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If you’ve somehow missed out onHalf-Lifeover the past 25 years, now’s the perfect time to experience it. The groundbreaking original and its equally impressive (if not superior) sequel remain iconic in gaming history. Recently,Half-Life 2receiveda major update, making it free to play for a short time, which makes this an excellent opportunity for newcomers to dive into the series.
However, it’s highly recommended to play the firstHalf-Lifebefore moving on to its sequel to fully appreciate the story and progression. Wondering how long it takes to complete the originalHalf-Life? Keep reading for the answer. (Hint: you caneasily finish it over a weekend).
How Long Does It Take To Beat Half-Life
Half-Lifeis not an especially long game. A typical playthrough of themain story takes around 12 hours, meaning you can finish it over a weekend — or even in a single day if you’re determined. Exploring all the optional content adds about two more hours of gameplay. While this isn’t a significant increase, it makes sense since the game is linear and doesn’t feature collectibles oropen-world exploration.
If you enjoy the first game, and you almost certainly will, it’s worth diving into the two excellent expansions:Half-Life: Opposing ForceandHalf-Life: Blue Shift.
How Long Are The Opposing Force & Blue Shift Expansions?
How Long To Beat Half-Life: Opposing Force
Half-Life: Opposing Forceoffers a solid amount of content for an expansion. A typical playthrough of themain story takes around six hours to complete— less if you rush — though it’s better to take your time and enjoy the experience. Like the base game, Opposing Force is a linear adventurewithout collectibles, so there’s no need to scour every corner or over-explore. Just focus on the engaging story and action-packed gameplay.
How Long To Beat Half-Life: Blue Shift
Half-Life: Blue Shiftis often considered the weaker of the two expansions in terms of both quality and content. The main storytakes around three hours to complete, making it a quick experience you canfinish in a single afternoon.
Completing all the officialHalf-Lifecontent doesn’t mean your journey has to end. The game boasts an incredibleselection of community-made modsthat can significantly extend your playtime and your enjoyment.
