Doom Eternal

Doom Eternal arrived in March 2020 with a clear mission: take everything that worked about its predecessor and push it further. id Software delivered on that promise, but not without making some polarizing choices along the way. Where Doom 2016 earned praise for its simplicity and focus, Eternal added layers of complexity that split the community down the middle.

Steam reception sits firmly in “Very Positive” territory, with roughly 90% of a massive review pool giving it the thumbs up. That’s strong by any measure, but it’s noticeably lower than the 2016 game’s overwhelming consensus. The difference tells you something important about Eternal. It’s a game that asks more from its players and gets more divisive reactions because of it.

Doom Eternal’s Greatest Strength: Combat

The combat system is Doom Eternal’s crown jewel, and when it clicks, nothing else in the genre compares. Every weapon serves a specific purpose against specific enemy types. Low ammo reserves force constant weapon switching. The chainsaw refills ammunition, the flame belch generates armor, and glory kills restore health. All of these systems interlock to create a combat loop that demands players manage multiple resources while navigating chaotic arenas full of aggressive enemies.

Mastering this loop is where the game’s true appeal lives. Quick-switching between weapons to cancel recovery animations turns good players into blenders of destruction. The skill ceiling is enormous, and the difference between a player’s first run and their fifth is dramatic. Community discussions about advanced techniques and optimal weapon combos remain active years after launch, which speaks to the depth on offer.

Enemy design deserves credit for making the combat work. Each demon fills a clear role, and their individual weaknesses create a puzzle layer on top of the action. A fight that looks like chaos is actually a rapid series of decisions about which threat to prioritize and which tool to use. The Marauder enemy type became controversial for demanding a very specific approach, but the broader roster pushes players to use their full arsenal rather than falling back on favorites.

Two campaign DLC packs, The Ancient Gods Part One and Part Two, offer additional challenge for players who wanted even more. These expansions push the difficulty further and are generally well regarded by the community that stuck with the game.

Where Doom Eternal Falters

Platforming sections are Eternal’s most consistent source of complaints. The game introduces wall climbing, dash mechanics, and environmental traversal puzzles that break up the combat flow. Some players appreciate the pacing variety. A larger group finds them tedious, arguing that jumping puzzles have no place in a game about fighting demons. The platforming isn’t bad in isolation, but it often interrupts the momentum that the combat builds.

Story ambitions expanded significantly from the 2016 game, and not everyone thinks that’s a good thing. Doom 2016 treated its thin plot as a joke, with the Slayer physically shoving aside exposition to get back to the action. Eternal takes its lore seriously, introducing warring factions, cosmic mythology, and extended story sequences. For players who loved the self-aware minimalism of the previous game, this shift feels like a miscalculation. Long, combat-free stretches dedicated to worldbuilding test the patience of anyone who just wants to shoot.

Accessibility takes a hit, too. Doom 2016 was approachable enough for genre newcomers to enjoy on normal difficulty. Eternal’s resource management systems and weapon-specific enemy weaknesses create a higher floor for competence. Players who don’t engage with the chainsaw and flame belch mechanics hit walls that feel punishing rather than challenging. The game does a poor job explaining its own systems, and many players only understood the combat loop after reading community guides rather than learning it naturally through play.

A Game That Demands Your Attention for Doom Eternal

Doom Eternal’s defining characteristic is that it refuses to let you coast. Every encounter demands active decision-making. You can’t rely on one weapon. You can’t ignore your resources. You can’t stay still. The game is at its best when all of those systems lock into place and you’re making split-second choices while moving at high speed through a swarm of demons. That feeling, the flow state when everything connects, is among the most rewarding experiences in modern shooters.

That trade-off is clear. This is a less accessible, more demanding game than its predecessor. Some players will find the added complexity exhilarating. Others will miss the streamlined purity of Doom 2016 and bounce off the mechanics that replaced it.

Should You Play Doom Eternal?

Players who want a shooter with real depth and a high skill ceiling will find one of the best ever made here. If you loved Doom 2016 and wanted something that challenged you more, this is exactly that. Fans of games that reward mastery and repeat playthroughs will get dozens of hours out of the combat alone.

Skip it if you preferred Doom 2016’s pick-up-and-play simplicity or if you have low tolerance for platforming in shooters. If you want to relax and mow down demons without thinking too hard about ammo counts and weapon matchups, the 2016 game is the better fit.

The Verdict on Doom Eternal

Doom Eternal takes the foundation id Software built in 2016 and cranks every dial to its maximum setting. The combat, once you internalize its systems, reaches heights that few shooters have ever touched, demanding constant weapon switching, resource management, and spatial awareness in a way that feels like playing an instrument. The platforming and story ambitions don’t always land, and the learning curve will bounce players who just want to shoot things. But for those willing to meet it on its terms, Doom Eternal offers some of the most exhilarating action in the entire FPS genre.