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It’s the 26^th century and humankind is under threat from an alien theocracy known as the Covenant. The only hope for survival lies in Master Chief, a supersoldier ready to take on anything the Covenent throws at him. This is the story of Halo, a video game franchise that took first-person shooter games to a new level by mixing space opera with military warfare.

Halo popularized multiplayer gaming, along with many gameplay elements that are now standard for first-person shooter games. For example, do you like regenerative health bars in Call of Duty and Fortnite? You can thank Halo for that. The popularity of the game spawned spinoff novels, a television adaptation, and other multimedia projects.

If you’ve ever wanted to play through the Halo franchise, but weren’t sure where to start, Popverse has you covered. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about playing the hit video game franchise.

How to play Halo in release order

Since its debut in 2001, Halo has been one of the most successful video game franchises of all time. There’s the main console series (Halo, Halo 2, Halo 3, and more), the spinoffs, mobile games, and more. It should be noted; we don’t consider ports and re-releases as new games unless they contain enough new material to be considered a new game.

The Master Chief Collection is a bit of a gray area since it’s a compilation of previously released games. However, it includes new content, so we’re making an exception and putting it on our release order list. We’re also included the Combat Evolved Anniversary edition for similar reasons. Many of these games were released on multiple platforms, but for each game, we’ve noted the platform it was originally released on.

With that in mind, if you want to play Halo in release order, here’s how to do it…

• Halo: Combat Evolved (2001 Xbox game)
• Halo 2 (2004 Xbox game)
• Halo 3 (2007 Xbox 360 game)
• Halo Wars (2009 Xbox 360 game)
• Halo 3: ODST (2009 Xbox 360 game)
• Halo: Reach (2010 Xbox 360 game)
• Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (2011 Xbox 360 game)
• Halo 4 (2012 Xbox 360 game)
• Halo: Spartan Assault (2013 Windows 8 game)
• Halo: The Master Chef Collection (2014 Xbox One game)
• Halo: Spartan Strike (2015 mobile game)
• Halo 5: Guardians (2015 Xbox One game)
• Halo Wars 2 (2017 Xbox One game)
• Halo: Fireteam Raven (2018 arcade game)
• Halo Recruit (2018 VR game)
• Halo Infinite (2021 Xbox Series X/S game)

How to play Halo in chronological order

If you prefer playing game in chronological order, we’ve put together a Halo timeline. As you can see, the year 2552 was quite busy. The only game not covered on this timeline is Halo: The Master Chef Collection because it’s a compilation of previously released games. With that, if you want to play your way through the Halo timeline, here’s how to do it…

• 2531: Halo Wars
• 2552: Halo: Reach/Halo: Combat Evolved/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary/Halo: Fireteam Raven/Halo 2/Halo 3: ODST/Halo: Spartan Strike (first section of the game)/ Halo Recruit
• 2552-2553: Halo 3
• 2554: Halo: Spartan Assault
• 2557: Halo 4
• 2557-2558: Halo: Spartan Strike (second half of the game)
• 2558: Halo 5: Guardians
• 2559: Halo Wars 2
• 2560: Halo Infinite

What are the 7 Halo rings?

The 7 Halo rings, which are also known as the Halo Array, are large artificial worlds which were built to combat the alien race known as the Flood. When these installations are activated, they shoot a powerful energy pulse capable of wiping out all life forms. As you can imagine, using the Halo rings is typically a last resort, since it comes at a great cost.

Is Halo Infinite a sequel or reboot?

Halo Infinite is a sequel, but it could only be considered a soft reboot. The 2021 game was developed to be new player friendly in order to make it more accessible to gamers who might not be familiar with the franchise. 343 Industries, the studio behind Halo Infinite, called it a “spiritual reboot” in a blog post. The studio used new characters as a way of giving new players an entry point into the world. Aside from that, Halo Infinite still continues the story of Master Chief and continues the canon from other games. 

Can I play Halo for free?

If you want to play Halo, but you’re short on cash, then Halo Infinite is your best bet. The multiplayer portion of Halo Infinite is free-to-play. If you have a Windows computer, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X/S, then you’re good to go. You will need to buy the full game in order to unlock campaign mode, but if you want to ‘test drive’ the game, then multiplayer mode is the way to go.

When is the next Halo game?

In October 2025 Halo Studios announced Halo: Campaign Evolved, an upcoming remake of Halo: Combat Evolved. According to a blog post from Halo Studios, the game will feature “new missions, expanded gameplay, two-player split-screen on consoles, online and networked co-op for up to four players on console and PC, and seamless cross-platform play with shared progression, it will be the definitive return trip through one of gaming’s greatest journeys.”

The game is notable for releasing on both Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, causing gaming journalists and retailers to announce that the decades long “console wars” is over. In other words, it won’t be Xbox exclusive as previous game were. As of this writing, there is no specific release date, but Halo Studios says the game will be available at some point in 2026.

What’s the best Halo game to start with?

It depends on the type of gamer you are. Halo Infinite is probably the best bet for modern gamers, as it’s the newest game, with the sharpest graphics and most advanced gameplay. In addition, the multiplayer mode is free-to-play, making it the perfect Halo game to ‘test drive’ before purchasing other games in the franchise.

If you’re into nostalgia and retro games, then go ahead and start with the 2001 game Halo: Combat Advanced. The game has aged surprisingly well, and as you play it, you’ll quickly see that there’s a reason it revolutionized console gaming. Either way, there’s no wrong way to start playing the Halo franchise. Simply find a game you enjoy, lock in, and get ready for a wild ride. 

The gaming industry has come a long way since Pong blew all our minds in the 70s. We've got everything you need to know about the next big thing in games. Of course, Grand Theft Auto VI is going to be the big game of 2026, but there are plenty of other games coming out between now and then. Here is our starter guide for every gamer:

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