We Love It's Guide to…
As Gordon Freeman, fight the Combine across occupied Earth using firearms, environmental physics, and improvised weapons.
Released 16 Nov 2004
Launch Makeshift Weapons
Solve Physics Puzzles
Drive Airboat and Buggy
Reawakened from stasis in the occupied metropolis of City 17, Gordon Freeman is joined by Alyx Vance as he leads a desperate human resistance. Experience the landmark first-person shooter packed with immersive world-building, boundary-pushing physics, and exhilarating combat.
Developed by Valve · Published by Valve
You play as Gordon Freeman, a silent scientist caught in an Earth ruled by the Combine. In City 17, he joins Alyx Vance and the human resistance, then travels through occupied streets and surrounding ruins.
Fight soldiers and alien creatures with firearms and a crowbar, or use the Gravity Gun to grab and launch objects. Physics also shapes environmental puzzles, where you inspect your surroundings and use available tools to find a way forward.
The single-player campaign shifts between combat, exploration, puzzles, horror-tinged encounters, and vehicle sections. The included Episodes One and Two continue the story, while Half-Life 2: Deathmatch offers online combat and Steam Workshop supports community-made content.
Reviewers often highlight the Gravity Gun and physics-based interactions, which make both combat and puzzles feel inventive. They also praise City 17’s oppressive atmosphere, the environmental storytelling, and the campaign’s varied locations and encounters. Some describe the story’s unresolved continuation as frustrating, while others note that vehicle sections can feel long or that the gunplay shows its age.
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.
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.
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.
Play entire campaigns or replace weapons, enemies, UI, and more with content created by the community.
| Platforms | Windows, Linux |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 69 |
| Age ratings |
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| Players | From 2 (maximum not specified) |
| Play modes |
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| Other modes |
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| Multiplayer | Half-Life 2 is primarily a single-player game. The provided information states it includes Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, which offers online multiplayer with straight deathmatch and Combine vs. Resistance teamplay. No player-count limits or local multiplayer support are stated. |
| Multiplayer & mods | Steam Workshop support is stated for campaigns and replacing weapons, enemies, UI, and more with community content. The provided information does not explicitly state how Workshop content affects multiplayer modes. |
| Controller support | PlayStation, Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| Demo | View demo on Steam |
| DLC / extras | 1 listed on Steam |
| Metacritic | 96/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |
