25. Half-Life 2 (2004)
What it’s about: An FPS about a scientist who is thrust into a dystopian, futuristic Earth, and joins a resistance force to liberate the planet from its alien conquerors.
Why we like it: Half-Life 2 was groundbreaking at the time of release, and even playing it in 2024, it’s still a marvel of game design. Valve opted to tell an entirely new story, with only little bits of hangovers from the original Half-Life, rather than creating something that was just retreading old ground.
The upgrade to the Source Engine also ended up being great for the game. Not only did Half-Life 2 have some of the best graphics of its time, it also meant physics puzzles, big levels, and buttery smooth movement became some of the most memorable elements of the game. And with the engine being used in countless games ever since, it’s proved to be one of the best decisions Valve has ever made.
