DOOM: How to Play the Games in Order (2025)

Table of Contents

DOOM Games in Release Order DOOM Games in Chronological Order Where Does DOOM 3 Fit Into the DOOM Timeline? Your Rating References

DOOM is one of the longest-running video game franchises ever, spanning several generations and featuring countless ports, compilations, expansions, and re-releases. There are just so many demons to slay, and with such a storied series like DOOM, many players are wondering where they should start with the franchise.

DOOM can essentially be split into two distinct eras, which makes finding a jumping-on point quite easy. There are the original retro games from the '90s, and then there's the reboot trilogy, starting with the 2016 reboot. It's all connected, but there are multiple entries that work well for new players looking to give the series a shot.

The Best Guns in DOOM The Dark Ages (Weapon Tier List)

This DOOM: The Dark Ages weapon tier list ranks all of the guns based on their damage potential and the usefulness of their upgrades.

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DOOM Games in Release Order

DOOM: How to Play the Games in Order (2)

Playing through the DOOM games in release order is a great way to experience the franchise since the original games hold up so well.

DOOM
DOOM 2: Hell on Earth
DOOM 64
DOOM 3
DOOM (2016)
DOOM Eternal
DOOM: The Dark Ages

All these games are available on modern platforms, so it's incredibly easy to enjoy them all. Starting with DOOM (2016) is another solid choice, especially since that game is frequently available on Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. It's really hard to go wrong here.

DOOM Games in Chronological Order

DOOM: How to Play the Games in Order (3)

The DOOM timeline does jump around in some key areas, however, so the playing order will be a bit different for those who want to experience everything in chronological order. The main shakeup compared to the release order list involves The Dark Ages, which is a prequel to the 2016 reboot.

DOOM
DOOM 2: Hell on Earth
DOOM 64
DOOM: The Dark Ages
DOOM (2016)
DOOM Eternal

The story is very light in the earlier DOOM games, so starting with the modern games is totally fine. For those interested in the lore, the modern games do a great job of filling players in on any gaps they may have missed.

Where Does DOOM 3 Fit Into the DOOM Timeline?

DOOM: How to Play the Games in Order (4)

DOOM 3 is absent from the timeline list because it exists in a strange gray area. DOOM 3 is still a mainline game, but it really has nothing to do with the rest of the series. It's not a bad game by any means at all, but it's a departure from the high-octane action that the series is known for. Plus, there are some dimensional shenanigans that cement DOOM 3 firmly in its own corner away from the other mainline entries.

Like the rest of the DOOM games, though, DOOM 3 can be played at any point in the series. It's really easy to jump around the DOOM franchise (it does run on everything, after all), so players should really just find whichever game appeals to them the most and then start from there.