After nearly 25 years, a new mainline entry in the Serious Sam series, titled Serious Sam: The Third Encounter, is officially in development. Croteam and Devolver Digital announced the game, which will be the seventh main installment despite its unusual numbering. The series is known for its over-the-top action, pitting the titular Sam against massive hordes of enemies.
This new title will directly continue the narrative thread from Serious Sam: The Second Encounter, which originally released in 2002. "This time Sam is going to strike Mental's Horde at its heart, and he’s deadly serious about it," a statement from the developers read, referencing the series' recurring intergalactic antagonist, Mental.
The developers emphasized the core Serious Sam experience, stating, "The only thing standing between you and thousands of enemies is your weapon, and the only thing that matters is who pulls the trigger first." This suggests a return to the series' roots, focusing on intense gunplay against overwhelming odds.
Croteam noted that Serious Sam: The Third Encounter is in its early stages of development, indicating that a release date is not imminent. This announcement comes after the recent launch of Serious Sam: Shatterverse, a co-op roguelite shooter, which received mixed reception. The developer also released Serious Sam 4 in 2020 and Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem in 2022.