Every Halo Game Ever Released, Ranked

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In my opinion, Halo has primarily been about its campaigns and storylines for me. I’ve enjoyed multiplayer modes too, particularly SWAT, but what truly draws me in is the chance to delve into an epic, encompassing narrative. Although it hasn’t scaled those same dizzy heights more recently, Halo continues to embody the essence of Xbox’s dominance in multiplayer first-person shooter games.

On this page, you’ll find my personal ranking of every Halo game that has been created, listed from best to worst according to my preferences. Let me explain why. If you’re anything like me, you’re a passionate Halo enthusiast.

The list does not include every Halo game released worldwide, but it will focus on the main series installments and spin-off titles. Factors such as gameplay quality, storyline, and their relevance today are considered when determining their rankings.

16.
Halo Recruit

A Disappointing, Teasing Taste Of VR Halo

Halo Recruit offered a fleeting foray into the realm of virtual reality with minimal narrative development, and it does not align with the established Halo universe lore.

As a gamer, I can tell you that there’s hardly any action in this game. It’s just five minutes of me blasting away with two Magnums on a target range, and that’s pretty much all there is to it.

It’s thrilling to experience a Spartan lifestyle with motion controllers, handling UNSC weaponry and honing your shooting skills. However, similar to how Windows Mixed Reality, Microsoft’s debut VR platform, didn’t gain much traction, the Halo Recruit VR game also failed to take off.

It’s too bad, but a Halo VR game has a great deal of promise. However, it seems like the moment isn’t fully ripe for it just yet.

15.
Halo: Spartan Assault

Halo’s First Tentative Venture Into Twin-Stick Mobile Shooters

Coming next is “Spartan Assault”. This game, being a top-down mobile shooter with twin-sticks, represents a fresh take on the Halo series.

In this game, you take on the role of Spartan Sarah Palmer (as depicted in Halo 4), teaming up with Spartan Davis. Together, you delve into the mystery behind the Covenant’s fascination with the planet Draetheus V. The narrative unfolds within a combat simulation, mirroring real-world events that transpired between Halo 3 and Halo 4.

Initially, I obtained it, and after completing the campaign (which was enjoyable), it didn’t captivate me completely. The levels were brief, averaging around five to ten minutes per mission, but they felt repetitive. Additionally, the in-game transactions left a sour taste for me.

Initially, it wasn’t terrible. In fact, the later Xbox edition introduced a multiplayer feature that had me hooked enough to complete the campaign. However, following that point, I’m quite certain I erased it from my system and didn’t give it another thought until today.

14.
Halo: Spartan Strike

A Much Improved Sequel, But Still Not Real Halo

Upon the release of its sequel, it became evident that the creators had taken lessons from earlier missteps. Dubbed Spartan Strike, the game retained the top-down twin-stick gameplay style but significantly expanded the activities available and boasted superior visuals.

In this game, you take on the role of an anonymous Spartan, similar to ‘you’ in the style of Halo: Reach. Over 30 missions spread across two timeframes (Halo 2 and post-Halo 4), you encounter diverse mission goals and thrilling battlefields.

Despite my praise, I cannot help but feel that Spartan Strike seems to be overlooking a crucial aspect, and that is well-rounded character development. Additionally, I find it disappointing that there is no multiplayer mode available in the game.

While the mobile game is satisfactory, it doesn’t quite capture the essence of Halo. After all, Halo isn’t primarily associated with mobile gaming.

13.
Halo 5: Guardians

All The Intrigue With Little Of The Execution

In the continuation of Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians finds Master Chief on a mission to rescue and save Cortana. Meanwhile, the UNSC assigns Spartan Locke with the task of halting him.

It’s a tense story about humanity losing control of the technology it creates.

Experiencing the gameplay perspective from another Spartan (Locke) presented a captivating challenge. Unfortunately, this setup didn’t resonate with me since there are merely three missions available for Master Chief, which makes it seem like playing two versions of the same character. Nevertheless, the concept is thought-provoking and innovative.

The graphics were exceptional, and continuing the narrative from Halo 4 was both intriguing and polarizing.

Currently, viewing it from an unbiased standpoint, the storyline is captivating, full of unexpected events and emotional resonance. However, to a diehard fan of Halo, those (spoiler-inclusive) incidents involving Cortana left me pondering, in essence, what was the purpose behind it?

12.
Halo Wars 2

An Excellent Story In An Excellent RTS

28 years have passed since the incidents of Halo Wars, and the UNSC Spirit of Fire team finds themselves stirring close to The Ark, an ancient Forerunner construction site responsible for crafting the Halo rings.

In the mystery of what’s transpired across the galaxy, it falls to you to resist Atriox, a renegade from the Covenant, who’s amassing his forces by tapping into The Ark’s power. This tale is incredibly gripping, and Atriox might just be the most compelling villain that the Halo universe has seen so far.

Just like the initial release, the voice acting and cutscenes are top-notch. The multiplayer aspect introduces an innovative twist through Blitz mode, but there seems to be something lacking – a spark of soul, perhaps?

11.
Halo 4

An Emotional Yet Dull Version Of The Halo Of Old

Back when Halo 4 was released, I recall the widespread enthusiasm for its improved visuals. It truly stood out from past Halo games in terms of visual quality, looking nothing short of stunning.

Four years following the release of “Halo 3”, Master Chief (in a state of suspended animation) experiences a crash-landing on the Forerunner planet, Requiem. Cortana, his AI companion, is gradually deteriorating due to rampancy – essentially, she’s self-destructing through excessive thinking. The campaign delves into the essence of humanity.

343 Industries, having taken over the Halo series with their debut title, brought about a refreshing overhaul. Introducing us to Master Chief’s latest adversary, the Prometheans, the gameplay experience was significantly enhanced. The multiplayer mode was exceptional, and playing online felt exceptionally smooth.

Besides, during that instance, I found myself hesitant to grab the Xbox controller for the campaign. Completing the story took a considerable amount of time since I simply couldn’t find enjoyment in it.

10.
Halo: Fireteam Raven

Future Halo VR Games Should Learn From This Four-Player Arcade

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but find myself thoroughly enthralled by the recent introduction of Halo: Fireteam Raven to the Halo universe. Collaboratively developed with Raw Thrills, this arcade-exclusive game is nothing short of a fantasy come true for any Halo enthusiast like me.

In this game, you’ll take on the role of Fireteam Raven, a team of Operational Data-Detection Shock Troopers (ODSTs), who are en route to assist Master Chief on the ringworld. This storyline runs concurrently with the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, providing a unique, captivating viewpoint.

Fireteam Raven is an on-rails shooter game, meaning you won’t need to focus on moving around. Instead, you can concentrate solely on targeting enemies reminiscent of Combat Evolved, all while seated in a force feedback chair. This experience unfolds on a screen that stretches 10 feet wide.

This game is an amazing multiplayer adventure for four individuals. I can’t help but wish it was easier for more Halo enthusiasts to try out and enjoy.

9.
Halo Wars

A Revolutionary Step Into Console-Based RTS Games

I’m quite fond of real-time strategy games, and Halo Wars is one that I find particularly enjoyable. This game is set approximately twenty years before Halo: Combat Evolved, where you aim to prevent the Covenant from weaponizing a Forerunner fleet. The sense of urgency is palpable, with the tense atmosphere being partly enhanced by the somewhat underestimated soundtrack.

In a more simplified expression: The team play aspects were enjoyable, particularly the 2 versus 2 and 3 versus 3 matches. However, let’s face it, it was essentially like any other strategy game available, but with Halo-style masks.

The creators of Age of Empires also developed this game, and you can clearly see their influence in the gameplay style.

Halo Wars played a significant role in introducing real-time strategy (RTS) games to console systems. This pioneering move, however, also presented noticeable challenges as compared to traditional PC gaming.

Indeed, for a more intuitive experience, the controls need to be streamlined, which inevitably leads to a less tactical approach during battles.

What truly sets this game apart for me are the captivating cinematic scenes. In fact, it was these sequences that drew me in and kept me engaged throughout my playtime. The graphics were simply astounding for their time, and I found myself deeply moved by the bleak and hopeless depictions of Marines battling against elites.

8.
Halo Infinite

Open-World Campaign And Endless Multiplayer Updates

As I, the gamer, dive back into the world of Halo, we find ourselves 18 months post-Halo 5: Guardians. Following my crushing defeat at the hands of Atriox, Master Chief is left drifting aimlessly in space until a solitary pilot swoops in to save him from the remnants of his battle-scarred ship.

The narrative that unfolds is a grand, open-world journey centered around Master Chief, who embarks on a quest to discover Cortana’s fate, reclaim UNSC dominance over the ring, and ready himself for battle against Escharum – the newly appointed successor of Atriox.

The planet where Zeta Ring, home of the Banished, is meticulously crafted bears a strong resemblance to the spiritual successor of the original Combat Evolved – Halo Infinite. What makes it even more appealing is its deeply personal narrative, which seems to be the most immersive storyline Halo has ever presented, adding significant value in my opinion.

Nevertheless, similar to most open-world games, this one seemed to drag on. Despite its potential excellence within the realm of open-world Halo, I personally lean more towards a linear gameplay style.

7.
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary

A Faithful Recreation Of The First Halo Game

2011 saw the release of an enhanced version of the original Halo game, Halo: Combat Evolved. The Anniversary edition showcases skillful remastering of a beloved classic.

Essentially, it retained most aspects unchanged, but significantly upgraded its visuals and sounds. A simple button press allows for switching between the original and enhanced graphics – this was one of the standout features in Combat Evolved.

Absolutely, reviving an old video game for today has its challenges. For one thing, the backdrops and landscapes appear quite repetitive when measured against contemporary games. However, it’s important to remember that these classics were pioneers in their time, so let’s appreciate them!

I placed Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary lower on my list because it’s essentially a remake of the original game. This is what I meant, but it also implies that it doesn’t stand out uniquely compared to the first Combat Evolved.

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2025-05-03 00:10