id Software

id Software at a Glance

id Software stands as a major force in the shooter genre, having released 54 titles across nearly three decades of operation. Founded in the United States in 1991, the company has evolved from a DOS developer into a studio that supports modern consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Their catalog is heavily dominated by shooters, which account for 44 of their total games. While they have also touched on role-playing, adventure, and platform genres, the vast majority of their output remains focused on fast-paced action. The quality of their work shows a clear trend over time. Their average rating sits at 75.5 out of 100 based on 36 rated titles. The breakdown reveals that 14 of these are considered great, while 19 are good. There are only two mixed ratings and one poor rating in their history. This suggests a generally high standard for their releases. Their most successful era appears to be the 1990s, where they produced 23 games including The Ultimate Doom. That title from 1995 holds an 88.2 rating, which remains a benchmark for the studio. In recent years, id Software has continued to focus on its flagship franchise. The 2016 reboot of Doom and its 2020 sequel, Doom Eternal, both secured high scores above 85. They also released a new Doom 3 game in 2019 with an 89.1 rating. Even recent titles from August 2024, such as Doom II and the Master Levels for Doom II, have received decent scores of 78.1 and 70.1 respectively. The studio is currently active through 2025, with Doom: The Dark Ages scheduled for release in May 2025 to an expected 85.5 rating. Despite their strong presence on PC and legacy support for DOS, they have also expanded to Mac, Nintendo Switch, and various mobile platforms. Their portfolio spans from the early days of Wolfenstein and QUAKE to modern entries like RAGE. The studio operates under ZeniMax Media Inc., yet maintains a distinct identity through its technology leadership. While their output has slowed in the 2000s with only eight games released, they have returned to producing a steady stream of content in the last two decades. Their reputation rests on delivering solid shooters rather than experimental genre-bending projects.

Release Timeline

Rating Distribution