Throughout the past three and a half decades, numerous developers have made their mark on the ever-evolving world of video games. Yet, a handful have made an indelible impact that truly stands out. id Software is among the notable few. Their pioneering work on the Doom, Wolfenstein, and Quake series in the 90s have rightfully earned them a place as progenitors of the modern FPS genre. Today, we invite you on a journey back in time to delve into the entire catalogue of id Software games.
Now in collaboration with Bethesda, id Software continues to demonstrate its relevance in the contemporary gaming landscape through the revitalised Doom series. The current FPS games owe a significant debt to the groundbreaking work that John Carmack and his team accomplished 35 years ago. So, let’s journey back to the 90s, a magical era of shooter games.
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id Software Games
Established in 1991, id Software carved out an extraordinary legacy in the gaming industry within a mere five years, having crafted three of the most influential FPS titles to ever grace the screen. This remarkable success was the brainchild of the company’s four co-founders: John Carmack, John Romero (Who coined the term ‘Deathmatch’), Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack. Here, we’ll delve into id Software’s principal offerings, including the revered series crafted by this formidable foursome:
- Wolfenstein 3D
- Doom (Series)
- Quake (Series)
- Rage (Series)
While id Software has developed an array of mobile games, today our attention is squarely focused on the four primary games/series mentioned above. For those whose gaming adventures commenced post-2000, the profound influence exerted by id Software’s creations on the wider industry may not be immediately apparent. Just as we recognise the iconic status of Half-Life today, an equivalent level of respect should be afforded to Wolfenstein 3D.
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1. Wolfenstein 3D
Right, let’s make the significance of Wolfenstein 3D clear with a simple analogy. This game is essentially the grandfather of all modern FPS games. Without its pioneering presence, favourites like Call of Duty or Apex Legends may have had a vastly different journey, if they even existed at all. That’s the monumental impact of William “B.J.”, Blazkowicz’s journey. One of the best id Software games.
Launched for DOS systems in 1992, Wolfenstein 3D is a testament to John Carmack’s fixation with 3D game engines. While the gaming world was engrossed in 2D development, he and game designer Tom Hall ventured into the uncharted territory of 3D. Imagine the ripple effect of Unreal Engine 5 today, and multiply that by a hundred to appreciate the impact back then.
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The game, in which you assume the role of an Allie’s soldier infiltrating the German forces as a spy during WWII, was nothing short of breathtaking. It may provoke a chuckle, but we assert that even today, it can effortlessly outshine any lacklustre modern game if you boot it up and play. Compare it to Arkane’s Redfall, for instance — the technology from 1992 would garner thunderous applause.
While Wolfenstein 3D marked the genesis of id Software’s gaming exploits, they didn’t rest on their laurels. The modern iterations of Wolfenstein are now helmed by Machine Games, while id Software pivoted towards Doom and Quake post-1992.
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2. Doom Series
Merely two years following the success of Wolfenstein 3D, John Carmack and his team went on to develop Doom. This became not only their magnum opus in many respects, but it also represented the first franchise they developed from scratch. “Doomguy”, annihilates monsters on Mars and in hell, with its fast-paced gameplay being a key characteristic.
The original Doom has rightfully earned its status as one of the greatest games of all time. It introduced novel mechanics for its era, including varied difficulty levels, diverse weapons, and unique enemy types. It holds a distinct position in the catalogue of id Software games — even today, Doom remains the quintessential representation of the studio.
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Following the sequential release of Doom and Doom 2, id Software went on an extended hiatus from developing new Doom games, aside from the intermittent DLCs. During this interlude, one of the original designers, John Romero, was let go. Doom 3 surfaced in 2004 but with a shift towards a more story-driven and realistic design, as opposed to the high-speed combat of its predecessors.
This spark was sufficient to fuel the development of Doom 4, however, the original founders, including John Carmack, had all departed by this point. Post-2013, a fresh team within id Software took the reins to create the 2016 edition of Doom. This new iteration succeeded in carrying forward the spirit of the classic series, with its emphasis on swift combat and hard-hitting rock music. With Doom Eternal’s release in 2020, we can confidently say that the series has regained its deserved standing in the gaming world.
3. Quake Series
Now, imagine being a developer at id Software in 1995. You kick-started an uncharted genre with Wolfenstein 3D. Two years later, in 1993, you gave birth to one of the all-time greatest games, Doom. As if that wasn’t enough, you surpassed an already stellar standard a year later with Doom 2. What’s your next move?
We can’t speak for you, but John Carmack and his colleagues opted to create Quake, drawing inspiration from Doom’s success. The original Quake unveiled in 1995, was a series that honed in on Doom’s online multiplayer facet. Pioneering for its era, it still ranks as one of the best in its genre today. With Quake, millions of players were introduced to some of the most captivating online modes, especially Deathmatch.
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The Quake series, perpetually holding a unique spot in id Software’s games, has successfully traversed through time to the present day. Despite its lack of a compelling storyline, its frenzied gameplay surpasses what any other game could attempt to emulate. There are even whispers that many developers behind Apex Legends are Quake enthusiasts.
As of 2023, a total of five major Quake games have been released, with the most recent being Quake Champions — a first-person arena shooter in the same vein as the original. The current trends are unfortunately veering away from this genre, but we remain keenly interested in the direction id Software will take with the series.
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4. Rage Series
The final entry on our list, as you may have anticipated, is Rage. The inaugural game of this series, which holds a distinctive place among id Software games, made its debut in 2011. With a Metacritic average of 81, it’s safe to say it’s quite a commendable game. Its open-world design sets it apart from any prior id Software game.
Much like in Quake, the narrative and characters leave much to be desired, but the shooting mechanics are executed flawlessly. Considering that the main story takes precedence this time around, it’s rather unfortunate that it falls short in these areas. Nonetheless, it ranks among the finest FPS of the past 15 years.
Rage 2 isn’t entirely an id Software production. While they retained an advisory role, the primary development duties fell to Avalanche Studios, the creators of the Just Cause series. This very team is also credited with crafting the critically lauded Mad Max game. Predictably, while Rage 2 received plaudits for its shooting dynamics, its narrative and characters garnered criticism.
That’s our coverage of id Software games for the time being. They continue to operate today as one of Bethesda’s subsidiary studios. We’re eagerly anticipating their next endeavour following Doom Eternal. Let’s see what they’ll bring to the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does id Software’s Name Mean?
The way id Software’s name is written holds a backstory. When the founding team were still employees at Softdisk, they referred to themselves as “Ideas from the Deep”, which is the source of the acronym “id”. It’s stylised in lowercase to convey the alternate meaning, “In demand”. All sources, including the official company website, consistently write the first part of their name in lowercase letters.
Is id Owned by Bethesda?
id Software was purchased by ZeniMax Media in 2009. ZeniMax is also the parent company of several other studios, including Bethesda. So, while id isn’t directly a subsidiary of Bethesda, the latter is a larger entity within the group. Moreover, Bethesda Softworks is the publisher for all games from ZeniMax (Barring special circumstances). ZeniMax Media was then acquired by Microsoft in 2021.
Does id Software Own the Wolfenstein Franchise?
No, the development of modern Wolfenstein games lies with Machine Games. Post the release of Wolfenstein 3D in 1991, id Software hasn’t developed any main Wolfenstein games. Instead, their focus shifted towards the Doom and Quake series. They deserve kudos for their nonchalance in this regard. It is indeed admirable to have crafted the most iconic game of the FPS genre and then never revisited it.
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- My journey into the world of video games began at four, when I was first introduced to arcade machines in 1996. Over the past decades, I've been fortunate enough to witness the incredible evolution of gaming, as it has grown from a niche hobby to a thriving art. Today, I'm dedicated to creating content that celebrates all genres of games. We will talk about them at Player.me.