Doom Just Got Even Easier To Play
Doom has always been the game that runs on everything. People have managed to get it running on pianos, printers and even through gut bacteria. You can play the original Doom in a web browser, buy updated official releases, or dive into fan made source ports. Yet somehow, the classic shooter has just become even more accessible.
A new project called DoomScroll lets you instantly browse and play thousands of Doom mods directly in your browser. No setup, no file hunting, no source ports to configure. Just scroll, click and start blasting demons.
DoomScroll is the work of software engineer James Baicoianu and internet archivist Jason Scott. They spent years putting it together and released it to celebrate the 32nd birthday of Doom. Their goal is simple: make decades of work from one of the most creative modding communities in gaming instantly playable for everyone.
What DoomScroll Actually Does
DoomScroll is essentially a massive interactive archive of Doom WADs. WADs are Doom’s level and data files, and they are the backbone of the game’s modding scene. Over the last three decades, fans have built everything from simple beginner maps to full blown conversions that barely resemble the original game.
When you open DoomScroll, you are greeted by a huge mosaic of Doom inspired visuals and a grid of small info panels. Each panel represents a WAD and shows:
- The map or project name
- The author
- A short description
- A spinning wireframe preview of the level layout
Clicking a panel zooms you into a virtual laptop screen that displays a more detailed overview of the chosen WAD. Below that, the wireframe views keep spinning, and you can click them to bring up an interactive automap of the level. From a menu at the top of this virtual laptop, you can choose to play the WAD.
Once you hit play, DoomScroll uses an emulator in your browser to boot you straight into that custom map from a pistol start. The controls are what PC players expect today, with modern keyboard and mouse support, so there is almost no friction to jumping in and experimenting with different creations.
The result is dangerously addictive. It is incredibly easy to lose track of time as you scroll through decades of fan work, trying out one wild idea after another with a single click.
The Good, The Bad, And The Modding Drama
Like any ambitious web based project, DoomScroll is not perfect. Some WADs simply do not work properly in the current emulator setup. Doom modder and YouTuber Major Arlene, who has tested the site, points out that technical limitations mean certain projects either fail to load or do not behave as intended. One example is a WAD called Army of Darkness, which for some users just produces a black screen.
There is also a more serious concern around permissions and proper credit. The Doom mapping community has long dealt with problems related to unauthorized redistribution. Some creators only want their files hosted on specific sites and with full documentation. Right now, DoomScroll does not provide a clear way for users to verify where each WAD came from or whether it is being shared in line with the author’s wishes.
Major Arlene notes that this lack of sourcing transparency can create friction, since past archives have had issues with incomplete or incorrect credits. Even so, she still describes DoomScroll as a fantastic idea. For most players it is an incredible way to explore the history of Doom mapping, discover forgotten gems and see how level design has evolved over the years.
Despite the issues, the overall reaction from the community leans positive. DoomScroll is both a preservation effort and a playground, making it easier than ever for newcomers to understand just how deep and creative the Doom modding scene really is.
Doom’s Ongoing Legacy On PC
DoomScroll arrives at the end of a busy year for the series. On the official side, id Software released Doom: The Dark Ages, another bold twist on the classic formula. The game has already seen a significant update that reworks its customizable arena mode, called the Ripatorium. The developers want to highlight the most intense player made scenarios by eventually offering the best community creations as selectable presets, continuing the long tradition of embracing user content.
At the same time, the Doom modding ecosystem has had its own internal shakeups. GZDoom, one of the most popular and feature rich Doom source ports, was declared effectively dead by key contributors after they split from the project. Tensions came to a head after its creator introduced AI generated code, leading to a community wide debate and a mass departure of developers. It is a reminder that even long running open projects can face sudden and dramatic changes.
Meanwhile, Doom co creator John Romero is still pushing forward with new first person shooter ideas. His studio had a major project cancelled by Microsoft earlier in the year, but managed to survive and salvage much of that work. Romero says their next, smaller FPS aims to feel fresh to players in the way Elden Ring did when it launched, suggesting a focus on new experiences rather than simple nostalgia.
All of this underlines how powerful Doom’s legacy is on PC. You have a classic game that still runs almost anywhere, an active modding scene that continues to experiment, a new web archive that makes thousands of mods available in one scrollable interface, and modern shooters that still draw inspiration from what id Software started in the 90s.
If you love PC shooters, DoomScroll is worth checking out. It is part time machine, part museum, and part endless playlist of demon slaying arenas, all running right inside your browser.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/im-never-getting-any-work-done-ever-again-thanks-to-this-website-that-lets-me-play-thousands-of-user-made-doom-levels-in-my-browser/
