For a long time, first-person shooter games represented a simple shooting-focused experience – until the release of Half-Life, which determined the new direction the genre should take.
Half-Life is widely known as one of the most influential FPS titles, with over 50 Game of the Year awards for its outstanding graphics, narrative, and technical solutions.
Today, it’s a tad dated, especially in the visuals department – but it’s still one of the most significant video games that have graced this world with their existence. Knowing all these facts, you may wonder if there is an alternative offering a comparable energy set in a more modern gameplay. For this occasion, we have gathered a list of five unique games similar to Half-Life, preceded by a brief explanation of why that particular title is so innovative.
The Core of First-Person Storytelling in Gaming
Half-Life broke up with the proven storytelling through cutscenes in favor of scripted interactions happening in real-time.
This feature, paired with realistic mechanics, logical weapon use, and clever enemies, made it more challenging and enjoyable to play. No wonder that even years later, it still inspires many other successful games you can find in this guide.
Titles that Capture the Spirit of Half-Life
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dishonored Definitive Edition | 2012-10-11 | Action | Arkane Studios |
 | Dishonored 2 | 2016-11-11 | Action | Arkane Studios |
 | Deus Ex Collection | 2017-01-06 | Adventure | SQUARE ENIX |
 | Deus Ex Human Revolution Directors Cut | 2013-10-25 | Action & Shooter | Eidos Montréal |
 | Deus Ex Goty | 2000-06-22 | RPG | Ion Storm |
 | Deus Ex The Fall | 2014-03-18 | Adventure | nFusion Interactive LLC |
 | Deus Ex Invisible War | 2004-03-05 | Action & Shooter | Ion Storm |
 | Deus Ex Mankind Divided Xbox Live Key Europe | 2016-08-23 | RPG | Eidos Montréal |
 | Singularity Gogcom Key Global | 2010-06-30 | Horror | Raven Software |
 | Bioshock Infinite | 2013-03-25 | RPG | Irrational Games |
 | Bioshock The Collection | 2016-09-15 | Adventure | Irrational Games |
 | Bioshock Remastered | 2016-09-15 | Action & Shooter | 2K Australia |
 | Bioshock The Collection | 2016-09-16 | Adventure | Irrational Games |
 | Red Faction Guerrilla Re Mars Tered | 2018-07-03 | Action | Volition, KAIKO |
 | Wolfenstein The New Order | 2014-05-19 | Action & Shooter | MachineGames |
 | Fear Ultimate Shooter | 2005-10-17 | Horror | Monolith Productions |
 | Fear 3 | 2011-06-23 | Adventure | Day 1 Studios |
 | Fear 2 Project | 2009-02-12 | Adventure | Monolith Productions |
 | Metro 2033 Redux | 2014-08-27 | Horror | 4A GAMES |
 | Metro Last Light Redux | 2014-08-27 | Adventure | 4A GAMES |
 | Metro Exodus | 2020-02-14 | Adventure | 4A GAMES |
 | Prey 2017 | 2017-05-04 | Adventure | Arkane Studios |
BioShock
| Release date: | 2007-08-21 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | 2K Australia |
Meet Jack – a man saving himself from a fatal plane crash in the ocean depths. To his surprise, he soon finds an underwater city that should remain a secret.
Although their plots look slightly different, BioShock and Half-Life share similar story depth. They both offer a vast selection of mighty weapons, fascinating characters, engaging environmental puzzles, and complex combat – everything Half-Life fans love! BioShock is all about immersion, so you’ll soon notice that perfect Half-Life vibe.
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Deus Ex
| Release date: | 2017-01-06 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | SQUARE ENIX |
It is 2052, and the Gray Death exterminates humanity. Only the privileged can benefit from rare medicine, and such an unfair situation inspires the birth of terrorist organizations.
Play as agent Denton, uncovering new facts in the surprisingly disturbing plot of this thought-provoking recommendation. Like Half-Life, Deus Ex focuses on immersive storytelling, an atmosphere of approaching danger, and first-person exploration. Many players consider this title far better than Valve’s game!
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F.E.A.R.
| Release date: | 2005-10-17 |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Developer: | Monolith Productions |
Tasked with the assassination of Paxton Fettel, Point Man encounters paranormal phenomena messing with his mind. But there is one unchanging factor – a mysterious girl leaving gruesomely murdered bodies behind.
F.E.A.R. represents a survival horror take on the classic first-person shooter experience. Like Half-Life, it revolves around a man solving a mysterious case threatening humanity’s fate. And you can play it in multiplayer!
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Metro 2033
| Release date: | 2014-08-27 |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Developer: | 4A GAMES |
Based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s books, Metro 2033 tells the tale of young Artyom dealing with a world after a nuclear war. Now, the safest hideout for survivors is the dark underground of the Moscow metro, infested with unimaginable horrors.
This story-driven game grips with its post-apocalyptic atmosphere, mysterious phenomena, and characters driven by the sheer will to survive. But it’s not just about combat, as moral choices play a crucial role in the plot and influence which of the two endings you get.
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Prey (2017)
| Release date: | 2017-05-04 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Arkane Studios |
Earth’s developing space program attracts a hostile race’s attention. Humans build Talos I, a prison space station where Morgan Yu finds himself/herself after an unexpected alien outbreak.
Prey is so similar to Half-Life that many suspect it is the third installment in the series from Valve. As a first-person action game, it focuses on exploration, confronting clever enemies, and discovering pieces of disturbing story. Select this game if you crave a sci-fi take on the Half-Life experience!
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With Half-Life 3 nowhere on the horizon, fans of the series successfully detect a similar atmosphere in other titles. Fortunately, many are considered much better than Valve’s slightly outdated game.
Die-hard Half-Life enthusiasts can still enjoy Half-Life 2 Half-Life: Alyx and the fan-made Black Mesa, which we highly recommend checking out!