How Long to Beat DOOM: The Dark Ages

Games

DOOM: The Dark Ages is the newest installment in the renowned Doom series, serving as a prequel to Doom (2016). It retains the spirit of its predecessors with a linear level structure, bloody monster battles, and spectacular locations that players must navigate.

While modern developers often create expansive game worlds with over 50 or even 100 hours of gameplay, fans of the Doom franchise by id Software might be curious: how long does it take to complete DOOM: The Dark Ages?

DOOM The Dark Ages Game Length – Main Campaign

If you plan to simply follow the story from start to finish, expect to spend about 12 to 15 hours on the standard difficulty level. This is assuming you stick to the main storyline and don't spend time searching for all the secrets.

Playstyle	Doom The Dark Ages Completion Time
Speedrun	~12-14 hours
Normal Pace	~15-17 hours
Side Content Completion	~21 hours
Completionist Pace (100%)	~25-30 hours (maximum)

The campaign is divided into 22 chapters, most of which take between 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the level size and the number of enemies.

DOOM: The Dark Ages chapters list:

Chapter 1 – Village of Khalim
Chapter 2 – Hebeth
Chapter 3 – Barrier Core
Chapter 4 – Sentinel Barracks
Chapter 5 – The Holy City of Aratum
Chapter 6 – The Siege Part 1
Chapter 7 – The Siege Part 2
Chapter 8 – Abyssal Forest
Chapter 9 – Ancestral Forge
Chapter 10 – The Forsaken Plains
Chapter 11 – Hellbreaker
Chapter 12 – Sentinel Command Station
Chapter 13 – From Beyond
Chapter 14 – Spire of Nerathul
Chapter 15 – City of Ry’uul
Chapter 16 – The Kar’Thul Marshes
Chapter 17 – Temple of Lomarith
Chapter 18 – Belly of the Beast
Chapter 19 – Harbor of Souls
Chapter 20 – Resurrection
Chapter 21 – Final Battle
Chapter 22 – Reckoning

Some missions are linear and focus solely on combat encounters, while others offer expansive areas with hidden items, challenges, and additional arenas. Even with all this, the game doesn't feel dragged out. It maintains a brisk pace — like a well-oiled machine: from one scene to the next, without unnecessary filler or artificially extending playtime with monotonous activities.

How long to beat DOOM The Dark Ages side activities

For those who love exploring every nook and cranny, the completion time for DOOM: The Dark Ages can easily extend to 18–20 hours. Searching for codex entries, collectible figures, upgrade stones, gold caches, and special combat challenges will take a few more hours of your time. Although the game doesn't have an open world or traditional side quests often found in modern video games, it still offers enough motivation to stray from the main path.

The good news is that you don't have to collect everything in one go. You can return to completed levels via the chapter selection menu — this is convenient and eliminates the need to replay the entire game.

Where to Find All Wolf Statues in Doom: The Dark Ages

Doom The Dark Ages 100% Completion Time

If you are a perfectionist aiming for a complete 100% playthrough of DOOM: The Dark Ages with all collectibles, secret bosses, and weapon mastery challenges, it will take 25–30 hours. Achieving the platinum trophy is quite possible in one run if you play carefully and methodically, although most players will still need to revisit specific levels to clear missed content.

The game doesn't have multiplayer trophies or grind-heavy requirements. Everything revolves around your combat skills, world exploration, and a few challenges. The achievement list is generous but not exhausting.

Difficulty Levels and Replayability in DOOM: The Dark Ages

DOOM: The Dark Ages is well-balanced across different difficulty levels. Starting on “Hurt Me Plenty” or “Ultra-Violence” will provide a decent challenge. The hardest modes — Pandemonium and Ultra-Nightmare — are available from the start. They don't unlock new content but offer a special type of brutality and difficulty in gameplay.

There is no "New Game +" mode in the game, nor any post-game content. After the final chapter, the credits roll — and that's it. Replayability lies in playing on harder modes or attempting to find missed items, rather than typical story branches or alternative endings.

Are There Rewards for Completing DOOM: The Dark Ages?

Upon finishing the campaign on any difficulty level, you will earn new skins for the Doom Slayer. If you manage to complete the game on Ultra-Nightmare, you'll unlock a special golden skin. You can also unlock weapon skins by completing mastery challenges. Many of these can be obtained during the first playthrough.

Where to Find All Nightmare Weapon Skins in Doom: The Dark Ages

Does DOOM: The Dark Ages Have Online and DLC?

Despite the absence of multiplayer or cooperative modes, id Software has already confirmed plans for future story DLCs. The Premium Edition will include access to these expansions. The exact release date is still unknown, as are the story details. Nevertheless, DOOM: The Dark Ages is currently a fully complete game.