Want to re-familiarize yourself with the Half-Life franchise? Or interested in trying the series for the first time? You'll be able to, easily, thanks to a new promotion held by Valve. In order to hype people up for the imminent launch of Half-Life Alyx, all the games in the franchise are free to play on Steam, for a limited time. Running from today until Alyx's release, Half-Life 1, Half-Life 2: Episode 1 and 2, Source, Opposing Force, and Blue Shift are all available for Steam owners to download. These aren't free to keep, but you'll be able to play them without cost for the next two months.

Source

 

[DeoNaught]

Is there anyone who doesn't have all the games yet though?

Can confirm I do not have it, and I'll start playing the games this weekend

 

[Joe88]

Not every game as half-life decay never got a pc port (at least officially)

 

[Ericthegreat]

Cool, I've actually never played them. Are they all canon?

 

[The Catboy]

Oh boy! Now people can replay the games again, then be reminded that Episode 2 ended on a cliffhanger and they will never see the series get finished :^)

 

[GBADWB]

scumbag Valve, introducing more audience to a cliffhanger that has never been resolved since a decade ago.

 

[pedro702]

its a shame they dont make a collection and port everything to ps4 or switch.

 

[DANTENDO]

its a shame they dont make a collection and port everything to ps4 or switch.

Yes or just add trophy support for ps3 half life 2 how fkin difficult can tht be- for me this is a sackable offense I'm sure thers someone at valve just sitting ther allday looking at steam the what's been selling page and making bar charts so I say get off yr lazy arse and add trophy support to ps3 game

 

[Pipistrele]

well I haven't played a single game in the series so now I'll give them a try

You're in for a ride then! HL1 still aged well in terms of controls and level design (crouch jumping aside), and HL2 is arguably one of the greatest first person shooters of all time. Both games still stand out in how they tell a story seamlessly and interactively, without a single jumpcut or cutscene; there's just not many games before or after that managed (or even tried) to do it as well as Half-Life did.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Cool, I've actually never played them. Are they all canon?

HL1 is the starting point for canon, HL2 is a sequel that happens decades later, and HL2: Episode 1+2 continue where HL2 left off. Those four are canon. Blue Shift and Opposing Force are side-stories that happen during events of HL1 - they may be canon, may be not, but they have no bearing on overall story (at least as of early 2020), so you can skip those.

 

[Ericthegreat]

You're in for a ride then! HL1 still aged well in terms of controls and level design (crouch jumping aside), and HL2 is arguably one of the greatest first person shooters of all time. Both games still stand out in how they tell a story seamlessly and interactively, without a single jumpcut or cutscene; there's just not many games before or after that managed (or even tried) to do it as well as Half-Life did.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


HL1 is the starting point for canon, HL2 is a sequel that happens decades later, and HL2: Episode 1+2 continue where HL2 left off. Those four are canon. Blue Shift and Opposing Force are side-stories that happen during events of HL1 - they may be canon, may be not, but they have no bearing on overall story (at least as of early 2020), so you can skip those.

Gotta be ready in case half life 3 comes out before I die, it's like the apocalypse pretty much.

 

[PokeNev]

So you have chosen death
also english is not my first leanguage

Ok, and sorry for looking like a jackass AGAIN but it’s language, sorry I just want to correct your English

 

[codezer0]

"They're waiting for you, gordon; in the test chamber."

 

[MaxiBash]

Team Fortress Classic is also part of the Half Life bundle, so, yay.

 

[leon315]

Yo, time to get the boys together and do another multiplayer run through, woo!

WHAT DO YOU MEAN? Do those games have multiplayer coop mode?

 

[Stealphie]

Ok, and sorry for looking like a jackass AGAIN but it’s language, sorry I just want to correct your English

*points gun at your head*

 

[Taleweaver]

I...think it's safe to say that those who haven't played a half life game at this point in their lives aren't interested in it. So valve is just banking on hoping it'd renew interest from the already existing fanbase.


Personally: I'd be interested if they got black mesa on it as well, but of course: as that isn't exactly their property (even if it's a remake), I'll pass. I mean...I don't have the cash to shell out for a newer PC that can handle VR (mine is...just somewhat below minimum specs), so...sorry.

Nice gesture, though.

 

[RandomTake]

Nice to give HL1 another run. Played it when it was out on cdrom and internet was 56k dial up. TeamFortress was the dogs nuts tho XD

 

[jt_1258]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN? Do those games have multiplayer coop mode?

There is a free mod on the steam store called synergy that adds multiplayer co-op for at least hl 2, ep 1, and ep 2. It does some other games too I think but ya, it's pretty fun.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

That's nice I suppose, though I already own 2+E1/E2 when I bought the Orange box fucking forever ago, and I own Black Mesa so the OG Half Life 1 is meh now.

 

[K3Nv2]

I thought every game was free already

 

[Avalyn]

Thts very generous - valve if yr reading this pls bring the series to ps4 with trophys - shit I'll even pay double

Yes. More ports. That's what the world needs.

Srlsy, stfu