Steam deal: Highly rated shooter drops below $5

Black Mesa is a fan-made remake of Valve’s iconic first-person shooter Half-Life. Players step into the role of physicist Gordon Freeman, who works at the Black Mesa Research Facility. When a failed experiment triggers an alien invasion, Freeman must battle through waves of extraterrestrial creatures to save the scientists and ultimately, the world.

Half-Life and by extension, Black Mesa, delivers seamless, story-driven action without cutscenes. Instead, the narrative unfolds in real time through dialogue, environmental details and scripted events. Alongside intense combat featuring a wide range of weapons, from crowbars and shotguns to experimental alien tech, the game emphasizes physics-based puzzles and exploration. Black Mesa also includes a multiplayer mode with classic Half-Life maps, offering even more ways to play.

Prettier and more challenging than the original game

Built on the Source engine originally developed for Half-Life 2, Black Mesa features significantly enhanced graphics with more detailed environments and realistic lighting. Another major upgrade is the reworked enemy AI, which now behaves more tactically, takes cover and executes coordinated attacks, making the game far more challenging. The level design has also been refined for a more intuitive and immersive experience.

75% discount on Steam

The Half-Life remake was highly praised by fans. On Metacritic, Black Mesa holds a Metascore of 84 and a User Score of 8.8. Meanwhile, on Steam, it has nearly 115,000 reviews with a very positive 95% rating. If you haven’t played Black Mesa yet, now could be a great time to grab it at a bargain price. Normally priced at $19.96, the game is currently available for less than $5 thanks to a 75% discount on Steam. The offer runs until March 3.

Prices are subject to change. The offer was available at the time of publication of the article, but may be limited in time or quantity. All information without guarantee.