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Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

19 Games like Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter on PlayStation that you should try

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We filtered the 45 games similar to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter down to the 19 that fit the “PlayStation” category. Nuclear Throne, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth and Enter the Gungeon top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

NextGameLike88/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS
Tags
DarkHardcoreSoloMultiplayer
Year 2001Dev Croteam

Quick answer

Within the “PlayStation” category, the closest game to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter is Nuclear Throne — scoring 91/100 on our similarity scale. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth and Enter the Gungeon follow close behind.

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The best games like Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter on PlayStation

19 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter. Each one has been evaluated across 13 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.

1

Nuclear Throne

91
NGL89
Nuclear Throne
Closest overall match
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeRangedHardcoreSci-Fi
Year 2015Dev VlambeerPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Genre puts it alongside Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings post-apocalyptic world and pixel art.

Released 14 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone74Setting63Visuals0
2

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

88
NGL91
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloCo-opMultiplayerOfflineMeleeRangedDarkHardcore
Year 2014Dev NicalisPlaytime ~31hOn PC · PS · Xbox

It comes from the same genre as Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter and shares dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and single-player focus. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is horror setting and an isometric view.

Released 13 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Game mode100Tone92Combat84Setting0Visuals0
3

Enter the Gungeon

84
NGL87
Enter the Gungeon
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineRangedMeleeHardcore
Year 2016Dev Dodge Roll · Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Shelved next to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter for good reason: punishing difficulty, ranged combat and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: fantasy world and an isometric view.

Released 15 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone70Setting0Visuals0
4

Cuphead

83
NGL91
Cuphead
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineRangedMeleeHardcore
Year 2017Dev Studio MDHR · StudioMDHR EntertainmentPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Same family as Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter: punishing difficulty, ranged combat and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: a cartoon aesthetic and 2D presentation.

Released 16 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Game mode100Combat85Tone78Setting0Visuals0
5

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

79
NGL88
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Closest on visuals
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerRangedMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person
Year 2007Dev GSC Game WorldPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Same family as Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter: dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting and game mode: strong narrative focus and post-apocalyptic world.

Released 6 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Visuals100Combat80Tone66Game mode61Setting36
6

Broforce

73
NGL85
Broforce
Closest on setting
ShooterFPS
MultiplayerCo-opSoloOfflineMeleeRangedDarkSci-Fi
Year 2015Dev Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

With Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter it shares shooting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat. Both also lean on a sci-fi setting and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in visuals and tone — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel and pixel art.

Released 14 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Combat100Game mode100Setting100Genre75Tone39Visuals0
7

Ultimate Chicken Horse

72
NGL88
Ultimate Chicken Horse
ShooterFPSArena FPS
MultiplayerOfflineCo-opSoloMeleeHardcore
Year 2016Dev NVIDIA Lightspeed Studios · Clever Endeavour GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

On paper it is what Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter is — punishing difficulty, melee combat and multiplayer gameplay — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Where the two diverge is visuals and tone: a casual, approachable feel and 2D presentation.

Released 15 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Game mode78Combat45Tone27Visuals0
8

Downwell

65
NGL85
Downwell
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMeleeRangedHardcoreSci-Fi
Year 2015Dev Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · iOS

Shelved next to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter for good reason: punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. Both also lean on single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and game mode — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel and pixel art.

Released 14 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Combat100Setting71Tone55Game mode28Visuals0
9

Neon White

62
NGL92
Neon White
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloRangedMeleeHardcoreFirst Person
Year 2022Dev Ben Esposito · Annapurna InteractivePlaytime ~7hOn PC · PS · Nintendo

Shelved next to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter for good reason: punishing difficulty, ranged combat and single-player focus. To that it adds a first-person view. They part company on setting and game mode: this one brings strong narrative focus and an anime aesthetic.

Released 21 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Combat100Visuals62Tone56Game mode28Setting0
10

Ruiner

61
NGL83
Ruiner
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-Fi
Year 2017Dev Reikon Games · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · PC

On paper it is what Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter is — dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and a sci-fi setting — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The common ground extends to single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and game mode: a cyberpunk setting and an isometric view.

Released 16 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Tone86Combat51Setting43Game mode28Visuals0
11

Borderlands 4

60
NGL72
Borderlands 4
ShooterFPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opSci-FiFirst Person
Year 2025Dev Gearbox Software · 2KOn Xbox · Switch · PC

The thread back to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter runs through shooting mechanics, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. To that it adds a first-person view. Its own ground is deep RPG systems.

Released 24 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Setting100Visuals100Game mode89Genre75
12

DOOM

82
NGL92
DOOM
Closest on tone
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opRangedMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person
Year 1993Dev SEGAOn PC · PS · Xbox

What brings it close to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter is dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting, and the two track each other on genre, combat and tone. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in setting — its own ground is horror setting.

It predates Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Tone100Visuals100Game mode90Setting67
13

Quake III Arena

71
NGL92
Quake III Arena
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerRangedMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person
Year 1999Dev id Software · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

What brings it close to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter is dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting, and the two track each other on genre, combat and setting. To that it adds a first-person view and single-player focus. They part company on game mode and tone: this one brings competitive edge and PvP competition.

Genre100Combat100Setting100Visuals100Tone61Game mode53
14

Returnal

70
NGL84
Returnal
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloCo-opMultiplayerMeleeHardcoreDarkSci-FiFirst Person
Year 2021Dev Housemarque · Sony Interactive EntertainmentOn PC · PS5

The genre is the same as Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter’s, and with it punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting and combat: horror setting.

Released 20 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Tone88Game mode73Visuals72Combat54Setting41
15

Helldivers

68
NGL87
Helldivers
ShooterFPSArena FPS
Co-opOfflineMultiplayerSoloMeleeHardcoreSci-Fi
Year 2015Dev Arrowhead Game Studios · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

Same family as Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter: punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to multiplayer gameplay. Where the two diverge is visuals and combat: an isometric view.

Released 14 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Game mode80Setting75Tone57Combat48Visuals0

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Rankings in the same genre

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