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

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Due to the long, sprawling lore that surrounds the franchise, it can be hard to determine where the story starts first. In order to rectify this, we have organized Halo games in chronological order regarding where each lies on the timeline. Whether you are a long-standing fan of Master Chief's adventures or a newcomer wondering where to begin, read on and find out the chronology of Halo's universe.

Updated April 18, 2023 by Amanda Hurych: Halo Infinite has introduced a few new story elements to the universe courtesy of its multiplayer component. The campaign tells us what happened to Master Chief after the end of Halo 5: Guardians. Time elapsed, the Banished ambushed the Infinity, and Cortana was defeated. However, that's not all that has been going on. Thanks to some cinematic trailers announcing the latest season for Infinite, we know the Banished have developed AI technology and that something sinister is going on that this new generation of Spartans needs to prepare for. We've also updated this list to include available platforms on which to play these beloved games!

13 Halo Wars

Gameplay screenshot of Halo Wars snowy map

Game Release Date

February 6, 2009

Halo Timeline

2531 CE

Developer

Ensemble Studios

Genre

Real-Time Strategy

Average Completion Time

10 Hours

Platforms

Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

Designed as a real-time strategy game, Halo Wars is considered the earliest game entry in terms of Halo lore. However, when considering the many books that comprise Halo's expanded universe, The Forerunner Saga definitely takes the cake in terms of earliest entry overall.

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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 Fire as they stop the Covenant from getting their hands on an armada of ancient Forerunner ships.

12 Halo: Reach

Halo Reach cover

Game Release Date

September 14, 2010

Halo Timeline

2552 CE

Developer

Bungie

Genre

First-Person Shooter

Average Completion Time

9 Hours

Platforms

Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

The end mission of Halo: Reach takes place just a few moments before the original Halo: Combat Evolved, so it's not hard to tell where this falls on the Halo timeline. The game tells the tragic story of a team of Spartans attempting to defend the doomed planet Reach from an overhwleming force of Covenant invaders.

Fans of the series knew from the get-go that it would be a losing fight. The campaign possesses a somber tone, but it introduces robust gameplay through its multiplayer component.

11 Halo: Combat Evolved

Halo: Combat Evolved promotional image

Game Release Date

November 15, 2001

Halo Timeline

2552 CE

Developer

Bungie

Genre

First-Person Shooter

Average Completion Time

10 Hours

Platforms

Xbox, Xbox 360, PC

The original title that started it all, Halo: Combat Evolved is the first game where players control Master Chief. With an excellent weapon sandbox and other phenomenal gameplay elements that have remained fundamental staples for the rest of the franchise, Halo: Combat Evolved focuses on the Chief's journey across the titular Halo ring.

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

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

10 Halo: Fireteam Raven

Screenshot of Halo Fireteam Raven arcade game

Game Release Date

July 2018

Halo Timeline

2552 CE

Developer

Play Mechanix Inc.

Genre

Arcade Rail Shooter

Average Completion Time

1 Hour

Platforms

Arcade Game

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 among the Halo games due to being a cooperative arcade shooter that originally debuted at Dave & Buster's.

However, fighting to protect the Pillar of Autumn against waves of Grunts and Elites still feels like a familiar experience to any Halo fan.

9 Halo 2

Halo 2 Anniversary cover art

Game Release Date

November 9, 2004

Halo Timeline

2552 CE

Developer

Bungie

Genre

First-Person Shooter

Average Completion Time

10 Hours

Platforms

Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One

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

The story takes place after the events of Combat 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 form of the Arbiter.

8 Halo 3: ODST

Halo 3 ODST Cover

Game Release Date

September 22, 2009

Halo Timeline

2552 CE

Developer

Bungie

Genre

First-Person Shooter

Average Completion Time

7 Hours

Platforms

Xbox 360

Originally thought of as a small side project by Bungie that merely supported the story of Halo 3, ODST eventually grew to become a full-fledged game that is able to stand tall among its brethren Halo titles. Playing as 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 night, the jazz overtones courtesy of Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori, and the unique plot progression make ODST a darling jewel in the collection of Halo games we've played. Halo 3: 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

Developer

Bungie

Genre

First-Person Shooter

Average Completion Time

8 Hours

Platforms

Xbox 360, Xbox One

Halo 3 concludes the story started by the original Halo, before the later events of the Reclaimer Saga. Due to being the grand finale of a trilogy, the game was designed to be bigger and better than what came before.

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Master Chief must deal with the entirety of the Covenant under the Prophet of Truth and eradicate the Flood from the face 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 allowed you to modify multiplayer maps.

6 Halo: Spartan Assault

Halo Spartan Assault gameplay screenshot and cover art

Game Release Date

July 18, 2013

Halo Timeline

2552 CE - 2557 CE

Developer

Vanguard Games

Genre

Top-Down, Twin-Stick Shooter

Average Completion Time

5 Hours

Platforms

Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

Halo: Spartan Assault is a twin-stick shooter that originally came out for mobile platforms. When it comes to placing Halo games in order, this one 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 part of her story.

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

5 Halo 4

Halo 4 Cortana

Game Release Date

November 6, 2012

Halo Timeline

2557 CE

Developer

343 Industries

Genre

First-Person Shooter

Average Completion Time

8 Hours

Platforms

Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

Halo 4 is the first game in the Reclaimer Saga and is also the first mainline Halo title to be solely created by 343 Industries. The story picks up four years after the events of Halo 3. Master Chief and Cortana are pitted against the Forerunner known as the Didact, as well as 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 Chief struggle to undo the Didact's plans, they have to contend with her deteriorating condition.

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

4 Halo: Spartan Strike

Halo Spartan Strike cover art and gameplay screenshot

Game Release Date

April 16, 2016

Halo Timeline

2557 CE - 2558 CE

Developer

Vanguard Games

Genre

Top-Down, Twin-Stick Shooter

Average Completion Time

6 Hours

Platforms

PC

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

The game primarily focuses on the player hunting down an artifact called the Conduit. This artifact was first located in the ruins of New Mombasa, but 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 short entry in the Halo franchise barely whets the appetite for lore-hungry fans.

3 Halo 5: Guardians

Halo 5 Guardians cover image of Locke versus Master Chief

Game Release Date

October 27, 2015

Halo Timeline

2558

Developer

343 Industries

Genre

First-Person Shooter

Average Completion Time

8 Hours

Platforms

Xbox One

Halo 5: Guardians is the middle entry in 343's trilogy of Halo games. It tells the stories of both Master Chief and Spartan Locke. The latter hunts the former after Chief goes rogue to find Cortana.

As it turns out, Cortana has intentions of assuming 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 direction of Halo's narrative.

However, despite having generally favorable reviews, Halo 5's campaign was criticized for lacking couch co-op among a few other complaints. Many fans felt the game to be a step backward for the series.

2 Halo Wars 2

Halo Wars 2 cover art

Game Release Date

February 21, 2017

Halo Timeline

2559 CE

Developer

Creative Assembly

Genre

Real-Time Strategy

Average Completion Time

9 Hours

Platforms

Xbox One, PC

Halo Wars 2 is the sequel to the original Halo Wars and takes place after Halo 5: Guardians. It follows the Spirit Of Fire crew dealing with the Banished on the abandoned 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, it is a solid entry in the franchise, with story beats that help to set up the plot for Halo Infinite.

Atriox, the leader of the Banished during Halo Wars 2, 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 Date

December 8, 2021

Halo Timeline

2560

Developer

343 Industries

Genre

First-Person Shooter

Average Completion Time

10 Hours

Platforms

Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Halo Infinite is the latest release in the franchise. It takes place after the events of Halo 5: 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. Master Chief awakens three months later with a new AI companion known as the Weapon, and together they have to defeat the Banished and stop the rise of a new ancient antagonistic force on the ring.

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

343 Industries definitely made Infinite one of Master Chief's greatest adventures yet and, perhaps, the most ambitious Halo game to date. The story is full of surprises, and the multiplayer feels fantastic.

NEXT: Every Halo: Combat Evolved Mission, Ranked