Summary
- Some Halo titles may disappoint, like Halo Recruit's lackluster VR experience hindering franchise potential.
- Halo: Fireteam Raven delivers a fun arcade shooting experience, and even if lacking depth, offers brief entertainment.
- Halo: Spartan Strike's improved gameplay, lack of microtransactions, and story depth offer an acceptable experience.
Halo is one of the most influential game franchises of all time. Ever since Combat Evolved in 2001, the series has changed first-person shooters and online multiplayer forever. While fans don't get their hands on a new Halo title every year, there has been a significant number of entries in the series by this point. They've not all been classics, though. Some of them will rightly be remembered by gamers for eternity, whereas others are just mediocre titles that even die-hard fans will forget.
Halo: Ranking The Strongest Spartans (That Aren't Master Chief)
From members of Blue Team to Noble 6, there are plenty of Spartan-IIIs and IVs that can compare to Master Chief.
Some people can rightfully argue that Halo has lost its former luster, but that shouldn't take away from its amazing gameplay and engaging storylines in the slightest. Even if Bungie may have moved on to bigger and better projects, Halo still has a ton of promise. The Master Chief is one of the most iconic video game protagonists of all time, and it'll take more than a few mediocre games to ruin his legendary name.
Updated on December 23, 2024, by Gerardo Molina: The Halo trilogy was probably one of the biggest defining factors in modern veteran players’ preferences. Whether it was Combat Evolved, Halo 2 or Halo 3, there was always some fun to be had, fast-paced action and formidable challenges that felt great to take on. While the titles following the original trilogy have not managed to deliver the same outstanding experience of its predecessors, many of them, like ODST and Reach, are still amazing and offer players hours of fun combined with likable characters and tragic endings. At the time of writing this article, the Halo franchise has been around for more than 23 years, and luckily, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon.
16 Halo Recruit
A Barebones VR Experience That Doesn't Bring Anything Interesting To The Table
- Platforms: PC (VR exclusive)
- Release Date: October 17, 2017
- Developer: 343 Industries, Endeavor One
- Genre: FPS, On-Rails Shooter
The realm of VR gaming is a blast for players who want to make the most of this immersive medium. Aside from entirely original games, VR gaming is something that established franchises have also tried to mess around with. Unfortunately, the results have been mixed in the vast majority of instances, and Halo is no exception here.
Halo Recruit could've been a fun and simple VR game that let players step into the shoes of a Marine in a short and exhilarating experience. Instead, it's a glorified shooting gallery that doesn't do justice to the Halo franchise at all, and feels like a huge missed opportunity. The fact that players felt cheated by this game despite it being a free title is a huge indication of how mediocre and forgettable Recruit is, serving as a major blemish for the franchise.
15 Halo: Fireteam Raven
An On-Rails Arcade Shooter That's Fun With Friends
- Platforms: Arcade
- Release Date: July 10, 2018
- Developer: 343 Industries, Play Mechanix Inc.
- Genre: Light-Gun Shooter
There was a time when arcade gaming was the most accessible way to check out video games, especially ones that could be tackled with a friend. With the rise of home consoles, players don't have a huge reason to go to arcades anymore, but that doesn't mean that developers aren't making fun games that players can enjoy in modern arcades from time to time.
Halo: Fireteam Raven is one such experience, where players can band together to take out a wealth of iconic foes from the Halo series. It's a pretty simple game and doesn't feature a lot of depth, but most players won't mind given the nature of this title. Fireteam Raven may not set the arcade gaming scene on fire, but it is a great title to spend 15 minutes in if players spot this machine at an arcade and have some time (and coins) to spare. The game is set around the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, so while the gameplay might not blow players' minds, it can be a great opportunity to revisit that Halo golden era that started it all.
14 Halo: Spartan Strike
An Improvement On Spartan Assault That Couldn't Take Off
Halo: Spartan Strike
- Released
- April 16, 2015
- Developer(s)
- 343 Industries, Vanguard Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Twin-Stick Shooter
Playing with or against friends has always been a big part of Halo, so Spartan Strike's lack of multiplayer hurt its appeal significantly. Although, at least the game was an improvement on Spartan Assault. The twin-stick shooter provided slightly tighter gameplay as well as more vehicles and weapons than its predecessor. Nevertheless, it was still a less captivating adventure than what Halo fans expected.
Favored more than its predecessor, fans felt that as far as top-down shooters go this is a good one. But on the other hand, that still didn't make it a great game. Set in two parts one during the events of Halo 2 and one after the events of Halo 4, the main selling point of this game was the fact that it did not have any microtransactions. In the fans' eyes, that was a massive improvement from the first.
13 Halo: Spartan Assault
A Top-Down Game That Couldn't Properly Make The Jump To Console
Halo: Spartan Assault
As a twin-stick shooter, Spartan Assault was very different from the Halo games that preceded it. Instead of being first-person, players had to slay the Covenant from a top-down perspective. Yet, the signature look and sound of the series remained the same. Sadly, as it was originally made for mobile devices, it lacked both the scale and level of storytelling of the main games. It was still fun, though.
Set in a period between Halo 3 & Halo 4 the story helped bridge the gap between the two stories, but fans would have much preferred the story to be told in a much more traditional Halo way. Fans had big complaints about the number of microtransactions, poor graphics, and a subpar story. Despite its lower price tag, fans complain that this is still too high for what is essentially a mobile game. The transition to Xbox did not do this game any favors.
12 Halo Wars 2
Great In Its Own Way, But Not Enough To Topple Its Predecessor
Halo Wars 2
- Released
- February 21, 2017
- Developer(s)
- 343 Industries, Creative Assembly
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=450&h=225&dpr=2)
-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=480&h=240&dpr=2)
While a little shallow compared to other RTSs on the market, Halo Wars 2 was a fine game. It included well-explained and simple mechanics that made it perfect for novices of the genre. Plus, those enamored with the Halo universe were treated to a decent narrative, told through some beautiful cinematics. If only the campaign had been a bit longer. Thankfully, it had a flurry of strong multiplayer modes to keep players entertained.
Great PlayStation Games To Play If You Like Halo
Halo is one of the most well-respected franchises in the gaming world. These PlayStation titles are perfect for fans or admirers of the series.
Unlike Spartan Strike, the sequel to this game was not an improvement on its original. Halo Wars 2 took what was good about Halo Wars and overcomplicated it. Users felt that one of the big problems with the game was its poor connection issues. Gamers would regularly disconnect from online games for no real reason, which was frustrating. Perhaps these issues will be fixed in a potential sequel. However, given the mixed reviews that Halo Wars 2 got compared to its predecessor, it seems unlikely that its developer will be willing to take a risk in the future.
11 Halo Wars
A Game That Steered From The FPS Genre And Delved Into Real-Time Strategy
Halo Wars
- Released
- March 3, 2009
- Developer(s)
- Ensemble Studios, Robot Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy, Tactical
Like its successor, it was simple compared to other games in the genre. But by releasing as an Xbox 360 exclusive – it wasn't ported to PC until years later – the game avoided comparison with the more sophisticated RTSs found on Steam. It received a ton of praise for being more functional than most real-time strategy games on consoles.
Halo' s first foray into a different genre, was a breath of fresh air for fans, and critics and fans alike enjoyed this game. What was great about this game is that it didn't feel like a spin-off, they managed to completely switch up the genre and still make a great game that fits in with the lore of the universe. Halo Wars was a fun game, and it was great to use different vehicles that weren't in the original series. Releasing Halo Wars was a massive risk that developer Bungie took, as deciding to stray from the classic FPS formula that made the Halo franchise famous could have backfired significantly, affecting sales and causing millions in losses. Luckily, this wasn’t the case, and Halo Wars remains a timeless classic that many players still remember fondly, and maybe even play regularly.
10 Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
A Beautiful Remaster Of The Masterpiece That Started It All
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
- Released
- November 15, 2011
- Developer(s)
- 343 Industries, Saber Interactive
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Undoubtedly, the original Combat Evolved was a classic. Its tenth-anniversary remaster wasn't bad either. The developers upgraded the original's look and sound to Xbox 360 standards and included an option for players to switch back to the 2001 presentation at will. Virtually everything else about the game was identical to the first installment.
This meant that levels had a lot of repetitive-looking environments, which was acceptable in 2001 but not so much in 2011. Every level is the same as in the classic title, but it does offer newer fans a chance to play the original game, something every gamer should experience. Despite its age, the first Halo game is still a veritable classic that fans still love revisiting to this day, which goes a long way in showing why this title kickstarted one of the most iconic gaming franchises of all time.
9 Halo 3: ODST
Packed With Action, Exploration, And Soothing Music
Halo 3 ODST
ODST was the Halo series at its storytelling best. Instead of a big action thriller, the narrative took the form of a mystery where a rookie soldier tried to locate their missing teammates. Investigating the dark New Mombasa alone was a very atmospheric experience, and it was complemented by more traditional action-focused missions. ODST's gameplay wasn't too different from the original Halo 3, but it didn't need to be as it was still very fun. And enjoyable combat was needed for the action-packed Firefight mode that ODST introduced.
Halo: Best Villains In The Series, Ranked
Though the Halo series isn't best known for its villains, these ten antagonists enrich the lore behind the franchise in surprising ways.
Fans enjoyed the story and the newly added firefights but were disappointed with the game's lack of multiplayer. The game came with Halo 3's multiplayer but with new maps added. Looking back, this isn't a problem now, but at the time, it left a sour taste in the mouth. Fans are calling out for a sequel, it's time the franchise gave the fans someone else other than a Spartan to play, as the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers are the perfect answer. Another beloved aspect of the game was its music, which, while not as epic as Halo's main theme, provided a relaxing atmosphere with the saxophone complementing the rainy city during exploration.
8 Halo 5: Guardians
Great Graphics, Solid Story, Mixed Opinions
Halo 5: Guardians (dupe)
- Released
- October 27, 2015
- Developer(s)
- 343 Industries
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Halo 5's campaign received plenty of criticism upon release. Things like the lack of a split-screen and the campaign's short length were disappointing. Yet, the narrative was the most controversial element, as it took some questionable twists and turns, especially regarding the popular character Cortana. Playing much of the game as Spartan Locke instead of Master Chief didn't help matters. Still, the game wasn't all bad; it had stunning visuals, deep multiplayer, and exciting gunplay.
This game has a massive variation in what the critics and fans think of the fifth mainline Halo story. Again, a big complaint was the microtransactions. Fans had to pay money to make their Spartan look the way they wanted. Comparing this to Halo Reach which made players work for their armor and look through in-game challenges, this seemed like a big step backward for 343. A game that was reminiscent of a Call of Duty game, Halo 5 got a lot wrong in that regard. Perhaps, if people were to play Halo 5: Guardians now, while already knowing what’s in store for them, the experience might be a lot more enjoyable, as it’s probably safe to say that players originally expected tons of action with the Master Chief, and the unexpected change of pace didn’t deliver.
7 Halo: The Master Chief Collection
A Great Compilation Of The Master Chief's Victories Over The Years
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Released
- November 11, 2014
- Developer(s)
- 343 Industries
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Initially, The Master Chief Collection seemed like the ultimate package as it included Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, a newly remastered Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, and Halo 4 – plus late add-ons for Halo 3: ODST and Halo Reach. Sadly, technical issues stopped the MCC from being as good as it should've been. Multiplayer, in particular, was plagued with problems. Still, when the game (or games) worked, it was amazing to have all those classics on one system. So much so that fans didn't completely dismiss it, despite its issues. The main complaints of fans are the glitches and bugs experienced, but for the large part, this game runs amazingly.
In a bundle that includes four of the best games on the console, bringing them to new life on the latest consoles is something that is pretty much unheard of. MCC rewards fans for playing the game across each of the entries and also has separate playlists, if fans just want to play the driving missions then they can do so. A fantastic feature of a great game, the user score is very low, on the other hand, remastered games are not going to get the highest scores, are they?
Another considerable issue with the MCC on PC was its lack of local split-screen multiplayer. Veterans of the franchise wanted to revisit the olden days of couch parties playing with friends, but unfortunately, this was not available. While it's possible to run the game in local split-screen mode by using external software, a powerful PC is required, and the whole process is not without issues.