Valve's Source engine is starting to show its age, despite frequent upgrades. That doesn't mean it's worth throwing out, though. Even though we may never see Half-Life 3 in our lifetimes, there's still plenty of awesome stuff going on in the Source sandbox to keep us occupied. Enterprising modders have used the technology to create a flabbergasting variety of cool stuff. We talked about the Best Game Mods in general, but now we'll focus on Source alone, because it more than deserves the attention. In this article, we'll share eleven of the most ambitious Source mods ever released and tell you where to get them.
The Best Source Mods
The Source engine runs a staggering variety of incredible games, but you don't have to work at Valve to to get in there. These intensely cool mods are made by fans just like you.
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By K. Thor Jensen February 27, 2012 |
Credit: Hidden Team
| 6 | The Hidden |
For something a little more traditional, dive into The Hidden. This mod had a first beta release in 2005 and is still played today, which tells you that it's good stuff. It's a multiplayer team-based shooter with a twist. The majority of the players are I.R.I.S. soldiers hunting down an escaped test subject. And one player is said test subject. As the titular Hidden, you're virtually invisible and can cling to walls and ceilings, but you're mssively outnumbered. It's a sweet take on traditional deathmatch that never seems to get old.
Credit: Valve
| 5 | Garry's Mod |
Probably the most essential Source mod actually comes from inside Valve - and it'll cost you ten bucks. Garry's Mod is well, well worth it, though. Created by Garry Newman, Garry's Mod is basically the ultimate sandbox. Using the robust Lua scripting language and the incredible physics simulation of Half-Life 2, users create all kinds of demented stuff. It's hard to describe the genius of this mod in simple words - it's a tool of such incredible power that it boggles the mind.
Credit: Interwave Studios
| 4 | Insurgency |
If you're looking for something a bit more realistic, Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat may be right up your alley. This total conversion takes you into the heart of the action in the War on Terror, with maps located in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Players choose to either join the Marines or the Insurgents and engage in tense, ground-level combat using painstakingly-modeled weapons. No on-screen reticle makes firefights even more tense, especially since weapon damage is realistic - one or two shots can (and probably will) kill you.
Credit: SourceForts
| 3 | SourceForts |
Another fascinating take on an old-school mechanic comes in SourceForts. The game here is Capture the Flag, but unlike most games, this lets you defend your trophy in some interesting ways. In this team-based shooter, each game is divided into "Build" and "Combat" phases, something like classic arcade game, Rampart. During the Build phase, you and your team use gravity guns and metal panels to construct a fort to house your flag and stymie your enemies - all while they're doing the same. When Combat starts, storm your foe's base, navigate their construction, snatch their flag and bring it home if you can.
Credit: Monochrome Games
| 2 | Zombie Panic! |
Sure, you can get a taste of the undead from Valve's own Left 4 Dead, but maybe you want something a little different. Enter, Zombie Panic! This multiplayer game is damn cool for a number of reasons. First off, it's a more realistic portrayal of the walking dead. The infected are slow, but they can also pass the virus on to players. Typically, games start with just one zombie player who can respawn indefinitely, but as more survivors are killed, they join the other team, which turns the game into an insane struggle for survival.
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