The 10 Best Source Engine Games (2014)

(Author’s Note: This was written back in June 2014 for Maximum PC. I had to use new pictures because the ones originally used in this article were lost when a harddrive containing them crashed.)

It’s hard to believe that Valve’s Source Engine is turning 10 years old. We still remember being amazed at the Half-Life 2 tech demo shown back in 2003 at E3. We marveled at the huge leap in graphics as the G-man himself appeared looking lifelike and gaped at the engine’s physics.

Are we over exaggerating our reaction? Not at all.

While the Source Engine’s focus was primarily made for first-person games, it hasn’t stopped modders and developers from creating side-scrolling, RTS, top-down shooters, and puzzle games too. Over the years, Valve has improved and updated the engine for anyone wishing to use it. From the Source Filmmaker to better authoring tools, Source is a versatile engine that allows developers to create games that will run on Windows, Max OS X, Linux, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PlayStation 3 platforms.

We decided to celebrate this tenth anniversary by choosing what we think are the 10 best Source-based games out there and list them in chronological order. We have to admit, it was tough considering that there is a 10-year span to choose from. However, we decided to choose only one game from a series.

Let us know what you think of our list and tell us what you think are some of the best Source-based games you have played!

Half-Life 2 – November 16, 2004 – Metacritic: 96

Half-Life 2 was the sequel to Valve’s critically acclaimed Half-Life and won 39 Game of the Year Awards. It is considered to be one of the definitive shooters of our time due to its advanced physics, narrative, animation, AI, and graphics. And once you get to the ending of Half-Life 2: Episode 2 you’ll understand why everyone is waiting for Half-Life 3.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines – November 16, 2004 Metacritic: 80

This action-RPG was released at the same time as HL2, making it the first third-party developed title using the Source engine. While it suffered from bugs, glitches, and developer Troika Games shutting down, the vampire game has gained a cult status. The modding community addressed many of the issues since its release and we recommend you check out this title known for its in-depth RPG elements.

Portal – October 10, 2007 – Metacritic 90

This first-person puzzle shooter took everyone by surprise. The puzzles were challenging and the gameply fun but it was Portal’s dark humor and antagonist, GLaDOS, that elevated the game. And while some may believe that the “cake is a lie” there is no denying that the ending song “Still Alive” is the icing on this particular cake.

Team Fortress 2 – October 10, 2007 – Metacritic: 92

Did you know that, once upon a time, we had to purchase this team-based multiplayer shooter? For a long while TF2 had dominated the Steam charts as the most-played title, and for good reason. It’s fun and quirky, with nine classes to choose from. Eventually, Valve decided to make it free-to-play and introduced a loot system that gave it renewed life and a new source of income for the developer. Now excuse us while we fight off a robot invasion.

Left 4 Dead 2 – November 17, 2009 – Metacritic: 89

This cooperative zombie, or infected as the game calls them, shooter built upon the first game with the addition of melee weapons, more weapons, and bigger levels. As one of four players, we enjoyed fighting off waves of zombies and special infected. The multiplayer is also a lot of fun since we could play as the survivors or the special infected. If we may make a suggestion, don’t provoke the Witch.

Dear Esther – February 14, 2012 – Metacritic: 80

What was first a Source engine mod was later re-made and released as a retail product that has divided gamers and critics alike. The main question asked about this experimental first-person title is whether it can be called a game. While all a player does is walk around and listen to the narrator the Dear Esther does a great job of providing a sense of loneliness and despair. Whatever you may think of it, however, we feel that it has some of the best visuals ever for a Source game.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – August 21, 2012 – Metacritic: 83

We still love Counter-Strike 1.6 and while Counter-Strike: Source was the first game released using the Source engine, CS:GO has been making some strides. It is now the second most-played game on Steam, TF2 has since been relegated to third, and that is because Valve has added in loot drops and supported the eSports scene even more with this tactical multiplayer FPS game. If you want a multiplayer shooter that requires skill, has short rounds, and requires teamwork then we recommend CS:GO.

Dota 2 – July 9, 2013 – Metacritic: 90 

This Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game has been overwhelmingly successful for Valve. While CS:GO and TF2 normally occupy the second (over 100,000) and third (around 75,000) positions of Steam’s concurrent users, Dota 2 boasts around 750,000 daily players and 8 million unique visitors per month. That’s saying a lot for a game that features one map and two five-man teams battling it out to destroy the other’s base.

The Stanley Parable – October 17, 2013 – Metacritic: 88

While the game’s visuals are nowhere near as picturesque when compared to Dear Esther, The Stanley Parable’s strong narrative is compelling and worth experiencing for anyone looking to try out a first-person exploration game that can be hilarious, witty, poignant, and even disturbing.  

Titanfall – March 11, 2014 – Metacritic: 86

Titanfall is a FPS game that combines parkour with mechs. It’s fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping action is a good kick for players and is the latest game to be developed using the Source engine. While the gameplay is a lot of fun the game’s story, on the other hand, is pretty dreadful.