Release OrderRecommended
0 / 7 playedThe order the games came out, and the recommended play order.
- 1 Serious Sam: The First Encounter Start here; the HD remake is the version to buy.
- 2 Serious Sam: The Second Encounter Direct sequel, continuing straight on from the first game.
- 3 Serious Sam 2 Looser sequel fought across alien worlds.
- 4 Serious Sam 3: BFE Prequel set during Mental's invasion of Earth.
- 5 Serious Sam 4 Prequel to BFE; its ending leads directly into it.
- 6 Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem Standalone expansion continuing Serious Sam 4's story in Siberia.
- 7 Serious Sam: Shatterverse Co-op roguelite spinoff across a shattered multiverse.
Chronological Order
0 / 7 playedThe in-story order, best saved for a second run after release order.
- 1 Serious Sam 4 Earliest: opens on Mental's invasion of Earth.
- 2 Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem Follows directly after Serious Sam 4.
- 3 Serious Sam 3: BFE Sam's fight continues in Egypt.
- 4 Serious Sam: The First Encounter Sam travels back to ancient Egypt.
- 5 Serious Sam: The Second Encounter Continues straight after the first game.
- 6 Serious Sam 2 Sam's next mission after the Encounters.
- 7 Serious Sam: Shatterverse Multiverse side story; fits anywhere after the main games.
About Serious Sam
Serious Sam is Croteam's loud arena shooter series about Sam Stone's war against the alien warlord Mental, fought across ancient Egypt, alien worlds and a besieged Earth. Release order is the recommended play order, since the prequels BFE and Serious Sam 4 assume familiarity with the classics, while the second list below reorders the games chronologically.
Good to know
The HD remakes of the two Encounters are the versions to buy, and spinoffs like Next Encounter and Tormental sit outside this list. Serious Sam: Shatterverse launched August 31, 2026 as a co-op roguelite set across a shattered multiverse, and nothing further has been announced.
