Half-Life on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information

Named Game of the Year by over 50 publications, Valve's debut title blends action and adventure with award-winning technology to create a frighteningly realistic world where players must think to survive. Also includes an exciting multiplayer mode that allows you to play against friends and enemies around the world.

Half-Life is a fps, classic and 1990's game developed and published by Valve.
Released on November 19th 1998 is available on Windows, MacOS and Linux in 8 languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish - Spain, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Korean.

It has received 146,539 reviews of which 141,480 were positive and 5,059 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.5 out of 10. 😍

The game is currently priced at 8.19€ on Steam.

The Steam community has classified Half-Life into these genres:

FPS Classic 1990's Singleplayer Multiplayer Sci-fi Shooter Action First-Person Aliens Story Rich Silent Protagonist Atmospheric Gore Retro Moddable Adventure Action-Adventure Difficult PvP

Media & Screenshots

Get an in-depth look at Half-Life through various videos and screenshots.

System requirements

These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.

Windows

Minimum: 500 mhz processor, 96mb ram, 16mb video card, Windows XP, Mouse, Keyboard, Internet Connection

Recommended: 800 mhz processor, 128mb ram, 32mb+ video card, Windows XP, Mouse, Keyboard, Internet Connection

MacOS

Minimum: OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3, 1GB RAM, 4GB Hard Drive Space,NVIDIA GeForce 8 or higher, ATI X1600 or higher, or Intel HD 3000 or higher Mouse, Keyboard, Internet Connection

Linux

Minimum: Linux Ubuntu 12.04, Dual-core from Intel or AMD at 2.8 GHz, 1GB Memory, nVidia GeForce 8600/9600GT, ATI/AMD Radeaon HD2600/3600 (Graphic Drivers: nVidia 310, AMD 12.11), OpenGL 2.1, 4GB Hard Drive Space, OpenAL Compatible Sound Card

User reviews & Ratings

Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.

Feb. 2025

Even though Half-Life looks and plays like a bland FPS game, it's a lot more than that. Half-Life tries not to force you into anything no cutscenes, no "failed" screen when you get caught in a place where you're supposed to be stealthy because of the billion enemies around you; instead of this, you just die. The game gives you a lot of weapons and lets you do anything with them. You can try to play it like DOOM, but this will not work on normal and hard difficulty. You can lure enemies and use mines or bombs to kill them immediately, or you can use the crossbow to silently kill enemies. You can't finish the game with just one weapon. Trial and error is one of the game's strongest aspects. You need to solve some encounters like puzzles and beat them in the most efficient way to avoid running out of ammo or health for the next encounter. Considering the age of the game, movement feels slippery and janky sometimes, parkour sections can be frustrating, but the option to save and load anytime you want makes it more bearable. Storytelling can feel bad or lacking for gamers who are used to modern games that continuously try to show or remind you what’s happening around you in the most unnatural way, making you feel like some stupid kid with severe amnesia. Half-Life is not like these games. Most of the time, you're clueless about what's happening around you, just like every other human and creature NPC in the game. Nobody is in this situation by choice they are all ordinary people. Every creature in the game is a pawn of someone else, like soldiers for the government and Xen creatures for the Nihilanth. Everyone is there because their employers put them there, even the most mysterious one, G-Man.

Nov. 2024

Half-Life is a game that everyone MUST experience in their life. The game may be dated but it holds up much better than most modern titles. I am forever nostalgic for this game so 10/10 just play it please.

Oct. 2024

funny scientist scream, game makes me cream game is from the middle ages but it still holds up word of warning: this game seems a lot faster paced than you think it is. play slow and think combat situations through methodically, or you'll be living medkit-to-medkit at 10hp for half the game

Sept. 2024

A revolutionary game. Rather than populating areas with only enemies, it incorporates puzzles and parkour elements to diversify the gameplay. Instead of relying on cut scenes or having no story - like other FPS game of the time, Half-Life narrates its story through NPC interactions and environmental cues. A must-play.

Aug. 2024

Good morning and welcome to the Black Mesa Transit System. This automated train is provided for the security and convenience of the Black Mesa Research Facility personnel. The time is 08:47 AM. Current topside temperature is 93 degrees, with an estimated high of one hundred and five. The Black Mesa compound is maintained at a pleasant 68 degrees at all times. This train is inbound from Level 3 Dormitories to Sector C Test Labs and Control Facilities. If your intended destination is a high-security area beyond Sector C, you will need to return to the Central Transit Hub in Area 9 and board a high security train. If you have not yet submitted your identity to the retinal clearance system, you must report to Black Mesa Personnel for processing before you will be permitted into the high security branch of the transit system. Due to the high toxicity of material routinely handled in the Black Mesa compound, no smoking, eating, or drinking are permitted within the Black Mesa Transit System. Please keep your limbs inside the train at all times. Do not attempt to open the doors until the train has come to a complete halt at the station platform. In the event of an emergency, passengers are to remain seated and await further instruction. If it is necessary to exit the train, disabled personnel should be evacuated first. Please stay away from electrified rails, and proceed to an emergency station until assistance arrives. A reminder that the Black Mesa Hazard Course decathlon will commence this evening at nineteen hundred hours in the Level 3 Facility. The semifinals for high-security personnel will be announced in a separate Secure Access transmission. Remember, more lives than your own may depend on your fitness. Do you have a friend or relative who would make a valuable addition to the Black Mesa team? Immediate openings are available in the areas of Materials Handling and Low-Clearance Security. Please contact Black Mesa Personnel for further information. If you have an associate with a background in the areas of theoretical physics, biotechnology, or other high tech disciplines, please contact our Civilian Recruitment Division. The Black Mesa Research Facility is an equal opportunity employer. A reminder to all Black Mesa Personnel: Regular radiation and biohazard screenings are a requirement of continued employment in the Black Mesa Research Facility. Missing a scheduled urinalysis or radiation check-up is grounds for immediate termination. If you feel you have been exposed to radioactive or other hazardous materials in the course of your duties, contact your Radiation Safety Officer immediately. Work safe, work smart. Your future depends on it. Now arriving at Sector C Test Labs and Control Facilities. Please stand back from the automated door and wait for the security officer to verify your identity. Before exiting the train, be sure to check your area for personal belongings. Thank you and have a very safe and productive day.

Similar games

View all

Half-Life: Source

Winner of over 50 Game of the Year awards, Half-Life set new standards for action games when it was released in 1998. Half-Life: Source is a digitally remastered version of the critically acclaimed and best selling PC game, enhanced via Source technology to include physics simulation, enhanced effects, and more.

Similarity 94%

Price 9.75€

Rating 6.8

Release 01 Jun 2004

View

Half-Life: Opposing Force

Return to the Black Mesa Research Facility as one of the military specialists assigned to eliminate Gordon Freeman. Experience an entirely new episode of single player action. Meet fierce alien opponents, and experiment with new weaponry. Named 'Game of the Year' by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.

Similarity 90%

Price 4.99€

Rating 9.3

Release 01 Nov 1999

View

Half-Life: Blue Shift

Made by Gearbox Software and originally released in 2001 as an add-on to Half-Life, Blue Shift is a return to the Black Mesa Research Facility in which you play as Barney Calhoun, the security guard sidekick who helped Gordon out of so many sticky situations.

Similarity 86%

Price 4.99€

Rating 9.0

Release 01 Jun 2001

View

Aliens versus Predator Classic 2000

Aliens Versus Predator Classic 2000 features the Colonial Marine, Alien and Predator Campaigns and the frenetic single-player Skirmish mode from the original title: Alien Versus Predator Gold Edition, which was released to massive acclaim in 2000.

Similarity 84%

Price -80% 1.00€

Rating 8.4

Release 15 Jan 2010

View

Half-Life 2

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.

Similarity 82%

Price 9.75€

Rating 9.7

Release 16 Nov 2004

View

Turok 2: Seeds of Evil

Having defeated the Campaigner, Turok throws the Chronocepter into a waiting volcano to destroy it. Unfortunately the blast awakens an even deadlier force - The Primagen. Once again a Turok is tasked with restoring peace to the land and stopping the Primagen from merging Earth with the nether world.

Similarity 82%

Price -82% 3.61€

Rating 8.7

Release 16 Mar 2017

View

Strife: Veteran Edition

Hailed as the original FPS-RPG game that spawned countless imitators, Strife: Veteran Edition is a love letter to the classic from 1996.

Similarity 82%

Price 9.99€

Rating 8.4

Release 12 Dec 2014

View

Quake II

You are humanity’s last hope to stop the Strogg, a hostile alien race waging war against Earth. Play this military sci-fi FPS, now upgraded for modern platforms with improved visuals, new campaign content, online multiplayer/co-op, and more.

Similarity 81%

Price 9.99€

Rating 9.3

Release 03 Aug 2007

View

Quake

Developed by the award-winning id Software, Quake® is the ground-breaking, original dark fantasy first-person shooter that inspires today’s retro-style FPS games. With Quake (Enhanced), experience the authentic, updated, and visually enhanced version of the original.

Similarity 81%

Price -63% 3.74€

Rating 9.4

Release 03 Aug 2007

View

Quake 4

As part of the elite Rhino Squad, you must spearhead Earth’s military invasion of a hostile alien homeworld. But, in this desperate war for humanity’s survival against an unrelenting enemy, you may discover that the only way to defeat them...is to become one of them.

Similarity 80%

Price -73% 3.99€

Rating 8.4

Release 04 Aug 2011

View

Black Mesa

Relive Half-Life.

Similarity 79%

Price 19.50€

Rating 9.4

Release 06 Mar 2020

View

Quake III Arena

The greatest warriors of all time and space have been summoned to battle for the amusement of an ancient alien race. Wield a variety of guns and power-ups as you fight for glory against ruthless combatants in this fast-paced single-player and multiplayer FPS.

Similarity 79%

Price 14.99€

Rating 9.2

Release 03 Aug 2007

View

More games like Half-Life

Data sources

The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.

Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.

Last Updates

Steam data	09 April 2025 22:00
SteamSpy data	04 April 2025 08:42
Steam price	11 April 2025 04:47
Steam reviews	09 April 2025 13:52

If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Half-Life, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.

SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Half-Life
SteamCharts - Analysis of Half-Life concurrent players on Steam
ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Half-Life compatibility

8.19€

9.5

141,480

5,059

Online players

697

Developer

Valve

Publisher

Valve

Release 19 Nov 1998

Platforms