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Half-Life
[COVER ART]
On Steam Shooter 1998 Valve

Half-Life

Valve's 1998 debut, which told its story without cut-scenes and changed how shooters were made.

Scientist Gordon Freeman is running a routine experiment at the Black Mesa Research Facility when it goes horribly wrong. Aliens pour in through a dimensional rift, soldiers arrive to cover it all up, and Gordon has to fight his way out.

Sold on Steam. Made for adults: it is violent.

Screenshots

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About the game

You never leave Gordon's eyes: the whole story plays out around you, in one continuous journey through Black Mesa.

Scripted events, smart soldiers and puzzles built into the levels made it feel alive in a way few shooters had.

History

Developed by Valve and published by Sierra in 1998.

Mods like Counter-Strike and Team Fortress Classic grew out of it, and Half-Life 2 followed in 2004.

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Ways to play

Steam Half-Life, the original game
Paid Open

Extras

Only official, legal extras. We never link to scanned manuals or unofficial downloads.

Manual on Steam Some Steam releases include a digital manual. If this one does, you will find a "Manual" link on the game's page in your Steam library.
More from Valve See every Valve game in the library. Games by Valve
Read more History, development and reception on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Search Wikipedia

Reviews

What the critics said. Scores are as published; summaries are our own. Follow the links to read the full reviews.