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Halo Games in Order
The eight mainline Halo games in two orders: release order from Combat Evolved (2001) to Infinite (2021), and chronological story order starting with the prequel Reach.
Halo Games in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
Halo is the Master Chief saga: a sci-fi shooter epic split between original developer Bungie and current steward 343 Industries. The two orders here answer the two questions most people ask. Release order tracks how the series actually grew, console generation by console generation, and it is the order we default to. Chronological order rearranges the same games into the internal timeline of the story, which is where Halo gets interesting because its biggest twists are prequels and side-stories.
Release order is the safest path for a first-timer. You experience the cliffhangers, retcons, and tonal shifts exactly as Bungie and 343 intended, and the gameplay improves more or less steadily. The one wrinkle is that Halo: Reach (2010) was Bungie's last Halo and a direct prequel to the very first game, so playing in release order means the prequel arrives near the end.
Chronological order flips that. It opens with Reach, the doomed last stand that sets up Combat Evolved, then runs through Halo 2. Halo 3: ODST is the key gotcha: it unfolds in New Mombasa concurrently with the events of Halo 2, following ordinary troopers rather than the Chief, so it slots in alongside Halo 2 before Halo 3 proper. From there the line is clean: Halo 3, Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, and Halo Infinite.
A practical note: the Master Chief Collection bundles CE, 2, 3, 4, ODST, and Reach in one package with remasters, which covers most of this list in a single purchase. The Halo Wars real-time strategy spin-offs are a separate sub-series and are not included here. If you only want the core shooter campaign, follow either order above and you will not miss anything.
Timeline 2001โ2021
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Halo games are there?
There are eight mainline Halo games in the Master Chief saga: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, and Halo Infinite. The Halo Wars strategy spin-offs are counted separately.
What order should I play Halo in?
For a first playthrough, play in release order starting with Combat Evolved (2001) and ending with Halo Infinite (2021). If you prefer to follow the timeline, play chronologically starting with the prequel Halo: Reach.
Is Halo: Reach a prequel?
Yes. Halo: Reach (2010) was Bungie's final Halo game and is a direct prequel to Combat Evolved, depicting the fall of the planet Reach just before the original game begins. In story order it comes first.
Where does Halo 3: ODST fit in the story?
Halo 3: ODST is a side story set in New Mombasa during the events of Halo 2, following ODST troopers instead of Master Chief. In chronological order it slots in alongside Halo 2, before Halo 3.
What is the Master Chief Collection?
The Master Chief Collection bundles Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 4, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo: Reach with remasters. It is the easiest single purchase to play most of the saga, available on Xbox and PC.
Are the Halo Wars games part of this order?
No. Halo Wars and Halo Wars 2 are real-time strategy spin-offs, not first-person shooters, and they tell separate stories. This list covers only the mainline Master Chief saga shooters.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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