#6. HALF-LIFE: ALYX
Half-Life 3 confirmed has been a meme for as long as internet memes have existed (well, almost), and even though we didn’t technically get the third Half-Life game, we did get the next mainline Half-Life instalment. But the fact that the series finally made its grand comeback after years of silence wasn’t even the most surprising part- what was even more surprising was that that comeback was a VR exclusive. And though that may have seemed like a controversial decision at first, Half-Life: Alyx was able to quell any of those doubts almost instantly. Valve’s return to the limelight is a spectacular one. In one single move, they have managed to deliver an excellent first person shooter, tell a surprising story that moves the series forward in exciting ways, evolved the Half-Life formula to great effect, and showcased just what VR games are capable of when developers and publishers go all-in on the technology. Fittingly enough for a Half-Life game, Alyx is an industry benchmark that proudly stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its predecessors.
