Doom: The Dark Ages Ending Explained
Image Credits: id Software, DOOM: Dark Ages
Doom: The Dark Ages might be a prequel, but it doesn’t fall into the usual trap of ending with everyone dead and the Slayer locked away. Instead, the game wraps up with the Doom Slayer alive, in control, and still on the warpath. It avoids the “coffin ending” entirely and leaves plenty of room for more stories set in this medieval sci-fi timeline.
If you expected this game to just plug straight into Doom (2016), think again. This ending does something different.
Obviously, major spoilers ahead!
The Slayer Doesn’t Die
The big twist is that the Slayer doesn’t get buried, frozen, or locked away. He actually survives, escapes Hell, and shakes off the Tether that was controlling him the whole time. After spending the game as a partially manipulated weapon, he finishes it as a free and fully unleashed force of destruction.
It’s a turning point for his character. He’s no longer following Kreed’s orders or bound by Maykr authority. He becomes the Doom Slayer on his own terms, which gives a lot more depth to who he is before the events of the modern games.
Kreed Falls, and the Maykrs Lose Control
Kreed Maykr, the game's central manipulator, finally gets what’s coming to him. After betraying the Sentinels and handing critical intel to Hell, he’s left exposed and powerless. The Slayer takes him out, and his death sends shockwaves through the Maykrs' credibility.
By the time it’s over, the Sentinels have lost all trust in the Maykrs. Kreed's schemes don’t just backfire, but actually lead to the end of the Maykrs' influence over the Sentinel forces entirely. The alliance between them is shattered, and no one’s rushing to rebuild it.
Thira Becomes the New Heart of the Resistance
Thira doesn’t just survive the story, she becomes one of the most important figures by the end. It's revealed that she is actually the true power source Hell has been trying to track, due to her connection to a Wraith soul. But instead of being sacrificed or sidelined, she escapes with the Slayer and steps into a leadership role.
She ends the game calling for the Sentinels to trust themselves, not the Maykrs. Her survival means there’s a new generation of leadership forming, one that’s fully disconnected from divine control. If there’s another Dark Ages game, expect her to be at the center of it.
Hell Loses the Battle, But the War Goes On
Ahzrak is defeated, his army is forced to retreat, and the Sentinels survive another day. But this isn’t a clean, final victory. The demons are still out there, and the conflict isn’t anywhere near over.
The Slayer’s not settling down. He takes Kreed’s personal ship and sets off alone, continuing his one-man war on Hell. There’s no peace, no resolution, and definitely no resting. Just another chapter in the never-ending crusade.
What the Ending Means for Doom's Future
id Software has confirmed it directly; this is not the game where the Slayer ends up sealed in the sarcophagus seen at the start of Doom (2016). That moment is still somewhere down the line, but this game intentionally stops short of it.
Instead, The Dark Ages ends on a high note. The Slayer is alive, the Maykrs are disgraced, the Sentinels are reorganizing, and Hell is reeling. It’s clearly setting up for more stories in this era, whether that’s in DLC or a full sequel. There’s room for more dragons, more Wraith lore, and a deeper look at how the Slayer becomes the unstoppable figure we meet later.
Final Blurb
Doom: The Dark Ages doesn’t end with a tomb, it ends with a launchpad. The Slayer isn’t buried, he’s back in action, now completely free. Thira rises as a new leader, Kreed falls, and Hell takes a loss. This ending opens the door to more prequel content instead of shutting it, and for fans of the Slayer's early years, that’s exactly what you want.
FAQ
Q: Does this game lead directly into Doom (2016)?
No, it stops well before the Slayer is sealed away. That event is still in the future.
Q: Does the Slayer die at the end?
No, he survives and takes off in Kreed’s ship to continue the fight.
Q: Is Thira alive after the ending?
Yes, she survives and becomes the voice of the new Sentinel resistance.
Q: Is this the end of the medieval storyline?
No, the ending leaves plenty of room for follow-up content or sequels.
Q: Is Hell completely defeated?
No, they retreat after Ahzrak’s death, but the war continues.
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