Doom is a very special game to me. I know this does work for most people, but I can’t remember a demo I’d invested so much time in outside of Jazz Jackrabbit in the 90s (shareware back in the day). Doom was one of the first games I played on DOS as a kid and I didn’t even realize I didn’t have the complete game until a few years later when my dad was reading and I asked him to buy it for me “Doom II”. A few years later I started replaying both Doom games and buying them on whatever platform I owned or ended up owning. Doom and Doom II later came to iOS, Steam, Xbox 360, and received a massive overhaul in 2019, providing good ports for all current consoles, including the Switch. One of the most important games of all time deserves to be installed on every device I own, and that’s what I keep doing. I replay it often, but I think Doom + Doom II (2024) is probably my favorite version of the game.
When Bethesda and Nightdive announced and released Doom + Doom II as a single software package at QuakeCon 2024 last week, I kept refreshing the store page to download it as quickly as possible. When I finally managed to install it, I was very impressed and slowly started trying the game out on all consoles and the Steam Deck. I also refreshed the App Store hoping to get the update, but I don’t think that will happen for reasons I’ll explain later in this article.
This isn’t the first re-release of Doom or Doom II, and it probably won’t be the last, but this is in such good shape on most platforms that I find myself saying it without hesitation is the best Doom ever to come on consoles, and the PC version on Steam Deck is probably my favorite way to play this classic game. With Doom and Doom II out now on multiple platforms, and having played it on all of them to try out mods, new features, cross-platform multiplayer, and more, I decided to write about this new version of the article and compare it with the previous version.
In this article, I’m looking at the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, PS5, Xbox Series X, Steam Deck OLED, Steam Deck LCD, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 12, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPad Pro (2020). If you like listening to music while reading, I recommend loading this up from Andrew Hulshult’s new DOOM II IDKFA soundtrack, which was included in the original mix of Doom + Doom II.
“Doom” + “Doom II” 2024 version new features
If you own the 2019 version of the console, you can upgrade to Doom + Doom II for free. Doom + Doom II is an all-new release that combines gameplay, mods, multiplayer, a treasure trove of art, a new episode of Legacy of Rust (Nightdive, MachineGames and id Software), a new deathmatch map pack, Andrew Hulshult’s The legendary IDKFA soundtrack (featuring new DOOM II music) and more. It also brings a native PS5 + Xbox Series X version, which existing users can upgrade for free. It’s worth noting that the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions now support 4K 120fps, and the PS5 version also features DualSense functionality and PS5 activity card support. On Xbox Series X, it also supports quick resume.
When Doom and Doom II launched in 2019, they were great but suffered from some teething problems. They’ve since been updated to fix most of the issues, but this new version of Doom + Doom II is great, but not every platform has the same feature set, especially when it comes to mods.
Doom + Doom II mod support and multiplayer explained
Mods can be browsed and downloaded for Doom + Doom II on PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One and PC. To do this, you also need a Bethesda.net account. These mods are mods created and recommended by users. The PC version also allows you to upload mods that are not possible on any console. The Nintendo Switch version does not have a mod browser, and due to “platform policy” only gives you access to a few featured mods. Access them easily, while the Switch only offers a few featured mods.
The mobile version is still the Unity version released in 2019 with some updates but no mod browser. They now have a similar curated collection of featured mods.
One thing to note is that multiplayer on Nintendo Switch currently censors some words in usernames. While a friend and I were randomly testing cross-platform multiplayer, I noticed that some words were partially censored, similar to Final Fantasy XIV on Xbox. The advantage of the Switch is that it has native wireless multiplayer support, something no other platform has. They have a LAN option, but local wireless is only available on the Switch, which is useful if you want to play with friends who have their own consoles. On the Steam Deck, you need to be connected via your local network to perform this operation.
Performance and visual effects of “Doom” + “Doom II”
When I first booted up Doom + Doom II on the Steam Deck OLED, it felt great. Don’t let the “Steam Deck Not Supported” rating fool you. Playing, on my LCD Steam Deck, the Switch version targets native resolution and 60fps, but it’s not locked 60fps, especially in mods.
The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions target 4K 120fps, and I had no issues playing on a 1440p monitor, but the framerate did drop in some user-uploaded mods. The campaign and multiplayer I tested looked great on every platform. Some mods don’t perform well on the Switch, while other user-uploaded mods don’t even perform well on the Series X and P5.
For some reason, the main game selection menu on Xbox Series X is very laggy compared to PS5 and Steam, which are very smooth. The Switch version isn’t as lagging as the Xbox version either, which makes me wonder when this bug will be fixed.
Visually, Doom + Doom II looks incredible overall. Loading times are also very fast on PS5, Xbox Series X, and Steam Deck. Loading times on Switch are the worst, but not bad for now.
“Doom” + “Doom II” IDKFA soundtrack
Seriously? That whole part about music? I mean, that includes music by Andrew Hulshult, who is one of my favorite game composers right now. If you haven’t heard his work so far, the soundtracks he creates are amazing. Doom + Doom II includes original music, but there’s also the option to use his IDKFA soundtrack, which is basically incredible. Original music is timeless, but I don’t think I would be replaying Doom or Doom II now without Andrew’s IDKFA. The IDKFA soundtrack of “Doom 2” is also brand new, it’s like a punch in the teeth (like it).
Doom + Doom II id Vault Galleries and Museums
Another huge benefit is the id Vault. There’s a lot of art here that I’ve never seen before, like a hilarious-looking pre-release version of DOOMGUY, art pages, and more. The only downside to the vault section is that there is no sound test or music player. I hope this glaring omission will be fixed soon.
DOOM + DOOM II: Legacy of Rust Campaign
The Legacy of Rust event is a new collaboration between MachineGames, Nightdive Studios and id Software, and is the latest Doom episode. This also includes new demons and weapons. “Legacy of Rust” is also a little more difficult than the previous episodes, but it’s a lot of fun. I would probably pay $20 for Doom + Doom II for this new campaign, not to mention all the extras and enhancements.
Doom + Doom II 2024 version cheats
Currently, as far as I know, this is the only thing missing from the 2019 version. Both games were released with cheats available on all platforms. I haven’t found a way to use cheats on console yet. You can use difficulty modifiers such as not spawning monsters (which may make some levels impossible to complete), using multiplayer items, and more.
Is there a physical version of “Doom + Doom II”?
Not yet, but a physical copy is available on the Bethesda store, with a code. It’s called DOOM Anthology and contains code for DOOM (1993), DOOM II (I’m assuming Doom + Doom II), DOOM 64, DOOM 3, DOOM (2016), and DOOM Eternal Deluxe Edition, for any platform of your choice . It also comes with a SteelBook game case and a 5-inch BFG replica with LED lights and stand. Take a look below:
Will “Doom” + “Doom II” be released on iOS and Android platforms?
I can’t say for sure, but as far as I know, Nightdive’s Kex engine remaster has yet to be released to mobile. Assuming there are no technical hurdles with the engine, Doom + Doom II could happen if Bethesda wants it, but there’s no word yet. Considering we haven’t seen a new enhanced version of Quake or a mobile version of Turok yet, I wouldn’t hold my breath for them. The iOS and Android versions of Doom and Doom II launched today are still based on the 2019 Unity version and can access some mods, but no other new features have been added.
How to access older versions of Doom on PC via Doom + Doom II?
If you’re using iOS or Android, you can still access Doom or Doom II as before. On consoles, the Doom and Doom II individual games are still available. On PC, things are a little different. On Steam, you can access the original version through the beta on Steam by selecting “Last re-release” to access the 2019 version. Obtained in 2019.
The GOG version is still located in the “Owned Games” section of the launcher.
On what platform should I buy Doom + Doom II in 2024?
The answer here is all of them. I’m not kidding. If you love Doom, you’ll want it on every platform. It’s just that good. You may have gotten it for free by owning the previous version, but if you don’t, this $9.99 bundle might be the best game you can buy for under $10 in 2024.
If you haven’t played Doom or Doom II so far, I hope you grab this new version on your platform of choice. There’s a reason people keep porting Doom to everything. IDSPISPOPD.
