Doom Eternal: How Long Does It REALLY Take to Beat? (And What Affects Playtime?)

Rip and tear, until it is done… but just how long will that iconic phrase actually take to put into practice within the fiery depths of Doom Eternal? This adrenaline-pumping first-person shooter sequel to the critically acclaimed Doom (2016) thrusts players back into the boots of the Doom Slayer, battling hordes of demonic forces across Earth and beyond. Known for its intense combat, intricate level design, and a relentless heavy metal soundtrack, Doom Eternal delivers a truly unforgettable experience. But before diving headfirst into the demonic fray, a burning question often arises: How long does it realistically take to beat Doom Eternal?

This article will delve deep into the playtime of Doom Eternal, providing a comprehensive answer to that very question. We’ll explore the average time to complete the main campaign, the commitment required for a completionist run, and the additional hours offered by the challenging expansion packs. Furthermore, we’ll examine the factors that can significantly influence your playtime, ensuring you have a clear understanding of the journey ahead. Get ready to arm yourself with knowledge, Slayer, because the truth about Doom Eternal’s length is about to be revealed.

Main Story Length: Conquering the Core Campaign

The primary focus for most players is, naturally, completing the main story of Doom Eternal. It’s the core experience that introduces the narrative, mechanics, and the unadulterated fury that defines the game. So, what’s the average playtime for the main campaign?

Generally speaking, most players conquer Doom Eternal’s main storyline in roughly between thirteen and seventeen hours. This is, of course, a broad estimate, and the actual time can vary substantially depending on a number of key elements. Factors such as the selected difficulty setting, the player’s overall skill level with first-person shooters, and their willingness to consult guides or walkthroughs will all play a critical role in determining the final playtime.

The Perilous Path: Difficulty Level’s Impact

Doom Eternal offers a spectrum of difficulty levels catering to a wide range of player preferences. From the relatively forgiving “I’m Too Young to Die” to the brutally unforgiving “Ultra-Nightmare,” the chosen difficulty setting profoundly impacts the overall playtime.

On lower difficulties, enemies are less aggressive, deal less damage, and are generally easier to dispatch. This allows players to progress more rapidly through the levels, focusing on exploration and the sheer joy of destruction. Conversely, higher difficulties transform Doom Eternal into a strategic battle for survival. Enemies become significantly more formidable, requiring precise aiming, tactical movement, and a deep understanding of the game’s combat mechanics. You’ll spend more time dying, reloading checkpoints, and carefully planning your attacks, leading to a considerably longer playtime. Mastering the art of “dash-dancing” and resource management is paramount, leading to a challenging, albeit rewarding, longer gameplay experience. The increase in deaths and tactical approaches is a key factor in extending playtime on harder settings.

Slayer Skill: Prior First-Person Shooter Experience

Prior experience with first-person shooters, particularly those of the fast-paced, arena-style variety, can drastically influence your Doom Eternal playtime. Seasoned FPS veterans will likely find the combat mechanics more intuitive and the enemy patterns more predictable, allowing them to progress more efficiently. They’ll already be familiar with techniques like circle-strafing, weapon switching, and prioritizing targets, giving them a distinct advantage.

However, newcomers to the genre may face a steeper learning curve. Mastering the fast-paced movement, understanding the intricacies of the weapon wheel, and learning to effectively utilize the Doom Slayer’s arsenal of abilities takes time and practice. This initial period of adjustment can add several hours to their playtime, as they learn to adapt to the game’s unique demands.

Guiding Lights: Using Guides and Walkthroughs

The availability of online guides and walkthroughs can also significantly impact the time it takes to beat Doom Eternal. Consulting these resources can provide valuable insights into enemy weaknesses, hidden secrets, and optimal strategies for tackling challenging encounters.

While using guides can certainly shorten playtime, it’s important to consider the potential drawbacks. Over-reliance on walkthroughs can diminish the sense of discovery and accomplishment, potentially detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. Many players prefer to experience Doom Eternal organically, learning from their mistakes and gradually mastering the game’s intricacies on their own. However, those seeking a faster, more efficient playthrough may find guides to be a valuable asset.

Completionist Crusade: Exploring Every Nook and Cranny

For some players, simply completing the main story is not enough. They yearn to experience everything Doom Eternal has to offer, scouring every level for hidden secrets, mastering every weapon, and conquering every challenge. This is the path of the completionist, and it demands a considerable time commitment.

A completionist run in Doom Eternal involves finding all the collectibles, including Codex Entries, Secret Encounters, Sentinel Batteries, Praetor Suit Points, Runes, Albums, Toys, and Empyrean Keys. It also entails completing all the weapon and level-specific challenges, which often require mastering specific combat techniques or utilizing unconventional strategies.

Collectible Conquest: Unearthing the Secrets

Doom Eternal is packed with collectibles, each offering a unique piece of lore, a gameplay advantage, or simply a fun visual reward. Hunting down these collectibles requires meticulous exploration and a keen eye for detail. Many are hidden in obscure locations, requiring players to solve environmental puzzles or perform challenging platforming maneuvers. The sheer volume of collectibles and the effort required to find them can easily add several hours to the overall playtime. Each collectible tells a small part of the larger story, offering valuable insights into the world of Doom Eternal and the motivations of its characters. Finding them becomes a rewarding experience in itself, extending playtime while enriching the overall narrative.

Challenge Accepted: Mastering the Combat

The level and weapon challenges present another significant time investment for completionists. These challenges often require players to utilize specific weapons or abilities in creative ways, forcing them to step outside their comfort zones and experiment with different combat styles. They encourage replayability, as players revisit levels multiple times to master each challenge. Completing these challenges not only unlocks valuable rewards but also enhances the player’s overall skill and understanding of the game’s combat mechanics.

Mastering Maykr: The Pinnacle of Challenge

The Master Levels offer an even greater challenge for dedicated players. These remixed versions of existing campaign levels are designed to push even the most skilled Slayers to their limits. They feature increased enemy density, modified layouts, and new combat encounters, demanding a high level of skill, strategy, and resource management. Conquering the Master Levels is a true test of mastery, and it can add a significant amount of time to the overall Doom Eternal experience.

Taking all of these factors into account, completionists can expect to spend between twenty-five and thirty-five hours fully exploring Doom Eternal. This is a substantial increase compared to the main story playtime, reflecting the dedication and thoroughness required to uncover every secret and conquer every challenge.

Expanding the Carnage: The Ancient Gods DLC

The demonic onslaught doesn’t end with the main campaign. The Ancient Gods DLC, divided into two parts, continues the Doom Slayer’s saga with new enemies, new environments, and even greater challenges.

The Ancient Gods – Part One: A New Crusade Begins

The Ancient Gods – Part One throws players into a desperate battle against a resurgent demonic threat. This expansion introduces new enemies, such as the challenging Spirit and the menacing Blood Maykr, forcing players to adapt their strategies and master new combat techniques. Players can expect to spend approximately four to six hours completing The Ancient Gods – Part One.

The Ancient Gods – Part Two: The Dark Lord Awaits

The Ancient Gods – Part Two brings the epic saga to a climactic conclusion, pitting the Doom Slayer against the Dark Lord himself. This expansion features even more challenging combat encounters and introduces the Sentinel Hammer, a powerful new weapon that can turn the tide of battle. Players can anticipate a similar playtime of four to six hours for The Ancient Gods – Part Two.

It’s crucial to note that the Ancient Gods DLC is generally considered more difficult than the main campaign. The enemies are tougher, the encounters are more demanding, and the overall challenge is significantly ramped up. This increased difficulty can translate to longer playtime, especially for those struggling to adapt to the new challenges.

Eternal Engagement: Replayability and End Game Content

Even after completing the main story and the DLC, Doom Eternal offers a wealth of replayability and end-game content to keep players engaged.

Difficulty Driven Delight: Replaying the Nightmare

One of the most common reasons to replay Doom Eternal is to tackle the game on a higher difficulty level. Attempting a Nightmare or Ultra-Nightmare run provides a completely different experience, forcing players to master the game’s mechanics and develop new strategies. The increased challenge can be incredibly rewarding, offering a sense of accomplishment that is unmatched by easier difficulty settings.

Masterful Replays: More to Master

The Master Levels provide another compelling reason to revisit Doom Eternal. These remixed versions of existing levels offer a unique and challenging experience, pushing even the most skilled players to their limits.

Playstyle Experimentation: Mastering the Arsenal

Experimenting with different weapon combinations and playstyles can also add significant replay value. Doom Eternal offers a diverse arsenal of weapons, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Mastering each weapon and finding the playstyle that best suits your preferences can be a rewarding and time-consuming endeavor.

The Horde Mode is another great addition to Doom Eternal, which lets players take on waves of enemies with increasing difficulty.

In conclusion, determining precisely “how long to beat” Doom Eternal is multifaceted. The main story will consume roughly thirteen to seventeen hours on average. A completionist run could require twenty-five to thirty-five hours or more. The Ancient Gods DLC adds roughly eight to twelve hours to the experience. Ultimately, the exact playtime depends on individual skill, chosen difficulty, and the desire to explore every nook and cranny.

Ultimately, Doom Eternal offers immense value and replayability. Whether you’re a speedrunner aiming for the fastest completion time or a completionist dedicated to uncovering every secret, Doom Eternal guarantees hours upon hours of exhilarating demon-slaying action.

Now it’s your turn, Slayers. How long did it take you to beat Doom Eternal? Share your playtime experiences in the comments below!