Fit check
Is Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- FPS players who want fast arcade combat rather than slower exploration
- Groups seeking cooperative shooting for up to 16 players
- Mod creators interested in making levels, modifications, and textures
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking a calm pace may hit a wall when the campaign’s frantic combat begins.
- Players who want sparse encounters may find the repeated fights against large groups of enemies unsuitable.
- Players looking for climbing, puzzle, or roguelite gameplay will not find those structures here.
Our take on Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter
Players seeking a calm exploration game may hit the wall as soon as the campaign’s enemy waves begin. Anyone expecting a small-scale shooter may also find the combat’s arcade-style intensity and the option for large multiplayer sessions a mismatch.
What is Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter?
Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter is an arcade-style first-person shooter centered on fast single-player combat.
Sam travels through ancient Egypt and other planets while fighting Mental’s forces, including more than 15 enemy types and the Ugh-Zan boss. Environments contain over 80 hidden secrets. The arsenal includes the Double Shotgun, Rocket Launcher, Minigun, and Cannon, alongside power-ups. Cooperative play supports up to 16 players; versus modes include Deathmatch and Scorematch. Local split-screen supports up to four players in co-op and versus modes. The included Serious Editor and Serious Modeller let players create levels, modifications, textures, and other content.
How Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter plays
- 01Enemy Variety
- The campaign features over 15 types of Mental’s forces, including the Sirian Werebull and Headless Kamikaze.
- 02Hidden Secrets
- More than 80 secrets are placed throughout the environments.
- 03Weapon Arsenal
- Weapons include a Double Shotgun, Rocket Launcher, Minigun, and Cannon.
- 04Co-op Multiplayer
- Cooperative play supports up to 16 players.
- 05Local Split Screen
- Local co-op and versus modes support up to four players.
- 06Content Tools
- The included editor and modeller support creating levels, modifications, textures, and other content.
Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter compared to similar games
Abyssus is also a multiplayer shooter, but it places combat in hand-crafted roguelite levels and includes weapon refitting with ancient technologies. Serious Sam instead offers a large arcade-focused campaign, co-op for up to 16 players, local split-screen, and tools for creating custom content.
Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter: platforms & release
Is Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter worth it?
It is worth it if: FPS players who want fast arcade combat rather than slower exploration. Skip it if: players seeking a calm pace may hit a wall when the campaign’s frantic combat begins.
Where can I download Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter on?
Windows only.
