GameTimeline

Release & story order

Half-Life timeline

Half-Life from the 1998 Black Mesa incident through Half-Life 2, Episode One and Two, and Half-Life: Alyx (2020 VR)—US release dates, Gordon Freeman's chronology vs parallel HL1 expansions, minimal vs full-universe play paths, and FAQ for Portal crossover notes, Black Mesa, Lost Coast, and Episode Three. Dedicated Aperture play order lives on the Portal timeline.

Updated August 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Valve and partners shipped each chapter—Half-Life (1998) through Half-Life: Alyx (2020). Lost Coast, Half-Life: Source, and fan remake Black Mesa are optional—not numbered release-order titles.

  • Gordon-only (fastest) → Half-Life → Half-Life 2 → Episode One → Episode Two; add Alyx if you have VR
  • Full universe → after HL1 (and optional expansions) play Portal; after Episodes play Portal 2—see FAQ
  • Complete saga → Release tab 1998–2020—includes three HL1 expansions and Decay (PS2)
  • Play Alyx after Episode Two to avoid prologue spoilers—even though story-wise it sits before HL2
Story order tips

Gordon Freeman's arc: Black Mesa (Half-Life) → years later Alyx in City 17 (five years before HL2) → Half-Life 2 → Episode One → Episode Two. Opposing Force, Blue Shift, and Decay run parallel to HL1 from other perspectives—optional on Story order.

  • Core Gordon path: Half-Life → Half-Life: Alyx → Half-Life 2 → Episode One → Episode Two
  • HL1 expansions slot during the same Black Mesa incident—Opposing Force (Shephard), Blue Shift (Barney), Decay (co-op scientists)
  • Portal 1 broadly sits in the Combine era between HL1 and HL2—Portal 2's exact gap is fan-debated; not separate must-play titles here
  • Episode Two ends on a cliffhanger—Episode Three was never released as of June 2026

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Half-Life

    Half-Life

    PCPS2FPSMainline

    Half-Life (1998). Black Mesa resonance cascade—Gordon Freeman's silent protagonist debut. It marks the PC, PS2 ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Valve's scripted-in-engine storytelling—seamless levels without cutscenes on PC.
    In-game setting
    The incident that opens the portal storms and Combine invasion aftermath. Use neighboring titles with Half-Life to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    Essential first chapter—available on Steam with Half-Life: Source as a separate port.
    Release date
    US PC launch November 19, 1998. PS2 port November 14, 2001 (includes Decay). Shipped around 1998 on PC, PS2; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  2. Half-Life: Opposing Force

    Half-Life: Opposing Force

    PCFPSExpansion

    Half-Life: Opposing Force (1999). HECU Corporal Shephard—parallel Black Mesa battle. It marks the PC ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Gearbox expansion—new weapons, Xen creatures, and military vs scientist tension.
    In-game setting
    Same timeline as Half-Life from a soldier's perspective. Use neighboring titles with Half-Life: Opposing Force to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    Optional lore—play after or alongside Half-Life on Story order. Play Half-Life: Opposing Force where this Release tab places it; remasters can replace older versions when listed.
    Release date
    US PC launch November 19, 1999. Shipped around 1999 on PC; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  3. Half-Life: Blue Shift

    Half-Life: Blue Shift

    PCFPSExpansion

    Half-Life: Blue Shift (2001). Security guard Barney Calhoun—escape-focused Black Mesa shift. It marks the PC ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Shorter Gearbox expansion bundled with Half-Life: Blue Shift retail and later Steam.
    In-game setting
    Barney appears again in Half-Life 2—this is his Black Mesa origin. Use neighboring titles with Half-Life: Blue Shift to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    Optional—lowest priority of the three HL1 expansions for story-only players. Play Half-Life: Blue Shift where this Release tab places it; remasters can replace older versions when listed.
    Release date
    US PC launch June 12, 2001. Shipped around 2001 on PC; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  4. Half-Life: Decay

    Half-Life: Decay

    PS2FPSExpansionCo-op

    Half-Life: Decay (2001). Co-op scientists Gina and Colette—PS2-exclusive HL1 side story. It marks the PS2 ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Split-screen co-op on PS2—restored on PC via community mod Decay PC. Half-Life: Decay refined series combat, exploration, or presentation in ways sequels still reference.
    In-game setting
    Parallel to HL1; ties into Black Mesa satellite plot beats. Use neighboring titles with Half-Life: Decay to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    Optional completionist chapter—skip unless you mod or collect PS2 releases.
    Release date
    US PS2 launch November 14, 2001 as part of Half-Life PS2. Shipped around 2001 on PS2; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  5. Half-Life 2

    Half-Life 2

    PCXboxXbox 360PS3FPSMainline

    Half-Life 2 (2004). City 17 and the Combine—Gravity Gun and Ravenholm. It marks the PC, Xbox, Xbox 360 ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Source engine showcase—physics puzzles, facial animation, and episodic plan announced.
    In-game setting
    Gordon returns ~two decades after Black Mesa; Alyx Vance leads Resistance. Use neighboring titles with Half-Life 2 to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    Play after Half-Life and ideally after Half-Life: Alyx on strict Story order.
    Release date
    US PC launch November 16, 2004. Steam-only Episode follow-ups. Shipped around 2004 on PC, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  6. Half-Life 2: Episode One

    Half-Life 2: Episode One

    PCFPSMainlineEpisode

    Half-Life 2: Episode One (2006). Immediate HL2 follow-up—Citadel collapse escape with Alyx. It marks the PC ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    First episodic continuation—shorter campaign continuing HL2 cliffhanger.
    In-game setting
    Direct sequel to Half-Life 2—no gap in fiction. Use neighboring titles with Half-Life 2: Episode One to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    Required after HL2—bundled in Half-Life Complete on Steam. Play Half-Life 2: Episode One where this Release tab places it; remasters can replace older versions when listed.
    Release date
    US Steam launch June 1, 2006. Shipped around 2006 on PC; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  7. Half-Life 2: Episode Two

    Half-Life 2: Episode Two

    PCFPSMainlineEpisode

    Half-Life 2: Episode Two (2007). White Forest rocket—Episode arc finale and unresolved cliffhanger. It marks the PC ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Open outdoor combat and vehicle sections—widest Episode scope.
    In-game setting
    Ends setting up Episode Three—which was never released. Use neighboring titles with Half-Life 2: Episode Two to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    Current mainline endpoint for Gordon's story (June 2026). Play Half-Life 2: Episode Two where this Release tab places it; remasters can replace older versions when listed.
    Release date
    US Steam launch October 10, 2007. Shipped around 2007 on PC; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  8. Half-Life: Alyx

    Half-Life: Alyx

    PC VRFPSMainlineVRPrequel

    Half-Life: Alyx (2020). Alyx Vance in City 17—VR prequel five years before HL2. It marks the PC VR ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Valve's return to the series—full VR campaign on Source 2. Half-Life: Alyx refined series combat, exploration, or presentation in ways sequels still reference.
    In-game setting
    Story between HL1 aftermath and Gordon's HL2 arrival—not a HL1 substitute. Use neighboring titles with Half-Life: Alyx to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    Play after HL1 and before HL2 on Story order; last by US release date.
    Release date
    US Steam VR launch March 23, 2020. Supports Index, Vive, Rift, etc. Shipped around 2020 on PC VR; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.

FAQ

Release vs story order, Gordon-only vs full Valve universe (Portal), Alyx placement and spoilers, HL1 expansions, Episode Three, wiki lore vs playable entries, and ports.

Release order

Release order is when each Half-Life game launched in the US (1998–2020)—including HL1 expansions before Half-Life 2, and Alyx last in 2020. Story order follows fiction: Half-Life at Black Mesa, optional parallel expansions, then Half-Life: Alyx (five years before HL2), then Half-Life 2 → Episode One → Episode Two. Alyx is last by release but mid-saga by story. Portal and Portal 2 share the universe but are optional—no locked official dates for every crossover beat.

Flat-screen Gordon-only → Half-Life on Steam → Half-Life 2 → Episode One → Episode Two. Add Half-Life: Alyx before HL2 if you have VR and want the strongest pre-HL2 chapter—or after Episode Two if you want zero Ep2 prologue spoilers (see Alyx FAQ). Skip Opposing Force, Blue Shift, and Decay on a first pass unless you love HL1 parallel stories. Portal is optional but recommended before Episode Two for Borealis context—see full-universe FAQ. Black Mesa (fan remake) is optional—not official entries here.

Two paths fans actually use—pick one goal. Gordon-only (fastest): Half-Life → Half-Life 2 → Episode One → Episode Two; add Half-Life: Alyx when you have VR. Full universe (lore-heavy): Half-Life → optional Opposing Force / Blue Shift / Decay → Portal → Half-Life 2 → Episode One → Episode Two → Half-Life: Alyx → Portal 2. Portal games are separate puzzle series on this page—not numbered separate must-play titles on this timeline—but Episode Two's Borealis plot pays off if you know Aperture lore. Many newcomers skip Portal entirely and still follow Gordon; neither path is wrong.

Story & lore

Half-Life: Alyx is set five years before Half-Life 2 in City 17—you play as Alyx Vance, not Gordon. Story order: finish Half-Life (HL1), then Alyx, then Half-Life 2 and both Episodes. Play order: most community guides put Alyx after Episode Two because the opening recaps Episode Two's ending—playing earlier risks spoilers unless you skip the prologue. It shipped in 2020 after the Episodes but is not Episode Three. You need a VR headset; flat-screen mods exist but are not official.

All three take place during the same Black Mesa incident as Half-Life—different protagonists. Suggested order after HL1: Opposing Force → Blue Shift → Decay (optional). None are required for Half-Life 2. Decay is PS2-only officially; PC players use the Decay restoration mod. Gearbox developed Opposing Force and Blue Shift; Decay was Gearbox co-op on PS2.

Valve announced a trilogy of Episodes after Half-Life 2; Episode One and Episode Two shipped in 2006–2007. Episode Three was never released—Episode Two ends on an unresolved cliffhanger. Half-Life: Alyx (2020) advances lore but is not Episode Three. As of June 2026 there is no official Episode Three or Half-Life 3 release date.

Valve never locked a single calendar. Portal broadly sits in the Combine invasion era after Black Mesa; Portal 2 resumes after Chell's long stasis (year counts stay fan-debated). This page keeps Portal off Half-Life story-order titles. For dedicated Aperture release/story order, Still Alive, and Peer Review notes, use the Portal timeline—crossover slots with Gordon's path stay in the full-universe FAQ below.

Ports & collections

Optional & spin-offs

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.