Common Sense Media Review
As bloody as games get -- adults only.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 35 kid reviews
Kids say that this game offers a mix of thrilling gameplay and intense horror, with many praising its atmosphere and storyline. However, it also has very mature content, including graphic violence, blood, and frightening elements, making it generally unsuitable for children, especially those under 12 or who are easily scared.
- violent content
- age recommendations
- horror elements
- immersive experience
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
The story isn't really an essential part of DOOM 3, although it does work to enhance the sense of foreboding and fear. Problem-solving skills or puzzles are limited to simple \"find the correct computer screen\" or \"listen to audio files that contain codes or passwords\" types of things.
It's difficult to see, making it easier for monsters to leap out of hiding places and sneak up behind players. The artificial intelligence of the game is also very sophisticated, with monsters working in teams to trap and ambush players. Blood is everywhere: It stains the floors, it sprays wildly as demons are shot, and is smeared across the screen when the player is injured. And the graphics of this game are designed to be the most realistic ever -- even to improve with the capabilities of computers not yet designed.
Is It Any Good?
It should be obvious based on the amount of blood alone that Doom 3 is not a kid-friendly game. However, on top of being bloody, Doom 3 is outright terrifying. The darkness and the artificial intelligence keep the player on the edge of his seat, as attacks are almost always a surprise. The game only really shines in what it was designed to do -- kill or be killed. Doom 3 is not a good choice for kids of any age.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about gore in games and movies. Which is creepier in this game -- what you see, or what you don't see? Does piling on the blood make media scarier in general?
Game Details
- Platform : Windows
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : ID Software
- Release date : July 5, 2003
- Genre : First-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate