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The best Halo games show why the series has been a Microsoft mainstay for a long time. As we talk about the best Halo games of all time, you should kill the Flood, the Banished, and any other idiots who get in your way. Over the years, these games have been a tour de force on the Xbox. They helped Microsoft’s career in the home console market go through the roof.
Now, everyone knows who the Master Chief is, but that doesn’t stop those annoying aliens from messing with him. Why, for crying out loud, would you want to fight the most well-known super soldier in the galaxy? Find out which of the main games are the best, which ones came first, and what’s up with the Halo games that have the same name.
Best Halo games
Halo Wars 2
Ask yourself an honest question. Do you need another real-time strategy game set in the Halo universe? Not likely, right? So, you’re still getting one, champ! Halo Wars 2 keeps doing one thing right: it’s a real-time strategy game that works really well on a pad. The first game is one of the few in the genre that feels good to play with a controller.
This sequel makes small changes to the control scheme, giving you a streamlined strategy game that never feels like it needs a mouse and keyboard, though the PC version does support them. Battles are more complicated now that there are new control groups, and if you split your army into different groups, you can kill a lot of aliens at once.
Features
Pros
- Accessible, strategic gameplay using a rock-paper-scissors metaphor.
- Simple, streamlined controls.
- Terrific CG scenes and voice acting.
Cons
- Unit AI can be finicky and unresponsive at times.
- Shallow story.
Halo 5: Guardians
Here it is,: the first Halo campaign that is no fun to play by yourself. Don’t be fooled: Halo 5 was made to be played with three online friends. Fight against one of the campaign’s annoying Wardens, a type of mini-boss that can only be hurt from behind while your allies distract them from the front, and you’ll know exactly what it’s like to “enjoy” Halo 5 by yourself.
Even though Microsoft spent a lot of money on Guardians, the first real Halo game for Xbox One, every part of it feels confusing. Master Chief has to share the spotlight with Locke, a new Spartan who is the main character. Cortana is kind of the bad guy but not really, and the game’s controls are a mix of Call of Duty and Titanfall, but they never really work.
Features
Pros
- Classic Halo combat
- New co-op and movement mechanics blend in well
- Amazing set-pieces and alien worlds
- The Xbox One’s most awesome visuals
- Brilliant and addictive Arena and Warzone modes
Cons
- Some really clumsy sequences
- Story will be divisive
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
At first, The Master Chief Collection seemed like the best deal because it came with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, a newly remastered version of Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, and Halo 4, as well as Halo 3: ODST and Halo Reach, which were added after the fact.
The MCC wasn’t as good as it should have been because of technical problems. Most of the problems were in the multiplayer mode. Still, it was great to have so many classic games on one system when they worked. So much so that, even though it had problems, fans didn’t just write it off.
Features
Pros
- Halo 2 brilliantly remastered
- Four complete Halo games in one package
- 1080, 60 frame-per-second goodness
- Near-endless multiplayer content
Cons
- No Halo: Reach or ODST
Halo 3: ODST
The best story in the Halo series was told in ODST. The story wasn’t a big action thriller. Instead, it was a mystery in which a new soldier tried to find their missing teammates. Exploring the dark city of New Mombasa on its own was a very moody experience, and it was paired with more traditional action missions.
The gameplay of ODST wasn’t that different from Halo 3, but it didn’t need to be because it was still a lot of fun. And the action-packed Firefight mode that ODST added needed combat that was fun. Overall, it is one of the best Halo games that you can download from here.
Features
Pros
- Great performances
- New vehicle battles
- Atmospheric design throughout
Cons
- Narrative doesn’t tie into the rest of the series
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite, the latest part of Master Chief’s story, has been praised by many as a long-awaited return to form for the series. Technically, it takes place after Halo Wars 2, but you could probably jump in from Halo 5: Guardians. If we had our way, you’d be able to jump in from Halo 3 or ODST, but only if you tried really hard.
Halo: Infinite has some cool new game mechanics, like a grappling hook with a lot of movement, and some great new characters, like Fernando Esparza and “The Weapon.” Its semi-open world is also a big technical step up from games that came before. Even though 343’s design isn’t perfect yet, it’s a step in the right direction.
Features
Pros
- Liberating and expansive gameplay
- An evocative and enthralling story
- Stunning visuals and sound
- Grunts are finally funny again
- Multiplayer is a lot of fun
Cons
- Can only equip one piece of equipment
- No co-op mode or Forge at launch
- No option to choose multiplayer game modes
Halo: Combat Evolved
The game that started everything off in a big way. It also gave Xbox a lot of credibility as a gaming platform because it was one of the first games for it. Even though the game isn’t perfect, this is where we first meet Master Chief and Cortana, the artificial intelligence that helps him.
The quickness of the characters and the ease of shooting helped push Halo to the top of the gaming world and set the stage for all the success that would follow. The campaign sets up the rest of the series by throwing the player right into open combat with the Covenant. This is a style that many FPS games tried to copy, but few did it better.
Features
Pros
- Excellent FPS action
- Engaging narrative
Cons
- Audio mixing is off
Halo 4
Halo 4 was always going to get a lot of attention, maybe unfairly, because it was the first Halo game after Bungie gave up control of the series. But 343 Industries was brave enough to follow their own vision of where Halo was going, which is something to be praised for.
Halo has never really been praised for how good it looks, but when it came out on Xbox 360, Halo 4 was absolutely stunning. As Cortana fights against the “rampancy” that is messing with her mind, the campaign is also full of powerful moments.
Features
Pros
- Compelling and unpredictable action
- Awesome multiplayer modes
Cons
- Plays things relatively safe
Halo: Reach
Halo Reach has a special place in the hearts of many gamers because it was the last game made by Bungie before it was taken over by 343 Industries. This prequel game takes place on the farming planet Reach, which fell to the Covenant in the early years of humanity’s fight against the galactic cult.
This game is all about saying goodbye, both to Bungie and to its many Spartan characters, as Reach’s team of super soldiers are slowly killed off in a brutal fight to stay alive. The last-stand endgame is also one of the best and most memorable levels in the series, and it’s hard not to feel sad about what was lost.
Features
Pros
- Thrilling shooting action.
- Addicting multiplayer combat.
- Strong sci-fi storyline.
Cons
- Lacks crossplay with Xbox One version.
- Some audio issues.
FAQs
What is the most played Halo game?
Since Halo: The Master Chief Collection has anniversary editions of both Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, Halo 3 is the oldest game in the group. But Halo 3’s multiplayer is still the most popular, even though it came out in 2007.
Is Halo 2 the best game of all time?
In September 2007, Halo 3, a follow-up game, came out. Halo 2 sold well and got good reviews, and it is often called one of the best video games ever made. It became the most popular game on Xbox Live and stayed there until Gears of War came out for the Xbox 360 almost two years later.
Which Halo games should I play first?
If you want to start at the beginning, I would say Halo: Combat Evolved, which was the first game in the series. Play 2, 3, 3 ODST, Reach, 4, and then 5 from there. If you want to put things in order of when they happened, start with Reach, then CE, 2, 3, ODST, 3, 4, then 5.
Which Halo sold the most copies?
The Xbox game that sells the most copies is Halo 2, which came out in the US on November 9, 2004. Over 8.46 million copies were sold all over the world. Halo: Combat Evolved, the first game in the series, was a launch title that went on to become the second best-selling game, with over 5 million copies sold.