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Half-Life

Half-Life is a 1998 science fiction first-person shooter developed by Valve and published by Sierra Studios for Windows.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Half-Life is a 1998 science fiction first-person shooter developed by Valve and published by Sierra Studios for Windows. It serves as Valve’s debut game and the first entry in the Half-Life series, following physicist Gordon Freeman as he escapes the Black Mesa Research Facility after a failed experiment triggers an alien invasion. The game is recognized for its combination of combat, exploration, puzzles, and scripted storytelling.

Gameplay

Half-Life is a first-person shooter that blends combat with exploration and puzzle-solving. It is also noted for using scripted events and environmental storytelling to advance the plot.

Plot

The player controls Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist at Black Mesa, who must escape the research facility after a disastrous experiment opens a dimensional rift and unleashes hostile aliens.

Development and release

Valve developed Half-Life as its debut title, and Sierra Studios published it for Windows on November 19, 1998. The game later received a PlayStation 2 version in 2001.

Legacy

Half-Life is widely regarded as an influential first-person shooter and the foundation of a long-running series that expanded through later titles such as Half-Life 2 and Half-Life: Alyx. It has a broad Canadian audience as a landmark PC game that helped define modern first-person shooters and was influential in gaming culture in Canada and internationally.

Key facts

  • Half-Life was developed by Valve and released in 1998 for Windows.
  • It was Valve’s first released product.
  • The game follows Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist at Black Mesa.
  • Its story begins after a scientific experiment causes an alien invasion at the research facility.
  • Half-Life is known for combining combat, exploration, puzzles, and scripted storytelling.
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Canadian context

Half-Life has a broad Canadian audience as a landmark PC game that helped define modern first-person shooters and was influential in gaming culture in Canada and internationally.

Frequently asked questions

What is Half-Life?
Half-Life is a 1998 science fiction first-person shooter developed by Valve and published by Sierra Studios.
Who is the main character in Half-Life?
The main character is Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist working at Black Mesa.
What is Half-Life about?
It follows Gordon Freeman’s escape from the Black Mesa Research Facility after an experiment goes wrong and triggers an alien invasion.
What genre is Half-Life?
It is a first-person shooter with exploration, puzzles, and scripted story sequences.
When was Half-Life released?
It was released on November 19, 1998.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_(video_game)
    Supports: Developer, publisher, release year, platform, genre, series status, and plot overview.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Half-Life-electronic-game
    Supports: 1998 release, platforms, protagonist, and narrative/storytelling style.
  3. Combine OverWikihttps://combineoverwiki.net/wiki/Half-Life
    Supports: Release date, platforms, genre, modes, and GoldSrc engine note.
  4. Valve Developer Communityhttps://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Half-Life
    Supports: Valve’s debut title, release date, and the game’s significance in Valve’s history.