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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Play Portal first if you can. Portal 2 follows its story, and the first game gives you context for Chell, GLaDOS, and Aperture. But you can start with Portal 2 if that is the game you have or want to play now: the first game adds context, rather than serving as a technical prerequisite.
Why play Portal first?
Portal 2 takes place an unspecified amount of time after the first game. Its opening brings Chell back to Aperture after GLaDOS’s demise and the facility’s decline, so the events of Portal help explain the sequel’s starting situation. The chronology and opening premise are discussed in Stephen Chin’s 2012 Game Narrative Review: Portal 2.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Portal 2 - Xbox 360 | $11.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Portal 2 - Xbox 360 | $19.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Bridge Constructor Portal - Xbox One | $34.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Portal 2 - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $15.08 | Buy on Amazon |
Playing in story order also lets the first game introduce the setting and characters before the sequel builds on them. For a first playthrough focused on the story, the clearest order is Portal, then Portal 2’s single-player campaign.
Can you start with Portal 2?
Yes. The available sources establish that the games are connected and that the first provides useful context; they do not establish that you must finish Portal to follow or play Portal 2. If the sequel is the one you own or feel like playing, starting there is a reasonable choice. You will simply encounter its setting and history without the first game’s full lead-in.
#1 Best Overall
- The single-player portion of Portal 2 introduces dynamic characters, fresh puzzle elements, and a larger set of devious test chambers
- The two-player mode features a separate campaign with unique story, test chambers, and two new player characters.
- Advanced use of physics allow for the creation of a whole new range of interesting challenges, producing a much larger but not harder game.
- A massive sequel to the title named 2007's Game of the Year by over 30 publications worldwide.
- Players explore areas of the Aperture Science Labs and reunite with GLaDOS, the murderous computer companion.
How much more time does playing both take?
In a 2011 PlayStation.Blog interview, Valve’s Joshua Weier described Portal 2’s single-player campaign as “about two-and-a-half to three times longer than all of Portal 1.” That is the developer’s comparison, not a guaranteed completion time for every player. If you are deciding whether to play both, expect the sequel to be the larger commitment; the original is the shorter lead-in by this comparison.
Does Portal 2 co-op change the order?
No, not for the main story. Valve writer Chet Faliszek described co-op as having its own story and characters and taking place after the single-player game in a 2011 Steam interview excerpt. Weier called the co-op campaign a separate track and compared its length to about twice Portal 1 in the same 2011 PlayStation.Blog interview. Co-op is an additional track, not a reason to skip or rearrange the single-player story.
Rank #2
- Extensive single player game featuring next generation gameplay and a wildly-engrossing story
- Complete two-person cooperative multiplayer game featuring its own dedicated story, characters, and gameplay
- Advanced use of physics allow for the creation of a whole new range of interesting challenges, producing a much larger but not harder game
- Win/Mac software is PC and Macintosh compatible
- A massive sequel to the title named 2007's Game of the Year by over 30 publications worldwide.
Which order should you choose?
| Order | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Portal, then Portal 2 | A first playthrough where story continuity and character context matter. | You need to play the shorter first game before reaching the sequel. |
| Portal 2 first | Someone who has access to the sequel now or would rather begin there. | You miss the first game’s lead-in to the sequel’s setting and events. |
Recommendation: choose Portal first for the most coherent story order. Choose Portal 2 first if that is what will get you playing; the first game is helpful context, not an established prerequisite.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- The single-player portion of Portal 2 introduces dynamic characters, fresh puzzle elements, and a larger set of devious test chambers
- The two-player mode features a separate campaign with unique story, test chambers, and two new player characters.
- Advanced use of physics allow for the creation of a whole new range of interesting challenges, producing a much larger but not harder game.
- A massive sequel to the title named 2007's Game of the Year by over 30 publications worldwide.
- Players explore areas of the Aperture Science Labs and reunite with GLaDOS, the murderous computer companion.
Rank #3
- The merging of two worlds: the first bridge constructor with an official Portal license
- Create complex construction in the aperture science labs
- Let glados accompany you through tricky physics adventures
- Use portals, aerial Faith plates, propulsion Gel, repulsion Gel, and much more to master the complicated tasks
- Evade dangers such as Sentry Turrets, emancipation gorillas, laser fields, and acid
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