When I reached the final and longest section of the demo for The Dark Ages, I found myself in uncharted territory. This was id Software’s fresh take on a sandbox open zone, where I was given the freedom to approach the game as I wished. My lone directive was to shut down five portals spewing demons, but how I accomplished this task—and anything else I chose to do—was entirely up to me. Throughout this hour-long adventure, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was experiencing DOOM in a way I never had before.
True to the nature of a sandbox, the area was rich with optional objectives. I stumbled upon heavily fortified artillery I could destroy, piles of gold waiting to be spent on sweet upgrades, and more. There was even a moment when, out of nowhere, a gargantuan tentacle erupted from the ground, cathedral-sized and ready to attack—a thrilling surprise not tied to any mission or scripted moment, just something wild I encountered on my journey.
But don’t think the central objectives lacked their own surprises. In the initial story mission, closing a portal was as simple as defeating enemies in an arena. This time around, though, each portal presented a unique challenge. Some whisked me away to dungeons filled with puzzles that needed solving to reach the energy source. Others revealed fearsome Leader enemies, beasts too powerful to harm until I’d vanquished their underlings, and defeating them granted me permanent upgrades. Along my path, I uncovered new weapons, adding layers to my arsenal. It seemed like id Software had been itching for a chance to inject fresh concepts into the DOOM universe—and it shows.
Walking away from my session with DOOM: The Dark Ages, the most vivid takeaway was the developers’ sheer passion—not just for DOOM, but for the limitless possibilities of what DOOM could become. I came in expecting a fresh storyline, shiny new weapons, and more demons to battle. What I didn’t foresee was a blend of entirely new genres. I’m more eager than ever to see what else this talented team is ready to unveil.
Mark your calendars: DOOM: The Dark Ages is set to launch on May 15, 2025, available on Xbox Series X|S, PC (through the Xbox App for Windows, Steam, and Battle.net), PlayStation 5, and even the cloud. Plus, it’ll be available on Game Pass starting day one.
