2024 Gaming DooM Awards

We are bringing here in this article the winners of the 2024 edition of the Gaming DooM Awards, our modest annual award that celebrates mods for Doom (and/or other games of the "family") that we consider most interesting and/or fun during the period.

The deal in 2024 was the same as in previous years: our friends and collaborators sent me the names, and I also nominated some, considering any Doom engine. I made an episode of our Gaming DooM series briefly commenting on each one. The list is, as always, not in any specific order, like from worst to best or best to worst. My objective here is to suggest good things for you to enhance the classic FPS experience.

The only modification, forgive the pun, that the 2024 Gaming DooM Awards bring is that I gave a longer period to consider the winner mods, not just strictly those released in a specific year. Thus, we will have PWADs released in 2023. I think it is fairer and more comprehensive this way.

So, without further ado, here is the 39th Gaming DooM, the video where I listed and commented on the mods from the 2024 Gaming DooM Awards:

I used some music from the Synthmania's soundtrack as background for this video in certain parts.

Next, we have the mods, with their download links, videos, etc.

Content

Codename: Nomad

Codename: Nomad is a creation by Dr_Cosmobyte focused on simple and fast-paced gameplay where the player is Nomad, a soldier commonly sent to face the worst and most dangerous missions. It is compatible with Doom, Heretic, Hexen, and Chex Quest.

Nomad can use an arsenal with items analogous to the vanilla ones but more powerful. The highlights certainly go to the mugshot — made with sprites created by Craneo of a guy who looks a lot like Terry Crews (and Michael Jai White) — and the new movement gimmicks: flying kicks, slides, and the ability to use explosive barrels as weapons, which opens up many gameplay possibilities.

▶ Codename:Nomad download & info @ Itch.io

Video

Next, Nomad went to the Prometheus Reactor to face Sun Damage Omen enemies. The mods Flashlight++, SpawnProps, Doom 64 Texture Pack and Palette, Bloom Boost, Universal Weapon Sway, and Nightmare Logic Music Pack were also used:

Pvt. Stone

Pvt. Stone is a mod for Doom, Heretic, Hexen, and Chex Quest that brings a muscular, yet curvy blonde woman whose weapons range from a space-era planet blaster to a medieval sword. It was developed by Skelegant and initially released on April 15, 2023.

The mod is a very pleasant power trip. An interesting gimmick is the option to press fire + altfire simultaneously when Pvt. Stone's adrenaline rises (indicated by the veins on her hand), which will unleash her British heritage powers. Other things include the punch that restores health and so on.

▶ Pvt. Stone download & info @ Itch.io

Video

On 237º Combinações do Alberto, I played Doom 2 a bit Pvt. Stone, Iron Snail Music, 2 Mashup Texture Packs, Tilt++, Universal Weapon Sway, DGD’s PBR Shader Revamp Project, Universal Map Enhancements, NashGore NEXT e Doom Liquid Textures Pack:

Disaster Jester: Classified

Developed by LossForWords and released on July 20, 2024, Disaster Jester: Classified is a mod for Doom starring Harley Quinn, the anti-heroine from DC Comics, bringing a diverse arsenal. It is also the sequel to the acclaimed Disaster Jester, which won Gaming DooM Awards in 2022.

The story begins with the character being sent by a task force organized by A.R.G.U.S. to resolve an interdimensional crisis and rescue a special unit, Delta-Gemini. However, as usual, things go out of control — and Harley Quinn enters the scene with her usual chaotic flair.

In addition to new weapons, the mod features voice acting, a lot of dark humor, and a variety of features such as fast melee attacks, altfires, manual reloading, updated graphics, immersive sound effects, new items, HUD, and stylized screens. It also includes creative gimmicks, such as the ability to load and throw explosive barrels.

▶ Disaster Jester: Classified download & info @ Itch.io

Video

In following issue of Combined Doom Mods, I called Harley to face Payback Enemies on Chaos and Confusion and then on MAP02. I also loaded Critical Shots, NashGore NEXT, MixTP.pk3 from 2 Mashup Texture Packs, Flashlight++, Bloom Boost, Universal Weapon Sway and Synthmania:

Alice: Toys of Madness

Alice: Toys of Madness is an incredible gameplay mod for GZDoom inspired by the iconic dark adventures of American McGee's Alice and Alice: Madness Returns. Developed by Jekyll Grim Payne, from Painslayer, and released on July 9, 2024, it brings a reimagining of the weapons and systems from the original titles, adapting them to the Doom universe. Controlling Alice, you embark on a surreal and brutal journey, equipped with a creative and lethal arsenal to destroy hordes of demons.

With custom graphics, 3D models for the protagonist and her weapons, and features like double jump, quick kick, and an anti-sliding system upon landing, the mod provides fluid and sophisticated gameplay. The weapons include the versatile Vorpal Knife, the destructive Hobby Horse, sharp cards with tracking abilities, explosive bombs shaped like toys, and even the chaotic Teapot Cannon, among others. Unique power-ups like the Cake (which makes Alice grow and crush enemies) and the Rage Box (which increases her strength and resistance while limiting her to the knife) greatly expand the experience.

▶ Alice: Toys of Madness download & info @ ZDoom

Trailer

Obliterator

Obliterator, created by Lumenoth and released on September 11, 2024, is a mod with powerful weapons and frantic action that puts players in the shoes of a lone warrior facing endless hordes of demons. In a world where peace seems increasingly unattainable, the protagonist's mission is simple: use the most destructive weapons ever created by humanity to stop the advance of evil, one legion at a time. The mod's concept is to turn the player into a true force of nature, capable of obliterating even the greatest challenges.

The mod was specifically developed for high-difficulty WADs with large numbers of monsters, such as Crumpets, Combat Shock, Sunlust, and slaughters in general. Obliterator also includes extra difficulty tweaks.

▶ Obliterator download & info @ Itch.io

Vídeo

Next Tyrant120 plays Obliterator with Gothic Skins for Doom and some other stuff:

Haunting Hollow

Haunting Hollow is an 11-map gothic-themed episode for Doom 2, released on October 2, 2023. Developed by the Doomer Boards Community, this mapset is the 62nd project from this group and offers a horror gothic experience, filled with castles and other potentially dark settings inspired by the aesthetic of the Middle Ages.

While the gameplay remains unchanged, the mod introduces new graphics, music, and a rich atmosphere, along with single-player support and untested co-op options. I decided to mention Haunting Hollow not only because of the winning map layouts I had the chance to try out and the interesting theme but also because it serves as an excellent backdrop for combinations with mods featuring classic Quake elements or medieval themes in general.

▶ Haunting Hollow download & info @ Doomer Boards

Video

On Alberto's Combinations #239, I tried Haunting Hollow's Map 01 do Haunting Hollow with the weapons only edition of Fears, monsters from Gothic Skins for Doom and the other mods Relighting Doom, Critical Shots, NashGore NEXT, Flashlight++, Tilt++, Bloom Boost and Universal Weapon Sway:

Stray Jackals

Another Dr_Cosmobyte's creation released this year, Stray Jackals is a retro mod that combines various themes, bringing three heroes: one from medieval fantasy, another from the Wild West, and one from cyberpunk, each with a suitable arsenal for their style. The mod gives players the chance to control a barbarian, a gunslinger, or a technomancer hacker, each with unique characteristics — from new weapons to visuals, stats, and custom game mechanics.

In addition to the unique classes, Stray Jackals adds new graphics, HUD, difficulty levels, and even a slot machine that can appear on maps, offering bonuses to the player depending on their luck. Since the mod doesn't alter the enemies, it integrates perfectly with other monster mods, and an extra bonus is that its heroes can easily adapt to different themes. Stray Jackals is compatible with Doom, Heretic, Hexen, and Chex Quest.

▶ Stray Jackals download & info @ Itch.io

Video

Below, we have Stray Jackals being played with the Gunslinger, along with other mods like Revolution!, Outlaws Enemies For GZDoom, Creepyfied Textures, NashGore NEXT, Bloom Boost, Flashlight++, and Ballad of Blue Tiger Jukebox.

Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers

Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers is a racing game by Kart Krew Dev and the sequel to SRB2Kart, derived from Sonic Robo Blast 2, which itself was developed on a modified version of Doom Legacy. The game focuses on competitiveness and driving skill without relying excessively on power-ups. Influenced by fighting games, Ring Racers introduces counterplay mechanics that increase difficulty and provide a challenging experience, especially in multiplayer mode. It features over 60 playable racers, each with distinct characteristics, and 150 racing tracks and 60 battle arenas.

In addition to the Grand Prix mode, which includes AI races and mini-games between competitions, Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers offers support for up to 4 players in local splitscreen, as well as online multiplayer with racing and battle modes. It also features challenges to unlock content, hidden secrets, and support for custom maps, allowing players to create their own tracks and more. Although it was released with complete content, the development team will continue to provide occasional updates to make the game even better.

Links

Trailer

Wandmaster

Wandmaster is a mod for Doom created by krokots, inspired by the gameplay of Noita, allowing players to create their own magical wands and use dynamic spells to explore new possibilities in combat. With an extensive customization system, the mod offers the chance to create almost infinite combinations of magical weapons, each with unique characteristics like speed, reload time, and accuracy. The wands can even shuffle their spells, reordering them randomly with each reload, offering an unpredictable dynamic.

Wandmaster currently includes 91 playable spells, with a wide variety ranging from projectiles to special spells and hitscan. Players can also equip magical accessories such as books, orbs, robes, and rings, granting unique powers like summoning walls of projectiles or manipulating monsters with magic. A grid-based inventory system allows for expanding storage with backpacks and special abilities, while the HQ, accessed after each level, serves as a resting point to buy items, trade artifacts, and accept quests. Wandmaster also features a perk system and challenging missions to unlock new abilities and rewards, as well as resources like gibbing, artifact swapping, and a sandbox mode to test spells.

▶ Wandmaster Download & Info @ ZDoom

Video

Doom 64: Unseen Evil

Developed primarily by DrPyspy with collaboration from a great team, Doom 64: Unseen Evil is a mod that brings the atmosphere of Doom 64 to the worlds of Doom and Doom II, offering new visual and gameplay experiences. The work includes a complete overhaul, changing everything from map design to enemy behavior, reintroducing demons that were absent in Doom 64, such as the Revenant and the Arch-vile. Additionally, the mod includes the full arsenal from the Nintendo 64 cartridge, including the iconic Unmaker, and introduces a level transformation system, the Terraformer, which recreates classic maps with the aesthetic and style of Doom 64.

Doom 64: Unseen Evil also features the exclusive difficulty "Redemption Denied," which brings some of the cruelest monster placements from Doom on the PSX, adding further complexity. With quality-of-life improvements like new sounds, weapon animations, and customizable settings, Doom 64: Unseen Evil allows players to relive the classics in an even darker way.

▶ Doom 64: Unseen Evil Download & Info @ PyZone!

Video

I decided to test Doom 64: Unseen Evil with Freedoom, and the results were quite satisfying. I also loaded the mods Mapa do Sereno, NashGore NEXT, Bloom Boost, and Flashlight++:

Honorable mentions

This year, due to circumstances beyond our control, it was difficult to receive everything that was released. There must be a lot of great stuff that slipped under our radar. With that in mind, the honorable mentions can be expanded with interesting Doom mods released after the official closing of this edition. So, make sure to check back here often for any updates.

  • DOOMablo - A mod by sidav that combines the essence of Doom and Diablo, turning the FPS into a looter-shooter where defeating demons and collecting weapons and armor with random attributes is the main focus. Inspired by BorderDoom and Doom: Infinite, the mod features a progression and rarity system, with items ranging from common to mythical, and over 100 types of affixes that can modify weapons, armor, backpacks, and even enemies. This mod looks fantastic, but I didn't have time to fully explore it, so it will stay in the honorable mentions for now.
  • Eldritch Voyage - Released in August 2023 by the Doomer Boards Community, this challenging 14-map mapset for Doom II features a Lovecraftian theme, blending moss-covered jungles and ancient tombs. The episode offers a robust single-player experience, with optional co-op starts and support for limit-removal ports. In addition to its intricate maps, it includes new graphics and music, enhancing its unique atmosphere. I wanted to bring this WAD here as part of what I call the "resurgence of dinosaurs," a recent phenomenon bringing these pre-diluvian creatures back to games. Check it out and see if it's not the perfect setting for that?
  • Shadow The Hedgehog: The Hell Encounter - Developed by SGT. Denton, this is a Doom mod featuring the anti-hero Shadow, introduced in Sonic Adventure 2, with a varied and well-suited arsenal and interesting gimmicks adapted from the Sonic universe, including some platforming elements. It’s a consistent work in terms of aesthetics and extremely satisfying and enjoyable in terms of gameplay. Definitely worth checking out.

Well, that's it.

As always, 2024 Gaming DooM Awards 2024 were made in a total state of despair, in a crazy rush, a race against time, so I could at least publish the video before 2025.

But, you tell me, there's definitely some good stuff in this year's crop. I have no doubt that it was worth bringing these mods, both to promote them and to provide you with something cool and fun to expand your experience with old Doom even more.

So, until next year!

Cheers!

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