Best Doom source ports for 2026
Which Doom source port to install — ranked by use-case.
There is no single “best” Doom source port — it depends on what you want to do. Modern modding, online multiplayer and faithful 1993-accurate gameplay are three different requirements with three different answers. Here’s the lineup. Scores come straight from our full hands-on reviews of each port.
Ranking
GZDoom — best for modding and single-player
9.0/10If you only install one source port, install GZDoom. The single-player and modding ecosystem revolves around it.
- + The de-facto target for modern mods (ZScript).
- + Vulkan + OpenGL renderers, runs on anything.
- + Active development, frequent releases.
- − Netcode is weak for online — use Zandronum if multiplayer matters.
Crispy Doom — best vanilla+ middle ground
8.5/10If you want Doom to feel like 1993 but look like 2026, this is the sweet spot.
- + Chocolate Doom plus higher resolution, uncapped framerate, jumping (optional).
- + Keeps the vanilla feel without the 320×200 ceiling.
- − No serious modding support.
- − No server browser or client/server model (direct-IP only, shared Chocolate Doom netcode)
DSDA-Doom — best for speedrunning and demo playback
8.5/10Built as a runner’s toolkit descended from PrBoom+, DSDA-Doom handles complex MBF21 maps, classic WADs, and demo playback with accuracy.
- + Built-in speedrunning tools, stat overlays, and frame-accurate demo playback.
- + Broad compatibility for MBF21, UDMF, MAPINFO, Heretic, and Hexen.
- − No ZScript or modern GZDoom mod support.
- − Relies heavily on command-line setup and config files.
DOOM Retro — best curated modern-retro feel
8.5/10DOOM Retro modernizes the classic software renderer with subtle visual refinements, smoothed animations, and a built-in launcher while keeping vanilla/Boom mechanics intact.
- + Built-in launcher with automatic IWAD detection and an in-game console.
- + Refined software rendering with dynamic lighting and smoothed animations.
- − No multiplayer or netplay support of any kind.
- − Official builds are Windows-only (macOS and Linux require compiling).
Woof! — best modern Boom/MBF port
8.0/10Woof! carries forward the MBF and Boom lineage with high mechanical fidelity, clean OS integration, and modern quality-of-life enhancements.
- + Strong Boom/MBF21 compatibility with native OS MIDI audio support.
- + Clean multi-page menus and a built-in cheat dashboard.
- − No pre-built macOS binaries (requires Homebrew).
- − No client/server play or server browser — same direct-IP netcode as Chocolate Doom.
Zandronum — best for online multiplayer
7.5/10Use Zandronum when you want to play Doom with other people online. For everything else, use GZDoom.
- + Descended from Skulltag — and is a multiplayer-first port since day one.
- + Active server scene (Doomseeker browser).
- + Supports a large subset of GZDoom mods.
- − Lags behind GZDoom on ZScript features — newest mods may not work.
- − Prone to crashes on macOS — known issues when running alongside Doomseeker.
Chocolate Doom — best for vanilla accuracy
7.0/10For preservation, speedrunning original Doom, or playing demos from 1994 — Chocolate Doom is the right tool.
- + Bit-for-bit accurate to the 1993/94 executables — same bugs, same physics.
- + Lowest possible system requirements.
- − No mod support beyond what original Doom supported.
- − No high resolutions out of the box (Crispy Doom is the modernised fork).
Odamex — best for vanilla-purist multiplayer
7.0/10If you want fast-paced classic deathmatch using authentic 1993 vanilla physics, Odamex is built specifically for purist online play.
- + Client/server architecture designed for smooth, accurate vanilla multiplayer.
- + Open-source cross-platform engine with strong netcode for classic CTF and deathmatch.
- − Quiet public lobbies — finding active matches often requires coordinating via community events or Discord.
- − Lacks modern ZScript and GZDoom mod support.
Verdict
Default recommendation: GZDoom for one-port simplicity. Add Zandronum for modern online multiplayer or Odamex for classic-purist online play. Add DSDA-Doom or Woof! for advanced Boom/MBF21 wads and demo playback, DOOM Retro for a curated modern-retro aesthetic, or Chocolate/Crispy Doom if you care about 1990s vanilla accuracy.
Also reviewed: PrBoom+ (8.0), which lives on through DSDA-Doom; Eternity Engine (8.0), a mapper’s engine in the same Boom lineage; and Doomsday Engine (8.0), a visual overhaul that overlaps GZDoom’s role.
Compare every port
// 11 ports reviewed — 11 hands-on · 0 researched. Click a column header to sort.
Mods? GZDoom The 1993 feel? Crispy Doom Demos & speedruns? DSDA-Doom Playing online? Zandronum
| Port | Score | Tested version | Mouselook | Mod formats | Vanilla demos | Multiplayer | Platforms | Latest stable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GZDoom | 9.0 | 4.14.2 | Yes | Vanilla · Boom · MBF · DeHackEd · ZScript | No | Peer-to-peer | Windows · macOS · Linux | 2025-05-05 |
| Crispy Doom | 8.5 | 7.1.0 | Yes | Vanilla · Limit-removing · DeHackEd | Yes | Client-server | Windows · macOS · Linux | 2025-09-23 |
| DOOM Retro | 8.5 | 6.3 | Yes | Vanilla · Limit-removing · Boom · MBF · MBF21 · DeHackEd | No | None | Windows | 2026-08-08 |
| DSDA-Doom | 8.5 | 0.29.4 | Yes | MBF21 · DeHackEd | Yes | None | Windows · macOS · Linux | 2025-09-26 |
| Doomsday Engine | 8.0 | 2.3.1 | Yes | Vanilla · DeHackEd | Partial | Client-server | Windows · macOS · Linux | 2021-02-04 |
| Eternity Engine | 8.0 | 4.06.00 | Yes | Vanilla · Boom · MBF · MBF21 · DeHackEd | Partial | Peer-to-peer | Windows · macOS · Linux | 2026-06-13 |
| PrBoom+ | 8.0 | 2.6.66 | Yes | Vanilla · Limit-removing · Boom · MBF · DeHackEd | Yes | Client-server | Windows · macOS · Linux | 2023-06-20 |
| Woof! | 8.0 | 15.3.0 | Yes | Vanilla · Boom · MBF · MBF21 · DeHackEd | Yes | Client-server | Windows · macOS · Linux | 2025-11-04 |
| Zandronum | 7.5 | 3.2.1 | Yes | Vanilla · Limit-removing · Boom · MBF · DeHackEd | No | Client-server | Windows · macOS · Linux | 2025-08-04 |
| Chocolate Doom | 7.0 | 3.1.1 | No | Vanilla · DeHackEd | Yes | Peer-to-peer | Windows · macOS · Linux | 2025-08-16 |
| Odamex | 7.0 | 12.3.0 | Yes | Vanilla · Limit-removing · Boom · MBF · MBF21 · DeHackEd | Yes | Client-server | Windows · macOS · Linux | 2026-08-06 |
Frequently asked questions
Can I use multiple source ports at once?
Yes — they’re separate programs that don’t conflict. Many Doom players have GZDoom and Zandronum side by side.
Which source port for Doom 3?
None of these. Doom 3 runs on id Tech 4 and uses dhewm3 or RBDOOM-3-BFG as its modern source port — that’s a separate ecosystem.