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// Half-Life(1998)

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About Half-Life
Half-Life is a 1998 first-person shooter (FPS) game developed by Valve Corporation and published by Sierra Studios for Windows. It was Valve's debut product and the first game in the Half-Life series. The player assumes the role of Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist who must escape from the Black Mesa Research Facility after it is overrun by aliens following a disastrous scientific experiment. Its gameplay consists of diverse combat, exploration and puzzles.
Release Date
Nov 19, 1998
Developer
Valve
Publishers
Valve
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Half-Life FAQ & buying guide

Is Half-Life worth buying?

Steam
96.51% positive
'Overwhelmingly Positive', 161,133 reviews
Metacritic
96
Critics (IGDB)
80/100
1 critic

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What is Half-Life about?

Dr. Gordon Freeman arrives late for work at 8:47 am in the Black Mesa Research Facility, using the advanced Black Mesa tram system that leads through the facility. He arrives at the Anomalous Materials Lab, his work place, and he is informed by the security officer that the scientists have a special experiment today, so he goes to the locker room and puts on the hazard suit. He goes to the lab's lower levels, and arrives at the Anti-Mass Chamber, where he is instructed that the specimen to be used that day is the rarest and also the most unstable specimen. He is tasked with pushing the specimen into the scanning beam of the Anti-Mass Spectrometer for analysis. However as soon as he pushes it, it explodes, and creates a sudden catastrophe called a "resonance cascade", opening a portal between Earth and a dimension called Xen. Freeman is apparently teleported to an alien planet and catches glimpses of various alien lifeforms, including a circle of Vortigaunts, shortly before blacking out.

FPSClassic1990'sSingleplayerSci-fiMultiplayerShooterAction

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

Quick answers

What is the cheapest place to buy Half-Life?

Right now the lowest price for Half-Life we're tracking is $9.99 at Steam. We compare 2 stores and prices refresh every few minutes.

What is the lowest price Half-Life has ever been?

The lowest price we've recorded for Half-Life is $7.49 at Steam on May 26, 2026. The current best price is about 33% above that low.

Is Half-Life worth buying?

97% of 161,133 Steam user reviews for Half-Life are positive ("Overwhelmingly Positive"). It also holds a Metacritic score of 96.

When was Half-Life released?

Half-Life released on November 19, 1998, developed by Valve and published by Valve, Sierra Entertainment.

What platforms is Half-Life available on?

Half-Life is available on Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac. It supports single player, multiplayer.

When do Half-Life prices drop?

Half-Life last hit a new low of $7.49 on May 26, 2026 at Steam. Current best price is $9.99. Prices on this page refresh every few minutes, so check back around seasonal sales for new lows.

Where's the cheapest place to buy Half-Life?

The cheapest Half-Life price right now is $9.99 at Steam.

Half-Life price comparison across stores
StoreDiscountPriceBuy link
SteamBest priceโ€”$9.99Buy Half-Life at Steam
Kinguinโ€”$21.02Buy Half-Life at Kinguin

All-time low: $7.49 at Steam on May 26, 2026 โ€” the current best price is 33% above it.

Prices in USD, refreshed every few minutes. Switch currency on this page for EUR/GBP/BRL and more.