Half-Life 2: Episode One
Does Half-Life 2: Episode One run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?
Sold for Windows today, no problem on record.1
No Mac version is sold.
Native Linux version.1
Playable, as rated by Valve. May need some setup.1
One click, no account, so the next player knows. How we check where it runs
Synopsis
A short first-person shooter that picks up minutes after the end of Half-Life 2, as Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance try to escape City 17 before the damaged Citadel explodes. Across five chapters you fight, solve physics puzzles with the Gravity Gun, and work alongside Alyx, who stays by your side for most of the game.
Reception
Critics at release praised the tighter pacing, the denser mix of combat and puzzles, and how much Alyx added as a companion. The most common complaints were the length of about five hours, reused weapons and settings, and another cliffhanger ending. Players today still rate it very highly, with about 95 percent of English Steam reviews positive. It is no longer sold on its own: since November 2024 it comes included with Half-Life 2 and in The Orange Box.
Trailer from Steam Playability today
The average of two parts, each from 1 to 5. Tap a check to see why. How it works
Runs today
4.5/5- Not sold or given away today by any official source
- Runs on Windows 11 without fan patches
- ?Not confirmed yetSingle-player works without an internet connectionNo source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
- All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks)The episode remains playable in full; it is no longer sold separately but is included with Half-Life 2 since the 20th Anniversary Update and in The Orange Box (PCGamingWiki).
- Supports modern resolutions and widescreenWidescreen, ultrawide and 4K resolutions are supported natively (PCGamingWiki).
- Full controller support or remappable controlsFull controller support is native through the Gamepad UI (PCGamingWiki).
- Steam Deck Verified or Playable
- No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
- No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
- No known game-breaking bugs in the current versionPCGamingWiki lists no unresolved issues that crash the game or block progress (PCGamingWiki).
Design today
5/5- Controls feel natural on a modern controller or mouse and keyboardMouse and keyboard controls follow the standard shooter layout and can be remapped, and since the 2022 and 20th Anniversary updates the game has full controller support through its Gamepad UI, though the gamepad option may need enabling in the settings. Source: pcgamingwiki.com, pcgamingwiki.com.
- Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screensThe game supports widescreen, ultrawide and 4K, and since the 20th Anniversary Update its menus and HUD scale with high resolutions instead of shrinking. Source: pcgamingwiki.com, pcgamingwiki.com.
- Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progressQuicksave works at any moment with F6, with two quicksave slots and unlimited manual saves. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
- It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progressNew ideas are introduced through play, and Alyx often comments on the situation in ways that hint at how to proceed, so no guide is needed. Source: shacknews.com.
- Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtrackingThe episode runs about five hours with little downtime, mixing puzzles and firefights rather than separating them into long stretches. Source: shacknews.com, gamesradar.com.
- Camera and movement never fight the playerFirst-person movement is smooth and responsive, with a field of view slider from 75 to 110 degrees in the options. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
If you like Half-Life 2: Episode One
How does it play for you today?