Doom: The Dark Ages: Secret Locations & Interactive Tracking Guide

Doom: The Dark Ages hides 163 Secret locations across its 22-chapter campaign — the largest secret count in the modern Doom franchise.


Finding all of them earns no dedicated trophy, but Secrets are the exclusive source of the Collectible Toys, Rubies, Life Sigils, Codex Entries, Wraithstones, and Gold stacks that all other trophies and 100% completion depend on.


They also determine each chapter's completion percentage in Chapter Select — reaching 100% in every chapter requires finding all Secrets in it. All 163 are mapped with approach notes across the Doom: The Dark Ages interactive mission maps.


Secrets and Collectibles Overlap


Most collectibles in the game are simultaneously Secrets. When the Slayer discovers a Life Sigil or Ruby in a hidden area, it registers as both a collectible pickup AND a Secret found — a single discovery counts toward both totals. This means the collectible hunt and the Secret hunt are largely the same sweep, not two separate passes through each chapter.


The AutoMap is the primary tool for both. Secrets appear as question mark icons when the Slayer enters their vicinity — icons that don't appear at range, only on approach. Scanning the AutoMap constantly while exploring is more reliable than visually searching every surface.


Four Ways Secrets Are Hidden


  • Weak Walls — surfaces with faint cracks or blue and green Sentinel markings. A Shield Charge directly into them shatters the wall and reveals the hidden room behind. The most common Secret type across all 22 chapters.


  • Vertical Grapples — blue anchor points on high rafters, cliff edges, or elevated structures. Throw the Shield Saw at the blue anchor to zip-line up to platforms that cannot be reached by jumping alone.


  • TriggersBlue Gears that rotate bridge platforms or open passages when struck with a Shield Throw; Energy Nodes that open timed gates when hit. Chapter 16: The Kar'Thul Marshes contains the most complex trigger sequence in the game — a rotating room puzzle requiring multiple precise Shield Throws to reach a hidden area.


  • Slayer Key Gates — large locked areas accessible only with Blue, Yellow, Red, or Purple keys found elsewhere in the same chapter. Key-gated Secrets are always the richest, containing the highest-value collectibles in their chapter.


Two Challenges Tied Directly to Secrets



  • Water Logged (Chapter 17: Temple of Lomarith) — find 3 underwater Secret areas → Reverent Chainshot Weapon Skin. Chapter 17 contains multiple underwater sections with distinct submerged Hidden Areas. All three are mapped on the chapter page.


Chapter Distribution


Three chapters contain no Secrets: Chapter 3: Barrier Core (Atlan mech battle), Chapter 13: From Beyond (Mecha Dragon), and Chapter 21: Final Battle (pure boss chapter). Every other chapter contains between 1 and 12.


Chapter 20: Resurrection holds the most with 12 Secrets — the richest single chapter in the game. Chapter 6: Siege – Part 1, Chapter 8: Abyssal Forest, Chapter 14: Spire of Nerathul, and Chapter 22: Reckoning each contain 11.

Name Details
Weak WallChapter 1: Village of Khalim

After learning how to use the Power Gauntlet Combos, bash the weak wall using your shield to reach the Secret Area behind it.

Weak GateChapter 2: Hebeth

Found inside the Weapons Facility. Bash the door using the shield to open it.

Hidden LedgeProving Grounds - Revelations DLC Chapter 1

The Hidden Ledge Secret is found on the lower level. It can be reached by dropping from above.

Hidden RoomProving Grounds - Revelations DLC Chapter 1

Another Hidden Room in Proving Grounds is found up some stairs after jumping halfway down the elevator behind the Blue Skull Gate and pulling the lever.

Hidden CampChapter 4: Sentinel Barracks

Found in the small plaza on top of the stairs behind the buildings.

Secret AreaChapter 5: The Holy City of Aratum

Found on the lower level of the Aratum Tower.

Hidden AreaChapter 5: The Holy City of Aratum

Found on the lowest level of the area. Head inside the underground tunnel to discover it.

Hidden LedgeProving Grounds - Revelations DLC Chapter 1

Another Secret in Proving Grounds is found after climbing a wall and jumping to the ledge.

Hidden RoomProving Grounds - Revelations DLC Chapter 1

Another Secret Room is found at the end of the corridor after Shield Jumping to the green corpse through the nearby window. To open the gate to the Hidden Room, you must throw your shield at the blue mechanism through the nearby wall hole.

Hidden AreaChapter 6: Siege – Part 1

Found at the base of the waterfall.

Hidden AreaChapter 6: Siege – Part 1

Found at the end of the mountain path.

Hidden CaveChapter 8: Abyssal Forest

Found on the lower forest path past the Point of No Return.

Hidden AreaChapter 10: The Forsaken Plains

Found at the end of the ditch.

Hidden AreaChapter 8: Abyssal Forest

Found at the end of the forest path.

Hidden CaveChapter 8: Abyssal Forest

Found at the end of the tunnel on the lower level.

Hidden AreaChapter 8: Abyssal Forest

Found behind the roots on the lower path.

Hidden HallChapter 8: Abyssal Forest

Found on top of the stairs along the mountain path.

Hidden HallChapter 10: The Forsaken Plains

Found behind the locked gate.

Hidden CaveChapter 12: Sentinel Command Station

Found through a hole on a side path.

Hidden AreaChapter 11: Hellbreaker

Found on Atlan's head. After you get out of the massive Titan, turn around and jump on the helmet.

logo

Follow @MapMaster on X (ex. Twitter) for updates

Follow

Overview

My AccountFAQsPricing

© MapMaster.io 2024. All rights reserved.