Garry’s Mod

Developer: Facepunch Studios

Platforms: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux

Garry’s Mod (GMod) is a sandbox game that has no predetermined set of rules and no clear objective. The point of Garry’s Mod is to create. Basic tinkering can be done in the single player mode using the physics gun and the tool gun. The physics gun allows players to pick up and move any objects as well as rotate them and lock them in place. The tool gun can be used for much more such as welding pieces together, changing attributes, and creating working wheels on a car. Garry’s Mod uses old Source games and imports props, character models, maps, weapons and more. The more Source games that a player owns, the more content they have at their disposal to build and play with. There is also the option of downloading content packs from online sources and just moving the textures over to the GMod folder to avoid buying every source game yet still be able to use all the content.

Example of the prop spawning menu.

While the single player is fun to toy with, the online community is where Garry’s Mod really shines. People have taken it upon themselves to go beyond simply creating makeshift vehicles and have created entirely new game modes within Garry’s Mod. Since the majority of the average player’s time is spent in online game modes, I’ve decided to highlight a few of the most popular ones and give a quick description of each.

Trouble in Terrorist Town (TTT): This game type requires players to be aware of the actions of everyone around them. In TTT players are spawned into a map at the beginning of the round and split into teams. Each person is assigned the role of an Innocent, a Detective or a Traitor. You are informed what role you have by a box in the corner and you are the only one who can see it. Each person only knows their role and therefor has to be careful around other people who may be potential traitors. If you are a traitor you get the benefit of knowing who all the traitors are and you must work as a team to blend in and take out as many innocents as possible. The detectives are there to examine the bodies and try to determine who is a traitor and call for them to be Killed on Sight (KOS). The innocents have the option to fight back but they get punished for killing other innocents. This game type becomes a mind game and you’re never sure if a traitor is claiming to be an innocent or if they truly are a friendly player. This is one of the most populated game types on GMod and most players use a mic to communicate with the rest of the server during game play.

Prop Hunt: A version of hide and seek with a twist. In Prop Hunt players are split into 2 teams at the beginning of the round, either hiders or seekers. The seekers are frozen at spawn for about 30 seconds while the hiders run around the map looking for objects to posses. This game is usually played on maps with a lot of random things laying around such as fruit, pop cans or furniture. During the hiding period, each player who is hiding must click on an object to become it and then try to blend in with the surroundings. The seekers are then released and must hunt down all the players posing as props, hence the name Prop Hunt. This game type rewards players who use clever tactics to appear as if they are nothing out of the ordinary and thus succeed in hiding for the full round.

Deathrun: All players in the server besides one person spawn at the beginning of the map. The goal is to run to the end of the level while avoiding traps that try to kill you. The person who was singled out spawns in a room with glass walls and can see all the players going through the level and must press buttons at the right time to set off the traps and try to eliminate all the players before they can reach him. If all the runners die, the person who was pressing the buttons wins the round but if any players make it to the end they have a chance to fight the guy in the middle and take the points. Each map goes a certain number of rounds before allowing players to vote for the next map to be played.

 

Top game modes being played as I wrote this.

Other notable game types include Zombie Survival, Jailbreak, Murder, Role Play servers, Hide and Seek, Bunny Hop, Surf and countless other mini games. Garry’s Mod is the kind of game that never stops changing and each person will eventually find a favorite set of game types and begin to frequent a certain server or community. Everyone plays GMod for the same reason, to have fun, and the community is very welcoming to new players and are often willing to show you the ropes and help you get settled in. I’ve owned this game for years now and it continues to be updated regularly and the online community is still going strong. GMod is sold through the Steam store as well as through their website for $9.99 and is often available at a discounted price whenever steam has a sale going on.

Rating: 8/10