Halo is one of the most recognizable names in all of gaming. Players immediately think of the ringed superstructures and the iconic green spartan Master Chief. This series has explored much beyond Chief, however, spreading to different characters and even different genres.
Each Halo game has added something impactful to the series, whether it is worldbuilding or mechanically. Some Halo games, unfortunately, do not innovate as much as other titles. There are no bad Halo games that have been made, but there are some less amazing ones when compared to the rest. Here are the 5 best and worst Halo games in the series.
10 Best- Halo Wars 2
As a real-time strategy title, Halo Wars 2 is as simple as it gets. But as a Halo title, this game is a true successor to Bungie's own entries in the series.
Players control UNSC or Covenant units in massive battles. These visuals are a sight to behold, seeing flamethrowers burn Covenant forces while aircrafts lay down covering fire. The lack of strategic, in-depth mechanics holds this game back from being a truly great RTS title. But that's okay. This game was built with the Xbox in mind, and as a console RTS title, Halo Wars 2 is a fantastic addition to the franchise and genre.
9 Worst - Halo 5: Guardians
Fans still argue about how poor the story in this installment was, throwing away almost all of the story Halo 4 built up throughout its campaign.
Not all is bad, with the fantastic evolution of competitive multiplayer and Spartan abilities. The weapon sandbox was better than ever, and Halo 5 came with some genuinely great maps. Despite this, Warzone's heavy focus towards microtransactions hurt this PvEvP innovator more than it should. Hopefully, 343 learn from their mistakes in their next title.
8 Best - Halo: Reach
Halo: Reach is a game about the inevitable. Spartans are fighting an ever-losing war against an opponent they can't hope to beat. In the same way, it was inevitable for Bungie to stop making Halo titles.
Thankfully, they went out with a bang, adding a staggering amount of content that holds up to this day. Expanded Forge options, tons of custom game settings, abilities for multiplayer to change playstyles, and even the way your character looks. Everything was tunable with this game and made it a personal experience to fans, making Bungie's departure all the more heartbreaking.
7 Worst - Halo 4
How could a development studio's first game live up to something as significant as Halo: Reach? 343 Industries had some massive shoes to fill with their first game: Halo 4.
Try as they might, this game missed the mark. Most of the story was incoherent to all but the most diehard of fans. Multiplayer incorporated too many elements from other FPS titles, becoming a trend-follower rather than a trend-setter of the past. Forge options were lacking compared to before, and Spartan Ops did not fill the same void Firefight did. Halo 4 isn't a bad game but it's a bad Halo game.
6 Best - Halo 3: ODST
This expansion for Halo 3 ended up becoming its own separate title. Halo 3: ODST puts players in the shoes of marines for once instead of the all-powerful Spartan supersoldiers.
The atmosphere was a key pillar in this game that sets it apart from the others. No other Halo game makes players feel so alone. Somber jazz hums in the background of everpresent rain and Covenant scouting. A lack of multiplayer was replaced with Firefight, a wave defense mode against ever-increasing difficult waves of enemies. It was a fan favorite instantly, later to be iterated on with Reach.
5 Worst - Halo Wars
Take the lack of strategy from Halo Wars 2 and combine that with less polished mechanics and storytelling. Your result will be Halo Wars, a game that is just too rough around the edges to be enjoyed.
The story is good here, just like Halo Wars 2, but it is not told as well as its sequel. Fewer units mean fewer tactics for players to utilize, and the commander abilities were uninspired when compared to similar RTS games. Halo Wars is a console RTS title, but Red Alert 3 and Command and Conquer 3 are console RTS titles, both of which do everything Halo Wars does but better.
4 Best - Halo 2
Bungie had to find a way to top Halo: Combat Evolved's fantastic gunplay and memorable setting, all the while working under a strict deadline.
Not only did they find a way to improve on Halo's gunplay, but they also changed the entire multiplayer gaming scene at the same time. Halo 2 is a technical achievement that stands the test of time. Near perfect multiplayer maps and an adrenaline-fueled campaign brought Halo into the mainstream. The cliffhanger ending and unbalanced multiplayer are the only things holding this game back from being the best in the series.
3 Worst - Halo: Spartan Assault
For a game designed for consoles and mobile, Halo: Spartan Assault handles exceptionally well. Fans of twin-stick shooters will love this title, but that's the thing: this is a twin-stick shooter.
In a series renowned for its amazing first-person gunplay, a top-down shooter doesn't provide the same visceral feeling as the other games do. Add in controller issues on PC and this game just doesn't live up to the Halo brand. Phenomenal particle effects and great sound design can only distract players for so long before they realize the core gameplay it offers is repetitive and boring.
2 Best - Halo 3
The first game perfected gunplay onto controllers, and the second game changed the entire multiplayer landscape. How would Halo 3 compete with the last two titles?
Simple: polish those things as much as possible. Unintended bugs and unbalanced weapons were ironed out in multiplayer. The campaign wrapped up almost all loose ends masterfully and in an engaging way. More than that, Bungie gave the community Forge and Theater mode, allowing the community to create content for themselves. This was a game truly made by the fans, for the fans.
1 Worst: Halo: Spartan Strike
Halo: Spartan Strike, like Spartan Assault, has some technical issues on PC that prevent it from being great. On other platforms, this game is fine.
This game does improve on some core systems from Spartan Assault but fails to do anything truly impressive. The last few missions of the game are also locked behind high scores needed in every level before them, meaning most players will not even see the true ending of the game. That is disrespectful of the player's time, and in conjunction with it being a top-down shooter, makes this the worst Halo game in the franchise.