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Kirby with headphones

DoomKit

A MegaCollection Kits

★ marks things I personally have played and recommend. Please let me know of anything else I could add in the comments at the bottom.

Doom

The well-known hit FPS that runs on anything

Classic id Tech 1 Games

Main Games: Doom (Full Version: The Ultimate Doom), Doom 2
Final Doom Expansions: TNT: Evilution, The Plutonia Experiment
Extra official add-on: No Rest for the Living

Other Games: Heretic (Full version: Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders), Hexen: Beyond Heretic (Expansion: Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel), Strife: Quest for the Sigil (Re-released as The Original Strife: Veteran Edition), Chex Quest (Alternative download of the original version), Hacx

Source Ports

GZDoom is the primary way to play in a modern context. Extends the Doom engine dramatically too, most mods only run on it. Will need some configuration though, see the bottom for suggestions. Eternity Engine also gets a mention, if only because it runs the acclaimed Heartland.

For multiplayer, Zandronum is the main offering due to supporting ZDoom and GZDoom mods. Alternatively, ZDaemon comes with progress and EXP tracking while Odamex is portable and open-source. Q-Zandronum is a Zandronum fork with better netcode and the ability to do Quake movement.

To get as close as possible to a classic experience, Chocolate Doom is what is needed, or Crispy Doom to play with a few more features, like a higher resolution and removal of engine limits. PrBoom+ is an old and famous engine, and has a fork with extra tools called dsda-doom. Doom Retro has a very nice look.

The official release on Steam runs in Unity. It also works fine.

As bonus suggestions, WAD Commander (mentioned in Freeware) can play WADs in the browser and works as a web app on phones, while Delta Touch brings the source ports to a native Android app. BIG Vanilla Wad Pack (Maximum Doom the way 'Kid Did) is a whole pack of WADs prepackaged and set up for a DOS environment. QuestZDoom and GZ3Doom are VR ports. VKDoom is a new fork of GZDoom built for modern computers, with a rewritten Vulkan render.

Console Ports to PC

PsyDoom backports the PlayStation versions to PCs, Phoenix DOOM for the 3DO version, and Doom64 EX recreates the N64 game.

Utilities

ZDoom Launcher makes launching WADs way easier than having to make .bat files or drag and drop the WADs. As an alternative, Doom Launcher can also download the WADs. Or try Harkos's Doom Launcher. GZDeck is a GZDoom launcher designed for the Steam Deck. PortaDOOM works like a '90s diskzine. Doomseeker is a good matchmaking tool that can automatically download required WADs. WadSmoosh can merge all the classic WADs (and Sigil, below) into one megawad.


Original

The original WADs can be extracted from any Doom release. GZDoom can also detect the WADs in the folders for the Steam or GOG (Doom 2) ports if you don't want to bother. Alternativley, you can use FreeDoom instead (Blasphemer for Heretic).

Utility

The Minor Sprite Fixing Project touches up some stray pixels and other mistakes. Also features links to Heretic and SIGIL sprite fixes as well as compatability patches for some WADs and a Heretic Widescreen-friendly patch. Simple HUD Addons ★ is a compilation of helpful HUD tweaks. m8f's toolbox has some useful utilities, such as Autoautosave ★ and TargetSpy ★. I also use DamNums ★ for damage numbers. Cameraman can make movies. Toby Accessibility Mod is an entire preconfigured GZDoom and mod for the blind. PyWeaponWheel ★ is a weapon wheel that can work with many weapon mods. Simple Slots (Github) adds a quick weapon switch button. Vanilla Essence ★ lets you make GZDoom look vanilla with the push of a button, configurable in many ways. Here's a High Res SFX pack. Damage HUD Indicators adds radial damage markers.

FlexiHUD is an extremley customizable HUD replacement that adds many of the features other mods do.

Graphics

Beautiful Doom to make everything look prettier. Smooth Doom to add more animation frames. Smooth Doom MBF21 is a version that works on some non-ZDoom source ports. And Tilt++ for Quake-style camera tilting. Dead Marine is a major mood overhaul that also adds ambient sound effects and a new HUD. Voxel Doom II replaces the sprites of the monsters and items with 3D voxels that blend in seamlessly. CBLOOD Ultimate Edition replaces the blood colors of some monsters to match their sprites, but does it at runtime for perfect compatability with other mods.

If you want gore, Nash's Gore Mod is the original mod. The current latest version is NashGore NEXT, which comes after Vengeance Edition and the original. Droplets: Simulated Blood adds realistic and subtle blood effects. Universal Gibs is customizable and can use vanilla blood, and therefore compatible with other gore mods.

Maps

Going Down is a good and famous megawad (and has a special edition designed for faster gameplay, Going Down Turbo), as is Ancient Aliens. Back to Saturn X E1: Get Out Of My Stations and E2: Tower in the Fountain of Sparks are also highly regarded. Thatcher's Techbase has a silly premise and fantastic music. Heartland, mentioned above, is very detailed. Lullaby ★ looks beautiful. Impossible: A New Reality ★ is mindbending.

Scythe and its sequel are well regarded megawads, and so is Eternal Doom. lilith.pk3 ★ is glitch art and requires the discontinued ZDoom. DEFY THE OMPHALOS ★ is a followup that doesn't. Works of the Masters ★ is a a "Deluxe Edition" of the Master Levels for Doom II, featuring WADs present in the original release and rejected. GROVE has Myst-like puzzles. The Given is a massive and detailed puzzle map. A.L.T. is like a fever dream. Sunder is also worth a shout-out. Void is colorful. Void And Rainbow looks majestic. dead.wire and spiritual sequel dead.air are scary. Stardate 20X6 and sequel Stardate 20x7 are about the color purple. Portraits of Doom is a Doom 1 mapset with a NG+ that adds Doom 2 features. Oops... All-Ghosts! are short levels built around the ghosting glitch.

SIGIL and it's sequel are literally made by Romero. Both versions also have paid versions with a soundtrack (this one is for SIGIL 1). John also made Tech Gone Bad, a replacement for E1M8. Arcadia Demade is a demake of the Bioshock level by its primary designer (Blog post).

Gameplay

MetaDoom ★ brings elements of all the Doom games together. Treasure Tech ★ is inspired by the Wario Land series. Highway Acceleroid Booster is inspired by Mega Man X. Hideous Destructor turns Doom into a tactical realism shooter, with demons. The Hideous Destructor Bootcamp is recommended for the former. Russian Overkill ★ gives you ridiculous weapons. Doom Delta adds pre-release elements. Doom 4 Doom and Doom4: Death Foretold add stuff from modern Doom. Doom 4 Vanilla is notable for being able to run without a source port, on MS-DOS. Corruption Cards ★ adds rougelike-style modifiers. Combined Arms (Gaiden) has NES themed weapons and a complementary monster set, Malefactors. The arsenal of Space Hunter is themed after the original Metroid. GMOTA let you play medieval themed characters. Mr. Friendly ★ turns any Doom level into Animal Crossing. Doom Fighters changes your moveset into a brawler. Doom Shinobi turns you into a ninja. Project MSX changes the game to be more like Halo. Here's a list of a bunch of Monster Packs. Dead Marine REDUX is a version of Dead Marine (above) that adds gameplay tweaks. GZChaos stacks on mutators over time. Doomer7 ★ adds the Killer7 team and mechanics. Cruelty Squad does the same for Cruelty Squad, including how reloading works.

Gun Bonsai adds a levelling system with upgrades to weapons, see also SoM's addons. Doom 64: Unseen Evil can change the atmosphere of vanilla maps into the Doom 64 style.

Fun

The NUTS.wad trilogy are maps with so many enemies your computer might lag processing all of their AI (or just rendering them). Doot gives you a trumpet. RooL spins the sprites. DooD reverses everything by half. DooW flips everything upside-down, Extreme Weapon Pack ★ makes the arsenal more intresting. The Massmouth series (2, Christmas prequel) are weird. The Call of Dooty trilogy (third game) are parodies. Typist turns Doom into a typing game. Linear Doom is all of Doom 1 in a hallway. Liquidated Doom sets the map underwater. PhilosoDOOM makes you think.


Conversions

Batman Doom (Reborn, Github page) is one of the oldest. REKKR is also well-known, and even has a standalone Steam release with an extra episode (paid). Shadow Of The Wool Ball ★ and sequel Rise Of The Wool Ball ★ are more Wolfenstein-like. Doom Mower adds a lawnmower. DooM: Revenge of Evil aims to put Doom 3 into Doom. Unreal RPG demakes Unreal Gold while adding RPG elements.

The Adventures of Square ★ is a fantastic, cartoony take on the formula. Action Doom ★ (Rampage Edition, port to modern engines) ★ turns Doom into a Contra-style game. Action Doom 2: Urban Brawl ★ (Reloaded, download this) ★ turns it into a beat-em-up. Ashes 2063 (Enriched Edition) and Afterglow turn it into post-apocalyptic shooters. Total Chaos turns it into survival horror.

There's still more. Solace Dreams is Dark Souls horror. Memoirs of Magic ★ is an action RPG. Lycanthorn ★ and its sequel, Rain of Beasts ★ (Steam), are Castlevania-style adventures. Shrine (Steam) and Shrine II (Steam), from the same dev, are about fighting an eldritch horde. Castlevania: Simon's Destiny ★ is a fan reimagining of the first NES game. Doom: The Golden Souls (Remastered) ★ features a colorful Mario-like aesthetic. The sequel ★ adds a world map and proper platforming. Operation Echo is a 2D, sidescrolling shooter. The Forestale (Steam, paid) is a 2D platformer. nu//void is a black and white puzzle platformer. Wolfenstein: Blade of Agony ★ is an old-school WW2 shooter.

I'm still not done. A Boy And His Barrel ★ is a Portal like puzzle game. Pirate Doom ★ is a wonderful adventure with a sequel. Abysm: Dawn of Innocence and Abysm 2: Infernal Contract are RPGs, complete with a hub. Aliens: Eradication has 4 classes. Snap the Sentinel ★ is a 16-bit styled run-and-gun adventure. TIME TRIPPER is chaotic. Skulldash: Expanded Edition ★ is an arcade-style high-score chase. The Ghoul's Forest series are horror themed maps. AUGER;ZENITH is a cyberpunk campaign. BLOOM ★ is a crossover with Blood and an unbelievably good soundtrack. Reelism ★ and its sequel ★ are an arcadey survival mode. Hellshots Golf is golf. Paradise is just some maps with some effects and a gameplay mod to go with them. Trench Foot is set in a Cthulhu/Warhammer 40K inspired universe.

Knee-Deep in ZDoom is an E1 remake with the power of ZDoom. Knee-Deep in Knee-Deep in ZDoom ★ is a more recent demake that ports it to all the older engines. Return of the Triad is a Rise of the Triad themed TC. Doom 64: Retribution is the N64 game remade in the GZDoom engine. Myhouse.wad ★ is the most impressive recreation of a house made in Doom you might ever see. The Thing you can't Defeat ★ is an experimental WAD in a similar vein that works best if you're familiar with Doom 1 E1. DipSwitch ★ turns Doom into an arcade game. Doom Infinite ★ turns it into a rougelike.

On the multiplayer side, Mega Man 8-bit Deathmatch ★ is an 8-bit styled arena shooter with a campaign (and its own mods, this video showcases Community Class Based Modification, Community Hotel, and Vs. Saxton Hale, relatedly, see MM8BDM Fishing), while Quake Champions: Doom Edition ★ is basically a classic FPS crossover game, playable as an arena shooter or as a co-op gameplay mod. DoomWare ★ is multiplayer WarioWare, and super fun. Jumpmazes are platforming challenges. Push is just about kicking everyone off platforms. WhoDunIt: The Art of Deception is Mafia/Werewolf/Among Us.


Find More

Doomworld hosts most of the PWADs, as well as the /idgames Archive database. The ZDoom forums also feature many mods. For recommendations, look through the Cacowards. Or just look through the add-ons included with the commercial Unity port. ONEMANDOOM's WAD Reviews is another good place to browse. Also try Doomworld's Top 100 Maps list or their Missed Cacowards. The Doom Retro Github Wiki also has a list of recommendations.

Make

Ultimate Doom Builder for making maps. SLADE for editing WADs. OTEX for textures. Kinsie's Gameplay Mod Test Map for testing gameplay mods.

Other Sites

Doom Wiki, Doomshack, Wadazine, Wad Archive, Multiplayer Doom Federation, The Kinsie

POOM (Doom on PICO-8), DRL: Doom RougeLike (mentioned in freeware), Reverse Engineered Source Ports for Doom RPG (Github) and Doom II RPG (Github)

Youtube: ICARUSLIV3S, decino, borogk, Doomkid, James Paddock

Twitter: @doom_txt, Tweet2Doom, Doom Engine Games Megathread by @DominicTarason (Thread Reader Mirror)

Tumblr: It Runs Doom

Neocities: Dannarchy (Doom page)

Notes


Background from here.

Suggest more in the comments!