Research and Development (mod)

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Research and Development is a free puzzle mod for Half-Life 2: Episode Two, created by Matt Bortolino and released on July 17, 2009. It’s a non-violent first-person game that focuses on solving puzzles, and it’s often compared to Portal.

There isn’t a strong story. You wake up as an unnamed character in a detailed but ordinary location and must solve puzzles to escape. In this Half-Life universe, you’re stripped of most weapons, only able to use a Gravity Gun and antlion bait. The game plays like a puzzle adventure, with challenges that require thinking through how to progress rather than shooting enemies.

The puzzles reuse Half-Life 2’s tools but are the main attraction, transforming the shooter’s mechanics into an entire puzzle-driven experience.

The mod received strong praise from critics. It was lauded for originality and quality, with Rock, Paper, Shotgun calling it a must-play among HL2 mods, Shacknews praising its original mechanics and crafted effects, and PC Gamer naming it one of the best HL2 single-player mods. Gry Online described the puzzles as ingenious and logically solvable, while Destructoid highlighted its clever fun and spectacular final levels, despite some bugs.