9 /10 22

DOOM Eternal stands as a pinnacle achievement in first-person shooter design, offering uncompromising fast-paced action that defined modern FPS gameplay in 2020. As the sequel to the critically acclaimed 2016 reboot, Eternal escalates the formula with enhanced verticality, expanded combat mechanics, and some of the most finely-crafted level design in gaming. This review explores why Eternal earned an 88 Metacritic score and remains essential for action game enthusiasts who crave responsive controls, intricate encounter design, and relentless demon-slaying across Hell itself.

How to Play DOOM Eternal

DOOM Eternal operates around a core loop of mobility, resource management, and aggressive positioning. Players chain together weapon swaps, glory kills, and environmental hazards while maintaining constant forward momentum. The grappling hook enables vertical traversal unseen in the original, rewarding skilled navigation with tactical advantages during combat sequences.

1. Controls – Mouse and keyboard dominates PC play; controller support available on consoles. The learning curve centers on weapon switching fluidity and grenade timing rather than mechanical complexity.
2. Progression – Campaign missions unlock sequentially across Hell and Earth. Rune and weapon mod drops provide incremental power gains without breaking existing challenge design.
3. Combat/Mechanics – Glory kills restore health; chainsaw executions refund ammo; grenade types include sticky bombs and proximity devices. Master these tools to survive Elite demon encounters.
4. Tips – Never camp; constant movement prevents focusing fire. Glory kill weak enemies immediately for health regeneration. Use the environment’s crushers and lava pits against heavyweights.

Who Should Play DOOM Eternal

Eternal demands player agency and tactical awareness that casual shooters sidestep. Newcomers expecting regenerating health and cover mechanics find punishment instead. This game rewards mechanical skill, pattern recognition, and resource optimization across two-to-three hour campaign chapters.

• Hardcore FPS Enthusiasts – Classic Doom fans and arena shooter veterans will find the vertical combat loops, weapon variety, and AI patterns deeply satisfying for skill expression.
• Speedrunners and Modders – Official mod support via Bethesda’s development toolkit (launched August 2024) enables custom campaigns and challenge modifications unavailable elsewhere.
• Challenge Seekers – Ultra-Nightmare difficulty transforms every encounter into puzzle-solving exercise where positioning, ammo management, and cooldown optimization separate success from failure.
• Skip if – Console players without interest in story cinematics; players expecting Halo-style cover mechanics; those uncomfortable with intense violence and explicit gore.

DOOM Eternal Platform Performance

DOOM Eternal scales from Nintendo Switch portability (compromised graphics, 30 FPS) to PC ray tracing at unlimited frame rates. PS5 and Xbox Series X achieve native 4K at 60 FPS balanced mode, or prioritize 120 FPS performance at 1584-1800p depending on platform and graphics preference selected pre-mission.

DOOM Eternal System Requirements

PC players need a 64-bit Windows installation and broadband internet for online Battlemode. Minimum specs target 1080p/60 FPS on low settings with older hardware. Recommended configuration pushes 4K/144+ FPS on maximum quality with ray tracing enabled on enthusiast GPUs.

Similar Games to DOOM Eternal

Players seeking comparable experience should explore other modern action games balancing difficulty, combat responsiveness, and level design excellence. These titles share Eternal’s commitment to mechanical skill over narrative focus, though each adds unique twists on the formula.

• DOOM (2016) – The predecessor establishing this rebooted formula; slightly slower pace with less vertical traversal but equally tight encounter design.
• Halo Infinite – Console-focused arena shooter with similar weapon variety, though regenerating shields and grenade throws shift tactical emphasis differently.
• Ultrakill – Indie stylish action game emphasizing point-scoring and soundtrack integration; demands precision like Eternal but with different visual language.
• Painkiller: Black Edition – Spiritual predecessor sharing arena combat philosophy; older technology but core design principles remain influential on Eternal’s development.

DOOM Eternal vs Competitors

Among 2020 action shooters, DOOM Eternal distinguished itself through encounter design mastery and technical polish unavailable elsewhere. Compared to contemporaries like Halo Infinite and Cyberpunk 2077’s respective gunplay systems, Eternal’s resource loops and verticality create measurably superior mechanical depth and skill expression opportunities for dedicated players.

DOOM Eternal Story and World

DOOM Eternal expands lore established in 2016, depicting Hell’s successful invasion of Earth as primary conflict driver. Players discover the Doomslayer’s origins as an ancient warrior sealed within armored exoskeleton, fighting both demonic forces and rogue UAC corporation scientists. The narrative delivers through environmental storytelling, collectible lore entries, and boss encounter cinematics rather than extended dialogue sequences. World-building spans Hell’s industrial architecture, Earth’s ravaged cities, and alien dimensions with distinct visual language for each realm.

DOOM Eternal Multiplayer and Online

Battlemode serves as Eternal’s dedicated online component, employing asymmetrical 2v1 structure where solo players control the Slayer against two demon-controlled opponents. This competitive format prioritizes positioning and resource denial over pure mechanical skill, creating unique metagame separate from campaign experience entirely.

• Battlemode – Two players select from 15 unique demon types including Mancubus and Revenant; Slayer player uses campaign loadouts and weapons against coordinated opponents.
• Invasion Mode – Asynchronous multiplayer allowing players to invade campaign missions as demons during other players’ solo runs; rewards both invasions and successful defenses.
• Ranked Seasons – Seasonal rankings track Battlemode performance; cosmetics and titles reward top-ranked participants; matchmaking pools by skill level.
• Cross-Play – Full cross-platform support across PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series X, and PC via Steam ensures adequate player matchmaking populations.

DOOM Eternal DLC and Expansions

Post-launch content expanded campaign with two substantial story expansions delivered across 2020-2021. Additional free updates including Horde Mode (October 2021) provided co-op wave survival gameplay valued by community. All DLC content maintains campaign challenge standards rather than retreading existing encounters.

• The Ancient Gods Part 1 – Released October 20, 2020; new campaign chapters, weapons, and demon types; $19.99 standalone or bundled.
• The Ancient Gods Part 2 – Released March 18, 2021; conclusion to Ancient Gods narrative arc; $19.99 standalone or Year One Pass.
• Year One Pass – $29.99 grants access to both Ancient Gods expansions at $10 discount versus individual purchases; permanent ownership model.
• Horde Mode Free Update – October 2021 update added wave-based survival mode supporting up to two players cooperatively; no additional purchase required.

DOOM Eternal Community and Support

DOOM Eternal maintains active development six years post-launch through Bethesda and id Software commitment to quality assurance, patch parity across platforms, and community feedback integration. Official mod support infrastructure launched August 2024, providing developers’ own toolkit for custom content creation and publishing via Steam Workshop.

• Official Forums – Bethesda.net hosts patch notes, event announcements, and technical support threads monitored by community managers daily.
• Reddit/Discord – r/Doom subreddit (180K+ subscribers) and multiple Discord communities facilitate speedrun discussions, challenge runs, and mod showcases.
• Mod Support – Official Bethesda toolkit available via Steam beta branch; enables custom campaign creation, weapon balancing tweaks, and cosmetic modifications without game files alteration.
• Patch Frequency – Balance patches and bug fixes deploy monthly; multiplatform parity maintained; roadmap updates quarterly via official blog.