If you're looking to experience the Halo series, you can tackle the franchise in two distinct ways. Whether you want to follow the games as they originally launched from 2001 to 2026, or experience the narrative through the in-universe timeline, here is how to play the Halo games in order.
How to play the Halo games in release order
Playing the series in release order gives you the original launch history of the franchise, including major spin-offs:
- Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
- Halo 2 (2004)
- Halo 3 (2007)
- Halo Wars (2009)
- Halo 3: ODST (2009)
- 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)
- Halo: Campaign Evolved (2026)
How to play the Halo games in chronological order
If you prefer to follow the overarching narrative timeline from start to finish, the chronological order shifts several prequels and spin-offs to the front:
- Halo Wars
- Halo: Campaign Evolved (prologue missions)
- Halo: Reach
- Halo: Combat Evolved
- Halo 2
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo 3
- Halo: Spartan Assault
- Halo 4
- Halo Spartan: Strike
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Halo Wars 2
- Halo Infinite
Chronological Breakdown and Platforms
1. Halo Wars (2531)
Developer: Ensemble Studio | Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360, Xbox Series X (backwards compatible) | Genre: Strategy
Taking place 21 years before Combat Evolved, this real-time strategy game covers the Harvest campaign during the tail-end of the conflict against the Covenant, featuring UNSC Red Team units and the parasitic Flood.
2. Halo: Campaign Evolved (2551 - Prologue missions)
Developer: 343 Industries | Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | Genre: FPS
While functioning primarily as a remake of Combat Evolved, this entry introduces Operation Meteorite prequel missions set a year prior to the main story. It features Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson investigating a Covenant research vessel.
3. Halo: Reach (2552)
Developer: 343 Industries | Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360, Xbox Series X (backwards compatible) | Genre: FPS
Set a few weeks before Combat Evolved, you play as Spartan B312 (Noble Six) of Noble Team during the Fall of Reach as the human colony faces a Covenant invasion.
4. Halo: Combat Evolved (2552)
Developer: Halo Studios | Platform(s): PC, Xbox | Genre: FPS
The original FPS title follows Master Chief (John-117) as the Pillar of Autumn crashes onto the mysterious ringworld known as Installation 04 while fleeing Covenant forces.
5. Halo 2 (2552)
Developer: Bungie | Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360, Xbox Series X | Genre: FPS
This entry splits its perspective between Master Chief defending Earth and Cairo Station, and a Sangheili warrior known as The Arbiter battling The Flood on Installation 05.
6. Halo 3: ODST (2552)
Developer: 343 Industries | Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360, Xbox Series X | Genre: FPS
Playing as an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper known as Rookie, you explore the ruined streets of New Mombasa at night during the events of Halo 2 to find your missing squad mates.
7. Halo 3 (2552)
Developer: Bungie | Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360, Xbox Series X | Genre: FPS
Master Chief returns to bring the original trilogy to a close, wrapping up the Human-Covenant War on Earth and an ancient installation before entering cryo sleep aboard the Forward Unto Dawn.
8. Halo: Spartan Assault (2554)
Developer: Vanguard Games | Platform(s): iOS, PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | Genre: Twin-stick shooter
A top-down arcade shooter framing key battles as a Spartan training simulation tool set between Halo 3 and Halo 4.
9. Halo 4 (2557)
Developer: 343 Industries | Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X | Genre: FPS
Master Chief awakens from the drifting Forward Unto Dawn to face a new faction of Forerunners led by the Didact on the world of Requiem, while Cortana battles rampancy.
10. Halo Spartan: Strike (2557)
Developer: 343 Industries / Vanguard Games | Platform(s): iOS, PC | Genre: Twin-stick shooter
Another twin-stick arcade shooter utilizing tactical simulation training missions spanning events from 2552 through 2557.
11. Halo 5: Guardians (2558)
Developer: 343 Industries | Platform(s): Xbox One, Xbox Series X | Genre: FPS
Players switch between Master Chief—who has gone AWOL with his Blue Team—and Spartan Jameson Locke leading Fireteam Osiris to track him down.
12. Halo Wars 2 (2559)
Developer: Creative Assembly | Platform(s): Xbox One, Xbox Series X | Genre: Strategy
The second real-time strategy entry features Red Team awakening 28 years later to battle the Banished faction on a Forerunner installation known as the Ark.
13. Halo Infinite (2560)
Developer: 343 Industries | Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X | Genre: FPS
The latest mainline entry takes place on Zeta Halo (Installation 07), where Master Chief works alongside a new AI named The Weapon to shut down the ring after human forces lose ground to the Banished.