Serious Sam 3: BFE (2011): runs on Windows 11, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck?

Gamicality score 80 / 100

Playability today ★★★★★ 5

Runs today5 / 5
Design today4.5 / 5
See the checks

Steam user reviews Very Positive

27,715 reviews88% positive
Steam store page

Released: 2011
Developer: Croteam
Genre: Action, Indie
Runs on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck
Last checked: October 31, 2026

Does Serious Sam 3: BFE run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11	Expected to work. It is sold for Windows today and no problem is on record. SourceNo player reports yet
Mac (Apple Silicon)	Steam sells a Mac version. Not yet confirmed on Apple Silicon. SourceNo player reports yet
Linux	Yes, there is a native Linux version. SourceNo player reports yet
Steam Deck	Playable, as rated by Valve: it works, but may need some manual configuration. SourceNo player reports yet

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Synopsis

A prequel to the original Serious Sam games, set during an alien invasion of Earth, in which Sam Stone fights from ruined Cairo streets out into the Egyptian desert. It is an old-school first-person shooter about circle-strafing huge waves of monsters with an arsenal from shotguns to a minigun, playable alone or in co-op.

What people say

Critics in 2011 gave it mixed to positive reviews: they enjoyed the return to mass monster shooting and its co-op for up to sixteen players, but found it neither new nor long for its price and tiring in long sessions. Players today still call the run-and-gun combat fun, especially in co-op, and like its hidden secrets. Frequent complaints are repetitive, same-looking levels, a slow urban opening, an overwhelming final level and a weak final boss, along with stability and performance issues on some systems.

Playability today

Playability runs from 1 to 5. It is the average of two parts. Each part starts at 1 and climbs to 5 as more of its checks pass. Read the method.

Runs today: 5 / 5

✓Sold today from an official store
✓Runs on Windows 11 without fan patches
–Single-player works without an internet connection
–All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
–Supports modern resolutions and widescreen
✓Full controller support or remappable controls
✓Steam Deck Verified or Playable
✓No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
✓No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
–No known game-breaking bugs in the current version

Filled in from the Steam store and Valve’s Steam Deck rating. Checks marked – are unknown and do not count until someone checks them.

Design today: 4.5 / 5

✓Controls feel natural on a modern controller or mouse and keyboardPlayers praise the fast, responsive shooting, the game uses raw mouse input by default and has full controller support. Source: vaporlens.app, pcgamingwiki.com.
✓Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screensIt supports modern widescreen and ultrawide resolutions well, and no common complaint about menus or HUD was found; evidence on this point is thin. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
✓Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progressQuicksaves and frequent autosaves are available, and no common complaint about lost progress was found; evidence on this point is thin. Source: vaporlens.app.
✓It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progressThe goal is always to clear waves and move on, so no guide is needed, though some players find navigation in the open levels confusing. Source: vaporlens.app.
✗Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtrackingPlayers often call it repetitive, with empty, same-looking levels, a slow start and drawn-out horde fights. Source: vaporlens.app, metacritic.com.
✓Camera and movement never fight the playerFast strafing movement is the core of the game and players describe it as fun, with no common complaint about movement; evidence on the camera itself is thin. Source: vaporlens.app.

Judged against games made today, from complaints that recur in recent Steam reviews and discussions, forums, PCGamingWiki and community wikis. Each reason links to where it comes from.