10 Puzzle 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.

It shares the essentials of what Half-Life 2 does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds a first-person view and single-player focus. 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 single-player focus and a first-person view. Its own ground is deep RPG systems and open world exploration.

It shares the essentials of what Half-Life 2 does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds single-player focus and a first-person view.

The thread back to Half-Life 2 runs through ranged combat, single-player focus and a first-person view. What it adds of its own: precision platforming and open world exploration.

What carries over from Half-Life 2 is single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is an isometric view.

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

Held in common with Half-Life 2: dark, oppressive atmosphere, horror setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on a first-person view. The distance is in setting.