Exploring DOOM: The Dark Ages – Hands-on Adventure with Story, Sandboxes, Mechs, and Dragons

This is where The Dark Ages really breaks the mold. During my final and most extensive demo session, I was dropped into id’s version of a vast, open-ended area and encouraged to tackle it on my terms. My main task was straightforward: close five demon portals. How I went about it—and the detours I decided to take—was entirely up to me. Throughout the hour-long session, I kept thinking that this was unlike any DOOM experience I had before.

The area is packed with optional challenges—heavy artillery installations to destroy, piles of gold hidden away for upgrades, and more. There was a moment when I was just running through, and suddenly a gigantic tentacle, as large as a cathedral, erupted from the ground to attack me. This wasn’t some planned encounter or part of a mission; it was just one of the many unexpected events scattered around.

The main missions had their share of twists, too. In an earlier mission, closing portals meant simply fighting through an arena, but things aren’t so predictable here. Some portals whisked me off to dungeons, where I had to solve puzzles to reach the power sources. Others brought forth Leader enemies—these formidable foes couldn’t be harmed until I took out enough of their minions, offering permanent upgrades upon their defeat. Plus, I discovered new weapons, adding to my arsenal and giving me fresh gameplay strategies. It feels like id Software was just waiting for the chance to infuse DOOM with fresh concepts and ideas.

The biggest takeaway from my time with DOOM: The Dark Ages is this—it feels like the developers aren’t just passionate about DOOM as it stands, but about exploring its possibilities. I anticipated a new narrative, fresh weapons, and fierce demons. What surprised me was seeing DOOM experiment with new gameplay genres. I’m eagerly anticipating what else might be up their sleeves.

Mark your calendars: DOOM: The Dark Ages will be launching on May 15, 2025, available for Xbox Series X|S, PC (via the Xbox app for Windows PC, Steam, and Battle.net), PlayStation 5, and through cloud gaming. And for those with Game Pass, it’ll be ready to dive into on day one.