Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteYes. DOOM Captcha is a real browser-based novelty CAPTCHA by Miquel Camps Orteza: visitors play a short DOOM-style challenge and, by default, must kill four enemies before submitting the form. Its creator describes it as a fun project—not a security product—and warns that it is easy to break.
What is DOOM Captcha?
DOOM Captcha turns a familiar web check into a miniature first-person shooter. Instead of selecting images or solving a visual puzzle, a visitor starts the challenge, aims at enemies in a DOOM-themed scene, and tries to reach the required kill count. The project page documents four kills as the default. The live project page lists 30 May 2021 as its last update.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
DOOM Eternal: Standard Edition - PlayStation 4 | $27.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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DOOM: The Dark Ages – Xbox Series X | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
DOOM: The Dark Ages – PlayStation 5 | Buy on Amazon | |
| 4 |
|
Doom - Xbox One | $26.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
DOOM + DOOM II (Limited Run Games #144) - for Playstation 5 | $44.48 | Buy on Amazon |
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The creator’s disclaimer sets the right expectations: “Don’t take this too seriously, this is a little project for fun, if do you know how to code it’s pretty easy to break the security of this.” Its appeal is the joke and the nostalgia, not a claim that it outsmarts modern bots.
How does the challenge work?
- Start the CAPTCHA in the browser-based form.
- Aim at enemies in the DOOM-style scene and shoot them.
- Reach the configured enemy-kill count—in the documented default, four kills—before submitting the form.
The project documents settings for the number of enemies, whether a countdown is enabled, and the label shown before the CAPTCHA. On desktop, two cheat-code Easter eggs are listed: iddqd completes the CAPTCHA, while idkfa unlocks the super shotgun. These are playful shortcuts, not security features.
#1 Best Overall
- Gain access to the latest demon-killing Tech with the DOOM Slayer's advanced praetor suit, including a shoulder-mounted flamethrower and the retractable wrist-mounted DOOM Blade
- Upgraded guns and mods, such as the Super shotgun's new distance-closing meat hook attachment, and abilities like the double Dash make you faster, stronger, and more versatile than ever
- You can't Kill demons when you're Dead, and you can't stay alive without resources. These tools are the key to your survival and becoming the ultimate demon-slayer
- A new class of (destructible) demon
- Battle mode is the new 2 versus 1 multiplayer experience built from the ground up at id software
Can bots beat the DOOM CAPTCHA?
There is no published bot-block rate, human pass rate, completion-time benchmark, accessibility study, or formal security audit for the project. The creator’s own warning—and the implementation model—are enough to rule it out as a serious production defense.
The project is implemented in browser-side HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. As commenters in the Hacker News discussion point out, an automated client may inspect the page’s DOM or target enemies by their pixels rather than play as a person would. Making the scene more difficult or drawing it on a canvas would not, by itself, prove that a user completed the challenge: the server must independently validate the result rather than trust a client-side success signal. Those comments are technical criticism, not an independent penetration test.
Rank #2
- Developed by id Software, DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells the epic cinematic origin story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage.
- In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.
- A dark fantasy/sci-fi single-player experience that delivers the searing combat and over-the-top visuals of the incomparable DOOM franchise, powered by the latest idTech engine. With a customizable difficulty system, it’s the perfect entry point whether you’re new to the franchise or a long time fan.
- As the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw.
- Experience the origin story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage in this epic, cinematic, and action-packed story.
Is it suitable for a real website?
Not as a stand-alone CAPTCHA for a site that depends on blocking abuse. The project page explicitly says it is easy to break, and no measured security or usability results are published. Before using any challenge in production, a site owner would need a threat model, server-side verification, and a plan for people who cannot or do not want to use a real-time shooter. This demo does not establish those safeguards.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Its trade-offs are clearest when viewed by purpose:
Rank #3
- Developed by id Software, DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells the epic cinematic origin story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage.
- In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.
- A dark fantasy/sci-fi single-player experience that delivers the searing combat and over-the-top visuals of the incomparable DOOM franchise, powered by the latest idTech engine. With a customizable difficulty system, it’s the perfect entry point whether you’re new to the franchise or a long time fan.
- As the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw.
- Experience the origin story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage in this epic, cinematic, and action-packed story.
| Consideration | What this project establishes |
|---|---|
| Entertainment and novelty | A DOOM-themed game is a memorable, playful alternative to a conventional puzzle. |
| Transparency and forking | The code is public under GPL-3.0, making it available for inspection and forks. |
| Automation resistance | Not established; the creator warns that it is easy to break, and browser-side interaction can be automated. |
| Accessibility and device support | The documented cheat codes are desktop-only. No accessibility study or broader device-support assessment is published. |
| Independent server verification | Not established by the available project documentation; a client-side success state alone is not proof to a server. |
Where can you find the source code?
The public GitHub repository contains the project’s HTML, JavaScript, static assets, and form pages. It is marked GPL-3.0, so developers can inspect or fork the code under that license. The README links to the demo and creator, and also records a 2025 reinterpretation by Guillermo Rauch at doom-captcha.vercel.app.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How did the project become popular?
Orteza says he had the idea on a Friday, built the first version on Saturday morning, published it that night, and went live on Sunday. He reports that DOOM Captcha became Product Hunt’s “TOP 1 Product of the Day.” The project page also notes a 26 May 2021 update saying John Carmack, identified there as a DOOM creator, liked it. The creator’s project page is the source for that timeline.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- DOOM + DOOM II on a region-free physical disc.
- Includes: DOOM, DOOM II, TNT: Evilution, The Plutonia Experiment, Master Levels for DOOM II, No Rest for the Living, Sigil & Sigil II, Legacy of Rust (a new episode created in collaboration by id Software, Nightdive Studios and MachineGames).
- A new Deathmatch map pack featuring 25 maps
- Total of 187 mission maps and 43 deathmatch maps in DOOM + DOOM II
- # of Players: Single System 1-4, Local wireless 1-8, Online 1-16
Rank #4
- A Relentless Campaign: There is no taking cover or stopping to regenerate health as you beat back Hell's raging demon hordes
- Return of id Multiplayer: Dominate your opponents in DOOM's signature, fast-paced arena-style combat
- Near-Limitless Gameplay: Doom SnapMap – A Powerful, but Easy-to-Use Game and Level Editor That Allows for Limitless Gameplay Experiences on Every Platform
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language
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