Garry's Mod
Release Date: November 29, 2006
Action, sandbox, indie games, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet, LAN
Steam
A commercial version of one of the most popular Source engine based mods, created in 2004 by Garry Newman. It lacks any sort of plotline or clearly defined objectives and is a pure sandbox game, employing the unique features of Source and laws of physics, simulated by Havok company’s software. Thanks to that we can single-handedly create any kind of map we want and play on them by ourselves or with other players in unique game modes.
Garry’s Mod is a commercial version of one of the most popular mods for the Source engine. In practice, it is a powerful workshop for creating, duplicating and combining objects from games based on said engine. The characteristic feature of Garry’s Mod is a sandbox mode without given objectives and practically unlimited ability to change the generated environment and the rules of the game.
First version of Gmod has been created in 2004 by an enthusiast, Garry Newman, and has been honored with many Mod of the Year awards, given by GameSpy, Mod DB, and PC Gamers, among others. It quickly gained many followers, stimulating its quick development. On 10th of November, 2006, a version marked as 10 had officially debuted on Steam. Since then it has been distributed and supported by this platform as a fully-fledged, commercial application, continually growing and gathering a community of millions of users.
Gameplay
To fully enjoy possibilities offered by Garry’s Mod, we just need to have any game that uses Source engine installed, for example Half-Life 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Source or Left 4 Dead. This gives us access to thousands of models, weapons, characters, skins or items from a huge library of Valve’s games, as well as modifications and scripts made by players themselves, using Lua programming language, and published in special workshop on Steam platform. This allows us to create any environment: futuristic scenery from Half-Life 2, battlefield of World War II from Day of Defeat, or to set horror-like atmosphere known from Left 4 Dead series. Then we can put enemies and NPCs – nothing prevents us from putting hordes of zombies in City 17, or putting gentlemen in tuxedo behind roaring cannons of World War II. Number of combination is enormous, and the only limitation is our own imagination. Thanks to options offered by Havoc Physics Engine and excellent ragdoll we can freely modify movement of our characters or model their facial expressions.
Game modes
A sandbox mode, designed for both single and multiplayer, is just a beginning of possibilities that Gmod’s multiplayer offers. We can play exhilarating multiplayer matches using LAN or internet connection – where both objectives and rules are set by us. Browsing a list of available game modes, we can find e.g. Trouble in Terrorist Town, somewhat similar to Counter-Strike; Survival inspired by Left 4 Dead; and even Pirate Ship Wars with sea battles. Players’ imagination is practically endless, with the best proof being such original ideas as arcade obstacle passing of Extended Movement Mod (aka Art of Parkour), or races of self-made sleds in Sled Build.
Last updated on February 8, 2016
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Videos and Screens
The main pros of the game
- Creativity and Freedom: Players appreciate the game's sandbox nature, allowing for limitless creativity and exploration. Users enjoy building, modding, and creating unique experiences.
- Extensive Modding Community: The game has a rich library of mods and add-ons available through the Steam Workshop, enhancing gameplay and providing endless content.
- Multiplayer Fun: Many reviews highlight the enjoyment of playing with friends, emphasizing the chaotic and entertaining experiences that can be had in multiplayer mode.
- Variety of Game Modes: Players can engage in various game modes like Prop Hunt and Trouble in Terrorist Town, which adds to the replayability of the game.
- Decent Graphics and Performance: Users mention that the graphics are good for a game of its age, and it runs well even on lower-end PCs.
The main cons of the game
- Complexity for New Players: Some users find the game mechanics and modding process to be complex and overwhelming for newcomers.
- Single Player Experience: While the game is fun in multiplayer, some players feel that playing alone can be less enjoyable or even creepy.
- Mod Compatibility Issues: A few reviews mention problems with certain mods not working correctly, leading to errors and crashes.
- Server Issues: Some users have experienced difficulties with server connectivity and lag, particularly in multiplayer modes.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Streamlined Modding Tools: Users express a desire for more user-friendly tools for creating and importing custom content, as the current process can be tedious.
- Better Single Player Content: Some players wish for more engaging single-player content to make the experience more enjoyable when playing alone.
- Enhanced Server Management: There are calls for improved server management and stability, as well as better documentation for new players regarding server setups.
- In-Game Tutorials: Users suggest the addition of tutorials or guides to help new players understand the mechanics and features of the game better.
Summary
- Overall, Garry's Mod is celebrated for its creativity and community-driven content, though it has areas where players feel improvements could enhance the overall experience.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 1883 votes.
Garry's Mod Summary
Platforms:
PC Windows
Developer: Facepunch Studios
Publisher: Valve Corporation
Age restrictions: none
Garry's Mod System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Pentium III 1,7 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Karta grafiki 64MB (GeForce 4 Ti4200 or better), 150 MB HDD, Windows XP/Vista/2000
Valve reached a deal with Garry's Mod creator. Players will earn money on Steam for games created in S&box
Garry Newman of Facepunch studio announced that he has come to an agreement with Valve and fan projects created in S&box can be sold on Steam. This will effectively give aspiring devs the possibility to create their own games on the Source 2 engine.
video games
Adrian Werner
February 6, 2025
Best-Selling PC-Only Game of All Time Is Garry's Mod, Not WoW
We learned the title of the best-selling PC exclusive game. Garry's Mod was officially declared as such. The title developed by Garry Newman was included in the Guinness Book of World Records.
video games
Maciej Gaffke
September 13, 2024
Nintendo Strikes Garry’s Mod. Devs of Popular Sandbox Handled Things Calmly: 'Honestly, This Is Fair Enough'
Nintendo's lawyers picked up on Garry's Mod, specifically the game's mods using elements from the Japanese company's brands.
video games
Adrian Werner
April 25, 2024
Largest Map in Garry's Mod History Takes 128 GB RAM to Run
A mod for Garry's Mod offers possibly the largest map in the history of gaming – at the expense of huge requirements.
video games
Adrian Werner
January 17, 2024
Garry's Mod 2 in the Works; May Use Half-Life: Alyx Engine
Garry Newman - a developer known for creating Garry's Mod, a modification for Half-Life 2, which was later released as a standalone title - announced that he was working on a new version of his mod.
video games
Bart Swiatek
March 30, 2020