Another freebie that deserves some repeat attention again, especially since it looks really good, is a half-life mod and is highly rated.
Estranged Act 1: https://store.steampowered.com/app/261820/Estranged_Act_I/
Estranged Act 2: https://store.steampowered.com/app/582890/Estranged_Act_II/
(Act 2 is early access)
Enjoy!
No, I don't think so. If it was needed, Steam would say so on the website.
Aren't mods always free?
No, not necessarily.
Most famous mod that now is fully fledged stand alone game and full price is Black Mesa.
Even more famous mod that is now a multi-million dollar franchise is Counter Strike!
True. Forgot about that as it has been around for so long now.
Id say team fortress is a close second. But man DoD was were it was at back in the day.
I still play Day of Defeat (source), there is usually one, sometimes 2 aussie servers each night. It is still so good, tight gameplay! I recommend you try it again i went back after like 4 years break myself…
I apparently already 'owned' Act I. Maybe I should play it now!
Both were already in my library.
Thanks for the post!
Can you add that Act II is Early Access? Otherwise it looks like we're getting the finished game for free, which would be a better deal than being a beta tester for free.
Act I has been free ever since launch. I don't think the developer (one guy) ever intends to monetize this game.
I played through Act I pretty recently for the first time and found it to be pretty dated (and not just the Source Engine itself). The gameplay and level design is circa 2008-2010, and is reminiscent of now very dated, clunky and unpolished survival horror/exploration games like the Penumbra Series.
Things have come along way with titles Alien Isolation, Outlast, Soma, Observer, Layers of Fear, et al.
The do plan to charge a nominal sum for Act 2 once it is finished according to the Steam page. Not sure if Act 1 remains free but I surely hope so.
Well, for a solo project, it's definitely a commendable effort and worth a quick one-hour playthrough but that's no big loss to the genre if they decide to start charging for Act I.
There's so many more worthwhile horror, exploration and zombie games out there. Estranged doesn't do justice to any of the genres/niches it's trying to fulfill; it's a case of too little, too late. Monstrum, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Condemned: Criminal Origins and Alien Isolation are what you want to be playing to scratch that exploration/horror itch.
Just to clear up any confusion, as per the official website's FAQ, the devs do plan to charge for Act II (not Act I) once it's fully completed, however if you download it while it's free during Early Access, it will remain in your library permanently (and I'm assuming, receive updates to the completed build).
![[PC] Free - Estranged Act 1 and Act 2 (Act 2 Is Early Access) - Steam](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/92/491392.jpg?h=fd701bb1)
Do you need to own HL2 to play this?