Research-backed game lineage

Half-Life

Half-Life is included in the Series Atlas after independent recognition and an authoritative game-by-game roster audit. Editions, simple ports, DLC, bundles, canceled projects, and cameo-only appearances are excluded.

7 curated games 1998–2020 release span 0 connected branches

Release chronology

The complete path.

Ordered by researched series position, then original release date. Ports, DLC, and duplicate editions are intentionally excluded.

7 games in this lineage

Mainline1998

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.

Nov 19, 199884/100

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Mainline1999

Half-Life: Uplink

Half-Life: Uplink is a demo version of Valve's 1998 first-person shooter computer game Half-Life. Uplink features many of the common enemies, characters, and weapons from the full game, but unlike the first Half-Life demo and the Half-Life 2 demo, the location and scenario in this demonstration do not appear in Half-Life. The Uplink chapters were cut during Half-Life's development phase and roughly fit in prior to or during the Lambda Core chapter; they were, however, strongly revised for the demo release. Uplink also includes the same Hazard Course from the full release of Half-Life. It was also included on "Official PlayStation Magazine Disc 57" as a bonus unlock if you entered a cheat into the PS2 version of Half-Life and swapped the discs.

Feb 12, 199979/100

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Remaster2004

Half-Life: Source

Half-Life: Source is a port of Valve's original acclaimed game Half-Life to their new Source engine used for Half-Life 2. It takes advantage of vertex and pixel shaders to create realistic water effects, and can now portray realistic physics effects. It also has new menus, improved lighting and soft shadows, ragdoll character animations, and a 3D skybox replacing the old 16-bit color prerendered bitmap skies.

Jun 1, 200467/100

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Mainline2004

Half-Life 2

1998. HALF-LIFE sends a shock through the game industry with its combination of pounding action and continuous, immersive storytelling. NOW. By taking the suspense, challenge and visceral charge of the original, and adding startling new realism and responsiveness, Half-Life 2 opens the door to a world where the player's presence affects everything around them, from the physical environment to the behaviors even the emotions of both friends and enemies.

Nov 16, 200485/100

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Mainline2004

Half-Life 2: Deathmatch

Fast multiplayer action set in the Half-Life 2 universe! HL2's physics adds a new dimension to deathmatch play. Play straight deathmatch or try Combine vs. Resistance teamplay. Toss a toilet at your friend today!

Nov 30, 200475/100

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Mainline2005

Half-Life 2: Lost Coast

Originally planned as a section of the Highway 17 chapter of Half-Life 2, Lost Coast is a playable technology showcase that introduces High Dynamic Range lighting to the Source engine.

Oct 27, 200567/100

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Mainline2020

Half-Life: Alyx

Half-Life: Alyx is Valve’s VR return to the Half-Life series. It’s the story of an impossible fight against a vicious alien race known as the Combine, set between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2. Alyx Vance and her father Eli mount an early resistance to the Combine's brutal occupation of Earth.

Mar 23, 202093/100

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Sources and method

Built from the public record.

Membership is researched from external official and independent sources. Mainline games, direct spin-offs, remakes, remasters, and standalone expansions are included; DLC, simple ports, duplicate editions, compilation-only duplicates, rumors, cancellations, and cameo-only crossovers are excluded.

database Half-Life collection — IGDB
IGDB maintains a distinct collection record for Half-Life and supplies the authoritative roster used for membership verification.
reference List of video game franchises
The independent catalog recognizes Half-Life as a multi-game franchise and supports its inclusion in this major-series research sweep.