Following the reveal of a newPainkillergame at the Future Games Show, fans of the original are giving the initial trailer a somewhat mixed reception. Released in 2004, the originalPainkiller, developed byGears of Warstudio People Can Fly, took inspiration from the original “boomer shooters,” likeQuakeandDoom. The first look at the newPainkiller, set to release in the fall of 2025, however, has some fans of the boomer shooter genre pointing out its many similarities to the modernDOOMseries.
As shown in the game’sreveal trailer,the newPainkilleris being developed by Anshar Studios, and published by 3D Realms and Saber Interactive— but while the trailer shows off plenty of classic weapons returning from the original game, like the titular Painkiller and the Electrodriver,some fans have doubts regarding the game’s faithfulness to the original. One comment from user @nobodyfresh89 on YouTube, for example, points out that “the original Painkiller had great locations[…]and this looks more like Doom.”
A Classic Title Reemerges With Some Big Changes
The New Painkiller Trailer Lacks Varied Environments, Fans Say
While the newPainkillerdisplays undeniably better graphical standards than the 2004 original or any of its many expansions or re-releases,some fans feel that the 2025 release is losing some ofPainkiller’s unique appeal. Several boomer shooter fans, likeLETT3RBOMB on Reddit, have echoed the comparisons to the modernDOOMgames, saying: “My concern is thatit all looks kinda like hell from DOOM,” as opposed to the varied environments and enemy types from the originalPainkiller.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Might Be The Perfect Solution To The Franchise’s Greatest Weakness
While the DOOM franchise has expanded on its its arsenal of weapons over the years, there’s one combat area that’s always been surprisingly lacking.
Although the originalPainkillerwas the debut title for People Can Fly, the studio is now much better known forGears of War: JudgmentandOutriders. WhilePainkiller(2004) has received several expansions and re-releasesfrom various developers and publishers, it’s never gotten a true sequel.Anshar Studios, the developers makingPainkiller(2025), are relatively unknown. Although the studio has assisted with the development of well-known games likeBaldur’s Gate 3and theSilent Hill 2remake, its original titles mostly consist of VR shooters such asDetachedandTelefragVR.
Our Take: The Modern DOOM Comparisons Are Unavoidable
Painkiller Won’t Be Able To Escape Comparisons To DOOM: The Dark Ages
While the trailer for the newPainkillerarguably invites comparisons to modernDOOM,it would be hard for the game to avoid those comparisons regardless.DOOM(2016) arguably kickstarted the modern resurgence of the boomer shooter genre, and while games likeDUSKorULTRAKILLcan distinguish themselves with intentionally retro art styles, the triple-A realism ofPainkiller(2025) makes it look more likeDOOMthan anything else currently in the genre.
31 Years Later, DOOM Is Still Getting Official New Content (& It’s Available Now)
Iconic first-person shooter DOOM has returned alongside its sequel in a definitive bundle, bringing a brand-new episode with new demons and weapons.
Notably,the newPainkillerwill release months afterDOOM: The Dark Agesin 2025, making even more direct comparisons between the two unavoidable— especially sinceThe Dark Agesseems to be embracing a more classic styleof gameplay whilePainkillerchases the speed and mobility of something likeDOOM Eternal. Hopefully, for fans of the 2004 original,Painkiller(2025) won’t end up as just a modernDOOMclone and will manage to retain some of the original game’s unique identity.
