We’ve all heard the joke: “Can it run Doom?” Over the years, developers have made Doom Classic run on just about everything—from calculators to refrigerators. But Doom running in a CAPTCHA? Now that’s a twist!
Thanks to Guillermo Rauch, CEO of Vercel, we now have one of the most difficult CAPTCHAs ever created. Instead of clicking on traffic lights or typing in letters, you must complete a small level of Doom Classic and defeat three enemies. The catch? It’s set to Nightmare difficulty, making it way harder than your average CAPTCHA challenge.
Let’s dive into this bizarre (but hilarious) application and why it’s making waves in the developer community.
What Is the Doom CAPTCHA, and Why Is It So Hard?
Guillermo Rauch’s Doom CAPTCHA challenges users to navigate a mini-level of Doom Classic, using only keyboard arrows to move and the spacebar to shoot. The goal? Defeat three enemies before they take you down.
Here’s Why It’s So Difficult:
- Nightmare Difficulty: Just like the infamous setting in the original game, enemies are relentless, and dodging their attacks is nearly impossible.
- No Dodge Mechanic: Unlike the original Doom, you can’t dodge enemy attacks, forcing players to rely on trial-and-error tactics to win.
- Multiple Attempts Required: Most users need several tries to complete the CAPTCHA, making it more challenging than it’s worth for security purposes.
But hey, it’s not really meant to keep bots out—it’s more of a tech demo and a joke that plays on the idea of Doom running on anything and everything.
How the Doom CAPTCHA Works
The Doom CAPTCHA runs on WebAssembly, a cutting-edge web technology that allows high-performance games and applications to run in the browser. But here’s where it gets interesting—Rauch developed this CAPTCHA using a tool called v0, a human language prompt-based development tool offered by his company, Vercel.
Key Details:
- Built with v0: The tool allows developers to use LLM (large language model) prompts to create web applications quickly.
- Prompt History Available: If you’re curious about how it was built, you can check the prompt history that led to the creation of the CAPTCHA on v0’s website.
Doom CAPTCHA vs. Miquel Camps Orteza’s 2021 Version
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time someone has made a Doom CAPTCHA. Back in 2021, Miquel Camps Orteza developed a similar project, creating a hand-coded CAPTCHA that ran Doom.
Key Differences:
- Orteza’s Version: Hand-coded and available on GitHub, but not secure for real-world use.
- Rauch’s Version: Built using modern web technologies and serves more as a tech demo than a security tool.
Both versions share the same spirit—fun, impractical, and totally ridiculous.
Why Doom in CAPTCHA Is More Fun Than Functional
Let’s be honest—no one is putting this CAPTCHA on their website. Here’s why:
- Legal Concerns
While Doom’s source code is open-source, the sprites, textures, and sound effects are still protected by copyright. Using these assets in a commercial CAPTCHA could raise legal questions. - Security Issues
A CAPTCHA’s primary purpose is to keep bots out, and playing a mini Doom level is not exactly efficient at doing that. In fact, it’s more likely to frustrate users than deter bots. - It’s Just for Fun
This project isn’t about practicality—it’s a tongue-in-cheek nod to the developer community’s obsession with making Doom run on anything.
The Developer Community Reacts
The Hacker News community had a field day with this project. Users shared their strategies for beating the CAPTCHA and debated the difficulties of creating secure, interactive CAPTCHAs.
Here are some of the best reactions:
- “Finally, a CAPTCHA I actually want to solve!”
- “This is both genius and ridiculous.”
- “I can’t decide if this would deter bots or just annoy everyone.”
Final Thoughts
Doom running in a CAPTCHA is one of the most bizarre (and hilarious) tech projects we’ve seen lately. While it’s not practical for website security, it’s a brilliant nod to gaming culture and the ongoing joke that Doom can run on anything.
For those who want to give it a try—good luck. Nightmare difficulty doesn’t mess around, and you might find yourself stuck in a CAPTCHA loop longer than expected. But hey, at least it’s more fun than clicking on traffic lights!
