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Playing Doom inside an SQL database running at 35 fps

Developers successfully port Doom into an SQL database using 1300 lines of queries, achieving accurate bitmapped rendering at 35 frames per second.

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Inewgen
03 Oct 2026Source: Ars Technica2 min read (0 views)
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Playing Doom inside an SQL database running at 35 fps

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

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  • Doom has been successfully executed inside an SQL database system
  • Built using a custom script of 1,300 lines of SQL queries
  • Achieves a smooth performance of 35 frames per second

The eternal gaming tech challenge of whether something can run Doom has taken another creative leap forward. Developers have now proven that even a standard database management system, built strictly for data storage and retrieval, can be transformed into a platform capable of running the legendary first-person shooter.

This technical feat was achieved through a compact script consisting of 1,300 lines of SQL queries. These queries handle the heavy lifting of processing game logic and rendering accurate bitmapped visuals of the game's iconic environments without relying on any traditional game engine.

retro video game pixel art monitor

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

1,300Lines of SQL queries
35 fpsFrames per second rate

What makes this achievement particularly impressive is its performance level. The database-driven setup manages to render the gameplay smoothly at 35 frames per second, making it genuinely playable and comparable to older retro gaming hardware.

While executing heavy game logic directly inside a database engine is obviously not recommended for real-world production environments due to extreme CPU and memory overhead, this project highlights the sheer versatility of SQL and the creativity of developers pushing software far beyond its intended design parameters.

This milestone reinforces the running joke in the tech community that Doom can literally run on anything. As long as a system can process logic and display pixels, developers will find a way to make the classic shooter work there.

Source: Ars Technica

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