Radiant Optimizer Games
About Half-Life
Half-Life (1998) told its story without cutscenes, following Gordon Freeman through the Black Mesa disaster, and launched Valve and its modding scene.
Half-Life in the browser
An open-source browser build. You load the game data from your own copy of Half-Life.
How to play Half-Life online
- Use a desktop browser (Chrome or Edge works best).
- Click “Play now”. The game opens in a new tab on the original project's site.
- Wait for the first load; big games can download hundreds of MB.
- Click inside the game to capture the mouse. Press Esc to release it.
- When asked, select the data files from your own copy of the game.
⚠ Never download a launcher or .exe from a browser game page.
Tips for Half-Life
- You need your own Half-Life data files; the page cannot provide them.
- Save often with the quick-save key; Black Mesa is unforgiving.
- Use the crowbar to save ammo against headcrabs.
Half-Life: questions and answers
Can I play Half-Life online for free?
The browser version is free, but you need the data files from your own legal copy of the original game.
Do I need to install Half-Life?
No installation is needed. You only select the game files you already own when the page asks for them.
Does Half-Life work on a phone or Chromebook?
It is built for desktop browsers. Chromebooks with an up-to-date Chrome usually work if they have enough memory; phones are not officially supported.
Why is Half-Life not loading?
Fan-made browser ports often run on small servers. Wait a minute and refresh, use Chrome or Edge on a desktop, close other heavy tabs, and make sure no extension is blocking the page.
Is this the official Half-Life?
No. This page links to an independent web project. Neither Radiant Optimizer Games nor the project is affiliated with Valve.
