Summary
There have been many games in theDoomfranchise, each a revolutionary first-person shooter for the era they’re released, going all the way back to 1993. EveryDoomgame features a lone protagonist charging through legions of demons to slay them with chainsaws, shotguns, and even their bare hands if needed.
The time it takes to complete eachDoomcampaign varies.Some classicDoomgames take longer than newer ones, offering unique experiences. These experiences range from new weapons for the hero to use on the journey across Mars, Hell, and Earth, to lore that further explains how an ordinary marine transforms into an interdimensional demon-killing warrior.
Doom VFR
Virtual reality was still in its infancy whenDoom VFRwas released, showing the potential of the format at the time, even with its limitations. Players could rip and tear through demons as a lone scientist on Mars during the events ofDoom (2016),using a shotgun, pistol, plasma rifle, gauss cannon, and almost everything the Doom Slayer wielded on his own adventure.
Like many VR games of the time,Doom VFRis short but sweet, clocking in atthree hourson most playthroughs. A completionist run can be extended to maybe four hours, but either way,it is a simple shooter experiencethat could lead to an even better sequel in the future now that the technology has advanced with titles likeBatman: Arkham Shadow.
Even over three decades later, the originalDoomremains an iconic piece of gaming history. While it may not have invented the first-person shooter genre, it does deserve credit for its impact on the genre as a whole. Despite its age, gamers are still discovering the funfive hours’worth of ripping and tearing through undead and demons on Mars.
Many of theDoomfranchise’s staples that are still present in current games originated with the original 1993 title, such asthe famous chainsaw and the BFG-9000. Finding all the secrets and alternate areas can extend the game by another hour or two, but those who know the game by heart have found ways of speedrunningDoomin less than two hours.
After the major success of the originalDoom, Id Software was able to take everything they did so well and amplify it with new demons and weapons alongside a much longer campaign inDoom 2: Hell on Earth. A normal playthrough can last aboutseven hours, but with the game being even longer than before, the secrets and alternate routes are also extended, which can lead to almost fourteen-hour playthroughs.
In many ways,Doom 2can be seen as more of the same, but it never feels like a glorified expansion. It even includes one of the most iconic boss fights in the series: the Icon of Sin.Doom 2also features the impactful visuals of Earth cities destroyed and warped into a new Hellish landscape.
With the Mother of All Demons resurrecting Hell’s forces, the Doom Marine returns to Mars to fight his way through legions of demons and undead, resulting in the cult classicDoom 64. While the game was originally not loveddue to its shift to a darker tonewith a noticeable lack of a rock soundtrack, it has gained a cult following over the years.
Doom 64was fortunate enough not only to get remastered in 2020, but to also get an official expansion calledThe Lost Levels, which not only extended the game’s length but also connected to games likeDoom(2016) andDoom Eternal. A normal playthrough takes aboutseven hoursto complete, but the added levels can extend it to nine or ten hours.
The series began as an action game, but withDoom 3, Id Softwarecontinued the change in directionthat started withDoom 64, creating more of a survival horror experience. It is also a reboot that went back to the start to showcase the first Hell invasion of Mars. When the demons first appear, it is sci-fi horror at its finest before gradually becoming an action-packed shooter.
The reboot cannormally be beaten inten hours, but theResurrection of Evilexpansion can add another four hours of gameplay. Some fans were not overly fond of the horror approach toDoom, but it did leave an impact on the franchise, with all future games depicting the Hell Knights as hulking, eyeless beasts.
Doom (2016)was the result of a long hiatus, with Id going back and forth on ideas for aDoom 4for years. However, they went with a game that served as both a reboot and a sequel under Bethesda. Doom Marine was back on Mars with a whole new Hell invasion and a new name: The Doom Slayer, ready to rip and tear through every demon he could find.
Id Software updated The Doom Slayer for the modern daybut never lost the fast-paced feel of the original by making it too much ofa modern shooter likeCall ofDuty. It also features an expansive campaign that laststwelve hoursnormally, but completionist runs can take up to twenty hours.
Comprised of two episodes known asThe Plutonia ExperimentandTNT Evilution,Final Doomhas become an official game, but it was developed by fans using theDoom 2engine. It was designed to be the ultimate challenge, which is why just a simple playthrough averages out atthirteen hours, but a completionist run can last up to twenty hours.
Final Doomis challenging, as the developers amplified the difficulty, much like fans do with other games likeSuper Mario Maker. It is also one of the rarerDoomgames to own, as it did not get the same remaster treatment as other titles. As such, it remainsa title stuck on the PlayStation 1and older PC operating systems.
Id Software and Bethesda have worked hard to create a fun butcomplex timeline forDoomgames, andDoom: The Dark Ageshelps flesh it out. It takes place betweenDoom 64andDoom(2016), and showcases an adventure in whichthe Doom Slayer serves with the Night Sentinels in the dimension of Argent D’Nur, fighting the forces of Hell like Prince Ahzrak.
In his quest to slaughter all demons, The Doom Slayer is equipped with a new Captain America-esque shield, as well as a mace and his signature guns to span across afifteen-to twenty-hourcampaign. The levels are more expansive than ever, allowing gamers to complete optional activities and find secrets while blasting demons with guns or riding a dragon.
When The Doom Slayer returns to Earth, it has been ravaged by the forces of Hell once again. He arms up withnew and familiar methods of combatfor his biggest adventure yet as he fights demons and the angel-like race known as Maykrs.Doom Eternalis a fitting title, as a first playthrough often reachesover twenty hoursbefore the player defeats the final boss.
That’s not even the end of the game because there are two DLC episodes, each one lasting three to five hours, extending the story and giving The Doom Slayer an epic finale. Full playthroughs collecting every secret and upgrade extend all ofDoom Eternaleven more, reaching up to thirty hours’ worth of content to enjoy.
