Game Groups > Half-Life universe

Half-Life is a series of games developed by Valve, which share a common setting and recurrent gameplay elements. The main installments are predominantly linear, story-driven first-person shooters with light puzzle-solving elements, connected by an overarching storyline and a common protagonist, the scientist Gordon Freeman. Portal games, originating in 2007, are set in the same universe and share a few gameplay elements with the main Half-Life games, though they form a separate storyline and are mostly dedicated to puzzle-solving.

Story

The overarching story of Half-Life begins in the fictional Black Mesa Research Facility in New Mexico, where a failed experiment leads to the opening of an inter-dimensional portal, causing alien beings from the world Xen to invade Earth. Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist, escapes from the facility and attempts to stop the alien invasion, eliminating their leader. However, he is confronted by a mysterious person known as the G-man, who puts him into stasis. Nearly twenty years later, Freeman finds himself in City 17, a dystopian society governed by the Combine, a group of humans and aliens who have meanwhile used the dimensional rift to conquer the Earth. Freeman and his friends begin a struggle against Combine, still unaware of the G-man's true intentions.

Gameplay

Half-Life games are for the most part composed of straightforward first-person shooter gameplay. However, some of the tasks in the games require specific actions, sometimes resulting in moderate platform exercises (jumping) and mild puzzle-solving activities. The games include many scripted events and action-oriented set pieces, complementing their linear nature. The first Half-Life (1998) was also notable for popularizing seamless cutscenes, during which the player's control of the main character was retained.

Awards

  • PC Powerplay (Germany)
    • Issue 06/2005 - #9 Likeable Secondary Character (for Barney)

Related Groups

46 Games [ view in game browser ] [ add game ]

Title Released Platforms Genres Moby Score
box cover thumbnail Aperture Desk Job 2022 Linux, Windows Action
n/a
box cover thumbnail Aperture Hand Lab 2019 Windows Adventure
n/a
box cover thumbnail Bridge Constructor: Portal 2017 Linux, Windows (+9 more) Simulation, Puzzle
7.2
box cover thumbnail Codename: Gordon 2004 Windows Action
7.4
box cover thumbnail Evil Genius 2: World Domination - Portal Pack 2021 Windows DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2001 PlayStation 2 Action
7.6
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 1998 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Action
8.7
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 1: Anthology 2005 Windows Compilation
8.5
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2 2004 Windows, Linux (+3 more) Action
8.7
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2 (Collector's Edition) 2004 Windows Special edition
7.7
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2 (Gold Edition) 2004 Windows Special edition
7.6
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2: Complete 2008 Windows Compilation
n/a
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2: Deathmatch 2004 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Action
7.0
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2: Episode One 2006 Windows, Linux (+2 more) Action
8.2
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2: Episode Pack 2008 Windows Compilation
n/a
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2: Episode Two 2007 Windows, Linux (+2 more) Action
8.5
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2: Game of the Year Edition 2005 Windows Compilation
8.3
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2: Holiday 2006 Collection 2006 Windows Compilation
n/a
box cover thumbnail Half-Life 2: Lost Coast 2005 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Add-on
7.7
Half-Life 2: Survivor 2006 Arcade Action
n/a
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Adrenaline Pack 1999 Windows Compilation
6.5
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Alyx 2020 Windows Action
8.8
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Blue Shift 2001 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Action
7.2
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Blue Shift 2001 Windows Compilation
n/a
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Complete 2008 Windows Compilation
n/a
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Counter-Strike 2000 Windows Action, Compilation
7.1
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Deathmatch - Source 2005 Windows Action
n/a
Half-Life: Further Data V.1 1999 Windows Add-on
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Half-Life: Further Data V.2 1999 Windows Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Game of the Year Edition 1999 Windows Compilation
7.6
Half-Life: Initial Encounter 1999 Windows Compilation
n/a
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Opposing Force 1999 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Add-on
8.0
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Platinum 2000 Windows Compilation
6.7
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Platinum Collection 2002 Windows Compilation
7.2
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Source 2005 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Action
7.8
box cover thumbnail Half-Life: Uplink 1999 Windows Action
7.9
box cover thumbnail Portal 2007 Windows, Linux (+2 more) Action, Puzzle
8.4
box cover thumbnail Portal / Portal 2 2011 Windows, Macintosh (+1 more) Action, Compilation, Puzzle
n/a
box cover thumbnail Portal 2 2011 Windows, Linux (+3 more) Action, Puzzle
9.0
box cover thumbnail Portal 2: Peer Review 2011 Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Portal 2: Sixense MotionPack 2011 Windows, PlayStation 3 DLC / Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Portal with RTX 2022 Windows Add-on
n/a
box cover thumbnail Portal: Still Alive 2008 Xbox 360 Action, Puzzle
8.2
box cover thumbnail Source Multiplayer Pack 2010 Windows, Macintosh Compilation
n/a
box cover thumbnail The Orange Box 2007 Windows, Xbox 360 (+1 more) Compilation
8.9
box cover thumbnail Valve Complete Pack 2008 Windows Compilation
n/a