20 Video Game Clones Better Than The Original
5. Doom (Wolfenstein 3D)
It's ironic how Doom rip-offs popularised the term "Doomclone" even though the game itself is a clone. One year before Doom changed the landscape of gaming forever, id Software released what's considered to be the first modern first-person shooter, Wolfenstein 3D.
The Nazi-blasting title wowed players with its fast-paced shooting, maze-like levels, and immersive perspective. Wolfenstein 3D introduced key mechanics, such as weapon variety, enemy AI, and health pickups, which became conventions in the genre.
Although Wolfenstein 3D is iconic, 1993's Doom cranked things up to 11. The demon-obliterating FPS showcased true 3D environments, higher frame-rates, smoother movement, multiplayer modes, a catchy soundtrack, and enemies with distinct designs and attack styles.
More importantly, Doom has remained one of the highest standard franchises in gaming history, while Wolfenstein has been pretty inconsistent. 2025's Doom: The Dark Ages received universal praise and reached three million players within the first week. Meanwhile, the recent Wolfenstein: Youngblood received horrible reviews, and is considered arguably the weakest entry yet.
Even though Doom started off as a carbon-copy of something else the developers made, the series has rarely had a misstep in the last 30 years.