Despite being three decades old, the first DOOM remainsone of the most-modded gamesin the community. The iconicfirst-person shooterand its archaic engine have become a modder’s playground for crafting fun and unique maps. Sometimes it’s a new level flooded with demons, sometimes it’s a bizarre cacophony of ideas and jokes, and other times, it’s a completely new game.
8 Most Iconic Demons in the Doom Series
It’s time to take a trip into Hell as we rank the best demons in the DOOM franchise.
By now, DOOM has been ported to so many consoles –and other wild formats– that it’s hard not to be curious about the various mods out there. And thanks to the release of the DOOM + DOOM II collection onXbox, players not only get to experience the original games, along with their expansions, but they now have an opportunity to try out some of DOOM’s amazing mods.
10Revenant Bus
“We Like to Party”
Mod Creator
MarphitimusBlackimus
Revenant Bus
Some modders base their creations on movies, comics and games, yet this one decided to make a mod based on one of the worst games ever created: Penn and Teller’s Desert Bus. In this DOOM II mod, you step onto the Hell Bus and have to “drive” it from Mt. Erebus to Limbo. No, you can’t actually drive the bus, you can only sit there and wait. Meanwhile, every seven seconds, a Revenant demon teleports onto the bus, and you have to fight it using only your fists.
Revenant Bus is an utter torture, but it’s kind of brilliant that way. This is one of those mods you have to play just to believe. Plus, it’s rather impressive how the mod creator was able to make a level that simulates movement in something as old as DOOM II. This may be a joke mod, but it was a joke mod made with care.
9Mario Doom
Let’s-A Go…
Valigarmander
Mario Doom
Here’s one that’ll blow your mind. It’s the original DOOM, except the enemies, weapons, sound effects and Doom Guy have been replaced withSuper Mario. Besides the fact that this is the one and only time players will get to play as Mario on the Xbox, it’s also the only time players will see Mario with a gun.
Starting with an NES Zapper serving as your pistol, the entire DOOM campaign can be replayed with Mario as the lead. You’ll find mushrooms for health, shells and coins for armor, and even explosive barrels have been replaced with Bob-ombs. And for those who are curious, yes, enemies do bleed when you kill them.
8Brutal Doom Dehacked
The Diet Coke Version
Brutal Doom Dehacked
The original Brutal Doom is considered thebest mod in the DOOM community. New weapons, enhanced animations, and massive gore, it was the whole violent package. Unfortunately, the mod ported to the Xbox version of DOOM can be considered the toned-down version. Due to limitations, a lot of what made Brutal Doom so outstanding onPCcouldn’t be ported. It has to do with the source code the original mod was based around.
Despite these limitations, however, the mod still functions by changing the weapons and adding more animation to them. Instead of a pistol, you start with a machine gun and you can feel the difference. The shotgun, chaingun, plasma gun and other weapons all feel faster and have more punch to them as well. If you can overlook the parts that were cut out, players will have enough fun with the current version.
7Ultimate Simpsons Doom
The Simpsons Are Going to Hell
Myk Friedman | Walter Stabosz
Ultimate Simpsons Doom
In one of the more humorous DOOM mods,The Simpsonshave come to play. Evil clones of Homer’s friends and family have gone on a rampage and it’s up to him to put them down. It’s another mod where you replay the original DOOM, only the enemies have all been replaced with familiar characters from the TV show and even the HUD and some of the level decorations have been altered.
This one’s good for a laugh, seeing a game about Hell turned into a cartoon. There is, however, one important issue that players should be alerted to. Maybe it’s because of the port to console, but since the map is littered with so much color, it can get kind of trippy, to the point where it might bother certain players’ eyes. So, download with caution.
6Star Wars Doom [Bethesda Edition]
The Original Trilogy in One Package
Garrett Granger | Matt Falk
Star Wars Doom
DOOM meetsStar Warsin one of the most impressive sci-fi mods. If you love both franchises, then you’ll love this. Because this isn’t just a mod that changes the enemies – the weapons, environment and music have all been modded to mimic classic Star Wars.
Even better, players get to enjoy three different episodes centered around the original trilogy: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Granted, it feels odd having the Star Wars blaster being used as a shotgun, and the maps can be difficult, especially when you’re low on health, but it wouldn’t be DOOM if it weren’t challenging. Now, how long until someone makes a mod for the prequels?
5Going Down Turbo [Official]
It’s A LONG Ride Down
Cyriak Harris
Going Down Turbo
Some longtime fans of DOOM mods might recognize the title. Well, that’s because Going Down Turbo is a remaster of another mod of the same name. Something’s going on in a UAC office building and it’s up to the Doom Guy to investigate.
Except for one boss creature and some music, the mod doesn’t add new enemies or weapons. What it does have, however, is a phenomenally crafted map design. The levels come with moving lifts, detailed environments and a sense of progression as you encounter more demons as you continue. And unlike some DOOM mods that have only a few brief levels to clear, Going Down Turbo features over 32 levels.
Sun, Sand, & Senseless Violence
Squonker Team
Our favorite demon slayer has been to all kinds of crazy locations. He’s been to Mars, Hell, but now, thanks to Tetanus, he’s being sent to a whole new playground. Grab some sunscreen, because the Doom Guy is going to the beach!
8 Best Locations in the Doom Series
Hop into a portal and hold onto your lunch. We’re taking players to the most iconic locations in the DOOM franchise.
Tetanus stands out as one of the more colorful mods in the DOOM franchise. It’s not often you see maps using foliage, clean bases and water. Even the HUD has been given a bright redesign. If you tire of the typical fire, brimstone and metal, Tetanus is a refreshing change. Just don’t expect it to be easy, because the first level holds nothing back once you start.
A Whole New Game
Thomas van der Velden
Harmony looks and plays like a whole other game. Set in a world teeming with mutants, you play as Harmony, fighting to save her friend and the human race. Instead of just throwing players into the fire, there’s a sense of pacing and buildup. Right off the bat, you’ll notice the amount of polish and detail that went into the level design.
There are rooms with hidden items, interactive buttons, and before you know it, you’re jumped by a monster from a vent. The enemies all look and feel like they’re from a whole different game, and even the weapons you find seem familiar, but new as well. Between the amount of detail in the level design, the original music and the combat, you’ll almost forget you’re playing a DOOM II mod.
DOOM Gets Medieval
Matthew Little | Tom Jensen | Et al.
If you tire of sci-fi mods, here comes one that’s all fantasy. REKKR is an example of what the DOOM modding community is capable of. There are no demons, BFG or Doom Guy here. In REKKR, you’re a Viking warrior who’s returned home to find it occupied by hostile monsters. Using magic and medieval weaponry, the adventure is broken up into four separate episodes.
Instead of guns, you’re armed with your fists and a bow, but as you progress, you’ll come across better gear like an axe, a steel-shot and soul launcher, a runic staff and more. Along with the new weapons, the amazing-looking enemies stand out from the classic demon sprites of DOOM, and on top of that, REKKR comes with an epic original soundtrack. Hands down a must-have for any DOOM player.
1DOOM 4 VANILLA
We Have DOOM (2016) At Home
DOOM 4 VANILLA
You can never have too much DOOM. So, what happens when you take DOOM II and mod in character sprites, weapons and music riffs from DOOM (2016)? You get the most glorious mod around because DOOM 4 VANILLA is a complete blast.
It feels like Brutal Doom and a fan game fused into one. Besides their looks and sounds, the enemies fight more like in the fourth game. For example, the Pinky demon can charge at you. The guns also feel like the Doom Slayer traveled back in time with his upgraded arsenal. They feel stronger, faster and better animated too. If there’s any mod DOOM players intend to try first, then this is the one to pick.
Doom (1993)
Baldur’s Gate 3: 10 Best Gameplay Mods
These gameplay mods will transform your next BG3 playthrough whether you want to scale up the difficulty or add more companions to your party.
