DOOM
LumiScore?Our 0–100 score for how developmentally beneficial and low-risk this game is for children. Higher is better.
Growth
35/100
Growth Value
- Spatial Awareness
- Hand-Eye Coordination
- Reaction Time
Risk
LOW
Engagement Patterns
Minimal pressure to spend or play excessively.
Heads up
Parent Pro-Tip
Before letting your teen play DOOM, preview a gameplay video together and have an open conversation about the game's graphic violence and demonic imagery to gauge whether it aligns with your family's values.
Top Skills Developed
Development Areas
Representation?How diverse the game's characters are in gender and ethnicity. Higher = more authentic representation. Display only — does not affect time recommendation.
Bechdel Test?The Bechdel Test checks whether a game has at least two named female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man. A simple measure of representation.— Fails the test
The game has virtually no named characters or dialogue, and the sole protagonist is male with no meaningful female characters present.
Parent Pro-Tip
If your teen does play, ask them to describe how they navigated a tricky level — this reinforces the spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills the game genuinely develops, and opens a conversation about strategy and resource management.
What your child develops
DOOM is a landmark 1993 first-person shooter that offers meaningful cognitive benefits centered on spatial reasoning and motor skills. Navigating its maze-like, interconnected levels demands strong spatial awareness as players memorize layouts, locate keys, and find hidden areas. The game rewards situational awareness and quick decision-making — players must constantly prioritize threats, manage limited ammunition and health resources, and adapt their tactics to different enemy types. Reaction time and hand-eye coordination are genuinely exercised, particularly on higher difficulty settings where enemy behavior is more aggressive. The level-based structure with escalating difficulty provides a natural sense of progression and mastery. For older teens and adults, the game's legendary modding community (WADs) can also spark creativity and even basic technical learning.
Regulatory Compliance
Tap a badge for details. Grey = not yet assessed.
About this game
Doom (typeset as DOOM in official documents) is a 1993 science fiction horror-themed first-person shooter (FPS) video game by id Software. It is considered one of the most significant and influential titles in video game history, for having helped to pioneer the now-ubiquitous first-person shooter.