Hammer Editor
The official level editor for Source engine games.
Overview
The Valve Hammer Editor, commonly known as Hammer, is the official tool for creating levels for games running on the Source engine, such as Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Team Fortress 2. It uses a brush-based system for creating geometry and allows for the placement of entities to define game logic and events.
✨ Key Features
- Brush-based (CSG) geometry creation
- Entity placement and editing
- Texture application and alignment
- 3D and 2D views
- Visgroup system for organizing objects
- Compilation tools for creating playable maps
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Official tool for the Source engine
- Deep integration with Source engine features
- Large amount of documentation and tutorials from the community
Unique Value: Provides the official and most comprehensive toolset for creating levels for the vast library of Source engine games.
🎯 Use Cases (3)
✅ Best For
- Used to create all the official maps for Valve's Source engine games
- A vast number of community-made maps have been created with Hammer
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Creating levels for non-Source engine games
- Modern game development workflows
🏆 Alternatives
As the official editor, it has the best support and integration with the Source engine's features compared to third-party alternatives.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Free to use with the Source SDK.
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