The Ultimate Guide To Playing The Halo Games In Order

The Halo franchise consists of 14 games and is continually expanding, making it quite a challenge to know where to start. This iconic sci-fi gaming series has captivated millions of players around the world, and with new entries being released, understanding the best way to experience them is essential. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned veteran, this guide will help you navigate the Halo universe effectively.

Are you ready to dive into the epic battles between humanity and the alien Covenant? In this article, we’ll explore the chronological and release order of the Halo games, ensuring you don’t miss any key storyline elements. With a well-structured plan, you can fully enjoy the rich narrative and gameplay experiences that Halo has to offer.

Let’s embark on this journey to discover how to play the Halo games in order, whether you prefer to follow their release dates or the chronological order of events. Prepare yourself for an adventure filled with Master Chief and unforgettable moments in gaming history!

How to Play the Halo Games in Release Order

Playing the Halo games in release order is the simplest way to enjoy the series. However, there are some challenges that come with this approach. Some spin-offs, like Halo Recruit and Halo: Fireteam Raven, might be hard to access. The former is exclusive to Windows Mixed Reality headsets, while the latter is limited to arcade platforms, but they’re still playable.

It's important to note that we haven’t included Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary or Halo: The Master Chief Collection in this list. These titles are essentially re-releases or remastered versions of earlier games in the franchise. Although the Master Chief Collection features some new story content, the primary gameplay experience remains similar to the original titles.

With that in mind, here’s how the Halo games’ release order breaks down:

1. Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
2. Halo 2 (2004)
3. Halo 3 (2007)
4. Halo Wars (2009)
5. Halo 3: ODST (2009)
6. Halo: Reach (2010)
7. Halo 4 (2012)
8. Halo: Spartan Assault (2013)
9. Halo: Spartan Strike (2015)
10. Halo 5: Guardians (2015)
11. Halo Wars 2 (2017)
12. Halo Recruit (2017)
13. Halo: Fireteam Raven (2018)
14. Halo Infinite (2021)

How to Play the Halo Games in Chronological Order

Halo's in-universe timeline does not align perfectly with the release dates of the games, creating an interesting challenge for players. Some titles occur before others in the storyline, which can be confusing. Fortunately, to simplify your experience, we will exclude non-canon games like Halo Recruit and Halo: Fireteam Raven from the chronological playthrough order.

Additionally, we have removed Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and Halo: The Master Chief Collection as they do not introduce new narrative content that affects the overall story. Here’s how the Halo games’ chronological order shakes down:

1. Halo Wars (2009)
2. Halo: Reach (2010)
3. Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
4. Halo 2 (2004)
5. Halo 3: ODST (2009)
6. Halo 3 (2007)
7. Halo: Spartan Assault (2013)
8. Halo 4 (2012)
9. Halo: Spartan Strike (2015)
10. Halo 5: Guardians (2015)
11. Halo Wars 2 (2017)
12. Halo Infinite (2021)

Now that you know how to play the Halo games in both release and chronological order, it's time to suit up and join the fight!

The Halo games are available for purchase through Microsoft.

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