From a calculator to a human brain cell: What runs Doom?

It has become popular internet culture that if a device has even the smallest amount of computing power, someone will eventually try to run the vintage video game Doom on it. From scientific calculators to human brain cells, this classic keeps appearing in the most unexpected places – most recently in an experiment exploring new forms of computing and artificial intelligence. 

Doom isn’t alone in its scientific side hustle: Researchers have used Minecraft to build and test AI models, and World of Warcraft has served as a laboratory for studying how diseases spread, Nature reports. But what makes Doom so easy to run on unconventional platforms, and why does it still remain impressive almost three decades after its release? 

Released in 1993, Doom’s technical design iallows it to survive and thrive to this day. Running Doom is impressive not because the game is visually demanding but because it continues to function on hardware that’s never been intended for gaming.  

One of the key reasons is that Doom relies on a flexible game engine. Unlike PlayStation or Nintendo Switch, with games exclusive to their platforms, Doom has never required a specific CPU and can be adapted to different architectures with relatively modest effort. Over time, the engine was released as an open source, allowing developers to study, modify and port it freely. As a result, Doom is often described as one of the most advanced and portable open-source game engines ever created, especially considering it is a little bit over thirty years old.  

Some of the most famous Doom ports involve everyday devices with extremely limited hardware. Graphic calculators are a popular example. Developers have managed to strip the game down and optimize it enough to run on minimal memory and processing power. Despite these limitations, the game is still recognizable and playable.

Even more surprising are unconventional ports, such as Doom running on a digital pregnancy test. While clearly impractical, this project demonstrated that the device’s tiny computing abilities and reduced screen could still support a simplified version of the game. These experiments are less about usefulness and more about creativity, curiosity and technical prowess, proving that Doom can run in places where no one expects it to.

Perhaps the most extraordinary and latest example goes beyond traditional hardware. Researchers have successfully connected cultured human brain cells to a computer system that learned to play Doom, according to Popular Science. In this particular case, the neurons did not “play“ the game like a human would, but they were able to process feedback and improve performance over time. 

This experiment was not about gaming, but about exploring new forms of computing and artificial intelligence. Using Doom in this environment makes sense as the game provides real-time feedback, clear objectives, and a clear controlled virtual world. 

“This was a major milestone, because it demonstrated adaptive, real-time goal directed learning,” says Brett Kagan, Cortical Labs Chief Scientific and Chief Operations Officer, in a video announcement.

Once again proving that Doom is useful beyond is original purpose. 

Today, Doom has become much more than just a classic video game. It has become a cultural and technical benchmark in a way. “Yes, but can it run Doom” is a common phrase in internet subforums related to gaming, reflecting the relevance of the game as a playful way to test limits of hardware, software, and even biology. 

Every new platform that runs Doom is a reminder that good design, openness and more importantly human creativity can give technology an unexpected long life. 

And if the past has taught us anything, it’s that Doom is far from done running.