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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →For a beginner following the broad in-universe chronology, play Halo Wars, Halo: Reach, Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3: ODST, Halo 3, Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Wars 2, then Halo Infinite. This is a game-by-game guide, not a mission-by-mission timeline: ODST overlaps Halo 2, so placing it after that game keeps the playthrough simple without implying that all its events happen later.
Halo campaigns in chronological order
The sequence below follows the broad fictional chronology of the major game campaigns. It includes strategy spin-offs as well as the first-person games, so it is not limited to Master Chief’s story.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Halo: The Master Chief Collection | $79.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Microsoft Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Xbox One | $35.79 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Halo The Master Chief Collection Xbox One Game | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Third Party - Halo : Master Chief Collection Occasion [ Xbox One ] - 0885370863949](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41o0m2P4tFL._SL160_.jpg)
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Third Party - Halo : Master Chief Collection Occasion [ Xbox One ] - 0885370863949 | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Halo Encyclopedia | $27.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Halo Wars — An earlier conflict that introduces the Covenant war from a real-time strategy perspective.
- Halo: Reach — A prequel set just before Halo: Combat Evolved. Microsoft’s Halo primer describes it as showing the Covenant attack on Reach before the original game.
- Halo: Combat Evolved — The original Master Chief campaign and the starting point of the central story.
- Halo 2 — Continues the main conflict. The events of Halo 3: ODST overlap this game.
- Halo 3: ODST — Follows the New Mombasa battle during Halo 2. For a first playthrough, play the full campaign here rather than interrupting Halo 2 to place individual events.
- Halo 3 — Continues the original trilogy’s central arc.
- Halo 4 — Begins the next mainline chapter after the original trilogy.
- Halo 5: Guardians — Follows Halo 4 in the mainline story.
- Halo Wars 2 — Broadens the conflict beyond the numbered first-person games and provides useful context for the Banished.
- Halo Infinite — The latest mainline story in this sequence.
This is a practical chronology rather than a claim that one list captures every overlap precisely. The official primer establishes that Reach precedes Combat Evolved and that ODST focuses on the New Mombasa battle in Halo 2; the placement of the complete ODST campaign after Halo 2 is simply a convenient play order.
Chronological order or release order?
Choose chronological order if you want to move through the story’s earlier and later eras in sequence. Choose release order if you would rather encounter the games and story revelations as audiences originally did. Either is a reasonable way to begin; chronology is not essential to understanding the series.
#1 Best Overall
- System requirement your device must meet all minimum requirements to open this product OS Xbox One architecture x64
| Approach | What it prioritizes | Consider it if |
|---|---|---|
| Chronological | Broad in-universe order, including the earlier Halo Wars and Reach. | You want to follow the story’s eras, and you are happy to include strategy campaigns. |
| Release order | The sequence in which the games originally presented their stories and reveals. | You prefer the franchise’s original progression; starting with Combat Evolved is an alternative to beginning with the prequel Reach. |
Where to play the campaigns
Microsoft says Halo: The Master Chief Collection includes six relevant campaigns: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo 4, and Halo: Reach. That makes it a substantial part of this playthrough, but it does not include Halo Wars, Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Wars 2, or Halo Infinite. See Microsoft’s collection overview for its listed contents. Check current platform compatibility and availability before buying; those can vary and are not established here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What about Halo: Campaign Evolved?
In an October 2025 announcement, Xbox Wire described Halo: Campaign Evolved as a remake of the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign coming in 2026. Because that announcement set a future release window, check the latest official information for its current release status rather than assuming it is available. If released, it belongs at the Combat Evolved point as another way to experience that campaign, not as a separate chronological chapter. Read the Xbox Wire announcement.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
- Region Free Australia
- 100% Compatible With USA Xbox One Console
- 100% Compatible With USA XBOX Live Account
- Work Exactly the Same as LOCAL Copy
- For the first time ever, The Master Chief's entire story is on one console. Featuring a re-mastered Halo 2: Anniversary, along with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 3, and Halo 4, new digital series, Halo: Nightfall.
Rank #2
- Please NOTE: This game is UK Import Game it may be Arabic and English print on the cover. it is Region Free PAL Game.
- It may say "promotional copy not for resale" on cover but it is legal to sell in worldwide. It was removed from Xbox One Console combo.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
