Player 1 can use keyboard/mouse, but extra players must use Xbox/PS controllers. No mixing two keyboards. No single-keyboard dual-player.

Menus, weapon selection, and inventory screens overlap awkwardly. Each player sees the same full-screen menu when they pause – not ideal.

On a standard 24" monitor, 4-player split-screen (quadrants) makes distant enemies tiny. This game relies on spotting enemies from afar. It’s playable but straining.

Brilliant once running, but the hoops to jump through keep it from being a casual recommendation. Bottom Line If you’re willing to use Serious Sam Fusion and have enough controllers, The Second Encounter in split-screen is a hidden gem on PC. Without those, skip it. For most people, the console versions (Xbox 360/One via backward compatibility) offer a much smoother local co-op experience.

Playing with a controller against fast-moving, small enemies (like those damn reptiloids) is noticeably harder than keyboard/mouse. Casual friends will struggle. How to Actually Get Split-Screen Working (Simplified) | Method | Difficulty | Best for | |--------|------------|-----------| | Serious Sam Fusion (recommended) | Easy – just select “Split Screen” from main menu | Most users | | Old HD version + console commands | Medium – need to bind keys and adjust configs | Purists / non-Steam versions |