Doom Eternal

Doom Eternal arrived on PlayStation 5 as a free upgrade for owners of the previous version and turned an already breakneck shooter into a technical delicacy. This time the Doom Slayer defends an Earth overrun by demons, and his campaign leads from demolished cities through hellish fortresses all the way to cosmic temples. The story is deliberately over-the-top, full of codex entries and mythology, but what matters is what happens between the shots — and that's one of the most elaborate combat systems any shooter has ever offered.

At its core lies a closed resource loop. The chainsaw restores ammo, brutal finishing moves drop health, and the flamethrower shakes armor loose from enemies. So you can't retreat into a corner and hide — instead you must constantly attack, clear arenas using the double jump and quick dash, and switch weapons on the fly to exploit each demon's weak points — shoot off the mancubus's cannon, the arachnotron's turret, lob a grenade straight into a cacodemon's maw. The result is something between a shooter and a rhythm game. On PlayStation 5 the game runs in high resolution with up to 120 frames per second, ray tracing has been added, and loading takes a fraction of the previous time, so you're back in the fight instantly after death.

Mick Gordon's soundtrack combines crushing guitars with electronics and is an integral part of the pacing, while the visual style leans on saturated colors far removed from grey shooters. The game received excellent reviews and sparked a healthy debate, since its emphasis on resource management and puzzle-like arenas was noticeably tougher than its predecessor's. Its influence on modern fast-paced shooters is clearly visible, and the two-part expansion The Ancient Gods adds an even harder challenge for those who've mastered the basics. There's also a competitive mode and an extensive collection of secret rooms, toys, and references to older entries in the series, rewarding exploration of the levels between battles. Anyone looking for a shooter that won't let you catch your breath for even a second won't find many better choices on PlayStation 5.