order since 2016’s soft reboot, and I’ve broken down everything you need to know to make the right call for your budget and playstyle. No fluff, no overhyped marketing speak, just straight facts based on official announcements and hands-on demo time I got at a recent industry event.
What Exclusive Bonuses Come When You Pre Order Doom the Dark Ages?
All pre orders, regardless of platform or edition, come with a set of core in-game bonuses that you won’t be able to get for at least 6 months after launch, per Bethesda’s official announcement. The most sought-after perk is 72 hours of early access to the game’s opening campaign mission, which lets you test out the new medieval-inspired weapon loadouts and movement mechanics before anyone else. You’ll also get the exclusive Hellforged Crucible melee skin, which adds a unique fiery effect and custom kill animations for the iconic Crucible weapon that’s been a staple of modern Doom games.
The third core pre order bonus is a 20% XP boost that applies to all game modes for the first 30 days after launch. This boost stacks with any battle pass XP boosts you unlock, so you’ll be able to grind through the new skill tree and battle pass tiers twice as fast as players who buy the game after launch. If you pre order a physical copy from participating major retailers, you’ll also get a free 18x24 inch poster of the Doom Slayer standing over a horde of hellish medieval demons, but this perk is only available while supplies last.
Edition Comparison: Which Pre Order Tier Is Right For You?
There are three different pre order tiers available, each targeted at different types of players. You don’t need to splurge on the most expensive option to get a great experience, but it’s worth weighing the value of each tier before you buy. Below is a full breakdown of what’s included in each:
- Standard Edition: The base game plus all three core pre order bonuses listed above. This is the best pick for casual players who only plan to play through the main campaign once and don’t care about post-launch DLC or extra cosmetic items. It’s priced at $69.99 across all platforms, with occasional 10% discounts for members of platform subscription services like PS Plus or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
- Deluxe Edition: All content from the Standard Edition plus two upcoming story DLC packs, 12 exclusive weapon skins, 4 customizable armor sets for the Doom Slayer, and free copies of the original Doom and Doom 2 ported to run on the Dark Ages engine with modern quality of life updates. It costs $99.99, which saves you roughly $40 compared to buying the base game and DLC separately after launch. Deluxe Edition pre orders also get 48 hours of early access to the full game, not just the opening mission, which is a huge perk for fans who want to beat the campaign before spoilers pop up online.
- Collector’s Edition: All content from the Deluxe Edition plus a 1:12 scale replica of the Doom Slayer’s new demonic battle axe, a 200-page hardcover art book, a steelbook case, and a digital copy of the game’s official soundtrack. It’s priced at $199.99, and all copies are limited run, so they’re expected to sell out well before launch. This tier is only worth it if you’re a diehard Doom fan who collects physical franchise merch, as none of the extra content is in-game.
For most long-time Doom players, the Deluxe Edition is the sweet spot. The two story DLC packs for Doom Eternal added roughly 10 hours of new gameplay each, so you’re getting a ton of extra content for just $30 more than the standard edition. If you only play single-player games occasionally and rarely touch post-launch content, stick to the Standard Edition, you won’t miss out on any core gameplay features.
Common Pre Order Pitfalls to Avoid
Pre ordering games always comes with a few risks, but most of them are easy to avoid if you know what to look out for. First, never pre order from an unvetted third-party seller offering the game for 30% or more off the regular price. These listings are almost always for stolen or fake keys that get revoked by the platform within a week of launch, and you’ll lose access to the game with no way to get a refund. Stick to official platform stores or major authorized retailers to make sure your purchase is legitimate.
If you’re a PC player, double check which storefront you’re buying from before you complete your purchase. Bethesda hasn’t confirmed cross-store progression for Dark Ages yet, so if you usually keep all your games on Steam, don’t buy it on the Epic Games Store just for a small extra discount. You’ll lose access to your Steam achievements and playtime tracking, and you won’t be able to play with friends who own the game on Steam if cross-play between storefronts isn’t enabled at launch.
Finally, don’t wait until the week before launch to pre order the Collector’s Edition if you want one. The Collector’s Edition for Doom Eternal sold out two months before launch, and resellers were listing copies for $500+ on secondhand sites for months after release. If you change your mind later, almost all retailers let you cancel pre orders for a full refund up until the day the game launches, so you don’t have to worry about being locked in if early reviews are worse than expected.
Gameplay Teases That Make Pre Ordering Worth It
I got to play a 15-minute hands-on demo of Doom the Dark Ages at a recent press event, and I can confirm the game stays true to the fast-paced, brutal gameplay that makes the franchise so beloved. The medieval setting doesn’t slow down the action at all, and the mix of classic Doom weapons like the super shotgun and new medieval melee weapons like the battle axe feels incredibly satisfying. The new skill tree is also way more customizable than the one in Doom Eternal, so you can build your Slayer to fit your preferred playstyle, whether you love rushing in with melee attacks or hanging back and picking off demons with long-range weapons.
The pre order XP boost is way more useful than it sounds, too. The skill tree has over 50 unlockable perks, and the 20% boost cuts down the grind to unlock all of them by hours. I tested the Hellforged Crucible skin in the demo, and the custom kill animations are way more visceral than the default skin’s animations, which is a nice touch for players who love showing off cool kills in the game’s photo mode. The game also launches with a full horde mode that supports 4-player co-op, so all the cosmetic skins you get from pre ordering or buying the Deluxe Edition are usable there too.
Bethesda has also confirmed that there won’t be any pay-to-win mechanics in the game, so all pre order and Deluxe Edition bonuses are purely cosmetic or quality of life perks. You won’t be at a disadvantage in multiplayer or horde mode if you stick to the Standard Edition, which is a big relief for players who hate feeling like they have to spend extra money to compete. There are also no mandatory online connections for single-player campaign play, so you can play through the story even if you don’t have a stable internet connection.
At the end of the day, if you’re even slightly interested in playing the new Doom entry, choosing to pre order Doom the Dark Ages is a low-risk, high-reward call. The core pre order bonuses add a ton of value, and you can always cancel your pre order for a full refund if you change your mind before launch. Take a minute to weigh which edition fits your budget and playstyle, and don’t wait too long if you’re eyeing the Collector’s Edition before it sells out. We’ll be updating this guide as more details about launch day and post-launch content are released, so check back for the latest updates.
