Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2: A physics-driven campaign shooter with two included episodes and Deathmatch. Ranked #26 of 98 in PC Games by our editors (6.9/10); pricing: Paid; best for physics-based single-player action.
At a glance
- Editor score6.9 / 10
- PricingPaid
- Best forPhysics-based single-player action
- Free planNo
- Supported OSMultiple
- Facts checked5 Oct 2026
Where it wins
- Campaign mixes combat, exploration, physics puzzles and environmental storytelling
- Episode One, Episode Two and Deathmatch are included
- Supports Steam Workshop content and developer commentary
Where it doesn't
- Paid game with no free plan
- The core experience centers on a single-player campaign
- Support channels listed are limited to documentation
Our verdict on Half-Life 2
In City 17, Gordon Freeman joins a resistance movement against the Combine in Half-Life 2, a first-person shooter built around a single-player campaign. Its mix of combat, exploration, physics-based puzzles and environmental storytelling gives the action a puzzle-solving dimension. It is a fit for players seeking a story-led shooter with interactive environments, rather than a game focused chiefly on multiplayer. The Steam listing includes Episode One and Episode Two, accessible from the main menu, as well as Half-Life 2: Deathmatch.
The campaign’s physics-based puzzles and combat are its defining distinction in this listing. The game also supports Steam Workshop content, and its 20th Anniversary Update added developer commentary and gameplay options. Those features give players additional ways to engage with the campaign and its content. Deathmatch is included, but the stated single-player campaign remains the central experience, so players looking primarily for online multiplayer should weigh that focus.
Half-Life 2 is a paid game, with no free plan. The included expansions add more campaign content, while Deathmatch broadens the package beyond single-player. The listed platforms are Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, spanning desktop and mobile. Support channels list documentation. Choose it for a physics-led action campaign with commentary, Workshop support and included episodes; look elsewhere if a free game or a multiplayer-first experience is your priority.
Half-Life 2 pricing
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Half-Life 2 fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Genre | Action |
| Single-player | Yes |
| Online multiplayer | Yes |
| Controller support | Not verified |
| Mod support | Yes |
| Supported OS | Multiple |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
| Support | Docs |
| Pricing | Paid (source) |
| Website | half-life.com |
| Facts checked | 5 Oct 2026 |
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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