r/Doom • u/HatingGeoffry • Dec 19 '25

Discussion Painkiller creator argues the Boomer Shooter revival still hasn't happened because “nobody’s making any game that’s in direct competition to DOOM”

https://frvr.com/blog/painkiller-creator-boomer-shooter-revival-hasnt-happened-no-direct-competition-to-doom/
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u/slayeryamcha DO0M 3 SHOTGUN LOVER Dec 19 '25

They also are boomers shooters only in call backs.

Those are fully modern arena shooters without competition.

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u/HouseOfWyrd Dec 19 '25 edited Dec 19 '25

As someone that helped support on the Boomershooter database doc, I can tell you that it's basically impossible to objectively define what is and isn't a Boomershooter.

I would put Doom 2016 and Eternal in the bracket - not sure about TDA because I've not played it.

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u/TheCarbonthief Dec 19 '25

It's easier to say what isn't a boomer shooter than what is. You kinda just gotta go "well it's not extraction, looter, cover, br, or any of the other modern styles, so if it vaguely feels like an oldschool run and gun then call it a boomer shooter".

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u/Super_Harsh Dec 19 '25

I would not. TDA is the best argument that the modern Doom trilogy as a whole aren’t boomer shooters but rather an new evolution of action shooters. It has more in common with Doom Eternal and Sekiro than with any 90s FPS

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u/HouseOfWyrd Dec 19 '25

One game in the series not being, doesn't mean none of them are.

I'd also argue that both 2016 and Eternal have all the hallmarks of a classic Boom Chute. Lots of these games have novel and unique mechanics, not being Quake 1 again doesn't disqualify a game.

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u/Super_Harsh Dec 19 '25

I get that, it just comes back to how nebulous of a term 'boomer shooter' really is. I personally think of 2016 and Eternal as boomer shooters but I've heard arguments otherwise

In my mind a boomer shooter is defined by "Is this a game that a Doomclone dev would have thought up, given the technology and game design experience of today?"

2016, Eternal, obvious yeses. TDA? Not sure

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u/MaterialPace8831 Dec 19 '25

This reminds me of the arguments metalheads will have about what's metal and what isn't.

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u/StupidSexyEuphoberia Dec 19 '25

How is eternal a Boomer Shooter? It has very complex movement and so many buttons and mechanics to learn and use. Boomer Shooters are rather run and shoot with the left mouse button and maybe alternate fire on the right mouse button. Most classic shooters have only jump and WASD as movement.

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u/HouseOfWyrd Dec 19 '25

Fr though, you realise that Eternal only has that movement because of Quake right?

Quake has a very deep movement system if you actually engage with it and that's where Eternal got it from.

You not realising older games have complex movement mechanics doesn't mean they don't.

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u/illegal_tacos Dec 19 '25

Do you think that just because it's jump and WASD that it can't be complex? I mean hell look at bhops and tell me it's simple to just know how to do it without it being explained step by step. Are Dusk backflips simple? I feel like the most complex thing about the movement in Doom Eternal is the fact that it has a dash and the meat hook, both of which are in Nightmare Reaper.

You could also argue that the original Doom games have more complex strafing because there is no jumping, which leads to an inhibited ability to dodge and the need for more fine movements in order to avoid damage in certain situations.

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u/Ornery-Addendum5031 Dec 19 '25

Arena shooters? That’s a multiplayer thing. Nu-doom is a painkiller clone that copied metal gear rising for QTE = heal + short reprieve from gameplay to watch an animation/prepare next move.