5 Best Video Games Like Half-Life

Valve Corporation's first-person shooter "Half-Life" was a landmark achievement in the video game medium when it launched on Windows in 1998. It follows a scientist named Gordon Freeman who works at a remote facility that opens a portal to a monster-filled dimension. As Freeman scrambles to survive, he has to contend with not only these otherworldly horrors but the military launching a lethal government cover-up to eliminate all witnesses.

"Half-Life 2" dropped to rave reviews in 2004 and is now widely considered to be one of the best sci-fi video games of all time. Unfortunately, we never got to play "Half-Life 3," with the franchise on ice for the foreseeable future. However, fans of the series have lots of other first-person sci-fi games to choose from, each bringing their own spin to the genre. We've put together a list of impressive titles that have similar sensibilities to "Half-Life," either in tone or in the overall gameplay experience.

The 1999 game "System Shock 2" veers more into survival horror than "Half-Life" but it boasts a sci-fi story that's just as memorable. Set on a starship in the 22nd century, players choose between different military branches informing their background and skills. The player character is revived from cryogenic slumber to find the rest of those on the starship have died or been monstrously transformed by alien parasites. The protagonist reluctantly teams up with the malevolent artificial intelligence program SHODAN to eradicate the parasites and those they infected.

One of the creepiest first-person shooter games of the '90s, "System Shock 2" offers a haunting setting for players to explore. The game's story is relatively accessible to those who have never played the first installment, with SHODAN quickly catching players up. The game has a cyberpunk feel to it and it also adds a layer of RPG elements that "Half-Life" lacked while doubling down on its first-person shooter action. It received a modern remaster in 2025, introducing the disturbing thrills of "System Shock 2" to a new generation.

Another sci-fi title with a cyberpunk tinge that "Half-Life" fans will no doubt adore is 2000's "Deus Ex," one of the most ambitiously immersive first-person sci-fi games of its time. Set in a dystopian near-future ravaged by a deadly contagion, the game's protagonist is cybernetically enhanced government agent JC Denton. As Denton battles a terrorist organization targeting vaccine shipments, he stumbles across a vast global conspiracy secretly running the world. As Denton becomes involved with rival factions wanting to determine humanity's future, he must choose who he will ultimately side with.

The level of freedom that "Deus Ex" brings to the table in contrast to its narrative is particularly impressive, even over 25 years later. Beyond whose cause to join, there are multiple ways to complete the game's missions and lots of side quests expanding the world and story. The first-person layout and general technical presentation greatly resembles "Half-Life," making it an easy transition for fans of the Valve classic. One of the best PC games of all time, "Deus Ex" is an expansive experience that blends cyberpunk action with an appropriately moody narrative.

Players who are more interested in the first-person shooter elements of "Half-Life" rather than the breadth of gameplay options and the story should check out the 2005 game "Quake 4," which serves as a direct sequel to 1997's "Quake II." Continuing the story of the war against the cybernetic alien empire, the Strogg, the game's protagonist, Matthew Kane, is part of an invasion of the Strogg's home planet. Kane regroups with his scattered squad only to be partially transformed into a Strogg himself, gaining their unique abilities.

"Quake 4" makes this list over its predecessors for its refined gameplay and presentation, along with a greater emphasis on its single-player campaign. The game's story is relatively accessible for those who haven't played the first two entries in the series, with an interesting driving narrative. And, in keeping with what the franchise is best known for, the gunplay is exciting and its multiplayer modes are as frenetic as ever. The "Quake" franchise has enjoyed a surprise revival in the 2020s, so hopefully "Quake 4" will get the remaster treatment next to update its technical presentation.

One of the best-looking first-person sci-fi shooters of its generation, 2007's "Crysis" takes place in the then-future of 2020. An archaeological discovery on a chain of islands in the Philippine Sea prompts the United States to covertly dispatch a Delta Force unit to investigate. Though armed with powerful exosuits that enhance their physical attributes and endurance, the team ends up in a fierce battle with deadly aliens that are prowling the islands. With the conflict rapidly growing and the squad's futuristic weapons outmatched, protagonist Jake Dunn scrambles to stop the alien infestation before it's too late.

Like "Half-Life," "Crysis" is the story of an extraterrestrial incident escalating beyond the control of specialists, though there's also a military angle to it, as North Korean forces have taken control of the Lingshan Islands, meaning the player has to combat hostile troops as well as aliens. While "Crysis" leans more into high-octane action than the narrative-driven Valve titles, there's still a lot for "Half-Life" fans to love here. A remaster for modern platforms was released in 2020, continuing the series' reputation for intuitive gameplay and breathtaking visuals.

Right from the moment things go haywire at the Black Mesa Research Facility, "Half-Life" turns into an incredibly creepy game. Those monstrous horror qualities are alive and well in the 2010 first-person shooter "Metro 2033," developed by Ukrainian-Maltese studio 4A Games based on Dmitry Glukhovsky's novel of the same name. The first game in the "Metro" timeline, the story is set in Moscow 20 years after a nuclear war devastated the world. With most of the local survivors sheltering in the city's subway system, the protagonist contends with hostile factions and mutated monsters as he battles a new threat called the Dark Ones.

"Metro 2033" is the grimmest title on this list, really leaning into the post-apocalyptic possibilities of its story. The chilling atmosphere definitely evokes "Half-Life," especially the constant sense of claustrophobia when players venture underground. The action is well-handled and, even with its arsenal of weapons, the game still puts players on the defensive with its survival horror thrills. A distinctly Eastern European take on post-apocalyptic sci-fi, "Metro 2033" delivers a haunting bleakness that "Half-Life" fans will definitely appreciate.