Our list starts off with a game that takes place in the same universe as Half-Life, Portal. Your character—named Chell—wakes up in an odd confined room. Led by a robotic voice, Chell is tasked with solving odd puzzles in various rooms to apparently test a new type of device known as the portal gun. However, while Chell thinks everything is seemingly normal, she learns all too fast that something is very amiss in this testing facility. Now, Chell must somehow escape the watchful eye of her captor—the robotic being known as GLaDOS—all while dealing with various horrific puzzles that will test her knowledge and quick thinking. This isn’t an ordinary test and the failure to pass means death in Portal.

Created by Valve—like Half-Life—Portal was a no brainer for our list of 6 Games like Half-Life. While less emphasis is placed on shooting, Portal uses an FPS style to solve puzzles and explore a twisted testing facility of death. The fun comes from the portal gun, a device that allows players to create wormholes that they can walk through to enter different areas that are linked to the initial hole. It sounds confusing in theory but Portal was expertly handled by developer Valve Corporation so it takes no time to learn the basics of how the gun works. However, the puzzles are another thing entirely and they will require use of quick movements and clever placement of the portals to succeed. Portal is a fun title that has a lot of hidden lore to be found and many links to Half-Life’s narrative for those who are diehard fans of the series.

Starships Rickenback and Von Braun are about to experience an odd event. While on a maiden voyage, the Rickenback and Von Braun receive a distress call from a neighboring planet. When the ship launches a rescue operation they end up discovering an alien lifeform that assimilates with the team and heads back to the Von Braun. Now the fate of the remainder of life on the ship falls upon a nameless security officer. It’s going to be a very long shift…

System Shock 2 offered gamers a true look at what it felt to battle an alien force in space before a lot of now more popular titles came out. FPS mechanics melded with an interesting story of survival and well-crafted lore in System Shock 2. All too similar to Half-Life, players could learn a lot of lore if they investigated the Von Braun and various other areas through speaking with the surviving humans and or dealing with their problems. System Shock 2 is easily a classic title that still holds up today. Definitely if you have never played this classic you’re missing out folks. Seriously though, both Gordon Freeman and those on the Rickenback should learn not to mess with alien lifeforms and technology…

Andrew Ryan had a dream. His dream was to make a utopia hidden away from the world above and that would lie in the ocean, a world of pure bliss and nothing but the happiest times for its citizens. However, Ryan’s dream wouldn’t last as you’re about to learn when you end up entering his Ryan’s world after a plane crash over the ocean. Jack—your character’s name—will soon learn that Ryan’s world has become a place overrun by creatures that once were human and other obstacles of very large size. Welcome to the city of Rapture, a world unseen by the one above and one that has already begun its descent into madness.

BioShock is easily one of the best FPS titles of all time—that is something very few can disagree with. A mixture of exploration and FPS gameplay, players will battle humans known as splicers—those who abused a drug discovered by Ryan—all while using the power of plasmids to create elemental effects such as fire or ice. Combine that with some interesting weapons that have been modified and you have a game that mirrors Half-Life’s unique exploration and combat scenarios. We beg of you to try out BioShock as it is one of the greatest FPS titles out and with the ability to play it on new generation consoles, you can enjoy BioShock as it was meant to be played. Just word of warning, avoid the Big Daddies—enemies in game—early on, if you do decide to try and fight them, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

The Master Chief returns with an updated look in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. Players will once more resume the mantle of Master Chief but from where the series’ first started but now in higher definition. Jump onto the Halo rings to fight against the alien force known as the covenant all while learning what led to the creation of the circular like planet. However, as fans know all too well, the Halo rings hold some dark secrets that should have stayed in the dark. Be prepared soldier, you’re going back to the war for humanity’s existence.

Halo needs little introduction but in case you have never gotten to play this epic series let us at Honey’s Anime guide you with some knowledge. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary acts a reskinned and updated version of Halo Combat Evolved, giving the Master Chief and his battlefield a nice new skin. However, what doesn’t change is the epic FPS combat that is just as frantic as ever before. Players who are used to Half-Life’s quick skirmishes and alien battles will be prepared in the world of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. If you have never touched a Halo title why not start with this upgraded version of a legendary FPS title?

The City of Dunwall is facing a deadly plague that is killing people left and right. At the same time The Empress is being targeted by deadly assassins. Corvo Attano—the Empress’s guard and controlled character—is unable to stop The Empress from being killed, as well as her only daughter from being taken away. Now being charged for these action, Corvo is locked away in prison. However, for some reason someone saves Corvo and gives him strange powers. Now armed with these powers and his already deadly skills, Corvo must find The Empress’s daughter all while clearing his name.

While you may not be fighting aliens and using loads of gun like in Half-Life, Dishonored still is very similar. Gamers will fight against guards using either stealth-like tactics and or go in with powers at the ready. This style of gameplay choice harkens to Half-Life’s multitude of ways of engaging in fights with the numerous weapons of the serious. With a great art style and fun combat, Dishonored is like Half-Life in so many ways all while neither a clone of each other which is always a necessary thing. Also, what’s great is if you play Dishonored, you can then play the sequel and not wait too long, unlike having to wait for a third title of a particular game we’ve mentioned multiple times already…

World War 2 takes a very different ending in Wolfenstein: The New Order. William “B.J” Blazkowicz returns as he and a few allies try to do a special air raid against the Nazi regime. However, things go sour and BJ is captured alongside his friends. When given an escape opportunity, the survivors quickly flee but BJ is knocked into a coma by falling debris. Years pass and BJ awakens to a new world, one that is ruled by the Nazi regime and one that is very bleak indeed. Now, alongside a resistance it’s up to BJ and his new allies to somehow bring back the world to the way it should have been. However, with the Nazi forces using powerful technology and being stronger than ever, BJ’s job is going to require a whole lot of shooting.

Wolfenstein: The New Order and Half-Life 2 are very similar with their alternative takes on history. In Half-Life 2, obviously the world is under the Combine’s control and in Wolfenstein: The New Order, the Nazi’s have power. Both protagonists are left with the task of changing history with their arsenal of weapons and that’s why we felt ending our 6 Games Like Half-Life list with Wolfenstein: The New Order was fitting. Developer MachineGames really took the classic Wolfenstein game and ramped up the action and graphics to a whole new level, fitting for the current generation’s outlook on what makes a good FPS title. Wolfenstein: The New Order is a great FPS with action and an interesting what if scenario that you don’t want to miss playing.