Summary
Founded in 1996 by former Microsoft employees Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington,Valvestarted life as a development studio working on various titles that would go on to become household names throughout the PC gaming world. Before being widely recognized as the company behind the largest gaming platform in the world, Steam, Valve were releasing genre-defining hits from the mid-90s through to the late 2000s.
A lot of these franchises should be familiar to gamers in one form or another, whether they’ve followed Gordon Freeman’s mission to defeat the Combine or played a few friendly matches ofTeam Fortress 2. A lot ofthese titles still hold up today, with thousands of fans continuing to log innumerable hours while they wait for Valve to learn to count to three. For those looking to experience an engaging narrative, here are someValve games with the best stories.
Releasing in 2008,Left 4 Deadis a first-person shooter where teams of 4 players must survivethe horrors of a zombie apocalypse. The cinematic feel, well-tuned mechanics, and focus on cooperation made it an instant smash hit with critics and fans alike.
Alongside the stellar gameplay is the plot of a bombastic action movie that sees a team of survivors take on undead hordes with explosive and incredibly fun results. It’s full of chills and spills, with an escalating narrative that keeps the adrenaline pumping and constantly ups the stakes. Players in the mood for Hollywood-style romp are in for one heck of a wild ride withLeft 4 Dead.
Following the success of the original title,Team Fortress 2released in 2007 and laid the foundation for all character-based first-person team shooters to come (includingOverwatch). With a roster of diverse and interesting mercenaries catering to every possible playstyle, it was an instant success and continues to be one ofthe most played games on Steam.
Beyond the madcap mayhem of the battlefield and no shortage of Source Filmmaker shenanigans, there is a surprisingly in-depth narrative. Found primarily in supplementary material, it focuses on Mann Co. and the sibling rivalry between heirs Redmond and Blutarch during a period known as the Gravel Wars. Thrown in a surprise third brother, the legendary business executive/adventurer Saxton Hale and an army of killer robots, and it all results in a totally wacky story.
Set in the popularHalf-Lifeuniverse and released in 2007,Portalis an innovative puzzle-platformer that literally turned the world upside down.The creative ways players can use the titular Portal Gunto solve a series of increasingly difficult challenges is nothing short of genius, all while traversing a stark white and extremely clinical environment.
The plot ofPortalcenters on Chell, a young woman inexplicably captured by Aperture Science Laboratories and forced to run a gauntlet by the cold and calculating AI, GLaDOS. Along the way, players can find clues such as dislodged panels revealing hidden messages. It’s an intriguing mystery with tons to discover, necessitating several playthroughs to see everything and answer the ultimate question - is there actually any cake?
Set an indeterminable amount of time in the future,Portal 2is a direct sequel to the original puzzle-platformer set in theHalf-Lifeuniverse. Players once again guide Chell through a series of challenging stages set up bythe now maniacal GLaDOS, helped along the way by Wheatley, the lovable personality core. The complex is now a dilapidated ruin, and Chell must escape before GLaDOS can rebuild the facility.
The malevolent AI subjects Chell to a new series of tests until they come face-to-face. There, the player must replace GLaDOS with Wheatley,who immediately goes mad with powerand causes a catastrophic failure. It’s a wild ride with plenty of twists and turns that also deals with delicate subjects such as consciousness and personality. It also offers a fitting send-off for a much-beloved antagonist.
Following a much-anticipated release in 2004,Half-Life 2picks up the story of Gordan Freeman’s fight against the Combine 20 years after the events of the first title. Winning a staggering 39 Game of the Year awards, it proved to be a technical and narrative masterpiece.
The player awakens to a world already conquered by alien forces intent on subjugating Earth and humanity for its ever-expanding empire. As such, gamers must lead a rebellion against Dr. Breen, the de facto ruler of the planet, and, in turn, destroy the Combine’s center of power, the Citadel. It’s a fantastic story of endurance against all odds, and it’s one that has left fans famously clamoring for a third entry.
Stemming from a dissatisfaction with the first-person shooters, the originalHalf-Lifereleased in 1998 and served as the basis for what the genre could and should be. It features a hefty and engaging combination of combat and puzzle-solving mechanics that keep the action flowing throughout, especially since the plot unfolds in real-time with little to no interruptions.
The story follows physicist Gordon Freeman during experiments on an unknown crystal at the notorious Black Mesa Research Facility, which triggers an explosion that devastates the complex. From there, it weavesa twisted tale of government conspiraciesand alien invasions that sends players to the furthest reaches of space against forces beyond human comprehension. It’s an explosive sci-fi masterpiece and a landmark in gaming history that players simply must experience.
