The dark ages are almost upon us. After five years in development, Doom: The Dark Ages is nearly here, and I’m beyond hyped. Set after the events of DOOM 64, this prequel to the 2016 reboot chronicles the rise of the Slayer in all his glory, taking the fight to hell once more.

DOOM has always been a titan in gaming, from revolutionizing the FPS genre to redefining it again in 2016. Now, id Software looks ready to unleash its boldest, bloodiest, and most brutal vision yet.

6 Doom never forgot what fun feels like

It’s still about ripping and tearing, not overthinking

In an industry increasingly focused on heavy stories and emotional beats (not that those aren't amazing), it’s refreshing to have a AAA series that remembers what it’s like to just be fun. Doom Eternal leaned into cinematics more than its predecessor. The Dark Ages seems set to strike a confident balance, driving the story forward while perfecting the gameplay that makes these titles some of the most fun you can have in a game.

Yes, there's lore for days and codices to pore over, but none of that ever gets in the way of what matters most — fast and fluid carnage as you rip and tear through every single demon on the screen, sending them back to hell.

5 It might finally bridge the time gap between games

Could we finally learn what happened between 2016 and Eternal?

One of the most hotly anticipated games of 2025, Doom: The Dark Ages is canonically set between DOOM 64 and the 2016 reboot. There’s reason to hope it may also touch on the mysterious gap between Doom (2016) and Eternal. That jump was abrupt — we went from the Slayer rising in a Mars facility to a full-scale demonic invasion on Earth without much connective tissue.

If id Software sprinkles in hints or revelations — especially about Samuel Hayden’s betrayal — it could make Eternal hit even harder in hindsight. It may be a long shot, but I have my fingers firmly crossed that we might get more lore about how Samuel Hayden betrayed the Slayer and sent him away until he came back to Earth for the events of Doom Eternal.

4 This time, the Atlan mechs and titans take center stage

Hop in, we’re punching skyscraper-sized demons

One of the coolest parts of Doom Eternal and 2016’s Doom was glimpsing the hulking corpses of Atlan mechs and colossal demons, locked in ancient, city-leveling battles. But those moments were always atmospheric, not playable, leaving the battles to the players’ imaginations.

In the Dark Ages, that changed. The trailers already show us piloting an Atlan to unleash hell on even bigger hellspawn, trading skyscraper punches and wielding weapons that could have their own postal codes. It's a power fantasy leveled up to absurd, magnificent proportions — and if anyone can make that fun, it's the folks over at id Software. All that remains to be seen now is if an Atlan mech can run DOOM 64.

3 Massive sandbox levels full of secrets await

Bigger maps, more toys, and more ways to bring the pain

id Software has confirmed that The Dark Ages will be their biggest Doom game yet, and you can already feel it in the map design. The game's huge medieval sandboxes promise intricate layouts, layered encounters, and enough nooks to hide a thousand collectibles.

Hunting down secrets — from Slayer Gate keys to adorable Doomguy toys — was one of the most rewarding parts of Doom Eternal, and I can’t wait to do it all again. Whether I’m parrying attacks, chainsawing demons, or charting my route through the chaos, I’ll be smiling the whole damn time.

2 Doomguy has a dragon. Let’s go.

Inject some midair slaughter into my veins

Let’s just be real — Doomguy riding a dragon is everything you’d ever want from a power fantasy. The moment I saw it, it became one of the biggest reasons I immediately pre-installed the game into my library. Soaring through hellish skies, bombing demonic airships, leaping off mid-flight to cause mayhem — it’s the exact kind of over-the-top insanity this franchise thrives on.

Sure, we don’t know how much of the game will involve dragon-mounted gameplay, but even if it’s just for a few sequences, it’s already iconic. Like the BFG before it, this is a “shut up and take my money” moment of the highest order.

1 Every Doom game plays differently — and that’s amazing

This one’s about standing your ground and fighting like a tank

The director for the upcoming Doom game has stated that 2016’s Doom was “run and gun,” Eternal was “jump and shoot,” and now The Dark Ages will be “stand and fight.” The Slayer’s weightier movement, shield mechanics, and tank-like presence all point to a grounded, bruising combat loop — like a walking nuke in medieval armor.

This shift proves just how bold id Software is. They aren’t afraid to evolve the formula, thematically and mechanically. Each entry in the reboot trilogy feels distinct, meaning everyone will have their favorite. This isn’t just a series anymore — it’s a playable legend in real time. I’ve always been an advocate for big AAA studios taking risks with their titles, and Doom: The Dark Ages looks set to be doing exactly that, instead of retreading the previous games and making just more polished versions of the 2016 or 2020 entries.

With that, we’re going to have possibly one of the greatest gaming trilogies on our hands, with each game playing differently and yet thematically tied together — something for everyone.

Everything a Slayer could want

Doom: The Dark Ages is shaping up to be everything a Slayer could want and more. With dragons, mechs, secrets, and savage combat, this could be the boldest and most rewarding entry in the rebooted trilogy. If this really is the end of the line for the current arc, it looks like it’s going out in a blaze of glory, blood, and berserk packs — just the way it should. Hell doesn’t stand a chance.