Half-Life has always been a polarizing game. Most of the installments have been well-executed, but not without controversy. The game’s first and second titles have been censored due to excessive violence. However, while these games are known for their intensive and realistic gameplay, they are also critically acclaimed.
As a result, fans have been clamoring for a new Half-Life game from Valve. Fortunately, fans have gotten their wish. Half-Life: Alyx, the next part of this franchise, launched March 23rd. The game is set to be a prequel to Half-Life 2, where Alyx helps her father, Eli, attempt to control the alien invasion.
So, if you have already beat the game, or want to have a similar experience, here are 10 VR games to play if you loved Half-Life: Alyx.
10 Robo Recall
A stylish mix of Blade Runner and I, Robot, Robo Recall allows you to blast away an army of evil robot villains. Sounds pedestrian and straightforward? This game is anything but ordinary. VR games are not always known for their clarity and speed, as many titles experience glitching. However, not Robo Recall. This game allows you to zip from location to location while taking out hordes of robots. It’s refreshing to look at and smooth to play, much like Half-Life: Alyx.
9 Lone Echo
The views from Lone Echo make you feel as if you are in the film Gravity or Alien. It has an excellent realistic sci-fi feel, very similar to Half-Life. The scope of this game is impressive. Not only that, but it also looks impeccably clear. Flying through interstellar space doesn’t induce feelings of nausea, and the planetary renderings are otherworldly. If you want to test out being an astronaut to know if it’s your thing, we would recommend checking out Lone Echo.
8 Arizona Sunshine
Half-Life isn’t a typical zombie game, but those headcrab zombies would beg to differ. Well, Arizona Sunshine is your game if you like similar zombie experiences. In the game, you play an individual trying to survive the zombie horde in the southwestern part of the United States.
This game provides an exceptional zombie shooter experience while also giving you the chance to explore caves and other realistic settings. If you want to be in the thick of it all during a zombie apocalypse, check out Arizona Sunshine.
7 Boneworks
There are tons of YouTube theory videos on this one, and we understand why. There are so many theories and mysteries, which alone make it similar to Half-Life. However, what really makes this a game you might enjoy is the sci-fi settings, clean renderings, melee combat, and creepy enemies, four things that will make you feel like you are playing a game in the Half-Life universe. If you are seeking a new and fresh VR experience, give this game a look.
6 Fallout 4 VR
Fallout garners feelings of affinity for sci-fi gaming. Much like Half-Life, it is about the end of the world, but on the other end. The bad things have already happened, and now you are trying to find your way in a dystopian world. The cause of the chaos may be different, but the feeling of trying to survive in a world overrun by ruin is beautifully displayed in this VR rendering.
5 Resident Evil 7 VR
Let us not forget that while Half-Life: Alyx is sci-fi, it also has a horror element. The dark corners, gritty settings, and headcrab zombies give off a pure survival horror vibe. Another excellent title that does the exact same thing is Resident Evil 7.
Not too long after the original release, Resident Evil 7 was released for VR and did pretty well with critics. If you want to be frightened and have a good time, but have already beat Half-Life: Alyx, check out this title.
4 Defector
This game has it all: people jumping out of airplanes, falling from the sky in cars, fighting against parachuting enemies. However, it also has that adrenaline rush that you get from dodging trouble at the last minute that you get from a Half-Life game. This reason is why this title is worth jumping into. The graphics are great, the story is engaging, and the experience is truly immersive. It is worth your time to check out this title if Half-Life is on the backburner.
3 Portal Stories VR
Okay, so you know this one had to be on the list, considering that this franchise is made by the same people that created Half-Life. Portal Stories started as a fan-made mod for Portal 2 that was then retooled by Valve for its own release. These two titles share a story universe and even have similar graphics and color-schemes (especially between Portal 2 and Half-Life: Alyx). There is also a subtlely creepy element to some of the puzzles and happenings in this franchise, so it is a perspective on a story that is related to Half-Life. Give it a try!
2 Five Nights At Freddy’s Help Wanted VR
So, this one is a bit off the beaten path, but we think it is worth taking on if you are a Half-Life fan. Again, Half-Life is steeped in sci-fi as well as horror—with an emphasis on the latter—elements. However, what closely relates these two franchises is the disturbing storylines that are in the background.
Both Half-Life: Alyx and the Five Nights at Freddy Half Wanted VR experience blend excellent graphics and gaming mechanics with utterly frightening storylines. This situation enhances the game and will make you equally on edge as you move through each level.
1 Blood And Truth
Have you ever wanted to star in your own action film? Well, Blood and Truth gives you that option. You are tasked with saving your family from a ruthless band of criminals while traveling through the London Underground.
While not similar in story to Half-life: Alyx, it immerses you in a thrilling situation and puts you in the driver’s seat with dire consequences, much like Half-Life. If you want to feel the “weight of the world on your soldiers,” in this first-person shooter, like you do in Half-Life, check out Blood and Truth.
NEXT: 5 Reasons Why Half-Life: Alyx Is Going To Be Valve’s Comeback (& 5 Why It’s Too Late)
