Best games
The best Valve games
The 31 best games from Valve, ranked from 45,140 critic and player ratings.
The best Valve game is Half-Life 2, with a critic score of 96/100. Updated September 2026.
- Ranked releases span 1998 to 2023.
- Average critic score across the 31 ranked games: 81/100.
- 45,140 critic and player ratings behind this ranking.
- About 14 hours to finish one of them on average (main story).
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 1970 to 2026.
- 31 games are listed on this page, carrying 45,140 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 31
01
S
Half-Life 2
1998. HALF-LIFE sends a shock through the game industry with its combination of pounding action and continuous, immersive storytelling. NOW. By taking the suspense, challenge and visceral charge of the original, and adding startling new realism and responsiveness, Half-Life 2 opens the door to a world where the player's presence affects everything around them, from the physical environment to the behaviors even the emotions of both friends and enemies.
96
/100
02
Half-Life
Half-Life is a 1998 first-person shooter (FPS) game developed by Valve Corporation and published by Sierra Studios for Windows. It was Valve's debut product and the first game in the Half-Life series. The player assumes the role of Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist who must escape from the Black Mesa Research Facility after it is overrun by aliens following a disastrous scientific experiment. Its gameplay consists of diverse combat, exploration and puzzles.
96
/100
03
Half-Life 2: Update
A completely free and extensive community-developed update for Half-Life 2 featuring beautiful lighting, countless bug fixes, and a brand new Community Commentary Mode. With Half-Life 2: Update, there’s never been a better time to revisit City 17.
96
/100
S
Half-Life 2
1998. HALF-LIFE sends a shock through the game industry with its combination of pounding action and continuous, immersive storytelling. NOW. By taking the suspense, challenge and visceral charge of the original, and adding startling new realism and responsiveness, Half-Life 2 opens the door to a world where the player's presence affects everything around them, from the physical environment to the behaviors even the emotions of both friends and enemies.
96
/100
02
Half-Life
Half-Life is a 1998 first-person shooter (FPS) game developed by Valve Corporation and published by Sierra Studios for Windows. It was Valve's debut product and the first game in the Half-Life series. The player assumes the role of Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist who must escape from the Black Mesa Research Facility after it is overrun by aliens following a disastrous scientific experiment. Its gameplay consists of diverse combat, exploration and puzzles.
96
/100
03
Half-Life 2: Update
A completely free and extensive community-developed update for Half-Life 2 featuring beautiful lighting, countless bug fixes, and a brand new Community Commentary Mode. With Half-Life 2: Update, there’s never been a better time to revisit City 17.
96
/100
04
A
Portal 2
Sequel to the acclaimed Portal (2007), Portal 2 pits the protagonist of the original game, Chell, and her new robot friend, Wheatley, against more puzzles conceived by GLaDOS, an A.I. with the sole purpose of testing the Portal Gun's mechanics and taking revenge on Chell for the events of Portal. As a result of several interactions and revelations, Chell once again pushes to escape Aperture Science Labs.
95
/100
05
Half-Life: Alyx
Half-Life: Alyx is Valve’s VR return to the Half-Life series. It’s the story of an impossible fight against a vicious alien race known as the Combine, set between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2. Alyx Vance and her father Eli mount an early resistance to the Combine's brutal occupation of Earth.
93
/100
06
C
Team Fortress 2
Nine distinct classes provide a broad range of tactical abilities and personalities. Constantly updated with new game modes, maps, equipment and, most importantly, hats!
92
/100
07
S
Portal
Waking up in a seemingly empty laboratory, the player is made to complete various physics-based puzzle challenges through numerous test chambers in order to test out the new Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, without an explanation as to how, why or by whom.
90
/100
08
F
Dota 2
Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena video game and the stand-alone sequel to the Defense of the Ancients (DotA) mod. With regular updates that ensure a constant evolution of gameplay, features, and heroes, Dota 2 has taken on a life of its own.
90
/100
09
Half-Life 2: Episode Two
The second episodic sequel to one of the most influential first-person shooters of its time, Half-Life 2.
90
/100
10
The Orange Box
The Orange Box is a bundle that includes five titles from Valve: Half-Life 2; Half-Life 2:Episode 1; Half-Life 2: Episode Two; Team Fortress 2, the sequel to the game that put class-based, multiplayer team warfare on the map; and Portal, the game that blends puzzles, first person action, and adventure gaming to produce an experience like no other.
90
/100
11
Portal: Still Alive
90
/100
12
Left 4 Dead
89
/100
13
S
Left 4 Dead 2
89
/100
14
Counter-Strike
88
/100
15
Counter-Strike: Source
88
/100
16
Half-Life 2: Episode One
87
/100
17
C
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
81
/100
18
Day of Defeat: Source
80
/100
19
Day of Defeat
79
/100
20
Alien Swarm
77
/100
21
Aperture Desk Job
76
/100
22
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch
75
/100
23
Team Fortress Classic
71
/100
24
Half-Life Deathmatch: Source
69
/100
25
S
Counter-Strike 2
68
/100
26
Half-Life: Source
67
/100
27
Half-Life 2: Lost Coast
67
/100
28
Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Deleted Scenes
67
/100
29
S
Counter-Strike: Condition Zero
66
/100
30
Dota Underlords
64
/100
31
Counter-Strike Nexon: Zombies
31
/100
A
Portal 2
Sequel to the acclaimed Portal (2007), Portal 2 pits the protagonist of the original game, Chell, and her new robot friend, Wheatley, against more puzzles conceived by GLaDOS, an A.I. with the sole purpose of testing the Portal Gun's mechanics and taking revenge on Chell for the events of Portal. As a result of several interactions and revelations, Chell once again pushes to escape Aperture Science Labs.
95
/100
05
Half-Life: Alyx
Half-Life: Alyx is Valve’s VR return to the Half-Life series. It’s the story of an impossible fight against a vicious alien race known as the Combine, set between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2. Alyx Vance and her father Eli mount an early resistance to the Combine's brutal occupation of Earth.
93
/100
06
C
Team Fortress 2
Nine distinct classes provide a broad range of tactical abilities and personalities. Constantly updated with new game modes, maps, equipment and, most importantly, hats!
92
/100
07
S
Portal
Waking up in a seemingly empty laboratory, the player is made to complete various physics-based puzzle challenges through numerous test chambers in order to test out the new Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, without an explanation as to how, why or by whom.
90
/100
08
F
Dota 2
Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena video game and the stand-alone sequel to the Defense of the Ancients (DotA) mod. With regular updates that ensure a constant evolution of gameplay, features, and heroes, Dota 2 has taken on a life of its own.
90
/100
09
Half-Life 2: Episode Two
The second episodic sequel to one of the most influential first-person shooters of its time, Half-Life 2.
90
/100
10
The Orange Box
The Orange Box is a bundle that includes five titles from Valve: Half-Life 2; Half-Life 2:Episode 1; Half-Life 2: Episode Two; Team Fortress 2, the sequel to the game that put class-based, multiplayer team warfare on the map; and Portal, the game that blends puzzles, first person action, and adventure gaming to produce an experience like no other.
90
/100
11
Portal: Still Alive
90
/100
12
Left 4 Dead
89
/100
13
S
Left 4 Dead 2
89
/100
14
Counter-Strike
88
/100
15
Counter-Strike: Source
88
/100
16
Half-Life 2: Episode One
87
/100
17
C
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
81
/100
18
Day of Defeat: Source
80
/100
19
Day of Defeat
79
/100
20
Alien Swarm
77
/100
21
Aperture Desk Job
76
/100
22
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch
75
/100
23
Team Fortress Classic
71
/100
24
Half-Life Deathmatch: Source
69
/100
25
S
Counter-Strike 2
68
/100
26
Half-Life: Source
67
/100
27
Half-Life 2: Lost Coast
67
/100
28
Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Deleted Scenes
67
/100
29
S
Counter-Strike: Condition Zero
66
/100
30
Dota Underlords
64
/100
31
Counter-Strike Nexon: Zombies
31
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Valve game?
Half-Life 2 currently tops the ranking with a score of 96/100 across 4,105 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.