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The Best Video Games that Only Exist Because of Mods

The Best Video Games that Only Exist Because of Mods
Patrick Devaney

Patrick Devaney

  • Updated:

Modding a game is the ultimate form of flattery. You only have to look at some of the most modded games in history to see that they’re not filled with flaws that need “fixing”. They’re games that offer a solid foundation for intrepid coders to build on.

First person shooters like Doom and Half-Life gave amateur developers physics engines upon which they could then build their own worlds. RPGs like Fallout 4 and Skyrim gave gamers huge worlds that they could then fill with whatever they wanted. Often, another factor is the game’s developers supporting the modding community and releasing the files necessary for the modders to get to work.

Mods, therefore, are labors of love. They are created by loving fans and they’re scope can often be breathtaking. They can be so good at times that they’re as well respected as the original games that they were modifying. They can be so good at times that they can inspire gaming industry studios to create full games that try and recreate the experience that the modders created. Let us have a look then at…

The best Video Games that only exist because of Mods

1. Cry of Fear

Cry of Fear started its as a Half Life 1 mod but grew and grew for years to become a standalone game in its own right. The action takes place in a deserted Scandinavian town that is filled with nightmarish creatures that are out to get you. The game is critically acclaimed and offers about 8 hours of gameplay.

Cry of Fear Download Cry of Fear
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2. Counter Strike: Global Offensive

Like Cry of fear, Counter Strike: Global Offensive started out as a fan-created Half-Life Mod. It has since sold over 25 million copies and is the most successful video game of the modern era. Counter Strike: Global Offensive is also one of the most successful esport games played today and some players are supposedly earning over $200,000 a year.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Download Counter Strike
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3. Defense of the Ancients and DotA 2

Defense of the Agents began as a mod of the popular real time strategy game, Warcraft III. It replaced the monsters with more mythical creatures. The games sequel DotA 2 became one of the most successful games ever and, as esport, has had live matches broadcast to millions.

As well as inspiring DotA 2, Defense of the Ancients spawned a brand new genre that now has many other extremely popular games. The Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre includes some of the most popular games the world has ever seen like League of Legends, Smite and more recently Paragon and Paladins.

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4. Garry’s Mod

Garry’s mod is one of the most popular indie games in history. It has thousands of dedicated servers where players can share their creations. Players have almost complete freedom to do and create whatever they want.

Garry's Mod Download Garry's Mod
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5. Chivalry Medieval Warfare

With so many Half-Life 2 mods being made it was good to see one that tried to do something different. Chivalry concentrated on melee combat and other medieval battle tactics and strategies. It spawned Chivalry: Medieval warfare, which sold over 2 million copies and has seen 2 sequels follow it; Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior and Mirage: Arcane Warfare.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare Download Chivalry: Medieval Warfare
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6. Killing Floor 1 and 2

Killing Floor was an Unreal Tournament 2004 mod that sold over 3,000,000 copies on PC and spawned Killing Floor 2, which came out in 2016. Both games see you fighting against zombie like creatures as a bio-infection spreads across the world. If you’re after whacky yet brutal first person shooter action you’ll love both Killing Floors.

Killing Floor Download Killing Floor
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7. Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress started out as Quake mod and was released way back in 1996. Team Fortress 2 was developed by Valve Corporation and released in 2007. The game uses cartoon like graphics is free to play and is extremely popular. It has over 37 million owners on the Steam Store. Another win for the modders.

8. Black Mesa

Black Mesa is an updated remake of Half-Life 2, which is widely regarded as the best game ever. It makes the game look much better so it is an excellent game to try if you’ve heard of how good Half-Life 2 but don’t have the patience to deal with the 13 year old graphics.

Black Mesa Download Black Mesa
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9. DayZ

ArmA 2 is a serious combat simulator that integrates all sorts real world battlefield physics into its gaming engine. This should tell you all you need to know about the open world online zombie apocalypse simulator DayZ, which is based on a mod of ArmA 2. It tries to create a zombie survival experience as close to reality as possible.

DayZ isn’t easy but it is something fresh and unlike any other gaming experience available. Over 2 million people played the original DayZ mod but the full game is still only in Alpha version. You can get both the game and the mod by clicking the links below.

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10. (Bonus Mod) Star Wars: Galactic Warfare

When this mod came out there were no Star Wars Battlefront games on the horizon. Within just a few years of its was release EA had released a very successful Star Wars Battlefront game and they now have Star Wars Battlefront 2 due to come out in November. I’m not implying anything by that I’m just saying.

Star Wars Battlefront Download Star Wars Battlefront
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Follow me on Twitter: @PatrickDevaney_

Via: Techquickie, Indie obscura, Geforce, Kotaku and Steam

Patrick Devaney

Patrick Devaney

Patrick Devaney is a news reporter for Softonic, keeping readers up to date on everything affecting their favorite apps and programs. His beat includes social media apps and sites like Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat. Patrick also covers antivirus and security issues, web browsers, the full Google suite of apps and programs, and operating systems like Windows, iOS, and Android.

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