>>321208Sure!
Half-Life involves shooting, but it doesn't really TRY to be "a shooter". Portal involves puzzle solving, but doesn't really TRY to be "a puzzle game". They try to be themselves.
They are more of a story-based series than anything else, and are very atmospheric and immersive. When I look for a game, I don't look for a strict psychological challenge, but rather for an opportunity to participate in another world with another story, and that's what Half-Life and Portal align with most from my perspective. You might see them differently.
They try to construct a believable universe first, and then try to build gameplay from that universe. That's why you won't see any floating powerups, marked checkpoints, in-world UI hints or other similar "un-real" or "non-canon" objects floating around the world.
They still have good gameplay and good graphics for their time. If you're looking for fun gameplay, you'll like them. If you're looking for good graphics, you'll like them. If you're looking for a captivating story, you'll like them.
As for the story, Half-Life and Portal take place in the same universe, and their stories tie in with each other. They are mostly science fiction and have a very original and unique setting. Most people won't be able to immediately perceive the full extent of the story, even if they have played most of the games. This is the most spectacular part. They're weird, but in all the right ways.