The Untold Stories: Unreleased Valve Games That Will Leave You Astonished

Valve games often generate anticipation and excitement among fans. However, despite the eager wait of fans for sequels beyond the second entry, some Valve games that were in development or even completed never saw the light of day. The Final Hours of Half-Life: Alyx provided a glimpse into the inner workings of Valve, uncovering these unreleased projects. Discovering the existence of these cancelled Valve games can be disappointing for fans, who may have envisioned a different future where they could have experienced these games themselves. Considering Valve's reputation in the gaming industry, the cancellation of their games is a sensitive topic, particularly for devoted Half-Life fans.

7 Left 4 Dead 3

Left 4 Dead 2 fans have eagerly anticipated a sequel for years due to the exceptional replayability and enjoyment the game offers. Players are immersed in thrilling co-op missions where they must eliminate hordes of zombies through shooting, slashing, and destruction. However, despite the departure of developers for spin-offs and other projects, Left 4 Dead 3 has yet to be released. Limited information has surfaced, but it is rumored that Left 4 Dead 3 will feature the advanced Source 2 engine, enabling an open-world setting in Morocco with the ability to render hundreds of zombies simultaneously.

6 Half-Life 3

The number 3 holds significant importance for devoted Half-Life fans who eagerly anticipate the release of the third installment in the main game series. However, it appears that only spin-offs have been made available thus far. While some fans have speculated about a potential continuation of Gordon Freeman's story in Half-Life: Alyx, Half-Life 3 remains a distant aspiration for many, with countless rumored versions.

It is said that Half-Life 3 was in development for a mere year before the project was terminated. The scarce information surrounding the game has fueled speculation on the internet for an extended period of time. Apparently, the inclusion of a procedurally generated world would have enhanced the storytelling and offered a replayable experience.

5 SimTrek

Valve's latest venture into the realm of virtual reality (VR) is SimTrek, a sci-fi experience designed to be fully immersive in VR. While details about the game are limited, Valve has enlisted the development team from the popular game Kerbal Space Program. Although the production of Half-Life: Alyx caused SimTrek to be put on hold, it is reasonable to assume that based on its name and the expertise of the team, the game may involve building spacecraft in a VR environment or exploring space itself. The use of the terms 'Sim' and 'Trek' suggests that the game may be a simulator, possibly inspired by the renowned Star Trek series.

4 Shooter

Player enjoyment was the main focus of Shooter, a VR game developed by Valve that aimed to provide a theme park-like experience. The game was intended to incorporate assets that are well-known to Half-Life 2 players, enabling fans to engage in fast-paced and thrilling gunfights through short areas.

Regrettably, due to its scheduled release alongside The Lab, Shooter was ultimately delayed and never launched as it was not yet prepared. While players would have been able to immerse themselves in the familiar Half-Life world, they would have missed out on the desired continuation of the story they craved.

3 A.R.T.I.

Valve had a promising title called A.R.T.I. which aimed to combine destruction and creation elements similar to Minecraft. However, the game underwent significant changes and the project's remnants are now scarce. Eventually, it was cancelled and transformed into a VR game due to Valve's dedicated focus on Half-Life: Alyx. A.R.T.I., being a voxel-based game, would have offered players limitless possibilities, but sadly, those potentials are now hidden away due to the game's cancellation. This is another one of Valve's unrealized projects, leaving fans with yet another "what if?" scenario.

2 RPG

Valve has established itself as a highly respected developer, despite facing challenges and shelving numerous projects. Their work speaks for itself, showcasing their talent and dedication. One of their projects, codenamed 'RPG', aimed to draw inspiration from beloved and prestigious games like The Elder Scrolls and Dark Souls. However, the project's ambition was too demanding, especially when trying to combine elements from these iconic RPG games. As a result, RPG remained stagnant in the conceptual stage.

Subsequently, the experimentation with RPG evolved into a single-player concept centered around the DOTA character, Axe. However, this project also met a similar fate and was ultimately abandoned. While it would be exciting to witness Valve's own RPG venture, it appears highly unlikely at this juncture.

1 Borealis

The Borealis ship is one of the enigmatic elements in the Half-Life franchise, keeping players intrigued. It stands out for its connection to both the Portal and Half-Life franchises, as it exists in a Half-Life game through the creation of Aperture Science. What adds to its mystique is the fact that the Borealis vanished, leaving its secrets forever unknown.

Valve had plans to delve into the Borealis with a game of the same name. This VR game aimed to explore the timeline between Half-Life and Half-Life 2, taking place on the ship. However, without any gameplay details or a fully developed story, the Borealis remains as enigmatic as its namesake.