Overview
This guide is comprised of several links to a Google Sheet and video reviews/walkthrus that took me 9 weeks to create (scroll down for those links) and that I will continue to update as new maps are released. I have rated every custom map/campaign made for Half-Life: Alyx across numerous categories, along with a gameplay video in which I provide feedback as I play. The list is in chronological order of release date, though I am always playing the newest version of the map available at the time I create each video. As new maps are released, I will add them to the Sheet and record a fresh video. Each row in the Google Sheet contains the following:The name of the map with a link to its workshop page or download location (if it was made pre-workshop with bootleg tools)The current Steam Name of the author along with a link to their Steam pageThe overall rating on a scale of 1-10 that I gave each mapA link to each video on my YouTube channel – The description of each video sometimes includes a more detailed reviewMy description of the map with highlights and feedbackThe genre of the mapThe initial release date and the date of the version that I played in each video. Each map is played on Hard difficulty with rare exceptionsThe length of time the it typically takes to playThe replayability valueThe combat difficultyThe level of optimization; how smooth and lag-free the gameplay isRating of 1-5 for the level design (layout, scripted sequences, combat)Rating of 1-5 for the visual design (aesthetics, use of visual custom assets)Rating of 1-5 for the sound design (use of repurposed or original music, dialogue, sound effects)Each video contains the following in the description:My overall ratingMy detailed review (sometimes the same and sometimes more detailed than what is in the Google Sheet)A link to the workshop location of the mapThe date of the version of the map I played for the videoA link to the Google Sheet
Link to Google Sheet
Skummeh’s Custom Map Ratings for Half-Life: Alyx[docs.google.com]
Link to a video playlist of maps that I consider “Exceptional” and have rated as a 9 or 10
Link to a video playlist of maps that I consider “Great” and have rated as a 7 or 8
Link to a video playlist of maps that I consider “Good” and have rated as a 5 or 6
Link to a video playlist of all custom maps for Half-Life: Alyx
Link to a video playlist of assorted custom weapons
Advice for players new to custom maps
The first mistake a lot of people make is they jump into some really great but also really difficult maps right after playing the campaign. Whatever difficulty you are playing on, the campaign is extremely easy compared to much of the best custom content out there. With single-player VR maps, the first time you play them is typically the best experience. If you are dying a lot, you’re probably not going to have a great time. Use the sheet, sort by difficulty, and stick to maps that are a 2 or 3 on the difficulty scale, plus some wave shooters. Once you get better skill-wise, you’ll be ready for a far more challenging experience, which most of the best maps provide.
If you have any questions or feedback, please post a comment.
I could definitely use some help categorizing the genres more accurately and would appreciate any feedback there. Also, please report any incorrect links, typos, etc. in either the Google Sheet or my video descriptions. Thank you all for helping me to make this guide better for everyone to use!
Special Thanks
First and foremost I want to thank Willhart for his assistance in creating the initial Google Sheet, and his inspiration with all of his excellent videos and feedback for the creators. You can find his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrhggw2oKffq5y2MGkT9q9Q
I’d also like to thank Confederate in Blue for assisting me in extracting data from the workshop into an Excel document, making it easier to copy and paste key info into my Google Sheet. His application saved me an unbelievable amount of time and headaches when creating this.
Lastly I’d like to thank all of the creators and my friends in the HLA Modding Discord server, without whom none of this could be possible.