The best Half-Life: Alyx mods can make it feel like you're playing an entirely different game thanks to the incredible engine it was made in.
Half-Life: Alyx is certainly one of the best VR games out there, and adding some mods into the equation can make it even better. In this case, these can range from a modicum of maps to delve into some rather exciting new weaponry and a whole lot more.
There's a shedload on offer, so whether you're looking for the classic Aperture Science labs with Aperture VR or to recreate the original game with Gordon's Crowbar, we've got you covered.
Best Half-Life: Alyx Mods
- Gordon's Crowbar
- Glorious Gloves
- Energetic Hands
- Handheld Combine Shield
- Aperture VR
- Wolfenstein 3D
- Return To Rapture
- Goldeneye Alyx 007
- Gunman Contracts
- Minigolf
Best Half-Life: Alyx Weapons Mods
Firstly, we're going to take a look at some of the best weapons mods for Half-Life: Alyx as there are definitely some fun ones out there for you to try.
Gordon's Crowbar
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+ 9Our first mod is something remarkably simple - the humble crowbar from the original Half-Life title, or as the mod refers to it, Gordon's Crowbar.
It may not be the best weapon in the world, but those wanting a callback to Valve's past need not look any further than here as you can bash enemies all you like with this handy crowbar.
Melee in VR is always pretty fun, and the addition of Gordon's Crowbar into Half-Life: Alyx is sure to add something fun to your loadout.
Glorious Gloves
click to enlarge + 9Speaking of callbacks to the past, the Glorious Gloves mod essentially fuses Alyx's Gravity Gloves with the original Gravity Gun from Half-Life 2.
What this will allow you to do is push, pull and even levitate objects, and cause plenty of melee damage in the process.
According to the mod's developer, you could even complete nearly the entirety of the game with just the Glorious Gloves and no guns, which sounds like quite the fun challenge.
Energetic Hands
click to enlarge + 9In keeping with the theme of weaponised hands, the Energetic Hands mod for Half-Life: Alyx provides you with the ability to cast spells using hand gestures.
It allows you to cast a beam of energy onto enemies with immense force, in a similar vein to some of the more powerful spells in Skyrim, for instance.
You can also throw energy grenades towards enemies for maximum damage, and the two combined can certainly make Half-Life: Alyx quite the one-sided game.
Handheld Combine Shield
click to enlarge + 9The Handheld Combine Shield mod can completely change the way you play Half-Life: Alyx by providing your hands with an essential forcefield.
In short, what you can then do is fight more aggressively through the means of blocking gunfire and blasting enemies in a similar vein to the way the Energetic Hands can.
This experience is made a lot better by how well the VR controls of Half-Life: Alyx works with quite the measured pace.
Best Map Mods For Half-Life: Alyx
As well as featuring a host of fun weapons to add to your arsenal, there's also a ton of exciting maps and expansions to sink your teeth into, which we'll be discussing below:
Aperture VR
click to enlarge + 9Aperture VR simply allows you to take the fun of the Portal series and places the Aperture test chambers into the VR world of Half-Life: Alyx.
Whilst you don't have a Portal gun to hand, the mod's four levels still allow for some challenging puzzles with various other gameplay elements, including the series' cute little cubes.
If you're looking to experience what the Portal series would be like if put into VR, then the Aperture VR mod does a fine job of showing you.
Wolfenstein 3D
click to enlarge + 9For those wanting to experience the first level of the classic shooter Wolfenstein 3D in VR, then this Half-Life: Alyx mod does a sterling job.
Intriguingly, whilst the classic textures and level design remain the same as the original title, the game's weaponry isn't present, so you'll be murdering soldiers with Alyx's Gravity Gloves, which offers a whole new take.
It's worth noting that this isn't the only chance you can get to play Wolfenstein 3D in VR, as a port of it for Oculus Quest 2 is also one of the best VR mods out there.
Return To Rapture
click to enlarge + 9The Return To Rapture mod fuses the gameplay of Half-Life: Alyx and the Bioshock series with one of the more detailed expansions out there.
What you'll be getting here is 25 minutes of gameplay that includes Bioshock's now-iconic opening sequence. It's split into eight parts which can be downloaded from the Steam Workshop and will seamlessly transition between one another.
It's also worth mentioning that the mod developers have been working on a follow-up to this mod with 24 new levels that is set for release on March 11th, which will definitely be worth checking out when it launches.
Goldeneye Alyx 007
click to enlarge + 9The notion of iconic games brings us to another clever recreation of a classic title within the realms of Half-Life: Alyx with the Goldeneye Alyx 007 mod.
In short, this ports over a multitude of levels from the classic Goldeneye 007 title for the N64 with Dam (in three parts), Facility and Runway all rendered.
Gunman Contracts
Fans of mob shooters will be pleased to find the Gunman Contracts mod for Half-Life: Alyx.
This is arguably one of the more detailed and in-depth map add-ons for the game since it features a new story based around rescuing a weapon from a human trafficking operation setup at a nearby bar.
This comes alongside featuring custom 1920s gangster soldiers replacing the game's usual Combine soldiers and also a marvellously detailed map for you to walk through.
Minigolf
click to enlarge + 9Half-Life: Alyx does seem like quite the intense title at points, and if you're looking for something a little more relaxing, then the Minigolf mod can provide you with just that.
What you'll be getting is access to seven holes created using some of the game's basic assets and the chance to track your stats and see how you stack up against other players.
Minigolf definitely looks like one of the more fun mods for the game and adds something completely different to any other ones on this list.
So, there you have it, that's our top picks for some of the best Half-Life: Alyx mods available!