doom

Doom is a science fiction first‑person shooter video game series created by id Software. The original Doom, released in 1993 for MS‑DOS, became one of the most influential games in the history of the medium. It popularized true 3D graphics techniques, networked multiplayer, and user-created content through level editing and shareware distribution. The franchise has since expanded with sequels, remakes, and spin-offs across multiple platforms.

The setting centers on a United Aerospace Corporation facility on the moons of Mars, where a failed teleportation experiment unleashes demons from Hell. Players typically navigate interconnected environments, battle hordes of hostile creatures, and collect weapons, ammunition, and keys to progress. Core gameplay emphasizes fast, aggressive combat and exploration, with multiplayer modes that helped establish online FPS communities.

Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994) built on the original’s foundation, introducing new levels, enemies, and weapons. Expanded content such as TNT: Evilution and The Plutonia Experiment increased difficulty and variety. The Doom engine, or id Tech 1, featured sector-based level design and early 3D tricks that influenced many later shooters. The games fostered a large modding and mapping community, contributing to a culture of user-generated content and rapid iteration.

In 1997, id Software released the Doom engine source code to the public, enabling enthusiasts to create ports, remakes, and mods. The franchise continued with Doom 3 (2004), a more atmospheric reboot, and a 2016 revival simply titled Doom, followed by Doom Eternal (2020), which updated graphics and mechanics for modern systems while retaining the series’ fast-paced action. A 2005 film adaptation, Doom, accompanied the games, though it received mixed reviews.