Choose DOOM 3
Choose DOOM 3 if you want the Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. 5,237 Steam reviews back the pick.
DOOM 3 vs DOOM
DOOM 3 and DOOM both land in Action on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Action games on Steam. DOOM 3 (2012) is 4 years older than DOOM (2016). DOOM scores higher on Steam reviews (95.6% positive) than DOOM 3 (84.1% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose DOOM
Choose DOOM if you want the Color Alternatives, Stereo Sound, and Surround Sound side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 95.6% positive across 83,256 reviews.
Both DOOM 3 and DOOM sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 DOOM 3 |  DOOM | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2012 | 2016 |
| Genres | Action | Action |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Verified |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 84.1% positive (5,237 reviews) | 95.6% positive (83,256 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Co-op |
| Developers | id Software | id Software |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- DOOM 3 (2012) is 4 years older than DOOM (2016).
- DOOM scores higher on Steam reviews (95.6% positive) than DOOM 3 (84.1% positive).
- DOOM 3 is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than DOOM (9.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- DOOM has co-op; DOOM 3 does not.
- Steam Deck: DOOM 3 is Deck Unsupported, DOOM is Deck Verified.
DOOM 3 vs DOOM — FAQ
- Which is better, DOOM 3 or DOOM?
- On Steam reviews DOOM scores higher (95.6% positive) than DOOM 3 (84.1% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, DOOM is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play DOOM 3 or DOOM first?
- If you want chronology, DOOM 3 (2012) came out before DOOM (2016). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are DOOM 3 and DOOM similar?
- They overlap on Action on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.