DOOM is a fast-paced first-person shooter that revives the series' emphasis on relentless combat against demonic forces. Players control the Doom Slayer through industrial facilities on Mars and the depths of Hell, relying on speed, powerful weaponry, and aggressive tactics to survive waves of enemies. The experience centers on fluid movement combined with destructive firepower, making it a direct-action shooter suited for those who enjoy constant forward momentum rather than defensive playstyles.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around push-forward combat, where staying mobile is essential for survival and success. Health and armor come from pickups scattered across levels or earned through kills, encouraging players to push into enemy groups instead of seeking cover. Glory kills provide a key mechanic: damaging foes enough to stagger them allows close-range executions that restore resources while delivering visceral feedback. Weapon handling emphasizes variety, with an arsenal including shotguns, rocket launchers, plasma rifles, and iconic tools like the BFG-9000. Most weapons support modifications that add secondary fire modes or enhancements, unlocked through combat performance and exploration.
Mobility options such as double jumps, ledge climbing, and environmental interactions keep battles dynamic across multi-layered arenas. Runes earned from optional trials grant passive upgrades like improved item collection or combat advantages, while suit enhancements expand health, armor, and ammo capacity. Power-ups scattered in levels temporarily boost damage or grant special abilities, rewarding aggressive play. Secrets hidden throughout maps encourage thorough exploration without derailing the main objective of clearing demon hordes.
Game Modes
The single-player campaign forms the foundation, guiding players through a series of missions filled with escalating demon encounters and environmental challenges. Arcade Mode overlays a scoring system on these same levels, tracking medals, multipliers, and efficient kills to create replayable challenges focused on style and speed.
Multiplayer supports up to 12 or 16 players depending on the match, with loadouts limited to two primary weapons plus equipment. Verified modes include Team Deathmatch, where teams compete for kill totals; Soul Harvest, requiring collection of souls dropped by defeated opponents; Clan Arena, a last-man-standing team format with full starting armor and health; Freeze Tag, involving thawing frozen teammates; Domination, centered on capturing and holding zones; and Warpath, a moving control-point variant of king of the hill. Additional modes feature Infernal Run with a demonic objective ball and Possession, pitting prowlers against marines. Demon runes allow temporary transformation into powerful demons with unique abilities during matches.
SnapMap serves as a built-in editor for creating custom maps, logic, and modes that can be shared and played, including support for small-scale multiplayer sessions.
Single-Player Campaign and Progression
Progression ties directly to combat effectiveness and exploration. Weapon upgrades and Praetor suit improvements come from tokens and power surges found in levels, while rune trials offer deeper customization. The campaign mixes linear objectives with optional challenges, building intensity through larger enemy combinations and arena-style fights. All three multiplayer expansion packs integrate fully, adding maps, weapons, and demon variants that enhance both competitive and custom experiences.
Update 6.66 introduced further multiplayer refinements along with Arcade Mode and Photo Mode, ensuring the package includes ongoing feature support without additional purchases.
Is It Worth Playing?
DOOM delivers a standout single-player campaign built around intense, momentum-driven combat that rewards aggressive movement and creative weapon use. The included multiplayer modes provide variety through objective-based play and demon transformations, while SnapMap extends replayability for those interested in creation and sharing. With all premium content and major updates incorporated, the game offers a complete package on Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles.
It suits players seeking classic-style first-person shooter action updated with modern fluidity and visual polish. Those who appreciate fast-paced demon-slaying loops and arena combat will find substantial value in the campaign alone, with multiplayer serving as a solid companion for group sessions. The experience remains accessible and engaging for fans of the genre who prioritize direct confrontation over complex systems or long-term live-service elements.
