Half-Life 2
9 / 10
Release Date
16 November 2004
Platforms
Xbox • PlayStation 3 • Linux • Android • PC • Mac • Xbox 360
Publisher
Valve
Developer
Valve
Store Pages
01Overview
Half-Life 2 is a first-person shooter that combines combat, exploration, physics-based puzzles, and continuous storytelling. Players return as scientist Gordon Freeman, who awakens years after the Black Mesa incident to find Earth occupied by the alien Combine. Arriving in City 17, Gordon reconnects with former colleagues and joins a growing human resistance. The game moves between urban streets, industrial areas, canals, coastlines, and abandoned settlements without traditional mission briefings, allowing its story to unfold through characters and events encountered during play. Combat combines firearms with the Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator, better known as the Gravity Gun, which lets players pick up, move, and launch objects from the environment. Physics are also used for puzzles, traversal, and improvised attacks. Gordon travels by airboat and buggy during larger outdoor sections, while later chapters mix firefights with environmental hazards and encounters with Combine forces, headcrabs, zombies, and other creatures. Friendly characters such as Alyx Vance and resistance fighters accompany Gordon during parts of the campaign, supporting combat and advancing the story.
Game Details
GenreShooter
Game ModeSingle player
PerspectiveFirst person
ThemesAction • Science fiction • Horror
Platform Availability
02
TRAILERS & GAMEPLAY VIDEOS
Official Trailer
Launch Trailer
3 OFFICIAL VIDEOS
Official Trailer
Launch Trailer
Gameplay Overview
Trailer
Gameplay Overview
Accolades Trailer
03
SCREENSHOTS & ARTWORK
FEATURED ARTWORK
Half-Life 2 Artwork
EDITIONS
BASE GAME
The Orange Box
The Orange Box is a bundle that includes five titles from Valve: Half-Life 2; Half-Life 2:Episode 1; Half-Life 2: Episode Two; Team Fortress 2, the sequel to the game that put class-based, multiplayer team warfare on the map; and Portal, the game that blends puzzles, first person action, and adventure gaming to produce an experience like no other.
Xbox • PlayStation 3 • Linux • Android • PC • Mac • Xbox 360
PREMIUM EDITION
Valve Complete Pack
The complete pack of all video games released by Valve.
Xbox • PlayStation 3 • Linux • Android • PC • Mac • Xbox 360
ULTIMATE EDITION
Half-Life 2: Game of the Year Edition
The critics agree, Half-Life 2 has been named PC GAME OF THE YEAR by over 35 organizations worldwide. Play the game that set a new benchmark in gaming with its startling realism, digital actors, advanced AI, and physical gameplay. + Also Includes: Counter-Strike: Source Half-Life 2: Deathmatch Half-Life: Source
Xbox • PlayStation 3 • Linux • Android • PC • Mac • Xbox 360
EXPANSIONS
MAJOR UPDATE
Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Half-Life 2: Episode Two is a first-person shooter set in the aftermath of the Citadel's destruction. Players control Gordon Freeman as he and Alyx Vance travel through forests and underground tunnels toward a resistance base, facing Combine forces and new enemy types along the way. The game emphasizes vehicle-based combat sequences alongside the series' physics-driven puzzles and gunplay.
MAJOR UPDATE
Return to Ravenholm
Return to Ravenholm was the working title of a cancelled Half-Life 2 spin-off developed by Arkane Studios from 2006 to 2007. The player takes the returning role of the HECU marine Adrian Shephard from Half-Life: Opposing Force on a trip to the zombie-infested European town of Ravenholm. It was planned to take place after the events of Half-Life 2 but before the end of Half-Life 2: Episode Two. The concept of a Ravenholm-centered episode was inherited by Arkane after Junction Point Studios' own project was cancelled. Arkane's project was eventually cancelled by Valve as well much to the dismay of its developers, who were "extremely emotionally invested" in the project.
MAJOR UPDATE
Half-Life 2: Episode One
Half-Life 2: Episode One is the first of a planned trilogy of expansion packs/episodes for the 2004 first-person shooter game, Half-Life 2. The episode takes place immediately after the end of Half-Life 2, in the war-torn setting of City 17. The player is forced to deal with the effects of their actions during the main game. The episode is a stand-alone game; while a continuation of Half-Life 2, it does not require the original game to be installed or registered to a user's Steam account to play. It takes advantage of several major upgrades to the Source engine since the release of Half-Life 2, primarily its high dynamic range rendering capabilities and the upgraded facial animation system. Episode One was released together with Half-Life Deathmatch: Source, a port of the original Half-Life's multiplayer, which doubles as Episode One's multiplayer component. The retail copies of Episode One also come with Half-Life 2 Deathmatch for those who have not previously purchased the later title.
Half-Life 2 on Zero1Gaming: News, Streams, and Community
Welcome to the ultimate Half-Life 2 hub on Zero1Gaming. Stay up-to-date with the latest Half-Life 2 news, updates, patch notes, and esports events. Our platform brings together the most dedicated players and fans of Half-Life 2. Watch top-tier Half-Life 2 streamers broadcast live, learn from their gameplay, and join the community discussions. Half-Life 2 is a first-person shooter that combines combat, exploration, physics-based puzzles, and continuous storytelling. Players return as scientist Gordon Freeman, who awakens years after the Black Mesa incident to find Earth occupied by the alien Combine. Arriving in City 17, Gordon reconnects with former colleagues and joins a growing human resistance. The game moves between urban streets, industrial areas, canals, coastlines, and abandoned settlements without traditional mission briefings, allowing its story to unfold through characters and events encountered during play. Combat combines firearms with the Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator, better known as the Gravity Gun, which lets players pick up, move, and launch objects from the environment. Physics are also used for puzzles, traversal, and improvised attacks. Gordon travels by airboat and buggy during larger outdoor sections, while later chapters mix firefights with environmental hazards and encounters with Combine forces, headcrabs, zombies, and other creatures. Friendly characters such as Alyx Vance and resistance fighters accompany Gordon during parts of the campaign, supporting combat and advancing the story.Whether you are looking for advanced gameplay guides, competitive tournament coverage, or just want to find entertaining live streams, Zero1Gaming has you covered. Follow your favorite creators, earn points by engaging with our platform, and climb the leaderboard. Join our community of passionate gamers and elevate your Half-Life 2 experience today!