Devolver Digital and Croteam have announced Serious Sam: The Third Encounter, a new first-person shooter that continues the story directly after Serious Sam: The Second Encounter. The game is in early development and is planned for PC through Steam. No release date or launch window has been announced, so the reveal currently focuses on the direction of the project rather than when players will be able to try it.
Its place in the series is an important part of the announcement. The Third Encounter is neither a prequel nor a separate adventure. It picks up where The Second Encounter ended, with Sam preparing to attack Mental’s Horde at its heart. This journey will take him across new alien worlds, including strange planets, dangerous strongholds, and hostile environments. Croteam is describing more detailed and vivid locations while keeping the exaggerated combat that established the franchise.
The gameplay is being built around classic arcade-style shooting and overwhelming numbers of enemies. Battles will range from desperate attempts to hold a position to direct assaults on Mental’s forces, with encounters intended to grow in scale as Sam gets closer to his ultimate confrontation. The announcement emphasizes constant gunfire, movement, and survival against enormous crowds rather than a slower, more tactical approach. Specific enemy types and any additional systems have not yet been detailed.
The arsenal will combine returning weapons from earlier Serious Sam games with new additions. The minigun is one of the familiar weapons mentioned, fitting the series’ preference for dealing with huge numbers of targets at once. Players will be able to face the game alone or join friends in cooperative play. Croteam has confirmed co-op but has not specified the maximum number of players or provided further details about its structure.
The Third Encounter is being developed by Croteam, the studio behind the original games, with Devolver Digital publishing. Although the announcement establishes the setting and intended combat style, the project remains at an early stage. Details about its precise release timing and how its newer ideas will work in practice have yet to be shared.
