Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

46 Games like Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter that you should try

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Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter is hard to replace: few games combine shooter, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 13 gameplay attributes and found 46 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. DOOM, Nuclear Throne and Brotato lead the list, with DOOM reaching a 97/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter special.

iRank88/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

Tags

DarkHardcoreSoloMultiplayer

Year 2001Dev Croteam

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗

Quick answer

The closest game to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter is DOOM — scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. Nuclear Throne and Brotato follow close behind.

#1DOOM97 #2Nuclear Throne95 #3Brotato96 #4The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth92 #5Doom90

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Games like Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

46 similar games found

97

iRank92

DOOM

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opRangedMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 97%· 28KRAWG👍 91%· 837MC83IGDB90· 1

Year 1993Dev SEGAOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Stands apart with horror setting, while skipping adventure storytelling

#2Nuclear Throne

95

iRank89

Nuclear Throne

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeRangedHardcoreSci-Fi

Steam👍 96%· 20KRAWG👍 83%· 301IGDB84· 4OC86· 24

Year 2015Dev VlambeerPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: roguelike runs, deep RPG systems and procedural generation, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

96

iRank88

Brotato

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineRangedMeleeHardcoreSci-Fi

Steam👍 96%· 114KRAWG👍 84%· 142OC75· 6

Year 2022Dev BlobfishPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, survival mechanics and deep RPG systems, while skipping adventure storytelling

#4The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

92

iRank91

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloCo-opMultiplayerOfflineMeleeRangedDarkHardcore

Steam👍 97%· 392KRAWG👍 87%· 1.2KMC86IGDB95· 2OC87· 27

Year 2014Dev NicalisPlaytime ~31hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: roguelike runs, deep RPG systems and puzzle design, while skipping setting scifi

90

iRank93

Doom

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 218KIGDB87· 28

Year 2016Dev id Software · Bethesda SoftworksOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, horror tension and strong narrative focus, while skipping adventure storytelling

#6Enter the Gungeon

92

iRank87

Enter the Gungeon

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineRangedMeleeHardcore

Steam👍 95%· 89KRAWG👍 82%· 1.1KMC84IGDB83· 13OC84· 79

Year 2016Dev Dodge Roll · Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, deep RPG systems and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

91

iRank91

Cuphead

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineRangedMeleeHardcore

Steam👍 96%· 209KRAWG👍 91%· 2.0KMC87IGDB87· 17OC88· 214

Year 2017Dev Studio MDHR · StudioMDHR EntertainmentPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, action RPG combat and deep RPG systems, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

#8Paint the Town Red

93

iRank82

Paint the Town Red

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeRangedDarkHardcoreFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 32KRAWG👍 80%· 68IGDB70· 2OC67· 13

Year 2015Dev South East GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: fighting mechanics, deep RPG systems and roguelike runs, while skipping setting scifi

#9Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

91

iRank87

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 93%· 8.8KIGDB74· 2

Year 2009Dev Croteam · Devolver DigitalOn PC

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with online features, while skipping ranged combat

91

iRank88

Roboquest

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opRangedMeleeHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 95%· 24KRAWG👍 84%· 44IGDB83· 3OC85· 12

Year 2020Dev RyseUp StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, procedural generation and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping adventure storytelling

#11Quake III Arena

89

iRank92

Quake III Arena

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerRangedMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 4.0KRAWG👍 90%· 530IGDB87· 3

Year 1999Dev id Software · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Its own twist: competitive edge and PvP competition, while skipping adventure storytelling

#12Metal Slug X

90

iRank85

Metal Slug X

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeHardcore

Steam👍 88%· 3.9KIGDB80· 1

Year 1999Dev SNKOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, visual 2d and visual pixel, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

#13Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

88

iRank94

Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcoreSci-Fi

Steam👍 96%· 38KRAWG👍 90%· 57

Year 2016Dev Doborog GamesPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: fighting mechanics, deep simulation and deep RPG systems, while skipping adventure storytelling

Steam Epic Xbox

#14Hotline Miami

86

iRank91

Hotline Miami

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeRangedDarkHardcore

Steam👍 97%· 122KRAWG👍 90%· 2.6KMC85IGDB86· 10

Year 2012Dev Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, strong narrative focus and visual isometric, while skipping adventure storytelling

#15BLUE REVOLVER

84

iRank99

BLUE REVOLVER

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloRangedMeleeHardcoreSci-Fi

Steam👍 99%· 868

Year 2016Dev Stellar CirclePlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings setting anime, visual isometric and visual pixel, while skipping adventure storytelling

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter?: The closest game to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter is DOOM, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 11 gameplay attributes, including shooter, first-person shooting and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter?: The three closest games to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter are: 1. DOOM (97/100, 11 shared attributes) 2. Nuclear Throne (95/100, 11 shared attributes) 3. Brotato (96/100, 10 shared attributes). All share Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 46 candidates across 13 dimensions.
Is Nuclear Throne similar to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter?: Yes, very much so — Nuclear Throne scores 95/100 similarity to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter. They share 11 attributes, including shooter and first-person shooting. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Shooter games are similar to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter?: The best Shooter games similar to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter are DOOM, Nuclear Throne, Brotato and The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. All share the Shooter genre alongside other key Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter attributes like shooter, first-person shooting and single-player focus.
How is similarity to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter calculated?: We compare Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter against every game in our catalog using 13 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.