The real departure for The Dark Ages lies in its unexpected twists. As I wrapped up the longest part of the demo, I found myself wandering through an open sandbox zone, courtesy of id Software’s creative vision. My mission was straightforward: close five demon-spewing portals. But the route I took and the distractions I encountered were all up to me. During the next hour, it became increasingly clear that this was unlike any DOOM experience I’d previously had.
The sandbox was brimming with optional tasks. Hidden away were artillery batteries heavily guarded, treasure troves of gold prime for spending on upgrades, and much more. Just as an example, I was casually making my way across the map when suddenly, a massive, cathedral-sized tentacle erupted from the earth, launching an unexpected attack. This wasn’t a scripted storyline moment or an assigned task—it was just another unpredictable encounter in a sea of surprises.
The main objectives came with their own share of twists. While in an earlier mission closing portals meant just clearing an arena, this wasn’t the case here. Some portals whisked me off to dungeons, where I had to solve puzzles to uncover the energy sources behind them. Others introduced formidable Leader enemies—bulky brutes, immune to my assaults until their underlings were defeated. Taking them down, however, rewarded me with permanent upgrades. Along my journey, I uncovered new weapons that expanded my arsenal and strategic options. It was a whirlwind of creativity and innovation, as if id Software seized this chance to infuse fresh ideas into the iconic DOOM formula.
The full hands-on experience with DOOM: The Dark Ages left me with one major impression—this isn’t just a team enthusiastic about DOOM’s past; they’re eager to explore its potential future. Expecting only a new narrative, weaponry, and adversaries, I was pleasantly surprised by the genre-bending elements introduced. I’m genuinely eager to discover what else the developers have up their sleeves.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is scheduled for release on May 15, 2025. It will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC through the Xbox app for Windows, Steam, and Battle.net, PlayStation 5, and cloud, with Game Pass offering it from day one.
