Serious Sam 2 gets a seriously big update 15 years after launch

Whatever the hell is going on in Serious Sam 2

(Image credit: Croteam)

Like a headless bomber screaming out of some unseen bush, Serious Sam 2 has been ambushed by an explosive new update 15 years after its original release.

Arriving as part of the series' 20th Anniversary Celebrations, Serious Sam 2's free 2.90 update is a real big'un. The patch introduces a new BeamGun (based on a concept from the original Serious Sam) and flamethrower, alongside 12 previously unreleased multiplayer arenas. All weapons can now be dual-wielded, while Sam can now sprint and rocket jump around levels, guided by a new radar system.

The update was headed up by modder-turned-Croteam developer Nathan "DwK" Brown, who pitched the update while there was a spare minute during the development of Serious Sam 4.

"I had some downtime after Sam 4 was released and was looking through the Serious Sam 2 Steam forum posts and I thought the game could use a little love," Brown wrote in a short Q&A. "It's a great game. It's the game that really turned me into a game developer. So I suggested a simple patch. I was told to spend some real-time on it, maybe add a few options from my InSamnity! 2 mod."

It's an overhaul that seems to dramatically change how Serious Sam 2 fundamentally plays, and should make the game well worth a revisit. Thankfully, it also comes with a good deal of bug fixes and changes to make the game more appealing in 2021, upscaling UI elements and fonts to be a little less crunchy on modern displays.

Fancy a shot? Serious Sam 2 is currently 20% off on Steam as part of the series' 20th Anniversary sale, with a completely remastered soundtrack set to hit Steam and streaming platforms "soon".

20 years ago, Nat played Jet Set Radio Future for the first time, and she's not stopped thinking about games since. Joining PC Gamer in 2020, she comes from three years of freelance reporting at Rock Paper Shotgun, Waypoint, VG247 and more. Embedded in the European indie scene and a part-time game developer herself, Nat is always looking for a new curiosity to scream about—whether it's the next best indie darling, or simply someone modding a Scotmid into Black Mesa. She also unofficially appears in Apex Legends under the pseudonym Horizon.