Since the days of the 8-bit console, id Software has been a fixture in the video game industry. This is the company that gave the gaming world DOOM, the iconic first-person shooter that ignited a whole genre and became the bane of office networks the world over. That game alone has spawned its own impressive franchise of spinoffs and sequels.
There's a lot more in the id Software catalog besides DOOM these days, although it does remain a fan favorite and has a place on most favorite lists. The composition of the company has also changed significantly since the old days. ZeniMax, the parent company that also owns Bethesda, acquired id Software in 2006. That's why the modern DOOM, Quake, and Rage games also appear under the Bethesda name these days.
12 DOOM 3, BFG Edition - 67
The relatively low rating of this remastered edition from 2012 compared to the reception the original game got in 2004 goes to prove that revamping a popular game isn't always a sure thing. It had everything the original DOOM 3 had plus more, namely a new single-player storyline, improved graphics, and an expansion pack. It even included the first two games in the franchise.
11 Orcs and Elves - 68
An early attempt at a hybrid between an RPG and an FPS, Orcs and Elves is exclusively for the Nintendo DS. In this game, the player has to fight their way through an elven citadel that includes a catacombs level along with a dragon's lair. That means adventure and items galore, like any decent role-playing game. There's a variety of weapons available like swords and bows as opposed to the usual guns or missile launchers, keeping the FPS angle of the game but giving it a creative twist.
10 Rage 2 - 73
It's not as well-liked as the original, but Rage 2 still has a dedicated fan following. The dystopian setting is part of the charm, and instead of other FPS games that confine the player to an indoor space, this game includes a lot of open-world gameplay and customizable details for each individual character. That includes a lot more than weapons. Players can also choose a land or flying vehicle, explore different parts of a vast wasteland, and choose factions to align with or fight against.
9 Wolfenstein - 74
A classic from the early days of stand-alone desktop computer games, the original Wolfenstein combined ideas from historic lore, role-playing games, and the first-person shooter POV that featured a silent but deadly protagonist.
The result was an FPS that started a whole genre. Wolfenstein was to the FPS what Resident Evil was to survival horror. The game has seen a couple of reboots since, with the latest and greatest being Wolfenstein: The New Order, which went on to spawn two sequels with The New Colossus and Youngblood.
8 Rage - 81
The first game in what became a franchise, Rage combined a gritty post-apocalyptic setting with an elaborate FPS game. The open environment, the various options for individual customization, and immersive storylines made players love this game.
It also has a lot of modern, online options. There are no less than three gameplay options available when playing Rage. There's a single-player mode with an immersive storyline, a co-op mode that lets players hook up with a friend, and naturally, a multiplayer mode for enjoying some arena-like action.
7 Quake 4 - 81
Quake 4 combined all the best features of games in the previous franchise, plus it had a few creative twists of its own. It was also the first game in the Quake franchise to utilize the same software engine that had made DOOM 3 such a hit. Like the previous installments, it was based around the FPS viewpoint, had single and multi-player modes, and featured both indoor and outdoor settings. The player was able to take on some of the powers of the enemy race this time, a definite advantage when fighting them.
6 DOOM 2 - 83
DOOM 2: Hell on Earth is one smash-hit sequel that surprised nobody. It improved on its predecessor in a number of ways, starting with putting it for sale in stores as opposed to shareware or mail order exclusively. DOOM 2 also introduced several elements that would become important fixtures in the more recent DOOM reboot series, such as the infamous Super Shotgun and an entire host of new demonic enemies, such as the Archvile and Revenant.
5 DOOM 2016 - 85
This game is easy to find on a number of top ten or favorite lists for most anticipated reboots and best-remade video games ever. DOOM 2016 paved the way for a new beginning for the entirety of the franchise, and would be followed up by the equally successful DOOM Eternal.
The game pleased both fans and critics, honing in on everything that made the original games great, then reimagining and reinventing it by taking full advantage of contemporary gaming tech to keep it fresh and gory. New and old fans alike could wield a myriad of new abilities and weapons in their battle against the monsters from Hell. Despite some initial skepticism, id really did pull through in showcasing that they keenly remembered what the DOOM franchise is all about.
4 Doom - 85
The original game that was released in 1993 still retains a strong fan base, prompting several sequels, a myriad of spinoffs, and a remastered version more than a decade later. That's just video games. There are also books, comics, and even a feature film. Considering that this game wasn't even sold in stores, it's difficult not to find oneself impressed at what a massive imprint it ended up leaving on gaming and pop culture as a whole.
3 Doom III - 87
This is when the DOOM games really started to look good by relatively contemporary standards. This game used a new 3D graphics engine that would revolutionize the whole gaming world, not just the FPS genre. Although the title implies this is a sequel, it's actually a reboot and virtually ignores the characters and storylines of the previous two games. Instead of fighting in an alternate dimension or fighting off an earthly invasion, the player has to save a research facility on Mars, a slight twist on the original.
2 Doom Eternal - 88
Just released this year, the favorable reviews from both fans and critics strongly suggest that the franchise is still going strong. DOOM Eternal is a direct sequel to Doom 2016 and once again tells the story of the lone (and rebranded) "Doom Slayer" fighting against the forces of Hell trying to invade Earth.
The game is expanded and improved in a number of ways over the first few installments. There are several different environments to visit as opposed to being enclosed in a somewhat uniform space, and the combat has been made even more intense with several new layers of gadgetry, such as the Flame belch and Crucible — not to mention deadly new demonic adversaries to bring down. Interestingly, Eternal also abandoned the conventional arena multiplayer in favor of an asymmetrical approach, casting two players as demons trying to take down a lone Slayer.
1 Quake - 94
There are a number of Quake games, and one of the favorites is still the original that was released in 1996. This game took the monsters of DOOM and the beasts of fantasy lore and put them on some kind of video game steroids. The world was populated by classic monsters, but taken up another notch in the spirit of games like Diablo and previous installments of DOOM. The game used a real-time 3D video rendering engine, a dramatic change from earlier games that had similar effects but were still essentially one-dimensional. Quake's multiplayer, predictably, took the world by storm and is still enjoys a relatively competitive scene even today.