Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 72 | 6 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 70 | 2 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 92% | 86 | 1367 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 27, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 1367 total reviews in window · weighted 188 up / 19.7 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (34)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 74
“Mindless gameplay could be making its final appearance on the beleaguered Xbox, so players who relish the opportunity at sending a bunch of empty-headed hooligans to an early grave would be wise to shell out for the ticket price.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A linear yet fun experience and whilst it will not win awards for being complex in any way, and this includes the simple story; it does get the job done in an old school way.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Serves up a piping hot platter of punishment, free of the FPS cliche's that mire other titles. [Dec 2005, p.115]”
- 66
“Serious Sam II has a lot of levels and a few good laughs, but its simple shooting action is less likely to get your adrenaline pumping as it is to make you go numb.”
read full review ↗ - 73
“Serious Sam 2 may be a pun prickling pap of a sequel, but it delivers exactly what it promises –mindless action and plenty of it. It's got guns, several shiny things to ogle over, and a cavalcade of monster scum to slaughter. But its slapstick humor alone cannot save this game from its incessant repetitiveness and less than innovative gameplay; albeit it is executed rather well.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“You couldn't ask for a more unapologetically insane FPS. Turn off your brain, turn on auto-fire, and get serious.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“A great game for what it is! Sam doesn't try to be all fancy and keeps us basic with a theory of "tape the finger to the controller and kill em' all".”
read full review ↗ - 85
“When it comes to balls-to-the-wall kitchen sink FPSs, Sam is the man. [Dec 2005, p.66]”
- 72
“This one is fun and a blast to get out your frustrations, but the fun seems to stop sooner than I would have liked.”
read full review ↗ - 89
“Add in the co-op mode, and it comes down to the fact that if you've ever liked any first-person shooter, you should pick up Serious Sam II.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“This is mindless, cartoony fun, like a cool breeze blowing through your video game collection.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The endless fragfest that is Serious Sam II occasionally runs the risk of becoming monotonous. What saves the title is the endless variety of enemies that come your way and the intense challenge that they offer.”
read full review ↗
GameSpot
IGN…and 22 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Hotfix: Game Completion AchievementsMar 5, 2026
- Serious Sam II Achievements hotfixFeb 20, 2026
- Serious Sam II Achievements ARE HERE!Feb 10, 2026
- Serious Sam 2 - 20th Anniversary Update - Part 2Oct 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Serious Sam 2 - 20th Annviersary UpdateOct 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Serious Sam 2 Update 2.091 is LiveApr 27, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Wait, what?! Serious Sam 2 Update 2.090 is Live!Mar 23, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- New Serious Sam 2 Steam update 269486Sep 1, 2016
- New Serious Sam 2 Steam update 269486Sep 1, 2016
- Beta update 252822 promoted to mainJan 23, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Beta update 252822 promoted to mainJan 23, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Beta update 244697 promoted to mainJul 31, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- Beta update 244697 promoted to mainJul 31, 2015
- Beta update promoted to mainJul 24, 2015
- Beta update promoted to mainJul 24, 2015
- Beta update 243904 promoted to mainJul 17, 2015
- Beta update 243904 promoted to mainJul 17, 2015
- Beta update promoted to mainJul 9, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- Beta update promoted to mainJul 9, 2015
- Beta update promoted to mainFeb 20, 2015significant · resets scoring window
- Beta update promoted to mainFeb 20, 2015