How to change the difficulty level in DOOM The Dark Ages?

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 13, 2025, 22:15 IST

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DOOM: The Dark Ages offers seamless difficulty adjustments for both newcomers and seasoned players. Before missions, players can select their preferred challenge level on the Chapter Selection screen. Mid-mission adjustments are also possible via the Settings menu, ensuring the gameplay adapts instantly. Six difficulty levels range from the beginner-friendly 'Aspiring Slayer' to the punishing 'Ultra-Nightmare,' providing a customizable demon-slaying experience.

How to change the difficulty level in DOOM The Dark Ages?

(Image via id Software)

DOOM: The Dark Ages might be medieval in its setting, but it’s every bit the fast-paced, demon-slaying chaos fest you'd expect from the franchise. Whether you're here to relax and rip or sweat it out in hardcore mode, adjusting the game’s difficulty is as seamless as a headshot with the Crucible. Here’s how to change your difficulty in Doom The Dark Ages.

How to Change Difficulty in Doom The Dark Ages Before Starting a Mission?

Want to tweak the challenge right from the get-go? Easy.

Launch the game and select your Save File.
On the Chapter Selection screen, look for the Difficulty Modifiers (typically mapped to the R key or a controller button).
Pick the level of pain (or mercy) you’re in the mood for.
Confirm—and you're all set to dive in.

Changing difficulty here lets you set the tone for your run, but don’t worry—you’re not locked in.

Doom: The Dark Ages ● Settings & Difficulty Options On PS5 Pro

How to Change Difficulty in Doom The Dark Ages Mid-Mission?

Stuck in a demon gauntlet that’s too intense (or too easy)? You can switch difficulty without exiting.

Pause the game by pressing Esc (or your pause button).
Navigate to Settings.
Go to the Difficulty Tab—it’s usually the fourth one.
Adjust your Difficulty Level.
Resume and watch the gameplay instantly adapt.

No need to restart or lose progress—your current session updates on the fly.

All Difficulty Levels in DOOM: The Dark Ages (At a Glance)

Here’s a super-quick rundown of the six available settings:

Aspiring Slayer – Beginner-friendly. Massive parry window, slower enemies, and generous drops.
Hurt Me Plenty – Standard mode. Balanced challenge with no hand-holding.
Ultra-Violence – For FPS regulars. Enemies hit harder, parry timing is tighter.
Nightmare – Cranked-up aggression. Enemies are relentless, and resources are scarce.
Pandemonium – Like Nightmare, but with permadeath if you run out of Life Sigils.
Ultra-Nightmare – One life. One shot. Die once, and it’s game over.

DOOM: The Dark Ages doesn’t lock you into a difficulty level, so experiment freely. Feel free to choose based on your comfort. It’s all about how you want to play. Want to crush demons with ease? Crank it down. Looking for a sweaty, panic-fueled gauntlet? Crank it up. The game’s flexibility means the challenge always fits you.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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