Should You Play Half Life 1 or Black Mesa?

It wouldn’t be an outlandish statement to say that Half-Life is one of the most iconic series in gaming. However, being more than two decades old has certainly pushed the title out of many players’ minds. There is an entire generation of gamers who have never played any of the games in the series.

With the latest update to Half-Life 2, many of you might be considering diving into the series but are unsure about the original Half-Life and the supposed remake, Black Mesa. The guide below will clarify the differences and help you decide which game you should play.

What Is Half-Life 1?

When fans mention Half-Life 1, they’re referring to the original game released in 1998. Despite being over 25 years old, the game has received multiple updates that brought new features, fixed bugs, and much more. The original game also has two single-player expansions: Opposing Force and Blue Shift. These were not developed by Valve but by Gearbox Software. While both expansions are considered canon, they aren’t necessarily preludes to the sequel, though many hardcore fans will recommend playing them.

Purchasing Half-Life 1 doesn’t grant access to these expansions; they must be bought separately. They’re usually quite affordable, with current sales offering them for less than a dollar, so it’s worth picking them up if you’re interested.

There’s also
Half-Life: Source
, a remastered version released in 2004. However, it has numerous issues and was eventually delisted from Steam. It’s better to stick with the original game rather than playing
Half-Life: Source
.

What Is Black Mesa?

Black Mesa is a fan-made remake developed by Crowbar Collective and released in 2020. While it wasn’t made by Valve, the remake received Valve’s approval for release as a commercial product, meaning you can safely purchase it without worrying about it being delisted or losing access to it.

The fan-made remake has received critical acclaim from fans and is considered a major improvement over the original game. Developed using the Source Engine, it features superior graphics, a working multiplayer mode, new missions, and much more. However, there is one significant limitation: the remake only includes the base game and not the two expansions. That said, there are ways to experience portions of those expansions.

HECU Collective

The HECU Collective is working on a free mod for Black Mesa that remakes Blue Shift, with Chapter 5 of the DLC recently released and the final three levels currently in development

Tripmine Studios

Another developer, Tripmine Studios (not to be confused with Tripwire Interactive, the creators of the Killing Floor series), is working on a separate project called Operation: Black Mesa, which is a remake of both Opposing Force and Blue Shift. Unfortunately, there is no release date yet, so you may be waiting for a while before that becomes available.

Should You Play Black Mesa or Half-Life 1?

Which version you choose to play depends entirely on the type of gamer you are. If you prefer the original, developer-intended experience, then the OG Half-Life is the way to go. However, if you want the best visuals and don’t mind some changes from the original game, Black Mesa is the better choice.

The Half-Life community generally recommends Black Mesa for new players due to its modern enhancements. However, keep in mind that playing the expansions with Black Mesa can be a bit tricky due to their limited availability in the remake.

• Ultimately, Black Mesa is the recommended choice, even with its expansion limitations, as it offers a polished and updated way to experience the classic game.

What To Play After Half-Life 1/Black Mesa?

More Half-Life Games

Once you’re finished with Black Mesa (or Half-Life 1), it’s time to explore the two expansions. If Black Mesa fans prefer to skip them, the next step is Half-Life 2. After completing it, you can dive into the two Half-Life 2 expansions: Episode 1 and Episode 2.

But your journey through the Half-Life series doesn’t end there. Once you’ve completed all the classic games, it’s time to experience Half-Life: Alyx. Keep in mind that this is a VR-only game, so you’ll need a compatible VR setup to play it.

Additionally, you can explore the countless incredible mods created for Half-Life 1, Half-Life 2, and Black Mesa, giving you even more ways to enjoy these iconic games and sink extra hours into the series.

More Valve Games

If you’re hungry for even more Valve goodness, there’s plenty to explore. The two Portal games, the Team Fortress series, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and DOTA 2 are all waiting to capture your attention. There’s also a game called Artifact, but nobody talks about that one.