Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter

Well... Fine. This is a shooter you can play FPS or TPS. The graphics are decent. The music is good. The story is also decent, even funny.
No bugs or crashes.
Overall, the game is very entertaining. There are lots of enemies and several weapons to try. It's a fast-paced game with an emphasis on humor, and it offers plenty of content for the price. Plus, it includes cards and achievements.
Now, I do recommend this game, but with a note of caution. Some levels have a significant difficulty spike, becoming very challenging. Rage-quitting is a real possibility. If you're up for a challenge, this game will be a good choice. Save often and enjoy the mayhem!

Why not assemble Serious Sam HD First and Second Encounter into one game and call it simply Serious Sam 1? So that we have a series of 1, 2, 3, 4 and maybe others in the future. I know that all chapters of First Encounter HD are included into Second Encounter HD, but they have no order there, they're kinda messy. I'd be nice to have them ordered in a linear way as in original games, but assembled in one. And please name games accordingly so that they get arranged chronologically in Steam Library (or anywhere else).

With this game (as well as the first HD) you will definitely be able to make new friends who will add you to complete the Diverse Fragger achievement. This friendship will not last long, but still.

Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter is a high-octane reimagining of one of the most explosively chaotic first-person shooters ever created. Developed by Croteam, this remastered edition takes the 2002 classic and injects it with the power of the Serious Engine 3, bringing upgraded visuals, smoother performance, and widescreen support while retaining the sheer madness that defined the original experience. The game serves as both a nostalgic trip for long-time fans and a fresh challenge for players new to Sam “Serious” Stone’s over-the-top world of alien annihilation.
From the very first level, the game hits the ground running with relentless pacing. Sam’s journey takes players through a series of vibrant and varied environments — from lush South American ruins to ancient Mesopotamian temples — all teeming with hordes of bizarre and deadly creatures sent by the evil Mental. The sheer volume of enemies on screen is staggering; at times, the player is surrounded by hundreds of charging foes, from screaming kamikazes to towering biomechanical beasts. The gunplay is brutally satisfying and straightforward, with an arsenal of weapons that range from the simple double-barreled shotgun to the devastating cannon that fires human-sized metal balls. The sense of raw, arcade-style shooting pleasure is perfectly intact, demanding constant movement, precision, and awareness amidst the chaos.
Croteam’s remastering work shines in how it balances nostalgia with modernization. The updated graphics retain the art direction of the original but give everything a crisp, clean look that runs smoothly even in massive battles. Lighting effects, textures, and animations all benefit from the HD treatment without compromising the game’s classic aesthetic. Meanwhile, the controls feel fluid and responsive, maintaining that old-school shooter rhythm that rewards reflexes and spatial awareness rather than cover mechanics or scripted sequences. It’s a reminder of how pure first-person shooting used to be — unfiltered and unburdened by modern conventions.
The game also boasts an impressive cooperative mode that lets up to sixteen players blast their way through the campaign together, amplifying the chaos in the best possible way. There’s also a suite of competitive multiplayer options, including classic deathmatch and survival modes that bring the spirit of LAN parties back to life. The level design, full of hidden secrets and cleverly placed power-ups, encourages replayability and exploration. Secrets are scattered everywhere, rewarding those who take time to look beyond the obvious path amid the carnage.
Yet, beneath the explosive gunfire and humorous one-liners, there’s a strong sense of craftsmanship in how Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter is structured. The rhythm of enemy waves, the placement of health and armor pickups, and the gradual introduction of new weaponry all contribute to an expertly tuned flow of difficulty. It’s challenging but rarely unfair, demanding both aim and agility. The soundtrack, a mix of energetic rock and tense orchestral moments, underscores the action beautifully and keeps adrenaline levels high from start to finish.
In the end, Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter remains a shining example of pure, unfiltered shooter design — one that thrives on chaos, speed, and spectacle. The remaster brings the game’s absurd sense of scale and energy into the modern era without losing its identity. It’s an experience that rewards skill, quick thinking, and an appreciation for classic game design principles. For anyone craving a dose of old-school mayhem delivered with modern polish, this HD remake is as serious as it gets — a glorious, loud, and unapologetically fun celebration of everything that made early 2000s shooters unforgettable.
Rating: 8/10

My fav shooter series of all time, its simple but great, it takes all what made the first game so great and made more of it, i really like that, its a shame they never made an Third Encounter:
+ 12 maps all are well made
+ great soundtrack
+ good enemy encounters and diversity
+ great graphics
+ workshop maps for endless gameplay content
+ online campaign coop for both main campaign and workshop stuff
I actually prefer the Serious Sam The First Encounter but still this is a really really close second place in the series for me.

This is a phenomenal sequel, far more stable than the First Encounter. The levels are better designed and the bosses are much more fun. Love this game!

Easily my favorite in the whole series, it increased the scale of the levels dramatically, added a few new enemy types AND introduced a chainsaw.
You are also able to play the levels from the first game if you have it installed, more or less like in Left 4 Dead 2.