Why was DOOM so controversial — and why did politicians, pastors, and parent groups try to ban it?
In 1993, DOOM didn’t just invent the modern first-person shooter — it also sparked a full-blown satanic moral panic. Banned in Germany, blamed for youth violence, linked to Columbine, and accused of promoting demonic symbols and devil worship, this gore-soaked trip through Hell turned Doomguy into a 90s counterculture icon.

Created by id Software — including John Romero and John Carmack — DOOM spread across university networks via dial-up, crashed office servers, and became the poster child for debates over violent video games. From pixelated demons to real-world panic, we unpack how a video game ignited fear in churches, legislatures, and living rooms alike.

If you loved this episode, check out our earlier deep dive into gaming and religious paranoia: “Gamer Satan” –  where we unpack how Christians decided controllers were gateways to Hell and why imaginary demons keep getting blamed for very real human behaviour. (Find it wherever you’re listening now.)

If you think demons belong in pixelated corridors and not in parliamentary hearings, you’re our kind of sinner. Join our Doomguy-approved coalition at patreon.com/satanismysuperhero for bonus episodes, early releases, behind-the-scenes chaos, and access to our ever-growing vault of Hoots songs.

Got memories of playing DOOM on a school computer lab network?
Were you personally accused of summoning Satan via floppy disk?
Did your youth pastor confiscate your PC?
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