Doom The Dark Ages – The Ultimate Guide (Updated May 13, 2025)
From its brutal medieval combat to its next-gen visuals powered by id Tech 8, Doom: The Dark Ages is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated FPS games of 2025. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know—release date, gameplay details, editions, system requirements, reviews, and more.
1. Doom: The Dark Ages – Overview
Doom: The Dark Ages is the eighth mainline entry in the legendary Doom franchise and serves as a prequel to Doom (2016), exploring the origins of the Doom Slayer in a techno-medieval war against Hell 110.
Developed by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks, the game shifts from Doom Eternal’s fast-paced acrobatics to a heavier, more strategic combat system, featuring:
- New melee weapons (flail, iron mace, gauntlet)
- Shield Saw (blocks, parries, and attacks in one move)
- Slow-motion glory kills for precision brutality 110.
- Pilotable vehicles, including a cybernetic dragon and a 30-story Atlan mech 1.
The game also introduces more narrative depth, with expanded cutscenes and lore, while maintaining the franchise’s signature ultra-violence
2. Doom: The Dark Ages Release Date
The game launches on May 15, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Steam, Bethesda.net, and Game Pass) 19.
- Early Access: Players who pre-order the Premium Edition or Collector’s Bundle can start playing two days early (May 13) 12.
- Game Pass: Available at launch (May 15) for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers 12.
3. Doom: The Dark Ages Gameplay & New Features
Combat Evolution
- Slower, More Tactical: Unlike Doom Eternal’s “fighter jet” movement, The Dark Ages emphasizes grounded, tank-like combat 1.
- Melee Focus: New weapons like the Skull Crusher (fires bone fragments) and flail add brutal close-quarters options 1.
- Vehicle Sections: Pilot a dragon and Atlan mech in large-scale battles 110.
Exploration & Difficulty
- Semi-Open Levels: Players revisit areas to uncover secrets 10.
- Adjustable Difficulty Sliders: Modify enemy aggression, damage, and projectile speed 10.
4. Doom: The Dark Ages Editions & Pre-Order Bonuses
Standard Edition ($69.99)
- Base game
- Void Doom Slayer Skin (pre-order bonus) 12.
Premium Edition ($99.99)
- 2-Day Early Access (May 13)
- Campaign DLC (details TBA)
- Digital Artbook & Soundtrack
- Divinity Skin Pack (Slayer, dragon, and Atlan skins) 412.
Collector’s Bundle ($199.99 – SOLD OUT)
- 12″ Doom Slayer Statue (with Shield Saw & flail)
- SteelBook® Case with Red Key Card Replica
- Premium Edition contents 412.
5. Doom: The Dark Ages System Requirements (PC)
The game requires a ray-tracing-capable GPU and an SSD 913.
Minimum (1080p/60 FPS, Low Settings)
- OS: Win 10/11 64-bit
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X / Intel i7-10700K
- GPU: RTX 2060 Super / RX 6600 (8GB VRAM)
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD (100GB free) 9.
Recommended (1440p/60 FPS, High Settings)
- GPU: RTX 3080 / RX 6800 (10GB VRAM)
- RAM: 32GB 9.
Ultra 4K (2160p/60 FPS, Max Settings)
- GPU: RTX 4080 / RX 7900 XT (16GB VRAM) 9.
Note: The game does not support non-RTX cards (e.g., GTX 1080 Ti)
doom dark ages 2025
6. Doom: The Dark Ages Music & Composer
- Finishing Move Inc. (known for Mortal Kombat and Call of Duty) replaces Mick Gordon as composer 10.
- The soundtrack blends medieval choirs with industrial metal 10.
7. Doom: The Dark Ages Reviews & Reception
Early reviews praise the game’s visuals, combat, and soundtrack, though some criticize mandatory ray tracing for limiting performance 113.
- IGN: 9/10 – “A brutal, cinematic evolution of Doom” 1.
- Rock Paper Shotgun: Mixed on performance trade-offs but praises combat depth 13.
8. Doom: The Dark Ages on PS5 & Steam
- PS5 Features: DualSense haptics, adaptive triggers, and PS5 Pro enhancements 3.
- Steam: Requires Bethesda.net account (no Denuvo confirmed yet) 9.
9. Future Updates & DLC
- Path Tracing & DLSS Ray Reconstruction coming post-launch 13.
- Expansion DLC already confirmed 10.
Final Verdict
Doom: The Dark Ages is a bold reinvention of the franchise, blending medieval brutality with next-gen tech. While its ray-tracing requirement may frustrate some, its deep combat, epic scale, and lore-rich story make it a must-play for fans.
