Summary
Id Software’sDOOMis a fast-paced and addictive first-person arcade shooter that gives players an arsenal ofdeadly and imaginative weaponryto destroy hell’s grotesque forces. The game is known for being an action-packed and gory affair with collectibles and levels brimming with secrets and sadistic level design. As one of the most influential series of games ever created, it was unsurprisingly bound to have many developers itching to replicate the magic captured by id Software.So many games have attempted to imitate the series that the termDOOMclone would become shorthand used to describe many early first-person shooters (FPS) published after the franchise’s groundbreaking release in 1993.
In modern times, there are still a plethora of “Boomer Shooters.” Moreover, numerous FPS games draw heavy inspiration from the newerDOOMtitles (DOOM 2016and beyond). The series continues to innovate, pioneering a modernized arena-based shooter that emphasizes action, weapon switching, and fluid movement. Newer titles embody a design philosophy that prioritizes speed. Illustrated by how the games ditch reloading to ensure the gameplay is uninterrupted, while rewarding the mastery of movement and target priority. This results in a game that feels like a chaotic chess match and is wholly distinct from other titles in the FPS genre. In this topic, we will rattle off the games that take inspiration from the series and why they should be a “must-play” for anyDOOMfan.
Developed by Big Z Studios Inc.,Slayers Xis a spin-off set in the fictional universe ofHypnoSpace. It follows the story of Zane Lofton, a fictional character who stumbles upon an unfinished mod for the fictional game Kataklysm that he began developing as a teenager with his friend Adam Chase, a mod they decide to complete years later. It is a bizarre and wacky premise for a game that is embraced fully. Players play as Zane’s self-insert, admired by rats, the president of America, a CEO, and a badass X Slayer who can manipulate hackblood to use the S blade and talisman to shoot green energy. The game features a total of seven cool and over-the-top weapons to take revenge on the Psyko Syndikate that killed Zane’s mom and mentor, Mikey.
The game is chock-full of secrets, ’90s attitude, humor, one-liners, and intentional misspellings. The level design is intentionally nonsensical; one minute, the player is in a store, the next they’re facing off against enemies in an underground secret lair, playing an “unfinished level,” and experiencing a 20-second fall into a fiery toilet of death. The enemies are also absurd and unique, from floating brains wearing jester hats, possessed bunnies, to sentient poo that launches corn. It is obnoxiously 90s and perfectly replicates retro shooters of the era, likeDuke NukemandDOOM. The soundtrack fits the 90s aesthetic, as it features a nu-metal score courtesy of fictional bands, Seepage and Psyko Syndikate. The game is a worthwhile experience for any long-termDOOMfan and lover of ’90s absurdist humor, and those who have a stepdad named Mikey, whom they really dislike, because yes, Zane’s stepdad is a boss fight. However, those who do not jibe with its comedy may find it grating.
InShadow Warrior 3, players are on a quest to destroy the Evildoing Dragon. The game is a linear and story-driven experience that features cinematic cutscenes and a clear plot, but still prioritizes the obscene violence for which the series is known. Levels, despite being linear, do have collectible orbs off the beaten path that improve Lo Wang’s abilities, stats, and weapons.The weapons in the gameare satisfying to use and sound punchy, especially the shotgun, which becomes automatic and does not reload after upgrades.
There are also gore weapons, which are temporary weapons obtained by executing enemies and range from giant hammers, a brain that freezes enemies, and a heart that creates a vortex.Shadow Warrior, likeDOOM Eternal,makes players replenish their ammo using a melee weapon, in this case, Lo Wang’s Katana. However, the addition of Chi powers and gore weapons adds its spin onDOOM’sformula.
Movement and platforming are central to the experience. Players can grapple hook, double jump, dash, dodge, and wall-run for chaotic and momentum-based combat. Environments are beautiful and Japanese-themed, and levels are sprawling with creative and bizarre enemies like Slinky Jack-in-the-Boxes and drill-headed foes that burrow underground. Unfortunately, while standard enemies shine, the game suffers from a lack of boss fights. The main story is around five hours long and features only two bosses. The short runtime also does not allow the game’s story to breathe and makes it feel rushed. The main character’s quips can also become grating. Still, despite its shortcomings, its moment-to-moment gameplay makes up for it. It is a gory ride and has a phenomenal soundtrack that blends traditional Japanese and electronic music.
Witchfireis an early access game that is marketed as an RPG shooter. Set in a dark fantasy world, players take on the role of one of six “preyers,” immortal beings that work for the Catholic Church, hunting witches and their abominations. Each preyer class has different stats, weapons, and spells, but these onlyimpact initial gameplay, as every class can unlock everything and max out every stat, similar toDark Souls. The gameplay sees players go on expeditions where they must fight a variety of enemies and bosses that scale to their level.
On these expeditions, players can acquire various currencies like gold, witchfire, and angelica, which are used to research weapons and equipment, level the player character, and gnosis level, and brew healing potions, respectively. The roguelike elements are present in how the game handles witchfire and enemy generation. Players who die will drop all their held witchfire and have a single opportunity to backtrack to it, but lose it permanently if they die again before reaching it. And witchfire crystals offer upgrades for the current run only and are gained upon eliminating enemy camps around the map. Meanwhile, enemy placements are random, but maps are not.
Witchfire’s combat is fast-paced and has players dashing to dodge enemy attacks while using a variety of weapons to take down the witch’s forces. Enemies come in a variety of forms, like grim reaper figures wielding lanterns, cloaked figures with muskets, and knights. It is the perfect game for those who love the gunplay ofDOOM, medieval settings, and the progression system of Soulslikes.Despite its “early access” tag, it is unbelievably polished, containing four maps, and has more to come in the future, making it worth the price of admission.
Metal: Hellsingerhas players control a part-demon and part-human creature, “The Unknown,” on her quest to retrieve her voice and defeat “The Red Judge,” better known as The Devil. The story is delivered to players through Paz, a talking skull with a Southern drawl. Gameplay revolves around slaying to the beat using a sword, Paz, and two selected weapons. There is a modest selection of four base weapons: a shotgun, dual pistols, a crossbow, and a throwing scythe. The DLCs introduced a machine gun and a bow. All weapons have infinite ammo and an ultimate attack. For example, the crossbow fires explosive bolts and its ultimate creates a rift that sucks enemies into it. The small arsenal makes it easy to familiarize oneself and optimize weapon choices for high scores and/or demon decimation. To achieve high scores, players must build their fury by attacking enemies on-beat, performing finishing moves, and maintaining their fury using Paz. Fury boosts both the player’s damage and score, while revealing layers of the unique song contained in each level.Hellsinger’sheart-thumping soundtrack sees additions from metal legends like Serj Tankian (System of a Down) and Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy).
Hellsingerincludes a variety of enemies, from cannon fodder to sorcerers to winged monstrosities; there’s lots of variety packed into this streamlined four- to six-hour experience. Bosses are frequent, but share their design and method of defeat, despite their unique movesets (except The Red Judge). Movement is simpler thanDOOM, restricted to dashes and double jumps. Levels are stunning, but linear, containing no collectibles beyond fury-boosting power-ups. Beating levels unlocks “torments,” optional arena-based combat challenges that unlock equippable sigils that enhance abilities, like fury-gain and maintenance, vital for leaderboard supremacy. People who love metal, rhythmic gameplay, andDOOMwill find a lot to sink their teeth into. Post-launch additions, like the roguelite Leviathan mode, have only offered more replayability and demon-decimating fun.
Duskis an FPS that wears its inspirations on its sleeve. Enemy designs are reminiscent ofQuake 1and2as players battle cultists, monsters, and flesh-metal hybrids across three distinct episodes. The first is a mix of Gothic and rural horror that pays homage to horror classics, such asThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Episode two shifts to sci-fi horror, featuring labs, facilities, and military bases crawling with biomechanical mutants. The final episode delves into Lovecraftian Horror. Featuring abstract and world-bending levels for the protagonist and treasure hunter, “Duskdude,” to traverse while facing otherworldly horrors. Duskdude is armed with a vast arsenal, including dual sickles, a rocket launcher, and a super shotgun, which all sound satisfying and pack-a-punch. While carnage is encouraged, the game offers a twist; it’s possible to complete a pacifist run, avoiding killing enemies and even bosses.
The game’s industrial metal and ambient soundtrack fuels adrenaline, while eerie sound effects enhance the horror. Despite the retro aesthetic, it modernizes the lighting and mechanics. Players can interact with objects, moving and stacking them, which grants the ability to skip some objectives and find cleverly hidden secrets. Further, the movement is smooth; swimming, jumping, crouching, sliding, or climbing all feel responsive and intuitive. Power-ups keep the combat fresh, adding time-sensitive upgrades like increased fire rate, bullet time, and the complete negation of lava damage. Fans ofDOOMand horror-themed shooters should make it their mission to playDusk.It honors its inspirations, includingBlood,Heretic,Half-Life,DOOM, andQuake, while innovating meaningfully on the old-school formula, providing significant challenge and fun boss battles.
Quake 2is a game developed by the renownedDOOMteam, id Software. Step into the role of “Bitterman,” a lone marine whose parents and sister were killed by the Strogg, an alien race who invaded Earth for resources and to turn its people into biomechanical monsters. This sets in motion the events ofQuake 2,a man rife with grief, compelled by hatred, and a quest for revenge. The game plays like other old-school shooters, albeit with more nuance, as players are forced to explore levels and must backtrack at times for items and objectives in a more story-focused and linear experience than contemporary titles. Players will also notice that the movement is more in-depth as well, with jumping, swimming, and ducking regularly used in levels, which are more complex than its previous installment.Quake 2also provides a plethora of weapons, from a grenade launcher, super shotgun, BFG10k, to traps; there are numerous ways to slay the Strogg in fun and bloody action.
There’s little aboutQuake 2that hasn’t already been said. Often mentioned alongsideDOOM, it helped shape the modern first-person shooter and holds an impenetrable legacy. The remaster by Nightdive Studios and id Softwareis the definitive way to experience the game, featuring 4K and widescreen support, enhanced models, restored AI behavior, smoother animations, better lighting, bloodier gore, and more. Beyond technical improvements, the game features both original mission packs, a new mission pack,Call of the Machine, and even the Nintendo 64 version of the game. With its relentless action and blistering industrial metal soundtrack, anyDOOMfan should feel right at home massacring the Strogg in this sci-fi masterpiece.
Developed by Timelock Studios, a team of prominent Russian modders, in collaboration with Croteam,Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhemis a standalone expansion and midquel to the events ofSerious Sam 4. In this game, players play as Samuel Herbert Stone, a member of the Earth Defense Force, and the only thing between Earth and the ruthless god-like being named Mental. The plot involves Sam tracking down the traitor from the previous game, General Brand, and, as expected, doing so means turning copious enemies into blood and guts. To do this, Sam has an arsenal of weapons, like a minigun, dual shotguns, and a crossbow that shoots electrified bolts. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a mech with a rocket launcher and a chainsaw, and a tank with a nitrous boost to dodge. The gameplay primarily consists of firefights in open areas against hordes of various enemies, including headless humanoids strapped with bombs, flying enemies that launch projectiles, and armored beasts. However, combat is intermixed with some vehicle sections and simple puzzles, offering variety to its run-and-gun gameplay.
While it shares some DNA with modernDOOMin terms of gore, speed, and intensity,Serious Samleans hard into camp and parody. Its tone is irreverent, its characters exaggerated, and its humor intentionally cheesy. That being said, the game’s non-stop action, chaotic enemy hoards, spectacular bosses, levels that are jam-packed with secrets, and its rock/orchestral soundtrack will make any fan feel at home. Those jumping into the series needn’t worry, as the story takes a backseat to the action, making it a welcoming game to newcomers.
Developed byMachineGames and similarly toDOOM, published by Bethesda,Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossusis a game set in an alternate history, wherein the Nazis won the war. It is 1961, and players take on the role of William J. Blazkowicz after the events ofThe New Order.The story begins with Blazkowicz being operated on and gravely injured due to his fight against Deathshead in the previous game. The injuries are so severe that, even with a power suit, his body is still failing him, something the game is eager to remind players of. Indeed,The New Colossusbalances many narrative beats: the resistance groups fight against oppression, Blazkowicz’s trauma, mortality, and identity, and family is explored through William and AnyaOliwa-Blazkowicz and General Engel. It not only balances these, but can be surprisingly comedic, while offering one of the best villains in gaming history, General Engel, who is terrifying and dominates every scene she is in.
Moreover, the gameplay is a chaotic blast, as Blazkowicz candual-wield any one-handed weapon, allowing players to use a shotgun and a machine gun at the same time. If a player wants to forego a head-on approach, brutal stealth takedowns are available and gory. Although it is fast, it is not as quick-paced asDOOM.Players can easily be overwhelmed, and there’s no charging away with a shield bash for guaranteed health; rather, players may have to take cover and peek, and be more tactical with their approach in intense situations. Nevertheless, there are run-and-gun elements, gore, and satisfying enemy encounters, whether that’s bosses, robots, or the Nazi infantry.The New Colossusis a great game that anyDOOMfan will appreciate for its over-the-top gore, fluid gameplay, and impeccable soundtrack, composed by Mick Gordon ofDOOMacclaim and Martin Stig Andersen, who composedLimboandInside.
Deadlinkis set in a distant, crime-laden, and cyberpunk future. Players step into the shoes of a nameless soldier recruited by the CSA to operate combat shells remotely to stop crime. If a player’s shell is destroyed, they will have to repeat everything, but they can keep their upgrades and learn from their mistakes. The gameplay loop ofDeadlinkhas players pick a shell, which all come with unique guns, melee, abilities, and movement. After choosing a shell, players will play through a run to completion or until death, and during their run, can gain temporary upgrades to their weapon via mods and upgrade their shell temporarily through implants, and gain Credits for purchasing items. After the run, Turing Tokens and EXP are used for permanent upgrades.
This loop makes the game rewarding in the short and long term. Moreover, the gameplay is likeDOOMin that it has arena-style sections, fast-paced gameplay that emphasizes movement and weapon switching, and target management as players must mark targets to gain shield and ammo using grenades and abilities. This gives the game tons of replay value as the shells all play differently from each other. Additionally, all the runs are procedurally generated, making the enemy and boss encounters truly unique. This game is perfect for fans of contemporaryDOOMtitles who want more of the addictive run-and-gun gameplay.
Set in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity has gone extinct due to war and robots harvesting their blood for fuel. Players control V1, a blood-fueled machine intent on exploiting hell’s blood supply to quench his hunger. To take down the forces of hell, players are armed with anarsenal spanning six distinct weaponcategories: revolvers, shotguns, railcannons, rocket launchers, nailguns, and arms. Each weapon is flashy and sports an intense amount of depth. Take the Marksman revolver. It allows players to toss a coin in the air and shoot it for a devastating impact. This has so many creative applications that entire videos online dedicate themselves to breaking down this one mechanic.
Movement is just as layered; players mix dashing, sliding, ground slamming, wall climbing, jumping, rocket riding, bunny hopping, and grapple hooking to build momentum and recover stamina. Much likeDOOM, the game demands target priority. For example, idols buff enemies and make the strongest unkillable, and stalkers “sand” their allies, meaning the player cannot heal by shooting them and must parry for health. Bosses also add a unique challenge and spectacle, featuring foes like the fellow robot V2, the angel Gabriel, and the colossal King Minos. Levels themselves host a plethora of secrets and collectibles, and are designed to support fluid movement and vertical combat.ULTRAKILLis for players who crave challenge and enjoy blood-soaked flair. It demands mastery of weapons and that players dispatch enemies in stylish ways to build points. It is a violent and high-octane experience, backed by a bumping industrial metal and breakcore soundtrack. Despite the game being early access, it provides a complete package and is worthwhile for anyDOOMfan.
