Bethesda's return to the Doom franchise has been nothing short of meteoric. Since the 2016 reboot's launch, fan appreciation for one of gaming's earliest shooters has gone through the roof. While Doom (2016) and its sequel, Doom Eternal, are tough games to master, they have still garnered massive financial and critical success. It could leave many to wonder exactly what kept this classic shooter franchise so successful.
It was recently confirmed that Doom Eternal alone has already garnered nearly half a billion dollars in sales since its release last March. That massive jump in numbers has come as a massive surprise. However, its success may be easier to narrow down once explored. A big help to the game has been its high degree of escapism. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many to go into lockdown right around the game's launch, Doom Eternal provided a much-needed escape from reality.
While fans were already in love with the franchise, Doom Eternal's story came as a surprise to many players. While gamers expected a simple shoot 'em up where the mission was to kill every demon they see, the story took a lore-heavy turn. Not only did it help explain the role of the Doomslayer, but it also helped tie together the entire franchise in a profound way. Many shooters have detailed stories, but Doom Eternal's ended up being one of the franchise's biggest revelations.
In hindsight, the story itself shouldn't have come as much of a surprise with Bethesda attached to the project. The company is best known for titles like Skyrim and Wolfenstein, which feature detailed stories that tell their narratives not just through their campaigns, but also their environments. That is why so many collectibles found in Doom carry paragraphs of lore.
Most shooters released before Doom's reboot were already intense and did their best to capture the intensity of combat. However, it wasn't until Doom that players were able to relish in the sheer brutality of it all. The strength and power of the Doomslayer can be intoxicating, and both games make sure the players feel that. From rewarding glory kills to creative weapons, there is no form of combat more gratifying than what can be found in Doom Eternal.
With how violent and bombastic games can be now, Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal have become the perfect draw to new players. The franchise's history most assuredly aids in its success, but the fun factor truly is ramped up once the new metal soundtrack kicks in and plays off the over-the-top combat.
Other franchises understand the impact that Doom Eternal has on the gaming world, and its collaborations and social media presence deserve to be celebrated. Doom Eternal had a successful launch nearly a year ago and remains successful due to the game's attention to detail, which it balances with the simplicity that made the franchise iconic in the first place.