Ask any Xbox owner what their favorite game is, and there’s a good chance they’ll say Halo. This isn’t surprising once you’ve experienced the magic of the classic Halo titles.
If you're one of the rare gamers who missed the glory days of Xbox and haven't played any Halo games, there's no need to hunt down an original Xbox or tinker with emulators. Microsoft, though 343 Industries to be exact, has already made it easy for you. Simply grab the Halo: Master Chief Collection on Xbox or PC, and you're all set to dive into the legendary series.
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What Is Halo: Master Chief Collection?
Halo: Master Chief Collection is the ultimate way to experience most of the Halo games. The collection features six incredible titles, all updated with modern improvements and quality-of-life features. While the initial launch of the collection faced some issues, years of support from 343 Industries have turned it into the best version of each game. The games included in Halo: Master Chief Collection are:
- Halo: Reach
- Halo: Combat Evolved (Includes both the original Halo 1 and the Anniversary Remaster)
- Halo 2 (Includes both the original Halo 2 and the Anniversary Remaster)
- Halo 3
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo 4
The collection includes both single-player campaigns and their respective multiplayer modes. Over time, several new maps and game modes have been added, including the popular Firefight mode.
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Different Orders You Could Play Halo Games in the Master Chief Collection
If you're ready to dive into the rich world of Halo, you might be wondering where to begin. There are multiple ways to approach your journey, and this guide will cover all of them, offering a personal recommendation as well.
Release Order
The release order is how most fans experienced the series and offers a great way to see how the gameplay evolved with each entry. It allows you to appreciate the improvements as the series progresses. The release order is:
- Halo: Combat Evolved
- Halo 2
- Halo 3
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo: Reach
- Halo 4
Chronological Order
If you'd like to understand the story more clearly, the chronological order is a good option. This is the order in which the events of the games unfold, and is also how the Halo games were released on PC. However, this isn't always the best way to experience the games from a gameplay perspective. The drop in gameplay quality between Halo: Reach and Halo 1 is significant, and Halo: Reach doesn’t have the same narrative impact if played first, as you won't be as invested in the world yet. The chronological order is:
- Halo: Reach
- Halo: Combat Evolved
- Halo 2
- Halo 3
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo 4
Best Order to Play Halo Games in Master Chief Collection
This order is recommended as it takes both narrative and gameplay into consideration.
- Halo: Combat Evolved
- Halo 2
- Halo 3
- Halo: Reach
- Halo 3: ODST / Halo 4
- Halo 3: ODST / Halo 4
Start with the original Halo trilogy to establish the foundation of the series, then jump straight into Halo: Reach. This order ensures that the emotional impact of Reach's ending hits harder, as you’ll have the context of everything you’re fighting for.
From there, it’s up to you. You can either dive into Halo 4 next, finishing the series with ODST, or play ODST first. Many Halo fans suggest playing ODST before Halo 4, as it’s a side story, but Halo 4 works as a follow-up to Halo 3 with its direct narrative continuation. However, if you prefer to avoid a drastic gameplay shift, you might want to play ODST first and then tackle Halo 4 afterward.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- November 11, 2014
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Violence, Blood and Gore, Language
- Developer(s)
- 343 Industries
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- Saber3D Engine for the single player portion of Halo: CE Anniversary and Halo 2 Anniversary; Unreal Engine 4 for UI and player customization; Halo Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- Halo
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
