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The gates of Hell have been opened, and an army of creatures have entered our realm. Can one human with a cache of assault weapons stop an army of Hell’s finest?

Heck yeah. In fact, they’ll do it over and over again.

Doom is a video game franchise that popularized the first-person shooter genre. The first game, released in 1993, was revolutionary for its time, and notable for its violence. Since then, numerous sequels have been released, with the franchise selling over ten million copies. With Doom: The Dark Ages on the horizon, that number is about to grow.

If you’ve ever wanted to get started on the Doom franchise, but weren’t sure how, Popverse has you covered. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about playing Doom in order, and how the franchise’s timeline works. Let’s dive in…

How to play Doom in release order

If you’re looking to play through the Doom franchise, here is each official game in release order. It should be noted that we only list ports if they add significant new gameplay or story. For example, Doom 3: VR Edition has new gameplay elements, making it more than just a port of Doom 3. However, the 1995 Super Nintendo release of Doom is merely a port of the 1993 game with no new gameplay or story elements. In some cases with gray areas, we’ve used our judgement.

With that in mind, here is every game in the Doom franchise sorted by release order:

• Doom (1993)
• Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994)
• Final Doom (1996)
• Doom 64 (1997)
• Doom 3 (2004)
• Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil (2005)
• Doom RPG (2005)
• Doom Resurrection (2009)
• Doom II RPG (2009)
• Doom 3: BFG Edition (2012)
• Doom (2016)
• Doom VFR (2017)
• Doom Eternal (2020)
• Doom 3: VR Edition (2021)
• Mighty Doom (2023)
• Doom: The Dark Ages (2025)
  
  

How to play Doom in chronological order

 

Doom lore can seem tricky at first glance, but we’re going to help you make sense of it. Essentially, Doom can be divided up into three different timelines. Some fans argue that the Super Nintendo ports and other offshoots have their own timelines, but that overcomplicates things a bit.

If Doom lore has you confused, here’s a quick breakdown of each continuity, and the chronological order for their games.

The original Doom timeline 

This timeline is comprised of the original Doom games. The storyline starts with the protagonist (later named Doomguy) fighting hordes of demons on Mars, as seen in the original Doom game. The storyline continues on Earth for the sequel, Doom II: Hell on Earth, and its follow-up Final Doom. Doom 64 takes things further, with Doomguy heading into the depths of Hell to prevent any further demon incursions.

• Doom (1993)
• Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994)
• Final Doom (1996)
• Doom 64 (1997)
  
  

The Doom 3 timeline

Although the game is titled Doom 3, the game is a reboot set in its own continuity. BFG Edition and VR Edition are ports of the game, but we’ve listed them as separate releases as they add new gameplay and story elements. The 2009 mobile game Doom Resurrection takes place at the same time as the events of Doom 3. The following chronology order places BFG Edition, Resurrection, and the VR Edition together since they take place at the same time. Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil is an expansion pack that continues the story.

• Doom 3 (2004)/ Doom 3: BFG Edition (2012)/ Doom Resurrection (2009)/ Doom 3: VR Edition (2021)
• Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil (2005)
  
  

The rebooted timeline

In 2016 the franchise seemingly rebooted with the release of Doom (2016). Initially, the game was billed as a new continuity. However, the events of Doom Eternal (2020) reveal that Doom Slayer is the same person as Doomguy. Essentially, Doomguy spent countless years in Hell after the events of Doom 64 and awoke in the rebooted timeline’s reality. For more on that, please see the appropriate section of this guide.

Doom (2016) and Doom VFR are placed together since they are set at the same time. Doom: Dark Ages has been billed as a prequel, set before Doom (2016), so it’s the first entry on the timeline.

• Doom: The Dark Ages (2025)
• Doom (2016)/ Doom VFR (2017)
• Doom Eternal (2020)
  
  

Miscellaneous

This list covers iOS games that are part of the Doom franchise, but don’t have any place in the canon. Some players argue that these games could work in canon, but there are some discrepancies. In the absence of any official word, we’ve placed these games in their own section.

• Doom RPG (2005)
• Doom II RPG (2009)
• Mighty Doom (2023)
  
  

When is the next Doom game coming out?

Doom: The Dark Ages is the next game in the series. The game will be released on May 15, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. The game will serve as a prequel, set sometime prior to the events of Doom (2016), and presumably every other game in the franchise. The game will follow the Doom Slayer as they protect a techno-medieval kingdom from the forces of Hell.

What about Sigil?

Sigil is an unofficial expansion of the 1993 Doom game. The mod was developed by John Romero, one of the creators behind the original Doom. Sigil can be downloaded as an add-on to various ports of Doom. Since it’s a mod, and not an official part of the franchise, we haven’t included it on our release order list or chronological timeline. While this mod was developed by one of Doom’s original developers, it still isn’t an official release. However, it’s one of the most notable mods, and it’s worth the attention of any player who enjoys the original 1993 game.

Is Doom 2016 a reboot or sequel?

 

This is a complicated question. Doom 2016 was billed as a reboot of the franchise, set in a new timeline. However, there are subtle references to previous Doom games. The 2020 game Doom Eternal revealed that the protagonist Doom Slayer was the same protagonist (popularly known as Doomguy) from the previous games. So, it turns out it was the same chronology all along. While this leads to some questions about contradictions, most players theorize that these discrepancies are due to the supernatural nature of Hell.

Is Doom 64 the first Doom?

No, Doom 64 is not the first Doom. The name has caused some players to assume that it’s a Nintendo 64 port of the original 1993 game, but it’s a new game that takes advantage of the console’s technological advancements. 

Why was Doom so controversial?

 

Trigger warning: This section of the guide contains a reference to school shootings.

You have to look at Doom in the context of 1993, the year it was released. At the time, characters like Sonic and Super Mario ruled the video game realm. Compared to contemporary best-selling video games, Doom was particularly violent. The assault weapons and depictions of blood were far more shocking than Mario jumping on a turtle. Germany prohibited the game from being sold to minors, and it was not allowed to be advertised or displayed anywhere children could see it.

In 1999 two teenagers committed a mass shooting at Columbine High School. Both shooters were Doom players, one had even modded several custom levels. This caused some politicians and critics to question the effect Doom had on its players, with some accusing the game of being a training ground for mass shooters.

Is Doom the original first-person shooter game?

Doom is not the original first-person shooter game, but it did help popularize and revolutionize the genre. The 1973 computer game Maze is considered the first first-person shooter game. The 1992 DOS game Wolfenstein 3D took the genre to the next level, setting the template for how first-person shooters would look for the rest of the decade. Wolfenstein 3D was developed by id Software, the studio that would produce Doom the following year.

Doom built on Wolfenstein 3D’s foundation, setting the standard for what first-person shooter games could be. Due to its popularity and advancements, most first-person shooter games released in the ‘90s were compared to Doom or called Doom clones. Doom may not have started the first-person shooter genre, but it’s arguably responsible for maturing it, and it’s possible we wouldn’t have games like Halo or Call of Duty without it.

What’s the best Doom game to start with?

It depends on what type of gamer you are. For most players, I would recommend starting with the 2016 Doom game, as it’s a soft-reboot of the franchise, and its gameplay will feel smoother for next-gen console players. It also sets the stage for Doom Eternal and the upcoming game Doom: The Dark Ages.

If you’re a fan of old school PC gaming, why not start at the beginning? The original 1993 game is an important turning point in video game history, but it’s also fun. Doom (1993) holds up well, and as you play it, it’s easy to see why so many other games copied its template in the ‘90s. Whatever your preference is, you can’t go wrong. Any of the games will get you hooked.

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