DOOM Now Playable in PDF: How a Student Ported the Classic FPS into a Browser Document
Entry information
Published on: January 15, 2025
Description
DOOM Finds a New Home: Classic FPS Becomes Fully Playable Inside a PDF File
The enduring legacy of DOOM continues to break boundaries, as the revolutionary first-person shooter has now been transformed into an interactive experience within a PDF file.
This technical achievement, orchestrated by the high-school developer known as "ading2210" on GitHub, has captured the attention of the gaming and tech communities alike.
The project—appropriately titled DOOMPDF—allows players to run the classic FPS directly inside a Chromium-based browser, exemplifying the game's status as a platform-defying staple of gaming history.
DOOM first released in 1993, setting a standard for the FPS genre and demonstrating remarkable longevity through countless ports and adaptations over the decades.
From calculators and smart fridges to the Nintendo Switch and even LEGO bricks, DOOM’s versatility has kept it relevant and beloved by fans.
With the arrival of DOOMPDF, the community can now add PDF files—via browser-based rendering—to the ever-growing list of unexpected platforms hosting the iconic shooter.
According to verified reports by IGN and Push Square, ading2210’s DOOMPDF offers a streamlined, black-and-white version of the original game.
Although this browser-based PDF adaptation lacks some of the text and audio from the classic release, it remains a functional and fluid experience.
Players navigate the game using the standard WASD keyboard controls and can access the map through a unique system involving the text cursor, situated within a designated input box on the page.
Mouse support is also available for on-screen button interaction, introducing an additional challenge for those seeking it.
Despite the impressive execution, there are inherent limitations due to the PDF format.
Key response times register at approximately 80 milliseconds per frame, and browser security measures restrict certain scripting capabilities.
Nevertheless, DOOMPDF stands out as a remarkable display of programming ingenuity, demonstrating a deep understanding of both PDF technology and game development, especially from an independent student developer.
In recognition, Thomas Rinsm—known for TetrisPDF and his own PDF-based adaptation of DOOM—commended ading2210, describing DOOMPDF as "neater in many ways" than previous efforts in the space.
The gaming world has seen DOOM ported to a wide spectrum of hardware and software environments, often as a rite of passage for savvy programmers and tech enthusiasts.
With the addition of PDF Javascript to the list of unconventional DOOM hosts, the classic shooter’s reputation as a spearhead for innovation remains untarnished.
To try out DOOMPDF or learn more about the project, interested players and developers can visit the official page hosted on GitHub.
As game ports continue to showcase the creativity and technical prowess within the community, one thing is certain: DOOM's enduring influence remains as strong as ever.
