The reviews for DOOM Eternal have finally come out, and id Software's follow-up to 2016's critically-acclaimed shooter is more of the same FPS greatness that fans were hoping for with some additional flavor that makes it its own game. After the wildly successful release of DOOM, a game that resurrected a franchise that had been stagnant for some time prior to its release, fans of the FPS genre have been eagerly awaiting the next effort from developer id Software and publisher Bethesda.
The hype swirling around DOOM Eternal was only strengthened by some high profile leaks immediately ahead of the game's launch proper, which saw fans gain access to a lot of storyline surprises and gameplay mechanics. Instead of ruining the atmosphere for the game, however, it's only served to build anticipation for a title that has leaned heavily into both the series' lore and its quirkiness in order to appeal to a broad demographic. Additions like the DOOMicorn Slayer skin, for instance, have clearly indicated a game that isn't taking itself too seriously - something that would be disastrous given the over-the-top nature of the title.
DOOM Eternal is currently averaging an impressive 87 on MetaCritic after 17 reviews, indicating a title that is at least equivalent to 2016's great instalment in the franchise. With that said, at the time of writing, DOOM Eternal has significantly less critic reviews than might be expected, so there's still a chance for a shift in review average once more outlets weigh in. As it stands, however, critics have been positive about the game's direction and eager to gush about how strong DOOM Eternal's FPS gameplay is.
VG 24/7 - 4/5 - Kirk McKeand
"When you’re right in the thick of it, zipping around like a toddler after a pack of Smarties, efficiently and methodically laying waste to the hordes of hell at 900 gibs per minute, this is the strongest Doom has ever been. It’s the combat of Doom 2016 expanded in clever ways, built upon in layers, like the skin and muscles of a demon that you remove in chunks with each trigger pull. Playing it is like catharsis, a virtual wall punch for the modern age."
Eurogamer - Recommended - Edwin Evans-Thirlwell
"Still, Doom Eternal leaves me undecided. The game is fundamentally the 2016 reboot again with new props, and its dogged commitment to Doom's narrative universe is as baffling as the firefights are exhilarating. Is this really all Doom can be, nowadays - a cascade of collectables, unwanted cutscenes and the spectacle of a gurning demon face, forever?"
Polygon - Recommended - Chris Plante
"Treat Doom Eternal like dessert — something to be savored, not hurried. When you have the rare moment between feeding one demon its own heart and breaking another demon’s arm and hammering the freshly protruding bone through the demon’s skull, take a breath to admire the engineering and artistry that makes your actions possible, how the world encourages playful movement, how the specific design of an arena and the placement of each enemy invites you to chain your violence in one ecstatic flourish. Always be moving, but never rush."
Destructoid - 8.5/10 - Chris Carter
"Doom Eternal keeps the strong foundation built back in 2016 intact, while adding some of its own panache in the process. I think we can officially declare that the last iteration wasn't just a lone fluke, and that Doom is back in the shooter spotlight where it belongs."
GameSpot - Review in Progress, 8/10 - Phil Hornshaw
"Though it can take a bit to get the hang of it, the intricacies of Doom Eternal's combat, combined with its enhanced mobility and option-heavy level design, create a ton of white-knuckle moments that elevate everything that made Doom 2016 work so well. Its combat is just as quick and chaotic, but requires you to constantly analyze everything that's happening in order to come out victorious. Once you get the hang of the rhythm of Doom Eternal, it'll make you feel like a demon-slaying savant."
Although many of the reviews highlight the fact that there hasn't been enough time to dive into DOOM Eternal properly - especially not the game's multiplayer - reviewers also seem unified in declaring that 2016's DOOM wasn't a fluke. Instead, fans can look forward to a reinvigorated franchise that offers some of the deftest first-person shooting available on the market while, in the case of DOOM Eternal specifically, serving up a surprisingly meaty story for DOOM fans to dive into as well.
Still, it remains to be seen just how long-lasting DOOM Eternal's multiplayer can be. In 2020, a game's longevity is tied pretty distinctly into replayability, especially when it has a short campaign and a multiplayer offering to help off-set that. With such a positive response to the game's design and mechanics in single-player, however, it seems relatively certain that DOOM Eternal reviews mean the title will wow fans for quite some time regardless.