You can now play Half-Life 2 in your browser

Browser-based gaming has come a long way, especially in enabling access to classic games that were once standalone desktop or console experiences. For example, DOS Zone is a repository of classic PC games from the MS-DOS era, and it's a browser-based, ad-free way to play classics like Duke Nukem 3D, Sim City 2000, and Prince of Persia. And now we can add Valve's iconic Half-Life 2 to the list of classic games that are fully playable in a browser tab.

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Developed by Slqnt and 98006, this web-based port of the game reportedly took three months to develop, but it offers the complete game to play with only a few graphical issues. The most notable one is that the character's eyes aren't rendered with irises or pupils, so they kind of look like zombies. Still, it's an impressive feat to get one of the most impressive games from the 2000s to run in a browser with all of the gameplay intact.

And it's also a testament to just how far we've come, both hardware and internet-wise, where cutting-edge games from back in the day can be played in a browser without having to wait an hour or several hours for a game to download and install.

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To play Half-Life 2 in your browser, simply head to Slqnt's website, which launches the game in a window with full mouse-and-keyboard controls. Due to the size of the game, the initial load can take a little while depending on your connection. But it won't be long until you take control of Gordon Freeman as he enters City 17. Half-Life 2's campaign remains one of the most influential in PC gaming and FPS history, as it delivered a cinematic campaign full of action, stealth, puzzle-solving, and innovative gameplay, thanks to its realistic use of physics and the introduction of the Gravity Gun.

Of course, any Half-Life story wouldn't be complete without mentioning Half-Life 3. As of 2026, there's still no sign of the game's existence, even though there have been several credible rumors that have pointed to its announcement coming late last year, with a release to coincide with the release of Valve's Steam Machine. And yes, even though none of the Half-Life 3 rumors have borne fruit, there's still a very vocal group out there hoping/expecting that an announcement and release are right around the corner.