The Best Classic Doom Campaigns of All Time
Doom has spawned countless mods and level packs over the decades, but the downside is that finding the good stuff can be difficult. Here, you can find an assortment of the coolest classic era content, handpicked by us for your convenience.
These are not listed by release date or in any particular order, and we only include releases from (usually) 2009 and earlier. We have a similar page for the modern stuff, which you can find here.
Do note that mere fame, such as how acclaimed the wad was at the time, is not enough to earn a place on this list. Aliens TC and Simpsons Doom were a big deal at the time, for example, but have aged horribly. Only those levels and mods that have stood the test of time are included here.
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Mapping jams have been around in the Doom community for a very long time, and while not the first to do so (that honor arguably goes to Memento Mori, which incidentally you can also find here), the Community Chest series helped cement the concept by demonstrating that a full megawad could be created while retaining consistently high quality, provided that enough talent participates. The first attempt was subpar, sadly, but subsequent releases were much higher quality and very much worth playing.
Many regard Alien Vendetta as the
greatest megawad of the early 2000s, which is hardly surprising given the big names involved. Its design philosophy would go on to influence many later megawads, so its legacy extends well beyond its release. It's not an
easy set, so you may want to play on HMP unless you'e looking for a challenge.
A tight levelset by several respected mappers, released just as the last century, and with it that era of Doom mapping, came to an end. Not much else to say, really. It's good. Go play it.
Usually, we lump direct sequels and
prequels together as part of the same entry, but in this instance, it has almost nothing in common with its predecessor other than being worth checking out. The level design and texturing are clearly inspired by Quake II, which makes
the levels look unusually realistic compared to the more abstract sci-fi aesthetic common to classic Doom. The gameplay is solid as well. If 'Doom II + Quake II' sounds like a good combo to you, that is exactly what you are getting.
Scythe,
Scythe 2,
and Scythe X
Both Scythe and its sequels are renowned for their short yet satisfying maps. Unlike many Doom levels who are often big sprawling mases, the Scythe series can be thought of almost like a mini-golf version of Doom; levels are short and to the point, and can often be beaten in just a few min if you know where you're going. Sadly, the third installment was never entirely finished, though it still has an episode's worth of content that is worth playing.