DOOM: Eternal, like its predecessor, is a brutal shooter that does away with modern gameplay mechanics like cover shooting and stealth in favor of old school run and gun. There’s still a great deal of emphasis on strategy and tactics involved by using the environment to take down enemies as efficiently as possible in adrenaline-inducing gunfights.
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Unfortunately, like all good single-player campaigns, they have to come to an end, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some great alternatives for fans of DOOM: Eternal to satisfy their slaying needs.
Updated October 22, 2021, by Michael Llewellyn:The original Doom is considered one of the most groundbreaking shooters of all time. The rebooted Doom series continued that trend on recent platforms by modernizing old-school mechanics and creating one of the fastest and most brutal FPS experiences in years.
The beauty of the Doom series is that they aren’t just simply run and gun games anymore. They require the player to be quick thinkers that can implement effective strategies while slaying the hordes of demons and monsters. Even though Doom is unique in its gameplay and setting, there are other shooters fans should consider.
18 Left 4 Dead 2
Released: 2008 Developer: Valve Platform: Mac OS, PC, and Xbox 360
One of the many Valve series that have fans begging for a third entry, Left 4 Dead 2 capitalized on the influx of zombie films and games of the late 2000s and early 2010s with its action-heavy shooter.
Although the game has a thoroughly enjoyable single-player campaign, it’s the multiplayer modes that made Left 4 Dead 2 stand out. The game was also highly regarded for its enemy variety which demands that players are on their toes as each comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses.
17 Unreal Tournament 3
Released: 2008 Developer: Epic Games Platform: PC, PS3, and Xbox 360
Developed by Epic Games, Unreal Tournament 3 was ahead of its time, especially for consoles, in the sense that it focused primarily on online play. Like the rest of the series, Unreal Tournament 3 adopts tried and trusted game modes like capture the flag and deathmatch.
One change from the previous iterations of the series, however, is that the single-player campaign has a more in-depth story. Rather than simply being based around the Tournament Grand Championship like previous games, Unreal Tournament 3’s single-player features a Necris attack on a human colony.
16 Back 4 Blood
Released: 2021 Developer: Turtle Rock Studios Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
As a spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood was developed by the same team that created the original co-op zombie shooter. As with its predecessor, Back 4 Blood does have a single-player element but it’s designed to be played as part of a team.
That said, the action and gunplay in Back 4 Blood are extremely satisfying, fast-paced, and violent - everything that a fan of Doom could ask for. There is a good selection of weapons and undead monsters are a gruesome sight to behold.
15 Painkiller
Released: 2004 Developer: People Can Fly Platform: Android, iOS, PC, and Xbox
Released in April 2004, Painkiller is the oldest entry on this list. Polish developer People Can Fly teamed up with DreamCatcher Entertainment to release a DOOM-clone with an emotional story centered around the death of the protagonist and his wife. The playable character, Daniel, must fight through hordes of monsters as he attempts to leave purgatory and join his wife in heaven.
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Like most games on this list, Painkiller has a multiplayer mode that features the classic Capture the Flag and Deathmatches.
14 Bioshock
Released: 2007 Developer: 2K Games Platform: iOS, Mac OS X, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One
With an eye-watering score of 96, Bioshock is the joint 23rd highest-rated game in Metacritic’s history. 2K Games’ memorable adventure has a far more survival horror element to it than the DOOM series, as players struggle to stay alive avoiding numerous enemies and the notorious Big Daddy creatures.
Bioshock’s experience is more story-driven and immersion-focused than the action-packed DOOM series. Even so, Bioshock will appeal to fans of the franchise with its excellent FPS combat that requires a more tactical and methodical approach.
13 Titanfall 2
Released: 2016 Developer: Respawn Entertainment Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One
Created by the team of Respawn Entertainment and EA, the first Titanfall game had some excellent ideas but struggled to keep the interest of many players months after its launch. Titanfall 2 looked to continue this trend of having a disappointing player base, as the game’s release went under the radar due to EA’s odd decision of releasing it just one week after Battlefield 1.
Despite the slow start, Titanfall 2’s reputation grew through constant praise from active players, and the fast-paced shooter is going strong today over four years after its release.
12 Metro Exodus
Released: 2020 Developer: 4A Games Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, Luna, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Linux, and macOS
Metro Exodus is a post-apocalyptic action horror game with a heavy emphasis on survival. Its pacing and gunplay are very different from Doom: Eternal but the variety of hideous monsters and stunning visuals make an experience that all FPS fans should consider.
The world is more open with some focused linear missions like Doom. The use of customized weapons and satisfying gunplay make Metro Exodusone of the best horror shooters available. Despite being a sequel, the player can jump into Exodus without feeling lost.
11 Bulletstorm
Released: 2011 Developer: People Can Fly Platform: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One
Developed by People Can Fly, the same studio that created Gears of War: Judgment and co-developed the first three games in the Gears series, Bulletstorm is unsurprisingly a violent and brutal first-person shooter that harks back to classic 90s shooters like DOOM and 90s action films.
First released in 2011, Bulletstorm was remastered for the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in 2017 and the Nintendo Switch in 2019. The game boasts an incredible arsenal of fantastically violent weapons that encourages players to get creative in the most hilariously sadistic ways possible.
10 Shadow Warrior 2
Released: 2016 Developer: Flying Wild Hog Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One
Released in 2016, Shadow Warrior 2 is an old-school shooter that can be played cooperatively or in a single player. It’s a violent fast-paced shooter where players take control of an assassin that can kill and dismember his enemies.
Just like DOOM: Eternal, Shadow Warrior is all about taking down enemies as quickly and as violently as possible. The weaponry, from the use of blades to guns, is amazing to use and is easily a match for DOOM in the blood and guts department.
9 Quake 4
Released: 2005 Developer: Raven Software Platform: PC and Xbox 360
Released in 2005 for the PC and the Xbox 360 as a launch title, Quake 4 was built using the same engine – id Tech 4 – that was used in DOOM 3. While the game was developed by a studio better known for their Call of Duty titles, DOOM developers id Software oversaw the game’s development.
Quake 4 is another lightning-fast science fiction horror shooter that feels and plays like it was born of the same DNA as the DOOM series and is perfect for fans of that game.
8 Prey (2006)
Released: 2006 Developer: 3D Realms Platform: PC and Xbox 360
The original Prey released in 2006 was developed by 3D Realms and built on the DOOM 3 engine. It’s another science fiction horror shooter with a good campaign that’s perfect for fans of the DOOM series.
Prey is violent, gory, and has great gameplay and level design, and alien invasion premise. The weapons in the game are equally as inventive, exploding alien crab-like creatures in place of grenades, and other organic weapons that players can get disgustingly creative with.
7 Necromunda: Hired Gun
Released: 2021 Developer: Streum On Studio Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Upon release, Necromunda: Hired Gun didn’t score well with critics thanks to its bugs and some less than interesting side quests. Much of the game has now been patched and the Warhammer 40K universe that it’s set in makes for n interesting one.
The gunplay is fast-paced and violent with well-designed but linear levels. The game’s protagonist is agile with the ability to wall-run, leap large distances and call his cyborg combat dog into action and a good variety of weapons. It’s heavily influenced by Titanfall 2’s single-player campaign with gunplay that feels reminiscent of 2006’s Prey.
6 Serious Sam 3
Released: 2011 Developer: Croteam Platform: Linux, Mac OS X, PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One
Developed by the independent studio Croteam, Serious Sam 3 was first released on the PC with console ports to follow a year later. Stylistically the game is a nod to classic fast-paced 3D shooters and the classic B-movie action films released by Cannon in the 1980s.
Serious Sam’s humor won’t resonate well with everyone, but the action is right up there with the DOOM series. Fans of the id Software’s shooter will feel right at home destroying waves of monstrous and demonic enemies like the Beheaded Kamikaze, Scrapjack, and the Beheaded Rocketeer - all of which wouldn’t look out of place in a DOOM title.
5 Syndicate 2012
Released: 2012 Developer: Starbreeze Studios PC, PS3, and Xbox 360
Released in 2012 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the PC, Syndicate is a cyberpunk first-person shooter and a reboot of the classic real-time strategy series of the same name from the 1990s. While there are no demons, monsters, or other forms of hellspawn to deal with, the incredibly stylish, violent, and fast-paced gunplay makes Syndicate an easy recommendation.
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Just like DOOM, Syndicate’s shooting is impactful, fast, and strategic in a way that only quick thinking prevails. Most importantly the suped-up arsenal which can despatch enemies in a variety of gruesome ways will more satisfy that same power fantasy that DOOM: Eternal Players crave.
4 The Darkness 2
Released: 2012 Developer: Digital Extremes Platform: PC, PS3, and Xbox 360
Released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and the PC in 2012, The Darkness 2 is the sequel to the 2007 hit first game developed by Starbreeze Studios. The Darkness 2 was created by a different studio Digital Extremes and its approach to the gameplay is significantly different from the first game. While Starbreeze’s efforts were more in line with the action-adventure genre, The Darkness 2 is a more pure shooting experience from start to finish.
Based on the comic book series of the same name, players take on the role of the demonically possessed mobster Jackie Estacado. The gunplay is solid but it’s Jackie’s Darkness powers that take center stage. DOOM fans will certainly appreciate the variety of ways he can tear his enemies limb from limb up in close and personal ways.
3 Wolfenstein The New Order And The New Colossus
Released: 2014 and 2017 Developer: Machine Games Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One
Wolfenstein: The New Order and its sequel The New Colossus were released in 2014 and 2017 respectively. Thematically, Wolfenstein and DOOM have several differences. There’s more character development in Wolfenstein and the level design is crafted to fit a variety of playing styles.
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Like Doom, however, Wolfenstein has a long lineage and an old-school feel that fans of both series will love and enjoy. The games feature excellent replayability, epic boss battles, and a brutally sadistic combat system that Doom slaying fans will enjoy.
2 Killing Floor 2
Released: 2016 Developer: Tripwire Interactive Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One
Killing Floor 2 was launched on the PC and PS4 with an Xbox port to follow a year later. Just like DOOM: Eternal, it’s an insanely violent and bloody retro-style shooter that requires its players to fight strategically and react very quickly to the waves of zombies and monsters trying to kill them.
The story isn’t anything to write home about but for fans of the DOOM series this is par for the course, they are in this for the fast-paced and gory action and the heavy metal soundtrack. Killing Floor 2 also brings its own unique mechanics to the table with its character customization and co-op gameplay.
1 Rage 2
Released: 2019 Developer: id Software and Avalanche Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One
Released in 2019, Rage 2 is a Mad Max-inspired post-apocalyptic shooter that was co-developed by DOOM developers id Software and Just Cause developers Avalanche Studios. There is some justified criticism aimed toward Rage 2’s characters and its weak storytelling. Fans of the original, however, know what they are in store for and it’s the action that attracts them to a Rage title.
Open-world mechanics aside, Rage 2’s brutal gunplay and weapon variety will resonate with fans of DOOM: Eternal. The shooting in Rage 2 is a brutal power fantasy that’s satisfying, uncomplicated, and always a lot of fun.
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