All DOOM Games Ranked From Worst to Best (2025)

Most quote-unquote, bad DOOM games are still good. The franchise has nailed its formula for the past 30-plus years, and we’ve taken it upon ourselves to dissect the series’ illustrious catalog and rank the mainline DOOM games from worst to best.

I was a latecomer to DOOM, having never been exposed to it in my formative years. DOOM 3: BFG Edition was the catalyst for my rebirth, and I’ve sought out and played all DOOM games multiple times since. Few FPS titles embody the hellish nature of satanic trends and topics quite like DOOM—all the while giving you the kind of arsenal you draw and dream of as a kid.

id Software is the visionary behind the series, and while not every game has been developed by the company, they are best associated with DOOM, and we’re here to rank the main games.

Best DOOM Games Ranked

9. Final DOOM

Final DOOM is an extension of DOOM II, offering new levels and no gameplay innovations. It’s also very hard, maybe too hard at times? The title is a solid release that everyone should play, but maybe not as your first DOOM experience.

8. DOOM 64

Developed exclusively for the smash-hit Nintendo 64, DOOM 64 features revitalized graphics and remodelling of most of the franchise’s monsters. There’s even a bitier edge to many of the monsters, with rampaging Barons of Hell looking particularly fierce and hungry for a pound of Doomguy flesh! At its core, it’s another run-of-the-mill DOOM experience (again, not a bad thing), and there are better games to come on this list.

7. DOOM VFR

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I think DOOM’s attempt at VR was pretty good. It’s very short, which is one of the worst aspects of the shooter, and the freeing nature of movement means you can feel a bit queasy, but it’s a small price to pay for the most immersive DOOM experience to date. It’s not fondly remembered in the annals of DOOM history, but if you have VR, don’t let the opportunity go to waste.

6. DOOM 3

DOOM 3 might be considered the most different mainline release in the series. Given that the franchise was constantly resting on its laurels with game design, a pure survival-horror interpretation certainly looked to change this perception. The emphasis on moody lighting, its more cinematic presentation, and retention of tight gunplay means it was a successful venture and spawned more top content in Resurrection of Evil, and The Lost Mission later on.

5. DOOM II: Hell on Earth

This might be the entry where I lose you, and that’s fine.

DOOM 2 is pretty much the same game as the OG DOOM in every way, with the key differences being new enemy types (the Arch-vile still gives me nightmares) and vastly larger maps. More sophisticated hardware allowed it to develop maps that far surpassed the original, but I sometimes feel they were too big. I also find the odd map can be too gimmicky as well, and isn’t as well-designed as DOOM 1.

4. DOOM: The Dark Ages

The newest DOOM game, as of writing. DOOM: The Dark Ages feels like a natural extension of the reboot games. You can face tons of enemies at one time, new, twisted weapons have been pulled out of the Armory, the aesthetic and visual design are possibly the best they’ve ever been, and the prequel nature of the release finally gives us some background on how the Doom Slayer came to be. Overall, the parry mechanic feels symptomatic of its era (with Souls and action games all requiring parrying and blocking), and the introduction of the Atlanand Dragon feel like undercooked gimmicks.

3. DOOM: Eternal

DOOM: Eternal sometimes suffers from DOOM II syndrome in its vision to overcomplicate things. I like a good puzzle; it just feels like Eternal is rife with them and convoluted platforming sections, and the less said about the multiplayer, the better. It sometimes creates big gaps between gameplay—which feels incredible in Eternal! The speed, the scale of jumping, and maneuverability, the fluidity of transitioning between fights and frollicking with booster pads and verticality. DOOM: Eternal might be the most ‘fun’ DOOM game to play in terms of a fully mobile Doomguy.

2. DOOM 1

DOOM 1 was released in 1993, and I think shooters are still trying to imitate the DOOM formula. It features deep levels (not too big or small) packed with enough enemies and secrets to keep you coming back. Its gradual introduction of enemies—that would go on to become some of the most iconic designs of all time—is incremental and leaves you incredulous with astonishment. The soundtrack is banging, the game feels responsive, and there’s a reason people hark back to the impact of DOOM 1 to this day.

1. DOOM (2016)

A 12-year gap filled the space between DOOM 3 and DOOM (2016). The notoriously canceled DOOM 4 reeked of contemporary 00s shooters with linear structures and set-pieces. Would we ever get a new DOOM game? The answer was an emphatic yes, and id Software and Bethesda released the self-titled DOOM reboot in 2016.

The franchise was reborn in the modern era, the 8-bit metal tunes of yesteryear had been transformed into modern metal bangers by the genius mind of Mick Gordon, the game unlocked a new level of brutality, and it felt like DOOM had been captured masterfully. Like DOOM 1, it balances compact and coherent level design with epic set-piece battles and bosses, and focuses on the gameplay over the story—your mileage on this approach may vary.

DOOM (2016) introduced a new generation of gamers to the franchise and gave older fans renewed hope. All in all, I think DOOM (2016) takes some topping when it comes to ranking DOOM.

How Many DOOM Games Are There?

There are nine mainline DOOM games in the series, with plenty of other rereleases, ports, spin-offs, and other variations of the shooter.

All DOOM Games in Release Order

Here’s a quick look at every DOOM game released to this point. There might be one or two obscure ones in here you didn’t even know existed!

The time has come for you to leave a comment below and tell me why my DOOM ranking is wrong. Or, you can take the conversation further with a post in the Insider Gaming forum, and I might even head there to debate with you!

For more DOOM, check out all collectibles in DOOM: The Dark Ages Chapter 1, how to find all Secret Landing Spots, how to earn Twitch Drops, and which difficulty setting you should pick in The Dark Ages.