GameTimeline

Release & story order

Halo timeline

Halo from Combat Evolved through Infinite—US release dates, in-universe chronology from the Human-Covenant War to Zeta Halo, and how ODST, Reach, novels, and Spartan Ops fit around the numbered games.

Updated August 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When each game shipped on Xbox/PC. Combat Evolved launched in 2001; Reach and ODST came later but take place earlier in the story. The Master Chief Collection bundles the classic FPS entries on modern platforms.

  • Classic path → Halo: Combat Evolved → 2 → 3 → ODST → Reach → 4 → 5 → Infinite
  • Story-first path → switch to Story order (Reach before CE; ODST after Halo 2)
  • One purchase → The Master Chief Collection covers CE through Reach + ODST + 4 (Halo 5 and Infinite sold separately)
  • Skip Halo Wars unless you want RTS prequel context (2531)
Story order tips

When events happen in fiction, from the early Human-Covenant War through the conflict on Zeta Halo. Most of 2552 is packed into Reach → Combat Evolved → Halo 2 → ODST → Halo 3—see Story order for exact placement.

  • Core arc: Wars (2531, optional) → Reach → CE → H2 → ODST → H3 → 4 → 5 → Wars 2 (2559, optional) → Infinite
  • Novel Fall of Reach predates CE on the calendar but most fans play CE first—explained in the questions below; the Reach game overrides book details where they clash
  • Between Halo 4 and 5: Spartan Ops (10 episodes), Forward Unto Dawn, and novels like Silentium—optional; see Halo film & TV timeline for watch order
  • Spartan Assault (2554) and Spartan Strike are optional—not on Story order; see the questions below
  • On Story order, some entries are hidden to avoid spoilers—click to reveal them, or turn on Show all spoilers

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Halo: Combat Evolved

    Halo: Combat Evolved

    XboxPCFPSMainline

    Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) puts Master Chief and Cortana on Installation 04—the ringworld mystery that made Xbox a console FPS destination.

    Overview
    Bungie’s vehicle sandbox, grenade-gun-melee loop, and mysterious Forerunner lore proved consoles could carry a blockbuster campaign.
    In-game setting
    Late 2552: Pillar of Autumn escapes Reach, crash-lands on Halo, fights Covenant, and unleashes the Flood. Direct setup for Halo 2.
    Should you play it?
    Iconic gameplay start. Story fans often play Reach first—see Story order. Adaptations sit on Halo media.
    Release date
    US Xbox launch November 15, 2001. PC port 2003; Anniversary 2011; included in MCC.
  2. Halo 2

    Halo 2

    XboxPCFPSMainline

    Halo 2 splits the campaign between Chief on Earth and the Arbiter in Covenant space—Xbox Live’s multiplayer phenomenon of its generation.

    Overview
    Playable Arbiter reveals Covenant politics; online matchmaking made Halo a living room sport. Dual campaigns redefine the sequel structure.
    In-game setting
    2552: New Mombasa defense, Delta Halo, and the cliffhanger into Halo 3. Arbiter’s path reframes the war’s ideology.
    Should you play it?
    Play after Combat Evolved on both tabs. ODST slots after Metropolis—see FAQ. Screen extras on Halo media.
    Release date
    US Xbox November 9, 2004. Anniversary in MCC; PC via MCC 2020.
  3. Halo 3

    Halo 3

    Xbox 360PCFPSMainline

    Halo 3 closes the Human-Covenant War trilogy on Xbox 360—Earth, the Ark, and the Chief/Cortana farewell that defined a generation.

    Overview
    Theater mode, Forge, and epic finale set pieces capped Bungie’s mainline run before Reach’s prequel swing.
    In-game setting
    2552–2553: Flood containment, Truth’s final play, and Chief’s cryo send-off that Halo 4 picks up years later.
    Should you play it?
    Play after Halo 2; insert ODST between them on Story. MCC is the modern package for this arc. MCC bundles remain the easiest way to replay classic campaigns on modern hardware.
    Release date
    US Xbox 360 September 25, 2007; later MCC/PC. Legendary Edition bundles were common at retail.
  4. Halo Wars
    Optional

    Halo Wars

    Xbox 360PCRTSOptionalSpin-off

    Halo Wars is an optional RTS prequel (2531) about the Spirit of Fire—skip on a Chief-only FPS path, keep if you want early Covenant-war context.

    Overview
    Console-friendly Halo RTS with base building and scarab-scale battles outside the FPS sandbox.
    In-game setting
    2531 Harvest/Arcadia campaign. Story placement is earliest main entry—decades before 2552’s ring wars.
    Should you play it?
    Optional on both tabs. Not required before Reach or Combat Evolved; Wars 2 continues this lane later. MCC bundles remain the easiest way to replay classic campaigns on modern hardware.
    Release date
    US Xbox 360 February 28, 2009; later PC Definitive Edition. Separate from MCC FPS bundle.
  5. Halo 3: ODST

    Halo 3: ODST

    Xbox 360PCFPSMainline

    Halo 3: ODST drops you into New Mombasa as a silent Orbital Drop Shock Trooper—noir investigation overlapping Halo 2’s city fight.

    Overview
    Firefight mode and a quieter detective structure break from Chief’s power fantasy while staying inside the same war week.
    In-game setting
    2552 October: Superintendent data trail through occupied New Mombasa while Halo 2’s wider war continues overhead.
    Should you play it?
    Play after Halo 2’s Metropolis (or after finishing Halo 2). Bundled in many MCC editions. MCC bundles remain the easiest way to replay classic campaigns on modern hardware.
    Release date
    US Xbox 360 September 22, 2009; MCC includes the campaign and Firefight on supported platforms.
  6. Halo: Reach

    Halo: Reach

    Xbox 360PCFPSMainlinePrequel

    Halo: Reach is the tragic prequel about Noble Team defending Reach—often the best Story-first starting point before Combat Evolved.

    Overview
    Loadout armor abilities, assassination culture, and a doomed campaign tone that recontextualizes the Autumn’s escape.
    In-game setting
    2552 August: Fall of Reach, Noble Six’s last stand, and the Pillar of Autumn handoff into Combat Evolved.
    Should you play it?
    Release order places it after ODST; Story order puts it before CE. Strongly recommended before the trilogy if you want chronology. MCC bundles remain the easiest way to replay classic campaigns on modern hardware.
    Release date
    US Xbox 360 September 14, 2010; included in MCC. PC via MCC.
  7. Halo 4

    Halo 4

    Xbox 360PCFPSMainline

    Halo 4 begins 343 Industries’ Reclaimer saga—Chief wakes on Requiem, Forerunner Didact threats, and Cortana’s deteriorating arc.

    Overview
    Sprint-era FPS modernization plus Forerunner mythology that shifts antagonists beyond the Covenant alone.
    In-game setting
    2557 Requiem: Didact conflict and Cortana’s sacrifice setup that Halo 5 controversially continues.
    Should you play it?
    Play after the Bungie trilogy (+ Reach/ODST as you prefer). Spartan Ops and novels are optional between 4 and 5—see Halo media. MCC bundles remain the easiest way to replay classic campaigns on modern hardware.
    Release date
    US Xbox 360 November 6, 2012; later MCC. First mainline 343 campaign.
  8. Halo 5: Guardians

    Halo 5: Guardians

    Xbox OnePCFPSMainline

    Halo 5: Guardians splits focus between Chief and Locke’s Fireteam Osiris across Sanghelios and Guardians awakening—divisive but required for Infinite setup.

    Overview
    Clambering movement, arena multiplayer focus, and dual-protagonist campaign structure mark 343’s mid-saga swing.
    In-game setting
    2558: Guardians rise, Cortana’s Created conflict begins, and Blue Team / Osiris threads seed Infinite.
    Should you play it?
    Play after Halo 4. Xbox One-era entry long sold separately from early MCC; check current storefront bundles.
    Release date
    US Xbox One October 27, 2015; PC release later. Not in the original MCC disc set.
  9. Halo Wars 2
    Optional

    Halo Wars 2

    Xbox OnePCRTSOptionalSpin-off

    Halo Wars 2 returns to the Spirit of Fire in 2559 against Atriox’s Banished on the Ark—optional RTS between Halo 5 and Infinite.

    Overview
    Blizzard-assisted RTS sequel with Banished hierarchy that Infinite later makes central in the FPS lane.
    In-game setting
    2559 Ark campaign vs Atriox. Story sits after Halo 5, before Infinite’s Zeta Halo war.
    Should you play it?
    Optional. Helpful Banished context before Infinite, not required if you only play shooters. MCC bundles remain the easiest way to replay classic campaigns on modern hardware.
    Release date
    US Xbox One / PC February 21, 2017. Separate from MCC; Game Pass often carries it.
  10. Halo Infinite

    Halo Infinite

    Xbox Series X|SPCFPSMainlineOpen world

    Halo Infinite open-worlds Zeta Halo against the Banished—Chief’s 2560 return after the Created crisis, with live-service multiplayer alongside the campaign.

    Overview
    Grappleshot open-zone FPS structure and Banished-focused campaign refresh the sandbox after arena-linear Halo 5.
    In-game setting
    2560 Zeta Halo: Weapon AI partnership, Harbinger mysteries, and Banished occupation after the Created war’s fallout.
    Should you play it?
    Current mainline endpoint. Play after Halo 5 (and optionally Wars 2 for Banished). Media extras on Halo media.
    Release date
    US December 8, 2021 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. Campaign and multiplayer storefront splits varied after launch.

FAQ

Three ways to follow Halo (release, story, full transmedia), MCC bundles, ODST placement, Fall of Reach vs Reach, and optional books or live-service content.

Release order

Story & 2552

The Fall of Reach novel (2552, weeks before CE) was written before the game and sets up Master Chief and the Pillar of Autumn. Many readers enjoy CE first for the mystery of the ring, then the book for backstory. Story order on this page starts with the Reach game (planet fall) then CE—see Reach or CE first.

Optional & spin-offs

TV, books & EU

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.