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Half-Life 2: Episode One

39 Games like Half-Life 2: Episode One that you should try

Games like Half-Life 2: Episode One · Find similar →

Few titles capture what makes Half-Life 2: Episode One unique: shooting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and ranged combat. After measuring 12 attributes across over 6,700 games, the NextGameLike team picks the 39 most faithful alternatives. BioShock, Half-Life 2: Episode Two and Half-Life 2: VR Mod top the ranking, with BioShock at number one (95/100).

NextGameLike90/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPS
Tags
DarkNarrativeSolo
Year 2006Dev Valve Software
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Quick answer

The closest game to Half-Life 2: Episode One is BioShock — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Half-Life 2: Episode Two and Half-Life 2: VR Mod follow close behind.

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Top games similar to Half-Life 2: Episode One

39 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Half-Life 2: Episode One. Each one has been evaluated across 12 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

BioShock

95
NGL93
BioShock
Closest on genre
ShooterFPS
SoloRangedMeleeNarrativeDarkHorrorSci-FiFirst Person
Year 2007Dev Digital Extremes · 2K GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

What brings it close to Half-Life 2: Episode One is strong narrative focus, ranged combat and horror setting, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. To that it adds single-player focus and a first-person view. Its own ground is deep RPG systems and open world exploration.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Setting100Visuals100Combat81
2

Half-Life 2: Episode Two

95
NGL90
Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Closest overall match
ShooterFPS
SoloRangedMeleeDarkNarrativeSci-FiHorrorFirst Person
Year 2007Dev Valve Software · ValvePlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox · Android

What brings it close to Half-Life 2: Episode One is dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds a first-person view and single-player focus. Its own ground is horror tension and post-apocalyptic world.

Same studio: Valve Software.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting88
3

Half-Life 2: VR Mod

94
NGL92
Half-Life 2: VR Mod
ShooterFPS
SoloRangedMeleeDarkNarrativeSci-FiHorrorFirst Person
Year 2004Dev Valve Software · ValvePlaytime ~7hOn PC · Xbox · Android

It shares the essentials of what Half-Life 2: Episode One does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds single-player focus and a first-person view. Its own ground is horror tension and multiplayer gameplay.

Same studio: Valve Software.

Genre100Combat100Tone100Setting100Visuals100Game mode82
4

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth

93
NGL76
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
ShooterFPS
SoloMeleeRangedDarkNarrativeHorrorSci-FiFirst Person
Year 2005Dev Headfirst Productions · Bethesda SoftworksPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Xbox

What brings it close to Half-Life 2: Episode One is dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in combat — its own ground is stealth mechanics.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Setting100Visuals100Combat63
5

Resident Evil 7 Biohazard

88
NGL89
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard
ShooterFPS
SoloMeleeRangedDarkNarrativeHorrorFirst Person
Year 2017Dev CapcomPlaytime ~10hOn PC · PS · Xbox

It shares the essentials of what Half-Life 2: Episode One does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. It sets itself apart with horror tension and multiplayer gameplay.

Released 11 years after Half-Life 2: Episode One.

Genre100Combat100Tone100Visuals100Game mode76Setting72
6

BioShock Infinite

84
NGL93
BioShock Infinite
ShooterFPS
SoloMeleeRangedNarrativeDarkSci-FiHorrorFirst Person
Year 2013Dev Irrational Games · 2K GamesOn PlayStation 3 · Linux · PC

If Half-Life 2: Episode One worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting, the same is here. To that it adds single-player focus and a first-person view. They part company on setting: this one brings fantasy world.

Released 7 years after Half-Life 2: Episode One.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting69
7

Scorn

86
NGL71
Scorn
ShooterFPS
SoloMeleeDarkNarrativeHorrorSci-FiFirst Person
Year 2022Dev Ebb Software · Kepler InteractiveOn Xbox · PC · PS5

What brings it close to Half-Life 2: Episode One is dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. To that it adds a first-person view and single-player focus. They part company on combat: this one brings horror tension.

Released 16 years after Half-Life 2: Episode One.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Setting100Visuals100Combat39
8

Supraland

81
NGL84
Supraland
ShooterFPS
SoloRangedMeleeFirst PersonOpen World
Year 2019Dev Supra GamesPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

What brings it close to Half-Life 2: Episode One is ranged combat, single-player focus and a first-person view, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. Its own ground is precision platforming and open world exploration.

Released 13 years after Half-Life 2: Episode One.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100
9

Killer7

81
NGL82
Killer7
ShooterFPS
SoloMeleeDarkNarrativeHorrorFirst Person
Year 2005Dev Grasshopper Manufacture · CapcomOn PC

If Half-Life 2: Episode One worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting, the same is here. Both also lean on a first-person view and single-player focus. The distance is in combat and setting — its own ground is an anime aesthetic.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting56Combat46
10

Doom: The Dark Ages

80
NGL87
Doom: The Dark Ages
ShooterFPS
SoloMeleeRangedDarkNarrativeSci-FiFirst Person
Year 2025Dev id Software · Bethesda SoftworksOn Xbox · PC · PS5

If Half-Life 2: Episode One worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and a sci-fi setting, the same is here. To that it adds single-player focus and a first-person view. They part company on setting: this one brings fantasy world.

Released 19 years after Half-Life 2: Episode One.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting48
11

Thief

82
NGL70
Thief
ShooterFPS
SoloMeleeRangedDarkNarrativeSci-FiHorrorFirst Person
Year 2014Dev Eidos Montréal · Square EnixOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

What brings it close to Half-Life 2: Episode One is dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and a sci-fi setting, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. To that it adds single-player focus and a first-person view. They part company on combat: this one brings stealth mechanics.

Released 8 years after Half-Life 2: Episode One.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Setting100Visuals100Combat65
12

Thirty Flights of Loving

81
NGL73
Thirty Flights of Loving
ShooterFPS
SoloRangedNarrativeDarkFirst Person
Year 2012Dev Blendo GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

It meets Half-Life 2: Episode One on strong narrative focus, ranged combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on a first-person view. What it adds of its own: exploration and discovery, and a casual, approachable feel.

Released 6 years after Half-Life 2: Episode One.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Combat80Tone73
13

System Shock

75
NGL87
System Shock
ShooterFPS
SoloMeleeNarrativeDarkSci-FiHorrorFirst Person
Year 2023Dev Nightdive Studios · Prime MatterOn Xbox · PS4 · Linux

If Half-Life 2: Episode One worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting, the same is here. To that it adds single-player focus and a first-person view. They part company on combat and setting: this one brings a cyberpunk setting.

Released 17 years after Half-Life 2: Episode One.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting55Combat51
14

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger

74
NGL84
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
ShooterFPS
SoloRangedMeleeNarrativeDarkFirst Person
Year 2013Dev Ubisoft · Ubisoft EntertainmentPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

It shares the essentials of what Half-Life 2: Episode One does: strong narrative focus, ranged combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on a first-person view. The distance is in setting — its own ground is historical setting.

Released 7 years after Half-Life 2: Episode One.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals100Setting0
15

Super Metroid

68
NGL100
Super Metroid
ShooterFPS
SoloNarrativeDarkSci-FiExploration
Year 1994Dev Nintendo R&D1 · Nintendo

Same family as Half-Life 2: Episode One: strong narrative focus, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings 2D presentation.

It predates Half-Life 2: Episode One by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Setting63Visuals0

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Explore games similar to Half-Life 2: Episode One by category

If Half-Life 2: Episode One left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the adventure or the puzzle that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PC, PS5, PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Half-Life 2: Episode One look-alike but simply the best FPS Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Shooter Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.