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14 Best Games Like Half-Life But For PC (Microsoft Windows)

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.

If you enjoyed playing Half-Life and are looking for similar games on PC (Microsoft Windows), here are 14 great alternatives.

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14 Games Like Half-Life But For PC (Microsoft Windows)

1. Counter-Strike

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox +1 more

Similar shooter genre and warfare theme.

2. Counter-Strike

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox +1 more

Similar shooter genre and warfare theme.

3. Doom

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Similar shooter genre and science fiction theme.

4. Doom

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Similar shooter genre and science fiction theme.

5. Max Payne 3

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 +1 more

Similar shooter genre and thriller theme.

6. Max Payne 3

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 +1 more

Similar shooter genre and thriller theme.

7. Half-Life 2

Xbox, PlayStation 3, Linux +4 more

Similar shooter genre and science fiction theme.

8. Quake 4

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac +1 more

Similar shooter genre and science fiction theme.

9. Spec Ops: The Line

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3 +2 more

Similar shooter genre and stealth theme.

10. Spec Ops: The Line

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3 +2 more

Similar shooter genre and stealth theme.

11. Portal

PlayStation 3, Linux, Android +4 more

Similar shooter genre and science fiction theme.

12. Call of Duty

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac

Similar shooter genre and historical theme.

13. Syndicate

PlayStation 3, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360

Similar shooter genre and science fiction theme.

14. Wolfenstein: The New Order

PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows) +2 more

Similar shooter genre and fantasy theme.

Miguel (austernotus)

About the Author

Miguel (austernotus) is a game developer and pixel artist who believes the best recommendations come from understanding a game's core systems. With a background that spans from high-level MMO PVP (2100+ in WoW) to professional SEO, his analysis goes beyond the surface to find the games you'll actually love.

Read more about his unique approach →