Best Doom Game Reveals, Ranked

The Doom franchise is one of the most iconic video game series out there. Its initial release all but created the first-person shooter genre as it is known today, and the reboot series which began in 2016 has helped to cement its legacy among younger fans as well.

The reputation of the Doom franchise and its legendary protagonist is so profound that even a glimpse of the Doom Slayer’s beloved shotgun is enough to excite fans. This excitement has been leveraged by developers and publishers to fashion some truly thrilling game reveals. Here are the best reveals in the franchise, ranked.

6 Doom 64

Back From The Ashes

The initial release of Doom 64 was a bit messy. While the game was slated to be a launch title for the Nintendo 64, it ended up getting delayed considerably while developer Midway Studios retooled the level designs. There were also some concerns about the violent content of the game appearing on a traditionally family-friendly Nintendo console, but fortunately, these doubts didn’t end up interfering with the game’s release. All told, the game didn’t have a particularly bombastic reveal, but it was still received quite well by fans.

In 2019, the game got a breath of life. Bethesda rereleased the title on modern consoles and even included it as a free bonus for fans who’d preordered Doom Eternal. This remaster was announced by Bethesda with a brief but exciting trailer showing off the fast-paced action and expressive, grotesque demons that made Doom 64 such a hit back in the day.

5 Doom

Taking the World By Storm

The original Doom is the stuff of legends. This iconic shooter took the industry by storm and irrevocably shifted the trajectory of video games as an art form. While the game predates the cycle of trade shows, gaming showcases, and trailers that characterize modern video game reveals, it still took the world by force when the public first got their hands on it.

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A single press preview and a minimal ad presence were enough to get fans so excited that the team struggled to actually release Doom online since there were too many fans eager to start playing. The decision to release the first episode of the game for free meant that it was able to reach a massive audience and secure its spot in gaming history forever.

4 Doom 3

Doom Goes Dark

Doom 3 represented a very striking departure from the franchise’s roots. This game rebooted the series’ storyline with a vastly increased focus on survival horror, setting itself apart from its predecessors. While the fast-paced action and elaborate weaponry from its forebears remained, the tone and atmosphere of the game was something modern fans would consider much closer to Dead Space than to Doom.

To its credit, the game’s reveal trailer portrayed this new theme quite well. The trailer (via IGN) begins with a slow burn establishing the UAC’s presence on Mars, as well as some of the major characters. This establishes important lore, as well as an air of foreboding and dismay that culminates in the appearance of demons in the base. While the gameplay that follows may not have aged gracefully by modern standards, it remains an impressive showcase of what fans can expect from Doom 3.

3 Doom (2016)

Building A Better Nightmare

2016’s Doom reboot was a shot of adrenaline for the franchise, reimagining the series’ trademark hyper-aggressive combat with modern advancements. New mechanics like glory kills let players get up close and personal with their demonic foes, while the advanced graphics showed off the brutal consequences of the Doom Slayer’s murderous quest like never before.

The game was first revealed with a brief, one-minute teaser trailer. Bethesda’s teaser didn’t give too much info about the game; the Doom Slayer doesn’t even appear in it. But it does re-establish the classic lore of the UAC’s doomed hubris, and the gruesome close-up shots of cybernetically enhanced demon flesh set the stage for what was to come.

2 Doom Eternal

Improving On Perfection

Following the massive success of the 2016 Doom reboot, Bethesda announced a direct sequel in 2018. Doom Eternal would go on to be a major success for the franchise, iterating on the gameplay of the 2016 title with a wide array of new weapons and gadgets to enhance the game’s aggressive, blistering combat.

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Just like with its 2016 predecessor, Bethesda started small, with a brief teaser trailer for the upcoming shooter. This trailer didn’t show off any gameplay, but it did establish the postapocalyptic setting of the game’s campaign and give fans a tantalizing glimpse at the Doom Slayer’s new design. At the same time, the ad introduced a variety of enemies, like the Arachnotron, which weren’t present in the original title, giving fans a taste of some of the new content awaiting them.

1 Doom: The Dark Ages

Blasting the Past

Doom: The Dark Ages, announced at an Xbox showcase in 2024, is set to be a truly unique entry in the time-honored trailer. The game is set to take the fantasy elements introduced in Doom Eternal and its 2016 predecessor to new heights by presenting a medieval-themed prequel to the Doom Slayer’s adventures.

This genre shift was revealed with an explosive trailer featuring full gameplay footage. Bethesda showed off several new additions to the Doom Slayer’s arsenal, including a razor-edged shield and a rapid-fire gun using ground-up skulls as ammunition. The trailer also featured a few glimpses of cinematic setpiece levels, including footage of the Doom Slayer riding a dragon and powering up a titanic mech. The sheer quantity of content in this trailer should keep fans well satisfied until the game releases in 2025.

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