Doom Eternal's levels are significantly larger than any previous installment in the franchise.  In a recent interview, game director Hugo Martin revealed that despite the expansive level design, players won't spend "two hours" just exploring.

Martin explained that Doom Eternal's combat requires ample space for players to execute tactical maneuvers, such as circling to evade demon attacks.  He described the upcoming first-person shooter's levels as "the biggest environments we've ever made."

He also addressed the rationale behind this design philosophy, noting that players expect a fast-paced experience without excessive downtime. While the levels are vast, Martin assures players with a penchant for collecting that there will be ample opportunity for exploration.

"I don't think you want to spend two hours in a Doom level," Martin said. "You want them to have a nice, cohesive experience, so about an hour is pretty good. But if you're a completionist, you can definitely extend that."

He elaborated on the diversity players can anticipate in Doom Eternal, with levels segmented into various themes.  He offered an example of starting in a dungeon-like environment and transitioning to a more open area.

"You might start in a more dungeon-like space, and then in the latter half of the level, you break out into a more open area," Martin explained. "We try to make sure there's a nice variety."

Previously, Martin and executive producer Marty Stratton described Doom Eternal as id Software's most ambitious game to date. Martin also mentioned the game is "quite long" and includes optional content.

"I think that manifests itself mainly in hidden collectibles," he said regarding the optional content.  "If you explore every nook and cranny, and you’re a completionist, you’re definitely going to extend your gameplay experience significantly."

In the same Q&A, Martin discussed determining the appropriate level length, stating that an hour is an ideal playtime for players.

"We don't want levels to overstay their welcome. We don't want them to be exhausting," he explained.  "I think around an hour is good, nothing more than that. So honestly, a lot of the work we do is refining it to make sure it stays within that zone.  But it's going to be a large campaign."

While Doom Eternal continues the tradition of delivering a brutal single-player FPS campaign, Stratton previously confirmed the game will not feature any multiplayer modes. This decision, made early in development, allowed the team to focus on other aspects, such as mini-games and mech experiences.

Doom Eternal is currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, and is set to release on May 15th.