DOOM was released by id Software in December 1993 and changed video games forever. Created by a small team including John Carmack, John Romero and Sandy Petersen, it popularized the first-person shooter, online deathmatch and fan-made modding. Its first episode, Knee-Deep in the Dead, was distributed for free as shareware, which helped DOOM spread to millions of computers. That free episode is what you can play here.

How to Play DOOM: Rules and Objectives

You are a space marine stationed on Phobos, a moon of Mars, when a teleportation experiment opens a gateway to Hell. Every other marine is gone. Fight through nine maps, from the Hangar (E1M1) to the Phobos Anomaly (E1M8), plus a secret level (E1M9) hidden in Computer Station.

• Exit Switches: Each level ends at an exit switch or door. Finding it often means hunting for keycards.
• Keycards: Blue, yellow and red keycards open matching locked doors.
• Weapons: The shareware episode includes the fist, chainsaw, pistol, shotgun, chaingun and rocket launcher.
• Enemies: Zombiemen, shotgun guys, imps, pinky demons, spectres, lost souls and the episode's boss pair, the Barons of Hell.

Controls and Movement Guide

The browser version uses the original DOOM keyboard layout, which may be adjustable in the options menu:

• Move and Turn: Arrow keys. Hold Shift to run.
• Fire: Ctrl.
• Open Doors / Use Switches: Spacebar.
• Strafe: Hold Alt with Left / Right, or use the comma and period keys.
• Weapons and Map: Number keys 1-7 select weapons; Tab opens the automap.

Proven Strategies and Pro Tips

1. Always Run: Moving quickly makes you much harder to hit. Use Shift almost constantly.
2. Strafe Around Fireballs: Imp fireballs are slow; sidestepping is safer than backing away.
3. Make Enemies Fight Each Other: If one monster accidentally hits another, they may start fighting. Use this to save ammo.
4. Search for Secrets: Odd-looking walls often open with the use key, hiding armor, ammo and weapons.

Cognitive and Educational Benefits

• Gaming History: DOOM shows the roots of modern shooters, level design and modding culture.
• Spatial Navigation: Maze-like levels and the automap train mental mapping.
• Quick Decisions: Choosing the right weapon for each threat builds fast tactical thinking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)