There's an interesting trap that games in the First-Person Shooter space tend to fall into. DOOM Eternal mostly avoids it, but the way it avoids it is more interesting than the genre itself.
There's an interesting trap that games in the First-Person Shooter space tend to fall into. DOOM Eternal mostly avoids it, but the way it avoids it is more interesting than the genre itself.
Gameplay
Combat in DOOM Eternal rewards reading more than reflexes. id Software clearly built around the idea that you should always have time to think — but the consequences for thinking wrong are real. The result is the rare action game that respects deliberate play.
Mechanically, DOOM Eternal sits at an interesting intersection. The skill-into-progress loop pulls from platformer fundamentals, but the way id Software layers permadeath stakes on top changes how you approach each session. After a few hours you start to recognize patterns — not just in the game, but in your own decisions.
Story & Setting
The story is told mostly through environment and incidental dialogue, which is the right choice for the kind of game this is. There are no twenty-minute cutscenes. There are no NPCs who follow you around explaining lore. What there is, instead, is a world that responds to attention.
Narratively, DOOM Eternal works because id Software keeps the stakes personal even when the scope is enormous. The headline plot involves a personal vendetta, but the moments that land are smaller — a conversation in a tavern, a letter you find in a desk drawer, a side character whose name you remember three weeks after the credits.
DOOM Eternal arrives quietly, and stays quietly, and you'll think about it for weeks.
Adversary Magazine
Visuals & Performance
Visually, DOOM Eternal prioritizes legibility over spectacle. That's the right call. id Software could have built a tech demo. Instead they built a game where you can read the board at a glance and that's worth more than any number of polygons.
Verdict
DOOM Eternal is the kind of game that rewards patience. The first three hours don't sell it. The thirtieth hour does. If you have the time, give it. If you don't, the verdict is honest: it's not a 'short session' game.
id Software has earned the benefit of the doubt with DOOM Eternal. It's not their best work — that's probably still Civilization V — but it's a stronger argument for taking small studios seriously than any pitch deck.
Verdict
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Gameplay | 9/10 |
| Story | 6/10 |
| Visuals | 8/10 |
| Replayability | 5/10 |
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to finish DOOM Eternal?
Main story runs around 12-15 hours depending on how thoroughly you explore. Completionists can spend 2-3× that.
Is DOOM Eternal good for newcomers to First-Person Shooter?
Yes — DOOM Eternal is a great entry point. The early hours teach the systems gradually and the difficulty curve is reasonable.
Which platform should I play DOOM Eternal on?
PC version offers the highest fidelity if your rig can handle it. Console versions are polished out of the box.
Was DOOM Eternal worth the launch-day price?
Depends on backlog. The replay value justifies the price for genre fans; casual players should wait for a 40%+ discount.
Are there DLCs or expansions worth picking up?
Skip the cosmetic DLC. The story expansion is the only one we'd recommend at full price.
What did id Software get right (and what could be better)?
Strongest: art direction, audio design, set-piece variety. Weakest: late-game balance and a few persistent quest-log bugs.
Comments
Comments are moderated. Be civil — disagreement is fine, abuse isn't.
Finally finished it last night. Your take on the ending matches mine.
Bought it on sale last week — already 18 hours in. Highly recommend.
Did you notice how the side missions tie back into the main arc? That was a nice touch.
Best take I've read on this one. The First-Person Shooter space needs more critical depth.