Ever since id Software dropped that massive trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase, everyone's been asking the same thing. People see the fur capes, the literal shields, and the dragons, and they start wondering: what year does Doom The Dark Ages take place? It’s a fair question because the aesthetic screams medieval fantasy, yet we’re still seeing mechs and plasma weaponry. It’s weird. It’s awesome.
But it’s also a prequel.
If you’ve been following the modern "Slayer Saga," you know that Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal left some pretty big gaps in the timeline. We knew the Slayer spent ages fighting in Hell and with the Night Sentinels, but we never really saw the "origin story" of that specific era. This game is that story.
The Timeline Reality: When Exactly Are We?
So, to be blunt, there isn't a Gregorian calendar date like "July 12, 1242" for this game. Doom’s universe doesn’t work like ours. However, we can pin down exactly where it sits in the series chronology. Doom The Dark Ages takes place long before the events of the 2016 reboot, specifically during the Slayer’s time with the Argent D'Nur civilization.
Think back to the lore entries in Eternal. After the original 90s games, the Doomguy ended up in Sentinel Prime. He was a "stranger" who was found bleeding out and raving about demons. The Dark Ages covers that specific period where he transitioned from a traumatized marine into the legendary, god-like Slayer. Based on the internal logic of the series, we are looking at a timeframe that is thousands of years prior to the invasion of Mars.
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It’s ancient history. But with lasers.
Honestly, the "year" is less a number and more an era. It’s the age of the Night Sentinels. In the trailer, we see a world that looks like a brutalist version of the Middle Ages. Hugo Martin, the Creative Director at id Software, has basically described this as an "origin story" for the Slayer's rage. You aren't the invincible god yet; you're a warrior becoming one.
Why the Medieval Aesthetic Confusion Happens
A lot of fans get tripped up by the "Dark Ages" subtitle. They think it refers to Earth’s history. It doesn't. This isn't a time-travel story where the Slayer goes back to fight alongside King Arthur.
The "Dark Ages" here refers to a dark period in the history of Argent D'Nur and the Sentinel worlds. It was a time of massive, planetary-scale war against Hell before the high-tech bunkers of the UAC ever existed.
The Tech Gap
You've probably noticed the gear is a bit... crunchier.
The weapons are mechanical. They look heavy. Instead of the sleek, sci-fi Gauss Cannon, we’re getting a flail that looks like it was forged in a volcano. The "Shield Saw" is the perfect example of this. It’s low-tech compared to the Crucible sword, but it’s arguably more metal.
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We see the Atlan mechs too. These aren't the polished versions from the Ancient Gods DLC. These are the early models. This suggests we are in the earliest stages of the war between the Sentinels and the Legions of Hell. If we had to put a "biological" year on it, the Slayer has likely been in this dimension for a few decades by this point, but he hasn't yet reached the peak of his power.
Sorting Out the Prequel Logic
Let's look at the "Doom Timeline" as it stands now:
- The Original Trilogy: Doom, Doom II, Final Doom, and Doom 64. (The Slayer is still a human marine).
- The Gap: The Slayer stays in Hell at the end of Doom 64 to ensure no more demons escape. He eventually finds his way to Argent D'Nur.
- Doom The Dark Ages: This is right here. The "Year" of the Slayer's ascension.
- The Sarcophagus: He gets trapped in the cursed sarcophagus by the priests.
- Doom (2016): He is woken up on Mars.
- Doom Eternal: The invasion of Earth.
By placing the game here, id Software is filling in the "Great War" that fans have only read about in codex entries. It’s a genius move, really. They get to keep the fast-paced combat but change the "flavor" of the world. It’s heavy metal fantasy instead of heavy metal sci-fi.
Fact-Checking the "Dark Ages" Myths
There have been some wild theories online since the announcement. Some people claimed this was a "reboot of a reboot." It's not. It's a direct prequel. Others thought it might take place on Earth in the 1300s. Again, nope.
The architecture we see in the trailers—the massive stone towers, the floating islands, the gothic arches—is 100% Argent D'Nur. This is the home world of the Night Sentinels. If you look closely at the skyboxes, you can see multiple moons and strange celestial bodies that clearly aren't Earth.
What Does This Mean for Gameplay?
Since we know what year Doom The Dark Ages takes place relative to the other games, we can predict the "vibe" of the combat. In Eternal, the Slayer was a "Ferrari." He was fast, dash-heavy, and agile.
The Dark Ages seems to be more of a "Monster Truck."
Because it’s an earlier time in his career, he’s a bit more grounded. He’s using a cape. He’s using a shield. The developers have mentioned that players will feel more like a "tank" this time around. You aren't zipping around as much; you're standing your ground and pulverizing things. This fits the lore. He was a gladiator in the pits of Sentinel Prime. He learned to fight with raw, brutal strength before he had all the fancy Praetor suit upgrades.
The Dragon in the Room
We also have to talk about the mechs and the dragons.
In the Sentinel lore, they used "Wraiths" and giant beasts to fight. Seeing the Slayer ride a cyber-dragon tells us we are in the absolute height of the Sentinel military power. This was before the civil war that tore their society apart. It’s a fascinating look at a culture that was eventually destroyed by its own hubris (and some demonic influence).
Exploring the Sentinel Calendar
While we don't have a "Year 2024" equivalent, the Sentinels tracked time by "Eras."
The game seems to take place during the Age of the Wraiths or the early Argent Era. This was the golden age of their expansion. Everything looks grander because it was. Before the Slayer arrived, they were a proud, conquering race. By the time we see them in Doom Eternal, they are a ghost of their former selves, living in ruins.
Final Thoughts on the Timeline
Understanding what year Doom The Dark Ages takes place is really about understanding the Slayer's personal journey. It’s the "missing link" between the guy who stayed in Hell at the end of Doom 64 and the legendary figure who woke up in a sarcophagus in 2016.
It’s the era of the blood-stained warrior.
The game is set to release in 2025, and it’s likely going to redefine how we look at the entire Doom mythos. We’re going to see the betrayal of the Sentinels in real-time. We’re going to see why the demons fear the mark of the Slayer so much. And we're going to do it with a shotgun that shoots crushed-up skulls.
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Next Steps for Doom Fans:
- Replay Doom 64: If you want the immediate backstory of how the Slayer ended up in this "medieval" world, the ending of Doom 64 is essential.
- Read the Eternal Codices: Specifically, look for the "History of the Sentinels" entries. They lay the groundwork for everything we’re about to see in The Dark Ages.
- Watch the Trailer Frame-by-Frame: Look at the insignias on the Slayer’s armor. They match the early Sentinel designs, confirming his rank during this specific "year" of the timeline.