Halo is easily one of the most important console games ever made. Not only did it help kickstart Microsoft’s debut into the console space by launching with one of the best original Xbox games, but it also proved that shooters could work on a controller. Prior to Master Chief, it was widely assumed that the best FPS games were only on PC.
Since we first learned about Halo, Spartans, and the Covenant in 2001, the wider universe of Halo has been expanded in every direction. We could spend hours talking about all the comics, novels, and TV shows, but most gamers just want to focus on the games. Being a more grounded series — as far as sci-fi shooters are concerned, anyway — the Halo timeline is much more concrete than something like the Zelda games. Whether you want to experience the series in the same order they were released in or follow the in-universe timeline, here are all the Halo games in order.
All Halo games in release order
Despite how big Halo is, even rivaling the best Call of Duty games of the time, there are only 12 games in the series that fit into the timeline (not counting remakes or remasters).
This is the order the games originally came out in (again, not including remakes or remasters) for those who want to play the games from oldest to newest.
- 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
The chronology in Halo is very important. This series spans multiple decades from the earliest point in the timeline to the last, with plenty of alliances, betrayals, and new factions entering and exiting the mix. While Spartan Assault and Spartan Strike don’t add much to the overall narrative, they do include some important people and places that die-hard fans will want to know about.
On the other hand, the Halo Wars series has ended up becoming essential for understanding the core plot in later titles.
Sadly, a lot of important plot details, such as the fate of some major characters, are relegated to media outside of the games. Still, playing the series in chronological order will let you keep up with the main plot.
- Halo Wars (2531)
- Halo: Reach (2552)
- Halo: Combat Evolved (2552)
- Halo 2 (2552)
- Halo 3: ODST (2552 – takes place within Halo 2)
- 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)
