Doom (1993)
Released 10 December 1993 Developer id Software
A first-person shooter in which you play a lone space marine fighting through demon-infested bases on the moons of Mars and then Hell itself, hunting for coloured keys and using shotguns, a chainsaw and other weapons. It is fast and bloody, and it is made for teenagers and adults rather than young children.
How it makes money
Fair: pay clearly, know the ceiling
Doom was released as shareware on 10 December 1993: the first episode was free to copy and share, and id Software sold the full game directly to players (the planned price was US$40). Today the official version in Australia is DOOM + DOOM II (Bethesda, 2024) at A$17.99 on Steam and Switch (A$17.95 on Xbox). It includes both games, the extra official episodes and expansions (including the new Legacy of Rust) and online multiplayer, with no paid add-ons or in-game purchases listed; online play and mods need an account.
How you pay
- Pay once
DOOM + DOOM II is a single purchase of A$17.99 on Steam and Nintendo Switch (A$17.95 on Xbox); it includes both games and all official expansions, and its ratings list no in-game purchases.
- Editions
Sold again as The Ultimate Doom (1995, adding a fourth episode), as console and mobile ports in July 2019, and as the expanded DOOM + DOOM II in August 2024.
minor part of the game
Used to, but no longer
- Try then buyremoved
In 1993 id Software gave away the first episode free as shareware and sold the full three-episode game directly (planned price US$40); the current official re-releases are sold as complete games, not as a free first episode.
What it costs
Price: A$17.98 · everything A$17.99
| What | Where | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered (full) version Planned price of the full game sold direct; the first episode was free shareware. |
Direct from id Software · DOS ↗ | US$40 | Dec 1993 |
| DOOM + DOOM II | Steam (AU) · PC ↗ | A$17.99 | Oct 2026 |
| DOOM + DOOM II | Nintendo eShop (AU) · Switch ↗ | A$17.99 | Oct 2026 |
| DOOM + DOOM II | Microsoft Store (AU) · Xbox Series ↗ | A$17.95 | Oct 2026 |
Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.
Reviews from across the web
What the critics said
Mighty
player reviews
-
8/ 10
Nintendo Life ↗
Judged the Switch port the best version on any Nintendo system by a distance, but was put off by the account-linked DRM and some small technical problems.
-
8/ 10
Cubed3 ↗
Found the port fun and cheap, but thought it could have been much better, with some odd omissions and changes.
-
9/ 10
GamingBolt ↗
Called the 2024 DOOM + DOOM II pairing one of the best game compilations and an excellent tribute to id Software's shooter.
Scores belong to the outlets that published them; follow the links to read the full reviews. Summaries are ours.
Age ratings
Classification
Age ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes). They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the badges above are for. About rating boards
Safety & parental controls
Who can talk to your child, and what can they buy?
- Voice chat
- Players can interact with strangers
- Contains user-made content (not pre-checked by the developer)
- Needs an online account
Graphic fantasy violence, blood and demonic imagery: rated M in Australia (mature themes, violence). The 2024 version has online cross-platform deathmatch and co-op for up to 16 players, and an in-game browser for community-made mods; both need an account (PlayFab) and an internet connection, and Bethesda's terms say the online service may be discontinued. The Australian rating notes "online interactivity and chat" and Bethesda lists speech-to-text for multiplayer chat, which implies voice chat; I could not confirm whether text chat exists, or whether online lobbies are public or friends-only, or whether Bethesda reviews each mod. Single-player and local split-screen (up to four players) do not involve other people online.
Platforms & release
Where you can play it
| Platform | Released | Store |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch DOOM (1993) ports from July 2019; DOOM + DOOM II from August 2024. |
26 July 2019 | Store page ↗ |
| PlayStation 5 DOOM + DOOM II. |
8 August 2024 | — |
| PlayStation 4 DOOM (1993) from July 2019; DOOM + DOOM II from August 2024. |
26 July 2019 | — |
| Xbox Series X|S DOOM + DOOM II. |
8 August 2024 | Store page ↗ |
| Xbox One DOOM (1993) from July 2019; DOOM + DOOM II from August 2024. |
26 July 2019 | — |
| Windows PC DOOM + DOOM II on Steam. |
8 August 2024 | Store page ↗ |
| MS-DOS PC Original shareware release on MS-DOS PCs. |
10 December 1993 | — |
Further reading
- Doom (1993) on Wikipedia ↗
- Doom in the World Video Game Hall of Fame (inducted 2015) ↗
- DOOM + DOOM II on Steam (AU) ↗
- DOOM + DOOM II on the Nintendo AU store ↗
- Wikipedia ↗
Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, store.steampowered.com, www.nintendo.com, www.xbox.com, store.steampowered.com, api.ec.nintendo.com, displaycatalog.mp.microsoft.com, opencritic.com, www.nintendolife.com, www.cubed3.com, gamingbolt.com, www.museumofplay.org. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.