Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

23 Dark games like Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter that you should try

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We filtered the 47 games similar to Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter down to the 23 that fit the “Dark” category. Returnal, Doom and SCP: Secret Laboratory top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter.

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

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DarkHardcoreSoloMultiplayer

Year 2009Dev Croteam

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Quick answer

Within the “Dark” category, the closest game to Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter is Returnal — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Doom and SCP: Secret Laboratory follow close behind.

#1Returnal95 #2Doom95 #3SCP: Secret Laboratory92 #4Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter91 #5DOOM90

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The best dark games like Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

23 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter. Each one has been evaluated across 12 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

95

Returnal

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloCo-opMultiplayerOnlineMeleeHardcoreDarkSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 81%· 10KIGDB90· 19OC86· 201

Year 2021Dev Housemarque · Sony Interactive EntertainmentOn PC · PS5

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

≠ Stands apart with roguelike runs, third-person shooting and horror tension, while skipping adventure storytelling

95

Doom

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 218KIGDB87· 28

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

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

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

#3SCP: Secret Laboratory

92

SCP: Secret Laboratory

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

MultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 91%· 230K

Year 2017Dev Northwood StudiosOn PC

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

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, horror tension and survival mechanics, while skipping single-player focus

#4Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

91

Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 3.4KRAWG👍 85%· 603MC87IGDB83· 3

Year 2001Dev Croteam · Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Nintendo

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

≠ Where it differs: brings ranged combat and offline, while skipping online features

90

DOOM

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-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 ranged combat and horror setting, while skipping adventure storytelling

#6Paint the Town Red

89

Paint the Town Red

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreFirst 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

86

Postal

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerMeleeHardcoreDark

Steam👍 92%· 14K

Year 1997Dev Running With Scissors · Ripcord GamesOn Linux · Android · PC

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

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, strong narrative focus and linear, story-driven structure, while skipping adventure storytelling

#8Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

86

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrative

Steam👍 94%· 78KIGDB71· 13OC74· 70

Year 2015Dev Dennaton Games · Devolver DigitalOn Xbox · PlayStation 3 · PS4

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

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

#9The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

85

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloCo-opMultiplayerMeleeDarkHardcore

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

#10Hotline Miami

84

Hotline Miami

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreRanged

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 ranged combat, while skipping adventure storytelling

#11Quake III Arena

83

Quake III Arena

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-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, ranged combat and PvP competition, while skipping adventure storytelling

83

Ruiner

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-Fi

Steam👍 89%· 12KIGDB76· 12OC77· 88

Year 2017Dev Reikon Games · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · PC

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

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, deep RPG systems and strong narrative focus, while skipping multiplayer gameplay

80

Mafia

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerMeleeDarkHardcore

Steam👍 87%· 16KIGDB63· 4

Year 2002Dev Illusion Softworks · Gathering of DevelopersOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: racing gameplay, third-person shooting and fighting mechanics, while skipping setting scifi

#14S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

80

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMultiplayerMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person

Steam👍 95%· 48KRAWG👍 86%· 1.4KMC82IGDB80· 2

Year 2007Dev GSC Game WorldPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, survival mechanics and sandbox freedom, while skipping co op

#15Hitman: Contracts

80

Hitman: Contracts

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreFirst Person

Steam👍 87%· 3.5KIGDB70· 1

Year 2004Dev IO Interactive · Eidos InteractiveOn PC · Mac

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

≠ Where it differs: brings strong narrative focus, stealth mechanics and visual third person, while skipping adventure storytelling

Complete list of dark games like Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Condemned: Criminal Origins

Condemned: Criminal Origins

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Hello Neighbor

Hello Neighbor

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Devil Daggers

Devil Daggers

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Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter

Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter

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Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition

Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition

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Wolfenstein: Youngblood

Wolfenstein: Youngblood

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F.E.A.R. 3

F.E.A.R. 3

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Superfighters Deluxe

Superfighters Deluxe

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