Summary: Discover all Half-Life 2 console commands and cheats for 2025. Learn how to enable the console, use money codes, and enhance gameplay with the latest mods.
Half-Life 2 remains one of the most iconic FPS games ever made, and with console commands, you can experience it like never before.
Whether you want to experiment with gravity, spawn weapons, or unlock powerful cheats, the developer console gives you complete control over the game world.
In this updated 2025 guide, we’ll cover everything you need — from how to enable the console and use money codes to a full list of commands and the best mods to enhance your experience.
Table of contents
- What Are Half Life 2 Console Commands?
- How to Enable the Console in Half Life 2
- Most Useful Half Life 2 Console Commands
- Full Half Life 2 Console Commands List (2025 Edition)
- How to Enhance Half Life 2 with Xmod
- Conclusion
What Are Half Life 2 Console Commands?
Console commands in Half-Life 2 are powerful developer tools that let players modify game settings, activate cheats, and experiment with gameplay features in real time. By using the in-game developer console, you can do things like spawn weapons or NPCs, toggle god mode, adjust physics, or skip to specific levels. These commands are especially useful for players who want to explore the game freely, test mods, or experience the story in new ways without restrictions.
How to Enable the Console in Half Life 2
Before using cheats or commands in Half-Life 2, you need to activate the developer console. Here’s how to do it:
- Open Steam and find the game: Right-click on Half-Life 2 in your Steam Library and select Properties.
- Enable the console: In the Launch Options field, type
-console and close the window.
- Start the game: Launch Half-Life 2 — the console should now appear when you press the ~ (tilde) key.
- Optional method: You can also enable it in-game by going to Options → Keyboard → Advanced, then checking Enable Developer Console (~).
Once activated, press ~ to open the console anytime and start entering commands such as god, noclip, or impulse 101 to test gameplay or activate cheats instantly.
Most Useful Half Life 2 Console Commands
Here’s a list of the most popular and practical console commands used by both new players and modders.
1. Gameplay and Cheat Commands
| Command |
Effect |
| god |
Enables God Mode (invincible) |
| sv_cheats 1 |
Enables cheat commands |
| noclip |
Allows flying and passing through walls |
| notarget |
Makes enemies ignore you |
| impulse 101 |
Gives all weapons and full ammo |
| hurtme [value] |
Deals specific damage to the player |
| give item_[name] |
Spawns a specific weapon or item |
| buddha |
Enables semi-invincibility (you can’t die, but can take damage) |
2. Movement and Physics
| Command |
Effect |
| sv_gravity [value] |
Changes gravity (default is 600) |
| host_timescale [value] |
Adjusts game speed (1 = normal) |
| cl_showfps 1 |
Displays frames per second |
| sv_friction [value] |
Adjusts movement friction |
| sv_accelerate [value] |
Controls acceleration speed |
3. NPC and Entity Spawning
| Command |
Effect |
| npc_create [classname] |
Spawns an NPC (e.g., npc_citizen, npc_combine_s) |
| ent_create [entityname] |
Spawns entities like props or objects |
| ent_remove |
Removes the entity you’re looking at |
| npc_kill |
Instantly kills targeted NPCs |
These commands are perfect for experimenting, creating cinematic moments, or simply having fun replaying Half-Life 2 with complete freedom.
Full Half Life 2 Console Commands List (2025 Edition)
Important Notes
- Cheat Activation:
Cheats require sv_cheats 1 to be enabled. Enter this in the console to activate cheats.
- Achievements:
Activating cheats disables achievements for that session. To re-enable them, restart the game after setting sv_cheats 0.
- Console Access:
To open the developer console:
- Enable it in the game settings.
- Press the
~ key (or the key you’ve bound to open the console).
The “Give” Command
The give command spawns weapons, items, or ammo.
Weapons:
give weapon_ar2 – Spawns the Pulse Rifle.give weapon_shotgun – Spawns the shotgun.give weapon_crossbow – Spawns the crossbow.give weapon_crowbar – Spawns the crowbar.give weapon_physcannon – Spawns the Gravity Gun.
Items:
give item_healthkit – Spawns a health kit.give item_battery – Spawns a suit battery.
Ammo:
givecurrentammo – Fully reloads your current weapon.give item_box_buckshot – Spawns shotgun ammo.give item_ar2_grenade – Spawns an AR2 grenade.
Instant Equipment
impulse 101 – Instantly gives you all weapons and full ammo.
NPC Commands
Spawn and manipulate NPCs with the following commands:
Spawn NPCs:
npc_create npc_alyx – Spawns Alyx Vance.npc_create npc_combine_s – Spawns a Combine Soldier.npc_create npc_zombie – Spawns a Zombie.npc_create npc_antlion – Spawns an Antlion.
Equip NPCs:
Use npc_create_equipment [weapon] before spawning an NPC to give them a weapon. Example:
npc_create_equipment weapon_shotgunnpc_create npc_citizen
AI Manipulation
ai_disable – Disables all NPC AI (they won’t move or attack).notarget – NPCs will ignore you completely.ai_resume – Resumes AI behavior if previously disabled.
Movement & Physics Commands
noclip – Fly and move through walls.sv_gravity [value] – Changes the gravity (default: 600).
Examples:
sv_gravity 200 – Reduces gravity.sv_gravity 1000 – Increases gravity.
View Commands
thirdperson – Enables third-person view.firstperson – Switches back to first-person.fov [value] – Changes the field of view (default: 75).
Environment Commands
mat_yuv 1 – Makes the screen black and white.mat_yuv 0 – Restores color.r_drawviewmodel 0 – Hides the weapon model.r_drawviewmodel 1 – Shows the weapon model.
Damage Modification
Modify player damage and resistance:
sk_plr_dmg_crowbar [value] – Changes crowbar damage.sk_plr_dmg_ar2 [value] – Changes AR2 damage.
Example:
sk_plr_dmg_pistol 100 – Makes the pistol do 100 damage per shot.
Timescale Commands
Change the game’s speed:
host_timescale 1.0 – Normal speed.host_timescale 0.5 – Slow motion.host_timescale 2.0 – Double speed.
Spawn Vehicles
ch_createjeep – Spawns a Jeep.ch_createairboat – Spawns an Airboat.ent_fire prop_vehicle_airboat enablegun 1 – Equips the Airboat with a gun.
Unlock Chapters
Unlock chapters to skip ahead:
sv_unlockedchapters [#]
Replace # with a number between 1–15 to unlock up to that chapter.
Load Specific Maps
Load any map directly:
map d1_trainstation_01 – Start at the train station.map d1_canals_01 – Spawn at the canals.map d1_town_01 – Begin in Ravenholm.map d3_citadel_01 – Teleport to the Citadel.
Miscellaneous Commands
god – Enables God mode (invincibility).buddha – Take damage but never die.phys_timescale [value] – Changes the speed of physics.
Explosions & Effects
explode – Causes your character to explode (fun for laughs).ent_create env_explosion – Spawns an explosion at your crosshair.
Experiment with these commands to unlock Half-Life 2’s full potential or simply wreak some chaos. Have fun!
How to Enhance Half Life 2 with Xmod
Xmod is a versatile enhancement tool that takes your Half-Life 2 experience beyond the base game. It allows you to apply cheats, mods, and performance tweaks easily — all from a single, user-friendly interface. Whether you want to adjust visuals, unlock hidden features, or experiment with gameplay mechanics, Xmod makes customization simple and efficient.
With Xmod, you can:
- Access powerful trainers and cheats like infinite health, ammo, or no reload.
- Install and manage mods that improve graphics, AI, and physics with one click.
- Optimize performance for smoother gameplay on modern systems.
- Experiment safely, as Xmod keeps your original game files intact.
If you’re replaying Half-Life 2 in 2025, Xmod is the easiest way to modernize and personalize your adventure through City 17.
Conclusion
Half-Life 2 console commands give you the power to manipulate every aspect of the game — from physics and NPCs to weapons and AI. Whether you want to explore the environment freely, test mods, or relive the campaign with new twists, console commands make it all possible.
And with Xmod, you can take things even further — safely enhancing your game with advanced mod tools, trainers, and tweaks built for thousands of PC games, including Half-Life 2.
Unlock, explore, and experiment — because in Half-Life 2, the console isn’t just for developers; it’s your gateway to total control.
Catherine Hu