Halo is a franchise that has been ongoing for decades at this betoken. It originally came out in 2001, and the series has since spawned a variety of video games, books, and and then much more. The Halo universe has expanded to gargantuan proportions, simply we're not complaining.

Due to the long, sprawling lore that surrounds the franchise, it tin can exist difficult to determine where the story starts get-go. In order to rectify this, we have organized Halo games in chronological social club regarding where each lies on the timeline. Whether y'all are a long-standing fan of Master Main's adventures or a newcomer wondering where to brainstorm, read on and detect out the chronology of Halo'south universe.

Updated December 29, 2022 by Amanda Hurych: Halo Infinite's release has rocked the very core of the series' narrative. The events that transpired in the game have vast repercussions for the hereafter of the franchise, specially for those looking to delve farther into the lore. That said, there is no greater time to immerse yourself in Halo's universe than right now. So much is going on that gamers will love. It's truly an exciting time to exist a Halo fan.

13 Halo Wars

Gameplay screenshot of Halo Wars snowy map
Game Release Date February half dozen, 2009
Halo Timeline 2531 CE
Developer Ensemble Studios
Genre Real-Time Strategy
Boilerplate Completion Fourth dimension ten Hours

Designed as a real-time strategy game, Halo Wars is considered the earliest game entry in terms of Halo lore. Still, when because the many books that contain Halo'due south expanded universe, The Forerunner Saga definitely takes the cake in terms of earliest entry overall.

Taking place roughly 21 years before the events of the original game, Halo Wars focuses on a group of UNSC soldiers and scientists aboard the Spirit of Burn down every bit they stop the Covenant from getting their hands on an armada of aboriginal Forerunner ships.

12 Halo: Achieve

Halo Reach cover
Game Release Date September 14, 2022
Halo Timeline 2552 CE
Developer Bungie
Genre First-Person Shooter
Average Completion Fourth dimension 9 Hours

The cease mission of Halo: Reach takes place just a few moments before the original Halo: Gainsay Evolved, and so information technology'south not difficult to tell where this falls on the Halo timeline. The game tells the tragic story of a squad of Spartans attempting to defend the doomed planet Reach from an overhwleming forcefulness of Covenant invaders.

Fans of the series knew from the commencement that information technology would be a losing fight. The entrada possesses a somber tone, but it introduces robust gameplay through its multiplayer component.

11 Halo: Gainsay Evolved

Halo: Combat Evolved promotional image
Game Release Date November fifteen, 2001
Halo Timeline 2552 CE
Developer Bungie
Genre Showtime-Person Shooter
Average Completion Time 10 Hours

The original title that started information technology all, Halo: Combat Evolved is the first game where players control Principal Chief. With an fantabulous weapon sandbox and other phenomenal gameplay elements that take remained fundamental staples for the rest of the franchise, Halo: Combat Evolved focuses on the Main'southward journeying across the titular Halo ring.

Not only does he learn about the gigantic ringworld'due south true purpose, but he also has to defend himself and others against Covenant forces and the grotesque Inundation.

This is the game that kickstarted all lore for the franchise, and we have it to thank for the hours nosotros've spent learning and wondering nearly this universe.

10 Halo: Fireteam Raven

Screenshot of Halo Fireteam Raven arcade game
Game Release Appointment July 2022
Halo Timeline 2552 CE
Developer Play Mechanix Inc.
Genre Arcade Rail Shooter
Average Completion Time one Hour

Halo: Fireteam Raven takes place during the events of Halo: Combat Evolved and follows a group of ODST soldiers battling the Covenant on a Halo ring. Fireteam Raven is unique amidst the Halo games due to being a cooperative arcade shooter that originally debuted at Dave & Buster'due south.

Even so, fighting to protect the Colonnade of Fall against waves of Grunts and Elites still feels like a familiar experience to any Halo fan.

ix Halo 2

Halo 2 Anniversary cover art
Game Release Date November ix, 2004
Halo Timeline 2552 CE
Developer Bungie
Genre Outset-Person Shooter
Average Completion Time 10 Hours

Halo 2 is ofttimes considered 1 of the greatest first-person shooters ever made with some even considering it better than the original. It directly continues the adventures of Master Main, while besides adding brand new gameplay elements that took the series to new heights.

The story takes place later on the events of Gainsay Evolved as the Covenant make a play for another Halo ring, and humanity has to muster its forces to stop them.

From an expanded weapon sandbox to double-wielding, Halo 2 was full of surprises for fans. This includes the famously ambitious multiplayer and a new playable character in the course of the Arbiter.

viii Halo 3: ODST

Halo 3 ODST Cover
Game Release Appointment September 22, 2009
Halo Timeline 2552 CE
Developer Bungie
Genre First-Person Shooter
Average Completion Fourth dimension vii Hours

Originally thought of as a minor side project by Bungie that merely supported the story of Halo iii, ODST somewhen grew to become a full-fledged game that is able to stand tall amidst its brethren Halo titles. Playing every bit a lone ODST roaming the ruins of New Mombasa was an incredibly engrossing experience that no one saw coming.

The quiet streets in the dead of nighttime, the jazz overtones courtesy of Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori, and the unique plot progression make ODST a darling precious stone in the collection of Halo games we've played. Halo three: ODST takes place during the events of Halo 2.

7 Halo 3

The ending of Halo 3, in which John looks to Cortana as the Halo ring detonates.
Game Release Date September 25, 2007
Halo Timeline 2552 CE
Programmer Bungie
Genre First-Person Shooter
Average Completion Time eight Hours

Halo three concludes the story started past the original Halo, before the subsequently events of the Reclaimer Saga. Due to existence the yard finale of a trilogy, the game was designed to be bigger and better than what came before.

Master Primary must deal with the entirety of the Covenant under the Prophet of Truth and eradicate the Flood from the face up of the universe, all while trying to rescue his AI companion, Cortana. Many gameplay additions were presented to players, including the Forge Map Editor, which immune yous to modify multiplayer maps.

half dozen Halo: Spartan Assail

Halo Spartan Assault gameplay screenshot and cover art
Game Release Date July 18, 2022
Halo Timeline 2552 CE - 2557 CE
Developer Vanguard Games
Genre Top-Down, Twin-Stick Shooter
Average Completion Time 5 Hours

Halo: Spartan Assault is a twin-stick shooter that originally came out for mobile platforms. When it comes to placing Halo games in club, this 1 sits roughly between the events of Halo 3 and 4.

It gives players the chance to control Spartan Sarah Palmer as she fights against the Covenant. Even though the game released after Halo 4, lore-wise, its events occur before. Palmer is an interesting character in the Halo universe, and it's nifty to be able to experience a function of her story.

Although the game had fairly mixed reviews, it garnered enough attention to somewhen create a sequel.

five Halo iv

Halo 4 Cortana
Game Release Date November 6, 2022
Halo Timeline 2557 CE
Developer 343 Industries
Genre First-Person Shooter
Boilerplate Completion Fourth dimension viii Hours

Halo four is the first game in the Reclaimer Saga and is besides the commencement mainline Halo title to be solely created by 343 Industries. The story picks up four years subsequently the events of Halo three. Chief Chief and Cortana are pitted against the Forerunner known as the Didact, every bit well every bit a splinter faction of the Covenant.

The threat of the Didact pales in comparison to the tragedy of Cortana's onset of AI rampancy. As she and the Primary struggle to undo the Didact's plans, they accept to fence with her deteriorating status.

Halo 4 put extra focus on the relationship between Master Chief and Cortana throughout the campaign, and the multiplayer underwent massive changes every bit well, incorporating loadouts as an integral part of the experience.

iv Halo: Spartan Strike

Halo Spartan Strike cover art and gameplay screenshot
Game Release Date April 16, 2022
Halo Timeline 2557 CE - 2558 CE
Developer Vanguard Games
Genre Top-Down, Twin-Stick Shooter
Average Completion Time vi Hours

The sequel to Spartan Assail, Halo: Spartan Strike is a twin-stick shooter game in the aforementioned vein. This game technically takes place during two time periods: partially during Halo 2 and partially during events afterwards Halo 4.

The game primarily focuses on the player hunting down an antiquity chosen the Conduit. This artifact was first located in the ruins of New Mombasa, just it got transported to a Halo ring. The struggle to obtain it is the main objective of the narrative.

Narrative takes a back seat to gameplay in this arcade-style title. This brusque entry in the Halo franchise barely whets the appetite for lore-hungry fans.

iii Halo 5: Guardians

Halo 5 Guardians cover image of Locke versus Master Chief
Game Release Date Oct 27, 2022
Halo Timeline 2558
Developer 343 Industries
Genre Offset-Person Shooter
Boilerplate Completion Time 8 Hours

Halo v: Guardians is the eye entry in 343's trilogy of Halo games. Information technology tells the stories of both Master Chief and Spartan Locke. The latter hunts the old subsequently Chief goes rogue to notice Cortana.

As it turns out, Cortana has intentions of bold the Forerunners' Mantle of Responsibility. Her method of monitoring and controlling all sentient life in the galaxy assuredly puts her at odds with the Chief. No one can say that Guardians did not make bold choices when it came to the management of Halo's narrative.

Nevertheless, despite having generally favorable reviews, Halo v's campaign was criticized for lacking couch co-op amongst a few other complaints. Many fans felt the game to be a step astern for the series.

two Halo Wars two

Halo Wars 2 cover art
Game Release Appointment February 21, 2022
Halo Timeline 2559 CE
Programmer Artistic Assembly
Genre Real-Fourth dimension Strategy
Boilerplate Completion Time 9 Hours

Halo Wars 2 is the sequel to the original Halo Wars and takes place after Halo 5: Guardians. It follows the Spirit Of Burn crew dealing with the Banished on the abased Ark. Similar to Halo Wars, it is a real-time strategy game that is set in the Halo universe.

Its controls and gameplay mechanics are likewise remarkably inviting for newcomers to the RTS genre. While it is not the definitive Halo experience, information technology is a solid entry in the franchise, with story beats that help to set the plot for Halo Infinite.

Atriox, the leader of the Banished during Halo Wars ii, plays a pivotal role in Infinite. Fans who want to truly appreciate his presence and motivations would do well to play this game before rushing into Infinite.

1 Halo Infinite

A screenshot showing Master Chief and Cortana in Halo Infinite
via Xbox
Game Release Appointment December 8, 2022
Halo Timeline 2560
Developer 343 Industries
Genre First-Person Shooter
Average Completion Time 10 Hours

Halo Infinite is the latest release in the franchise. It takes place after the events of Halo five: Guardians and Halo Wars 2. The Banished are the game's main enemies, with Infinite taking place right after they wiped out most UNSC forces on Zeta Halo. Main Master awakens iii months subsequently with a new AI companion known equally the Weapon, and together they have to defeat the Banished and stop the rise of a new ancient combative force on the ring.

Seriously, if you think about what the arrival of the Straw and the Endless means, your jaw should be hitting the floor. Halo Infinite potentially sets up a whole new management for the series to take.

343 Industries definitely made Space i of Primary Main'south greatest adventures yet and, perhaps, the almost ambitious Halo game to appointment. The story is full of surprises, and the multiplayer feels fantastic.

Side by side: Halo Infinite Guide: Everything Nosotros Know So Far

New Eeveelution Has Already Been Practically Confirmed By The Anime

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