DOOM: Arena Board Game Brings the Iconic Shooter to the Tabletop

The Video Game Classic Becomes a Tabletop Battle

After decades of demon-slaying on screen, DOOM is officially entering the world of board games with a fully licensed adaptation developed by Glass Cannon Unplugged, the same studio behind Frostpunk: The Board Game and Dying Light: The Board Game.

The new project, DOOM: Arena Board Game, was unveiled in early November 2025 and immediately went live on Kickstarter, where it’s already generating massive attention from both gamers and tabletop fans.

Unlike previous DOOM board game adaptations, this one focuses purely on arena-style combat, blending tactical miniatures play with the adrenaline and chaos of the video game series. The developers describe it as a “brutal, compact, and competitive experience” designed for both casual and expert players.

How It Plays

In DOOM: Arena Board Game, two to four players battle through modular maps using squads of Marines and demonic creatures. The game features asymmetrical gameplay – one player controls the invading Hell forces, while the others team up as heavily armed Marines.

Each character has a custom deck of ability cards, weapon loadouts, and limited resources that mirror the fast-paced, ammo-management feel of the DOOM games. The action is round-based, but combat is quick and lethal, emphasizing movement, positioning, and combos over luck.

The miniatures have been a major talking point: early prototypes show highly detailed models of iconic DOOM monsters – including the Cacodemon, Revenant, and Baron of Hell – alongside power-armored Marines wielding the franchise’s signature weapons.

Designed for Speed and Intensity

According to Glass Cannon Unplugged, DOOM: Arena is intended to be learnable in under 15 minutes and playable in 45–60 minutes, making it more accessible than many heavy strategy games.

The designers say the rules are built to capture “the heart of DOOM – movement, momentum, and mayhem.” Instead of dice-heavy randomness, combat is resolved through deterministic card play and line-of-sight tactics.

Fans familiar with other arena-style titles like Unmatched or Star Wars: Shatterpoint will recognize the structure, but the DOOM flavor and brutal pacing set it apart.

Kickstarter Campaign & What’s Included

The Kickstarter campaign launched on November 7, 2025, and includes multiple pledge tiers. The base set features:

• Modular arena tiles
• Over 40 miniatures (Marines and demons)
• 100+ cards for weapons, abilities, and upgrades
• Scenario and solo-mode rulebooks

Higher pledge levels offer expansion demons, holographic dashboards, and metal dice modeled after the DOOM Eternal ammo counters.

Funding goals were surpassed within hours, with stretch goals already teasing new map tiles and demon types.

DOOM Joins the Board Game Boom

The announcement comes amid a surge of video-game-to-board-game adaptations, joining titles like Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and The Witcher: Old World. Each has shown that the translation from console to tabletop can work when gameplay depth matches theme – and DOOM’s intensity may give it the edge.

The launch also highlights the broader trend of board games and card games expanding into multimedia franchises – appealing both to hardcore tabletop enthusiasts and new players drawn by familiar digital brands.

When & Where to Get It

DOOM: Arena Board Game is available now on Kickstarter, with delivery planned for late 2026. Retail availability hasn’t been confirmed yet, but if previous Glass Cannon Unplugged projects are any indication, a standard edition should follow post-campaign.

For now, fans can back the project, explore gameplay previews, and see all available pledge options on Kickstarter.

You can find more guides and breakdowns of modern board and card games at Playiro.com.