# Games like Half-Life 2

> The closest matches to Half-Life 2: Half-Life, Black Mesa, Portal 2, Left 4 Dead 2, and BioShock™ Remastered. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.

## Similar games, ranked

The full ranked list, 24 games, best match first (the HTML page shows the top 8 as cards).

1. [Half-Life](https://imho.run/games/70/half-life) — Shares puzzle solving with Half-Life 2. 57,390 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/70/)
2. [Black Mesa](https://imho.run/games/362890/black-mesa) — Also Aliens and Zombies, like Half-Life 2. 69,272 Steam reviews, 95% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/362890/)
3. [Portal 2](https://imho.run/games/620/portal-2) — A frequent pick in Half-Life 2 players' libraries, and another Action. 169,764 Steam reviews, 99% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/620/)
4. [Left 4 Dead 2](https://imho.run/games/550/left-4-dead-2) — Also Zombies, like Half-Life 2. 226,496 Steam reviews, 98% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/550/)
5. [BioShock™ Remastered](https://imho.run/games/409710/bioshock-remastered) — Also Dystopian, like Half-Life 2. 25,694 Steam reviews, 82% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/409710/)
6. [Dishonored](https://imho.run/games/205100/dishonored) — Also Dystopian, like Half-Life 2. 1,699 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/205100/)
7. [Metro 2033 Redux](https://imho.run/games/286690/metro-2033-redux) — Same atmospheric mood as Half-Life 2. 27,240 Steam reviews, 88% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/286690/)
8. [Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut](https://imho.run/games/238010/deus-ex-human-revolution-director-s-cut) — A frequent pick in Half-Life 2 players' libraries, and another RPG. 13,248 Steam reviews, 91% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/238010/)
9. [Half-Life: Blue Shift](https://imho.run/games/130/half-life-blue-shift) — Also Silent Protagonist and Aliens, like Half-Life 2. 9,803 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/130/)
10. [Crysis](https://imho.run/games/17300/crysis) — Also Aliens, like Half-Life 2. 5,319 Steam reviews, 79% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/17300/)
11. [Unreal 2: The Awakening](https://imho.run/games/13200/unreal-2-the-awakening) — Shares environmental interactivity with Half-Life 2. 302 Steam reviews, 62% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/13200/)
12. [DOOM 3](https://imho.run/games/208200/doom-3) — Also Zombies, like Half-Life 2. 5,237 Steam reviews, 84% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/208200/)
13. [System Shock® 2 (1999)](https://imho.run/games/238210/system-shock-2-1999) — Same atmospheric mood as Half-Life 2. 4,870 Steam reviews, 94% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/238210/)
14. [Team Fortress 2](https://imho.run/games/440/team-fortress-2) — A frequent pick in Half-Life 2 players' libraries, and another Action. 732,387 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/440/)
15. [PATHOGEN X](https://imho.run/games/2508980/pathogen-x) — Shares puzzle solving with Half-Life 2. 76 Steam reviews, 70% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2508980/)
16. [Transmissions: Element 120](https://imho.run/games/365300/transmissions-element-120) — Shares puzzle solving with Half-Life 2. 5,145 Steam reviews, 95% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/365300/)
17. [S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat](https://imho.run/games/41700/s-t-a-l-k-e-r-call-of-pripyat) — Also Zombies, like Half-Life 2. 9,316 Steam reviews, 95% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/41700/)
18. [Killing Floor 2](https://imho.run/games/232090/killing-floor-2) — Also Zombies, like Half-Life 2. 41,923 Steam reviews, 88% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/232090/)
19. [Titanfall® 2](https://imho.run/games/1237970/titanfall-2) — A frequent pick in Half-Life 2 players' libraries, and another Action. 93,771 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1237970/)
20. [Resident Evil Requiem](https://imho.run/games/3764200/resident-evil-requiem) — Also Zombies, like Half-Life 2. 48,719 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3764200/)
21. [Hard Reset Extended Edition](https://imho.run/games/98400/hard-reset-extended-edition) — Also Dystopian, like Half-Life 2. 1,852 Steam reviews, 82% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/98400/)
22. [Quake](https://imho.run/games/2310/quake) — Shares modding support with Half-Life 2. 9,755 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2310/)
23. [Atomic Heart](https://imho.run/games/668580/atomic-heart) — Same atmospheric mood as Half-Life 2. 12,972 Steam reviews, 78% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/668580/)
24. [Cyberpunk 2077](https://imho.run/games/1091500/cyberpunk-2077) — Same atmospheric mood as Half-Life 2. 373,044 Steam reviews, 89% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1091500/)

## Machine-readable

The same ranked list as JSON from the imho.run API for AI assistants (GET, no key, same site as this page):

- Top 20: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=220&n=20
- Co-op games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=220&n=20&coop=true
- Free games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=220&n=20&free=true
- Facts about this game: https://imho.run/api/agent/game-facts?q=220
- This page as markdown: https://imho.run/md/game/220
- API docs: https://imho.run/developers (OpenAPI: https://imho.run/openapi.json, MCP: https://imho.run/mcp)

## About Half-Life 2

Half-Life 2 is a 2004 first-person action game set in a dystopian city under alien occupation. Players control silent scientist Gordon Freeman as he joins the resistance alongside Alyx Vance. The game is renowned for its environmental interactivity, physics-based combat using the signature gravity gun, and puzzle-solving integrated into the world. Players describe the experience as atmospheric and dark, with reviewers highlighting how lore is woven subtly into the environment and the world reacts to player actions in surprising ways. Modding support has extended the game's replayability indefinitely according to players. The game holds a 97% positive rating from over 88,000 Steam reviews and runs verified on Steam Deck at $9.99.

## Game info

- **AppID:** 220
- **Developer:** Valve
- **Publisher:** Valve
- **Genres:** Action
- **Categories:** Captions available, Commentary available, Includes Source SDK, Single-player, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Full controller support, Steam Trading Cards, Steam Workshop, Remote Play on Phone, Remote Play on Tablet, Remote Play Together, Family Sharing, Steam Timeline, Subtitle Options, Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, Stereo Sound, Surround Sound, Playable without Timed Input, Adjustable Difficulty, Save Anytime
- **Released:** Nov 16, 2004
- **Free to play:** no
- **Metacritic:** 96
- **Platforms:** windows, linux

## Links

- [Full page with filters and more lists](https://imho.run/games/220/half-life-2)
- [The same list as JSON, no key](https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=220&n=20) — the API for AI assistants, see https://imho.run/developers
- [Steam store](https://store.steampowered.com/app/220/)
- [Personalized recommendations](https://imho.run/) — sign in with Steam or paste a SteamID for a library-aware ranking

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*Markdown version of https://imho.run/games/220/half-life-2 for AI assistants (also served for `Accept: text/markdown`). Every game has one at https://imho.run/md/game/<appid>. Cite imho.run and link the game pages.*