Our journey into the world of Halo began in 2001 with the launch of the Xbox. That one game quickly became a classic and one of the best original Xbox games, positioning Xbox to compete with the likes of PlayStation and Nintendo. The expansive universe that the game established, coupled with its teaser ending hinting at more to Master Chief’s story, paved the way for a series of Halo games over the next two decades. While there are about a dozen games in the series today, only five are numbered, highlighting the intricate and expansive story that unfolds throughout the games.
While Halo is renowned for its multiplayer gameplay, the best installments in the series combine a strong multiplayer experience with a compelling narrative. With a lore that spans from ancient times to the distant future, Halo offers much more than just alien-shooting action. So, let’s take a full circle and list all the Halo games in both their release date order and chronological order.
All Halo games in release order
Despite its sizeable impact, even rivaling the best Call of Duty games of the time, the Halo series comprises only 12 games that fit within the timeline (excluding remakes or remasters).
If you wish to experience Halo in the order of their release, you should play them in the following sequence:
- Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
- Halo 2 (2004)
- Halo 3 (2007)
- Halo Wars (2009)
- Halo 3: ODST (2010)
- Halo: Reach (2010)
- Halo 4 (2012)
- Halo: Spartan Assault (2013)
- Halo: Spartan Strike (2015)
- Halo 5: Guardians (2015)
- Halo Wars 2 (2017)
- Halo Infinite (2021)
All Halo games in chronological order
Chronology holds significant importance in the Halo series. Spanning multiple decades from the ancient past to the distant future, the narrative includes alliances, betrayals, and the rise and fall of various factions. While Spartan Assault and Spartan Strike contribute minimally to the overarching story, they introduce key characters and locations that passionate fans will appreciate.
Conversely, the Halo Wars series has evolved to become essential for comprehending the central plot in subsequent titles. Playing the games in chronological order, apart from reading the novels, offers the best insight into the vast universe of Halo.
- Halo Wars (2531)
- Halo: Reach (2552)
- Halo: Combat Evolved (2552)
- Halo 2 (2552)
- Halo 3: ODST (2552)
- Halo 3 (2552-2553)
- Halo: Spartan Assault (2554)
- Halo 4 (2557)
- Halo: Spartan Strike (2557)
- Halo 5: Guardians (2558)
- Halo Wars 2 (2559)
- Halo Infinite (2560)