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Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

25 Games with a sci-fi setting like Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter that you should try

Games like Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter · Find similar →

We filtered the 45 games similar to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter down to the 25 that fit the “Sci-Fi” category. Nuclear Throne, Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter and DOOM 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 “Sci-Fi” category, the closest game to Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter is Nuclear Throne — scoring 91/100 on our similarity scale. Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter and DOOM follow close behind.

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The best games with a sci-fi setting like Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter

25 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

Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter

85
NGL87
Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter
Closest on tone
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person
Year 2009Dev Croteam · Devolver DigitalOn PC

If Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and a sci-fi setting, the same is here. Both also lean on multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view. The distance is in combat — its own ground is online features.

Same studio: Croteam.

Genre100Tone100Setting100Visuals100Game mode81Combat51
3

DOOM

82
NGL92
DOOM
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
4

Brotato

80
NGL88
Brotato
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineRangedMeleeHardcoreSci-Fi
Year 2022Dev BlobfishPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

If Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter worked for you because of punishing difficulty, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting, the same is here. To that it adds multiplayer gameplay. They part company on visuals and tone: this one brings a casual, approachable feel and an isometric view.

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

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100Tone50Visuals0
5

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

79
NGL88
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
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

Shadowgrounds

74
NGL65
Shadowgrounds
ShooterFPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineRangedMeleeDarkSci-Fi
Year 2005Dev FrozenbytePlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

It meets Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter on shooting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and ranged combat. To that it adds a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings horror setting and a top-down view.

Released 4 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Combat100Game mode100Tone80Genre75Setting68Visuals0
7

Roboquest

74
NGL88
Roboquest
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opRangedMeleeHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person
Year 2020Dev RyseUp StudiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC

Held in common with Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter: punishing difficulty, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view. They part company on setting: this one brings post-apocalyptic world.

Released 19 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode73Tone70Setting56
8

Broforce

73
NGL85
Broforce
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
9

SCP: Secret Laboratory

72
NGL91
SCP: Secret Laboratory
ShooterFPSArena FPS
MultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkHardcoreSci-FiFirst Person
Year 2017Dev Northwood StudiosOn 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. Both also lean on a first-person view and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in combat and setting — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel and horror setting.

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

Genre100Visuals100Game mode69Tone58Setting50Combat45
10

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
11

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
12

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
13

Cave Story+

66
NGL86
Cave Story+
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMeleeRangedHardcoreSci-Fi
Year 2010Dev NicalisPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

Genre puts it alongside Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and game mode: strong narrative focus and 2D presentation.

Released 9 years after Serious Sam Classic: The First Encounter.

Genre100Combat100Setting100Tone52Game mode28Visuals0
14

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
15

Clone Drone in the Danger Zone

65
NGL94
Clone Drone in the Danger Zone
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcoreSci-Fi
Year 2016Dev Doborog GamesPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

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. Both also lean on co-op play. The distance is in visuals and combat — its own ground is a third-person camera.

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

Genre100Setting100Game mode75Tone69Combat53Visuals0

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