33 Multiplayer games like Half-Life 2 that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Half-Life 2 does: strong narrative focus, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. It sets itself apart with deep RPG systems and open world exploration.

What brings it close to Half-Life 2 is dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view. What it adds of its own: exploration and discovery, and fantasy world.

What brings it close to Half-Life 2 is dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror 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 survival mechanics and crafting mechanics.

If Half-Life 2 worked for you because of strong narrative focus, ranged combat and horror setting, the same is here. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in setting — its own ground is post-apocalyptic world.

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

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Half-Life 2 on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. What it adds of its own: free-to-play access.

Of everything here, this is the nearest thing to Half-Life 2 — the two agree on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view.

If Half-Life 2 worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and horror setting, the same is here. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is game mode: co-op play.

It shares the essentials of what Half-Life 2 does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and horror setting. The common ground extends to multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view.

If Half-Life 2 worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and horror 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 PvP competition.

If Half-Life 2 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.

What brings it close to Half-Life 2 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.

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

If Half-Life 2 worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus, the same is here. They part company on visuals: this one brings a third-person camera.

It comes from the same genre as Half-Life 2 and shares strong narrative focus, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. Both also lean on multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is a space setting.