Doom Is The Ultimate Holiday Game - Kotaku

"This article was originally published on Dec 26, 2017. To pass the time, I've been playing 2016's Doom on the Switch. I tend to lose myself in a game or two every holiday season, but never before has one clicked like this-let alone one that I've previously beaten on another platform. I've come to the inescapable conclusion that Doom is the ultimate holiday game. Let's run down the reasons."

"Blasting away my inner demons This is the most obvious of the bunch. Returning home for the holidays is super relaxing until it's super not. Family getting on your nerves? Kill some demons. Uncle wants to argue more about Colin Kaepernick? Kill some demons. Is your mind, bored and listless, probing the cracks and crevices that lead to the traumatic childhood origins of your neuroses? Definitely kill some demons."

"Bridging the generation gap The original Doom came out in 1993, when hardly anyone was alive and there were no Spider-Man movies, let alone reboots, yet. Your parents might have played it, or failing that, come to fear it after scaremongering convinced them it'd turn you into a Satanist who was too cool for them to handle. In this way, 2016's Doom can not only help you calm down after stressful interactions with your family, but also strengthen the bonds between you."

Playing Doom on the Switch during the holidays provides immersive escapism and intense satisfaction even if the player has already completed the game on another platform. The game allows players to vent holiday stress by "killing demons," turning family tension and intrusive rumination into cathartic action. Doom's punchy audio and heavy metal soundtrack amplify the gratification and help soothe anger. The original Doom's 1993 release makes it a shared cultural touchstone across generations, and 2016's Doom can bridge gaps by reconnecting parents and children over gaming lore and shared experience. The game's fast-paced combat and satisfying feedback loops make it particularly suited to short, stress-relieving play sessions common during holiday visits.

Read at Kotaku