Serious Sam: The First Encounter for Windows

Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter is a fast-paced, arcade-style first-person shooter set in ancient Egypt and beyond. As Sam “Serious” Stone, you fight through waves of strange enemies using a wide selection of over-the-top weapons. 

Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter campaign takes you through temples and outdoor arenas with nonstop action. Over 80 hidden secrets are scattered across the maps. It includes solo play, local split screen for up to four players, online co-op for 16 players, and competitive multiplayer modes like Deathmatch. A full-featured level editor and mod tools comes with the game, allowing extensive user-created content.

Relentless enemy onslaughts

Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter's combat centers around fighting large enemies in open areas. Waves of monsters like Headless or Kamikazes, Reptiloids, and Kleers attack in formation or spawn in swarms. Boss encounters, such as the towering Ugh-Zan. Arena-like level design replaces typical corridor shooting, emphasizing dodging and crowd control. There’s little downtime between fights, and every area functions as a battleground with traps, teleport triggers, and monster ambushes.

Weapons are picked up gradually, ranging from a simple revolver to a massive cannon. Notable options include a double-barreled shotgun, rocket launcher, laser gun, and minigun. Ammunition is plentiful, allowing near-continuous use of heavy weapons. Most weapons feel distinct and are tied to enemy types — though enemy types are often reused across levels. Powerups, such as invulnerability or speed boosts, are scattered through levels and used in timed segments. 

Multiplayer modes support both cooperative and versus formats. Up to 16 players can clear the campaign in online co-op, while local split-screen supports up to four players. Competitive modes include Deathmatch and Scorematch, played across the same large, open maps. The Serious Editor and Modeller enable custom map creation, model editing, and mod development. You can alter existing levels or build new ones from scratch.

Stripped-down, focused FPS design

Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter strips away narrative and progression in favor of high-volume, arcade-style shooting. It doesn’t attempt to balance realism or strategy, instead building everything around repeated enemy types and weapon output. Level complexity is limited to key hunts and secret paths, and multiplayer modes mirror this direct approach. The inclusion of modding tools rounds out the package without changing its core identity.

• Multiplayer restoration
• Widescreen support
• Stability and bug fixes