DSDA-Doom
A source port for Doom, Heretic, and Hexen with advanced demo recording, playback, and speedrunning tools.
What is DSDA-Doom?
DSDA-Doom is a source port for classic first-person shooter games like Doom, Heretic, and Hexen. It serves as a successor to PrBoom+, enhancing demo recording and playback capabilities while adding support for modern mapping standards and quality-of-life features. The project is designed to meet the needs of speedrunners, TAS creators, and modders who require precise and reproducible gameplay.
Speedrunners, Tool-Assisted Speedrunning (TAS) creators, and retro gaming enthusiasts who need advanced demo recording, playback, and compatibility tools for Doom-engine games.
Developers choose DSDA-Doom for its strict demo compatibility, extensive feature set for speedrunning, and support for multiple games and modern mapping standards, all while maintaining the precision required for competitive and technical gameplay.
Overview
This is a successor of prboom+ with extra tooling for demo recording and playback, with a focus on speedrunning and quality of life.
Use Cases
Best For
- Recording and playing back Doom demos with high precision
- Speedrunning Doom, Heretic, or Hexen with strict mode enforcement
- Creating Tool-Assisted Speedruns (TAS) using rewind and advanced tools
- Developing mods with UDMF, MAPINFO, or MBF21 standards
- Playing classic id Software games with modern controller support
- Testing game logic and behavior with built-in debugging features
Not Ideal For
- Casual gamers seeking a plug-and-play experience without command-line configuration or external tools
- Modders developing for Heretic or Hexen who require fully implemented features like Dehacked support or complete sky rendering
- Projects emphasizing robust multiplayer or netcode enhancements, as the focus is on single-player demo precision
Pros & Cons
Pros
Supports Heretic, Hexen, MBF21, UDMF, and MAPINFO standards, enabling modders to use modern mapping features while maintaining demo playback integrity, as detailed in the README.
Includes rewind functionality, strict mode for speedrunning, and tools for Tool-Assisted Speedrunning, allowing precise control and reproduction of gameplay for competitive and technical users.
Features a palette-based OpenGL renderer that improves visual fidelity while staying true to the original aesthetic, enhancing the classic Doom engine experience.
Offers full controller support, an in-game console, and scripting capabilities, catering to various playstyles and enabling custom automation, as mentioned in the key features.
Cons
The README lists known issues such as missing Dehacked support, incomplete sky rendering, and menu/HUD overlaps for Heretic and Hexen, limiting full gameplay experience.
A dedicated launcher is available but maintained separately, which can complicate setup for users preferring an integrated graphical interface without command-line hassle.
Advanced features like TASing, command-line options, and scripting require technical knowledge, making it less accessible for casual or novice players compared to simpler ports.
Frequently Asked Questions
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