Valve's reputation speaks volumes in the case of quality. With that quality, the Portal and Half-Life IPs have pushed the medium of video games with every release. You may be asking, what do the beloved puzzle platformer and the franchise with 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the pinnacle of cliffhangers have in common beyond their developer?

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They share the same universe. Yes, GLaDOS and Chell exist in the same world as Gordon and Aly⛎x. Obviously💟, this means we had to list best games in this shared universe.

10 Aperture Hand ♔Lab 🔥

Aperture Hand Lab, going in for a handshake with your hand and two robo arms

While Aperture Hand Lab was designed as a mere a tech demo for Valve's Index and controllers, it contains some quality material concerning other Portal games. Beyond the tech, Hand Lab still has humor and presentation with Aperture's questionable-at-best inventions, experiments, and mystery.

On top of Hand Lab's 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:short time commitment, the game features an experience both fans of the series and newcomers can enjoy and appreciate. The same can be said for VR veterans or beginners taking part in Aperture's, particularly hands-on experiment.

9 ꦯ Aperture Desk Job𒆙

Aperture Desk Job with Blue Grady character bot front and center

Aperture Desk Job, the newest game released in the Portal family of titles, acts as another tech demo - this time for the Steam Deck. Desk Job is categorized as a playable short but feels right at home in the universe. Players play as themselves on one of Aperture's manufacturing lines, observing, you guessed it, toilets.

With a fun new character like Grady, and a particular fan-favourite returning, the playable shorts' line-up does more than carry its weight. On top of two strong personalities, Desk Job leans harder into the humor of Portal's universe and doesn't disappoint.

8 The Lab

The Lab title screen with silhouette characters

The Lab follows other Portal products acting as tech demos, but offers eight bite-sized experiences, each of which could hold a players' attention for much longer. The VR game offers a hub world filled with little silhouette people making worlds for you to play such as; Longbow, Slingshot, Xortex, Postcards, Human Medical Scan, Solar System, Robot Repair, and Secret Shop.

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For a bit of icing on the cake, the comical Justin Roiland voices several characters🅘 within the game. While The Lab is considered non-canon, it is confirmed that this setting is located with🧔in a pocket universe of Aperture Science.

7 Ha📖lf-Life 2: Episode One 𒊎

Half Life 2 Episode 1, Alyx holding a pistol with Citadel in the background

Half-Life 2: Episode One is an expansion to the original Half-Life 2, but considering its episodic nature, the continuation of the story, and the fact that you don't necessarily need to have played Half-Life 2, the title stands on its own enough. This intended trilogy was to shorten the time between games.

Episode One promptly follows the events of Half-Life 2 and the damage that took place. Players return to Gordon at 🌞the sticks, and Alyx Vance close behind as they attempt to buy some time before a Citadel core explodes.

6 Half-Life 2: Episode Two ꦬ

Half Life 2 Episode 2 art with Gordon front right, Alyx back left, and some bots in back middle

Like its expansion counterparts, Half-Life 2: Episode Two was part of a proposed trilogy before Episode Three was canceled. Due to that, Episode Two is infamous for its cliffhanger and death of a significant character. While Episode One focused on character growth and development, Episode Two's focus was elsewhere.

The game's focal point was clearly on new and expansive environments and their accompanying action sequences. With this new focus, Gordon and the others leave City 17 and enter the open forests nearby.

5 Portal: Still Al🌃ive 🎃

Portal Still Alive title screen beginning area

When Portal was initially released as part of the Orange Box, it surprised and wowed players with its unique take on puzzle platforming. Portal: Still Alive is the same as original game found in the Orange Box, but this version came exclusively on Xbox Live Arcade with additional levels and Achievements. With it being the definitive version, it acts as Portal's entry.

Portal follows a female character by the name of Chell. Players must help her traverse and solve Aperture's puzzles with the help of a portal gun.

4 ꦿ🔯 Half-Life: Alyx

Half Life Alyx, the Citadel with connecting branches and city

Alyx is the first Half-life game in twelve years. While Half-Life: Alyx isn't Half-Life 3, fans were delighted to see that the series wasn't dead after all. Alyx was released for Windows and Linux with support for most VR headsets, including the Valve very own Index.

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Half-Life: Alyx follows, you guessed it, Alyx in a prequel taking place around🐼 five years before Half-Life 2. It received a great critical reception, even earning some Game of the Year nods.

3 Half-Life

Half Life, crowbar and head crab with checkered floor

The game that started it all. Half-Life was the debut of everyone's favorite scientist, Gordon Freeman. Valve granted players complete control of Gordon throughout the entirety of the game. That level of immersion, coupled with its unique environmental puzzles and top-notch gunplay mechanics, kept players enthralled throughout the experience.

Thജe 1998 title grew wildly acclaimed, receiving over 50 Game of the Year awards. Since its release, Half-Life is still considered one 🦩of the most influential games ever created.

2 ☂ Half-Life 2 ꦰ

Half Life 2, Gordon and Alyx in front of the lower part of the Citadel

Half-Life 2's quality earned over 35 Game of the Year awards in 2004. It could easily be number one on this, or any list. It is rated in the top 25 games of all time on Metacritic and regarded as one of the most renowned games ever made, thanks to its advancements made not only since its predecessor, but games as a whole.

The gravity gun alone gained universal attention. It's clear that Gordon's journey is something fans want closure on, but the quality of the games, somehow pleads even louder. Half-Life 2 is a generational game-changer of a video game.

1 Portal 2

Portal 2, overgrown area meeting GLaDOS

Portal's second installment is widely regarded as the closest a video game has even been to perfect. While Half-Life 2 may be highly regarded as a generational title, the sci-fi shooter may not be for everyone. In contrast, Portal's DNA speaks more in line with players as a whole regarding its aesthetic, moment-to-moment gameplay, and humorous narrative.

Portal 2 is simply m𓄧ore modern and welcoming to players of every ilk. On top of that, taking the welcoming angle out, its quality rivals that of Half-Life 2 without question. Portal 2 is one - if not the - best video games ever made, and it still holds up today.

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