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For a first story playthrough, follow release order: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, then Halo Infinite. Halo Support recommends that newcomers start with a campaign and names Combat Evolved Anniversary as the release-order starting point. The first six campaigns are together in Halo: The Master Chief Collection (MCC); Halo 5 and Infinite are separate games.
What order should you play the Halo games in?
This guide uses “main series” to mean the campaign path through the core games, rather than every story set in the Halo universe. Play in release order to encounter the campaigns in the sequence they were introduced:
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary — The recommended starting campaign for newcomers.
- Halo 2 Anniversary
- Halo 3
- Halo 3: ODST — A distinct campaign, not an expansion to Halo 3.
- Halo: Reach
- Halo 4
- Halo 5: Guardians — A separate game outside MCC.
- Halo Infinite — A separate game outside MCC.
Halo Support’s MCC Quick Start Guide recommends beginning with a campaign, and says to start with Combat Evolved Anniversary to experience the games in release order. That is the clearest route for a first full playthrough: it follows the franchise’s original progression rather than beginning with a prequel.
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For the classic campaign path
Start with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary in MCC. It is the first campaign in the collection’s release-order list, and the rest of the first six campaigns can be played from the same collection. This keeps the beginning of the story and the series’ release progression together.
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- A CLASSIC REIMAGINED — Experience the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign rebuilt with high‑definition visuals, updated cinematics, refined controls, and a brand‑new three‑mission adventure.
- ENHANCED AUDIO & VISUALS — Relive every mission with modernized animations, a remastered soundtrack, and fully rebuilt sound design for deeper immersion across the Halo universe.
- NEW STORY CONTENT — Play as the Master Chief alongside Sgt. Johnson in Operation: Meteorite, a standalone campaign featuring new environments, enemies, and gameplay challenges.
- ICONIC VEHICLES EVOLVED — Drive and hijack classic Halo vehicles with new gameplay possibilities, including piloting a fully controllable Wraith tank for the first time in Halo: CE.
- CO‑OP YOUR WAY — Play solo, in 2‑player split‑screen co‑op (console only), or up to 4‑player online co‑op with full crossplay and cross‑progression support.
If you want the 2026 remake instead
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a remake of the original Combat Evolved campaign, with additional content. It launched July 28, 2026 globally, with a July 29 date in Japan and select Asia-Pacific markets, according to Xbox Wire’s June 7, 2026 announcement. Treat it as an alternate way to experience the beginning, not a new chapter after Infinite. Choose MCC’s Anniversary campaign if you want the classic release progression; choose Campaign Evolved if you specifically want the remake’s rebuilt presentation and added missions.
What is included in The Master Chief Collection?
MCC is the simplest starting bundle for the first six campaigns. Halo Support lists these campaigns in release order:
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- PREMIUM EDITION CONTENT — Receive the Alpha Halo Armory Pack with 5 armor skins and 6 weapon skins, plus the Digital Artbook, Digital Short Story, and in‑game bonus content.
- A CLASSIC REIMAGINED — Experience the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign rebuilt with high‑definition visuals, updated cinematics, refined controls, and a brand‑new three‑mission adventure.
- ENHANCED AUDIO & VISUALS — Relive every mission with modernized animations, a remastered soundtrack, and fully rebuilt sound design for deeper immersion across the Halo universe.
- NEW STORY CONTENT — Play as the Master Chief alongside Sgt. Johnson in Operation: Meteorite, a standalone campaign featuring new environments, enemies, and gameplay challenges.
- CO‑OP YOUR WAY — Play solo, in 2‑player split‑screen co‑op (console only), or up to 4‑player online co‑op with full crossplay and cross‑progression support.
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
- Halo 2 Anniversary
- Halo 3
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo: Reach
- Halo 4
MCC is available on Xbox and Windows, through direct purchase or some Xbox Game Pass memberships. The Xbox Store listing identifies Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows 10/11 versions. Check the live Xbox Store listing for your region for current price and subscription availability; those details can change. Within MCC, choose the Campaigns menu for the story route rather than Multiplayer or Firefight.
How do Halo 5 and Halo Infinite fit in?
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo 5 is not part of MCC. Its official Xbox listing describes the campaign as continuing the Master Chief saga and lists Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. The reviewed listing does not establish a native Windows PC campaign version. If you play on PC, check whether Xbox Cloud Gaming is available in your region and confirm current service terms before relying on it.
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- System requirement your device must meet all minimum requirements to open this product OS Xbox One architecture x64
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite is also separate from MCC. Halo Support distinguishes its free multiplayer and Academy content from its campaign: the campaign must be purchased or accessed through some Game Pass memberships. Multiplayer does not require an active Game Pass subscription. The Halo Infinite installation guide documents installation through the Xbox app or Steam on PC and through the Store or Game Pass app on Xbox. It also explains that the campaign installation is managed separately. Xbox Play Anywhere purchases on Xbox or specified Microsoft PC storefronts carry over between those platforms; a Steam campaign purchase remains on Steam. Check the current listing and membership terms before buying.
Which route or platform should you choose?
| Choice | Best fit | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Classic progression or remake | Classic route: MCC’s Combat Evolved Anniversary. Remake: Campaign Evolved. | MCC starts with the Anniversary campaign; Campaign Evolved is a separate remake of the original campaign. |
| MCC or separate purchases | MCC if you want the first six campaigns together; separate games if you are looking for Halo 5 or Infinite. | MCC contains six campaigns and excludes Halo 5 and Infinite. |
| Xbox or Windows PC | MCC is listed for Xbox and Windows; Infinite is listed for PC and Xbox. | Halo 5’s reviewed listing names Xbox consoles and cloud gaming, not a native Windows PC campaign version. Confirm local cloud availability. |
| Infinite multiplayer or campaign | Multiplayer for free access; campaign for the story. | They are separate components, and campaign access requires purchase or an eligible Game Pass membership. |
How to begin a campaign in MCC
- Open Halo: The Master Chief Collection and select Campaigns.
- Choose Halo: CE Anniversary to start the release-order path.
- If you are new to Halo, select Quick Start when offered. Halo Support suggests Easy or Normal difficulty as starting points; choose what suits your comfort with action games.
Can you play the campaigns with friends?
MCC campaign co-op has platform-specific limits. On Xbox, you can play split-screen on the same console; the support guide says up to four players can share Xbox split-screen, but split-screen groups larger than two are limited to Multiplayer. On PC, MCC campaign co-op is online rather than split-screen. Online co-op with friends is supported, but Halo Support says Campaign and Campaign Playlists cannot currently use cross-play. Check the MCC support guide for current feature details before arranging a group campaign.
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- Master Chief can now wield two weapons at once, board Covenant vehicles and steal Covenant weapons like the incredible double energy sword
- Lead an all-new unit of super-soldiers, the ODST -- tougher, badder and deadlier versions of your old comrades
- New enemies, allies and surprises around every corner - intense combat action with enhanced AI and real-time lighting
- Immense single-player action with maassive landscapes and huge cities to explore and defend - destructible and interactive environments
- Take the action online with your Xbox Live and switch sides, to become a Covenant Elite!
Halo Support says Infinite multiplayer supports cross-play and cross-progression. That applies to its multiplayer experience; do not mistake free multiplayer access for campaign access.
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Are Halo spin-offs required?
No. This guide defines the main series as the campaign sequence above. Halo Wars and other spin-offs are optional ways to explore the wider universe, not prerequisites for this beginner campaign route. The list is a practical main-campaign path, not a claim that it includes every Halo story product.
Quick Recap
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