Half-Life 2 — Is It Worth Playing?

Reawakened from stasis in the occupied metropolis of City 17, Gordon Freeman is joined by Alyx Vance as he leads a desperate human resistance.

Nov 16, 2004Shooterby Valve$1.99
Quick verdict Half-Life 2 holds 98% positive across 199,177 Steam reviews. It's on our trending radar. If you enjoy Shooter games like Enter the Chronosphere, GET OUT! – A Very Bad Dreams Story, MECH OPS 2092, it's an easy one to check out.

About Half-Life 2

The Seven Hour War is lost. Earth has surrendered. The Black Mesa incident is a distant memory. The player again picks up the crowbar of research scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself on an alien-infested Earth being picked to the bone, its resources depleted, its populace dwindling. Freeman is thrust into the unenviable role of rescuing the world from the wrong he unleashed back at Black Mesa. And a lot of people he cares about are counting on him. Half-Life 2 is the landmark first-person shooter that “forged the framework for the next generation of games” (PC Gamer). Experience a thrilling campaign packed with unprecedented levels of immersive world-building, boundary-pushing physics, and exhilarating combat. Includes the Half-Life 2 Episode One and Two Expansions The story of Half-Life 2 continues with Episodes One and Two, full-featured Half-Life adventures set during the aftermath of the base game. They are accessible from the main menu, and you will automatically advance to the next episode after completing each one. Half-Life 2: Deathmatch Fast multiplayer action set in the Half-Life 2 universe! HL2's physics adds a new dimension to deathmatch play. Play straight deathmatch or try Combine vs. Resistance teamplay. Toss a toilet at your friend today! Included in your Steam library with purchase of Half-Life 2. Steam Workshop Play entire campaigns or replace weapons, enemies, UI, and more with content created by the community.

Description via Steam.

Key Stats

24h peak players
2,466
Steam reviews
98% · 199,177
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Valve
Release
Nov 16, 2004
Price
$1.99

Should You Play Half-Life 2?

Who it's for: fans of Shooter games like Enter the Chronosphere, GET OUT! – A Very Bad Dreams Story, MECH OPS 2092.

The Seven Hour War is lost. Earth has surrendered. The Black Mesa incident is a distant memory. The player again picks up the crowbar of research scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself on an alien-infested Earth being picked to the bone, its resources depleted, its populace dwindling. Freeman is thrust into the unenviable role of rescuing the world from the wrong he unleashed back at Black Mesa. And a lot of people he cares about are counting on him. Half-Life 2 is the landmark first-person shooter that “forged the framework for the next generation …

Half-Life 2 is single-player on Steam and runs on Windows, Linux. It's on our trending radar right now.

▶ Get Half-Life 2 on Steam →

Opens the official Steam store page.

System Requirements & Platforms

View PC requirements & supported platforms

Platforms: Windows, Linux

Minimum

OS *: Windows 7, Vista, XP · Processor: 1.7 Ghz · Memory: 512 MB RAM · Graphics: DirectX 8.1 level Graphics Card (requires support for SSE) · Storage: 6500 MB available space

Half-Life 2 — Frequently Asked Questions

When does Half-Life 2 release?
Half-Life 2 released on Nov 16, 2004 and is available now on Steam.
What kind of game is Half-Life 2?
Half-Life 2 is a Shooter game. Reawakened from stasis in the occupied metropolis of City 17, Gordon Freeman is joined by Alyx Vance as he leads a desperate human resistance.
Is Half-Life 2 multiplayer or co-op?
No — Half-Life 2 is listed as single-player only on Steam.
Is Half-Life 2 on Steam Deck or consoles?
Half-Life 2 runs on Windows, Linux via Steam; native Linux support makes it a strong Steam Deck candidate. No console release has been confirmed.
How much does Half-Life 2 cost?
Half-Life 2 is priced at $1.99 on Steam.
What are Half-Life 2's system requirements?
The developer has not published detailed system requirements yet.
Is Half-Life 2 worth playing in 2026?
Yes — Half-Life 2 holds 98% positive across 199,177 Steam reviews, making it an easy recommendation in 2026.
Who made Half-Life 2?
Half-Life 2 is developed by Valve.
What games is Half-Life 2 similar to?
Half-Life 2 sits alongside Shooter games such as Enter the Chronosphere, GET OUT! – A Very Bad Dreams Story, MECH OPS 2092.
What platforms is Half-Life 2 on?
Half-Life 2 is available on Windows, Linux.

Data & media via Steam · updated 2026-07-17 · all trending games →