DOOM

Hi everybody!

I'm doing my first review on a recently published board game: DOOM. This game was created by Jonathan Ying and published by Fantasy Flight Games. It is based on a really old video game (Or at least, really old to me!😉 ). I first played this game around Christmas, and I really enjoyed it.

DOOM is a board game for 2-5 players set on Mars, (and Hell!) where 1 player takes on the role of the invader, controlling hordes of demons, and the others become marines, defending the Martian bases against said demons. There are 12 missions in the box, split evenly over 2 campaigns. In each mission, the marines have to complete a certain objective in order to win. The invader can win by simply killing the marines a lot. When a marine dies, he will respawn.


This game uses the same map/tile movement as many other games, such as Imperial Assault and Descent: Journeys into the dark (which I may review someday). However, DOOM does not have the same 2-action hero system as many of those games do. Instead, you use a deck of action cards, each represented by a weapon, with each marine starting with 3 sets.


A card will have a move number and a number of attack dice. Each card is also either a main action, a bonus action, or a reaction. When you activate, you can play one main action card and as many bonus action cards as you want. You can play a reaction card when the condition on the card is met. When you play a card, you may move up to its speed, and then attack with the dice on the card.


The invader activates much the same, only each monster can move it's speed and attack once. Demons also have something called Argent Power, which allows them to use special abilities.


Demons get argent power when they are summoned. They are summoned by portals which are placed on the map during setup. There are 3 levels of portals, blue, which summons weak monsters, yellow, which summons stronger monsters, and red, which can summon the most powerful monsters.

The monsters that you can summon are determined by your summon card, which you can pick at the start of each mission.



Turn order in DOOM is randomised at the start of each turn by a deck of activation cards. This makes it unpredictable, forcing you to adapt to unforeseen moves.


Marines can pick up additional weapons, which are more powerful than the ones they start with. If you are the invader, I've got a tip for you: Do not let the marines get the Chainsaw! Don't let them!

DOOM was lots of fun to play, and a great thing to play with the family. (Assuming your family is all over 12 years old, due to the demons. They can be a bit scary. Otherwise, not so much.)

Just one note though,  DOOM is best enjoyed at 5 players, and maybe 4. This game does not play as well with 2-3 players, as the marines get bonuses that are too overpowered.




When I played DOOM, I found it to be much more balanced than Descent, which I have also played. If you are going to get one or another, I would recommend DOOM over Descent, as its mechanics are more enjoyable.

Of course, if you prefer knights and wizards, then Descent is the game for you! Or, you might get Descent as it already has plenty of expansions to expand your collection, if you're that type of guy. (You know, the one who spends all his money on useless board game expansions.)

You can buy DOOM here on Amazon.
Otherwise, Descent can be bought here.

What about you? What did you think of DOOM? Were there any parts you particularly liked about it?