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Start with Halo 3: ODST. Halo: New Covenant is described as a fan-made campaign mod built on Halo 3: ODST, rather than an official standalone Halo release. That makes ODST the most directly relevant game to own and understand first. After that, choose Halo 3 for the story context the project names, or select another official campaign according to the tone, era, and platform you prefer.
The recommendations below separate confirmed connections from editorial suggestions. They also distinguish the mod’s dated project description from facts that have been verified as current.
What Halo: New Covenant actually is
The name can be misleading if you encountered it in a list of upcoming Halo games. The project description published by the Halo NC project channel on January 21, 2025 presents Halo: New Covenant as a fan-made campaign mod for Halo 3: ODST. It takes the story in a new direction after Halo 3; it is not presented as an officially released, standalone game or as an addition to official Halo canon.
That distinction changes the best answer to the title. You are not looking for an official sequel that follows a fixed release order. You are looking for the base game required by a mod, the official campaign that supplies its stated story backdrop, and other Halo campaigns that deliver a similar or contrasting experience.
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The same January 2025 description said that three missions were complete, a fourth was in development, and that the intended campaign supported single-player and up to four-player co-op. It also advertised Steam Workshop availability beginning January 31, 2025. Those are historical project statements. They do not establish the mod’s current download location, mission count, platform compatibility, or multiplayer support. Treat any present-day installation or feature claim as something to confirm on the project’s current official page.
Quick recommendations
| What you want | Best choice | Why it fits | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play the project itself | Halo 3: ODST | The project explicitly names it as the base game. | Current edition, platform, mod distribution method, and compatibility. |
| Follow the immediately preceding story named by the project | Halo 3 | The mod is described as taking place after Halo 3. | Which version is available on your platform and whether your preferred multiplayer features are included. |
| Get a darker, more contained military campaign | Halo 3: ODST | Its urban night setting and squad-focused framing make it a natural companion even apart from the mod connection. | Current storefront or subscription availability. |
| Play an earlier mainline campaign | Halo: Combat Evolved or Halo 2 | Both provide official prequel-era context and a different starting point for the franchise. | Edition, remaster features, and platform support. |
| See a separate new official campaign project | Halo: Campaign Evolved | Xbox Wire described it as a remake of the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign. | Its current release status; the announcement targeted 2026 across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, and Game Pass. |
This table is deliberately not a numerical ranking. The best game depends on whether “after” means installing the mod, following its stated setting, or finding another campaign with a particular atmosphere.
1. Halo 3: ODST — the essential first choice
If your goal is to play New Covenant, Halo 3: ODST is the only recommendation with a direct project-level connection. The mod is built for it, so a copy of the base game is the starting requirement rather than an optional prequel.
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Why ODST is the right foundation
- It is the named base game. The project description identifies ODST, not a newer engine or a separate launcher, as the foundation.
- It supplies the immediate gameplay context. Learning the weapons, movement, encounters, and campaign structure in the base game gives you a practical reference for any mod built on it.
- It stands on its own. You do not have to be interested in fan projects to choose it. The campaign offers a more compact, atmospheric alternative to the larger-scale Spartan-focused entries.
- It is the safest compatibility assumption. Because current mod requirements are unverified, owning the exact named base game gives you the best chance of satisfying whatever build the project currently supports.
What to check before buying or installing
Do not assume that every store edition, console release, or subscription version accepts the mod. Confirm the operating system, edition, required launcher, and distribution method on the project’s current official page. Also check whether the mod expects a particular patch or a specific PC release. The January 2025 announcement is enough to establish the relationship to ODST, but not enough to promise that a present-day Workshop item, mission list, or co-op mode still works.
Who should choose ODST even without the mod
Pick ODST if you prefer a self-contained campaign, a less conventional protagonist perspective, and a moodier science-fiction war story. It is also the most sensible entry for a group that wants to test the project’s advertised co-op concept later, while remembering that the “up to four players” statement was a 2025 intention rather than a current guarantee.
2. Halo 3 — the clearest story-context choice
The project description says that New Covenant takes the story in a new direction after Halo 3. If you want to understand that wording, play Halo 3 before the mod. This is a continuity recommendation, not a claim that the fan campaign is official canon or that its plot is endorsed by the franchise owner.
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Why play it before ODST-based mod content?
Halo 3 gives you the event the project uses as its narrative reference point. You can then approach New Covenant as an unofficial continuation inspired by that endpoint, rather than mistaking it for the next chapter in the official series. It also lets you compare how the mod reinterprets familiar ideas, locations, or conflicts without assuming that every connection is canon.
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- Play Halo 3 through its campaign.
- Play Halo 3: ODST to learn the base game’s systems and own the stated mod platform.
- Check the current New Covenant project page for installation requirements and an up-to-date build.
- Play the mod only after confirming that your copy and platform are supported.
This order is not mandatory. ODST first is perfectly reasonable if the mod itself is your priority; Halo 3 first simply makes the project’s “after Halo 3” description easier to place.
3. Halo: Reach — choose it for a different kind of campaign
Halo: Reach is an editorial recommendation rather than a game named by the New Covenant project. Choose it when you want an official campaign with a more tragic, military tone and a strong emphasis on a team operating under pressure. It is useful as a contrast: instead of extending the post-Halo 3 setting through a fan mod, you experience another official chapter with its own atmosphere and stakes.
It is not a prerequisite for New Covenant, and playing it will not resolve the mod’s current compatibility questions. Its value is tonal and historical. If you enjoy the grounded squad focus suggested by ODST, Reach is a logical next official campaign; if you want only the direct route to the mod, skip it until after ODST and Halo 3.
4. Halo: Combat Evolved — return to the series’ starting point
Halo: Combat Evolved is the best choice for a reader who wants to reset the timeline rather than continue outward from New Covenant. It establishes the core campaign vocabulary that later games and fan projects build upon: exploration, vehicle sections, shield-based combat, and the central science-fiction conflict.
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Rank #3
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When Combat Evolved is the right next game
- You have never played a Halo campaign and want the franchise’s original starting point.
- You want to compare the upcoming or newly released remake project with the source campaign.
- You prefer a campaign that emphasizes discovery and foundational mechanics over a direct post-Halo 3 continuation.
5. Halo 2 — for players who want the broader conflict
Halo 2 is another official alternative rather than a direct follow-up to the mod. It expands the series’ perspective and scale, making it a good pick when you want more political and factional context before returning to the later-era games.
Play it after Combat Evolved for the conventional early-series sequence, or select it on its own when you already know the first campaign. Nothing in the New Covenant project description requires Halo 2; its place in this guide comes from the reader’s likely desire to explore the official campaigns around the setting that inspired the mod.
6. Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, and Halo Infinite — later official campaigns
If “after” means “what official Halo should I play next?” rather than “what leads directly into the mod?”, the later mainline campaigns are valid choices. They continue the official series in directions that are separate from the fan-made project.
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Halo 4
Choose Halo 4 when you want to move forward from the original trilogy into the next phase of the official storyline. It is a better fit for readers interested in how the franchise’s central characters and threats evolve than for someone seeking a direct New Covenant prerequisite.
Halo 5: Guardians
Choose Halo 5: Guardians if you want the next major official campaign after Halo 4 and have access to a compatible platform. Platform and edition details matter here, so verify current availability before planning a purchase or subscription around it.
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite is the choice for a more recent official campaign and a broader environment to explore. It is not a sequel to the mod, and the mod’s dated description provides no evidence about compatibility between the two. Treat it as a separate official branch of the franchise.
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These three games belong in a “continue the official series” path, not in a claim that they follow New Covenant. Keeping those paths separate prevents a fan-made continuation from being mistaken for release order or canon.
How to choose without following a rigid ranking
| Your priority | Start here | Then consider |
|---|---|---|
| Install and play the fan campaign | Halo 3: ODST | Read the current project requirements before attempting installation. |
| Understand the “after Halo 3” setup | Halo 3 | ODST, then the mod if your platform is supported. |
| Stay with official releases | Halo 3 or Halo: Reach | Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, or Halo Infinite, depending on your preferred era. |
| Start at the franchise’s foundation | Halo: Combat Evolved | Halo 2, then continue through the official sequence. |
| Watch for a refreshed classic campaign | Halo: Campaign Evolved | Check its current release status and platform availability. |
The table separates practical ownership from narrative preference. A game can be an excellent next play without being a technical requirement for the mod.
How to approach New Covenant safely
Because the available project information is dated, use a verification-first process rather than relying on old videos, cached posts, or comments that may describe an earlier build.
- Confirm the project’s identity. Use the current official project page and make sure you are looking at the Halo 3: ODST campaign mod, not an unrelated fan video or similarly named upload.
- Check the supported base game. Confirm the required ODST edition, platform, patch level, and launcher. Do not assume that a console copy or a different PC release is interchangeable.
- Check the current distribution method. The January 2025 description advertised Steam Workshop availability from January 31, 2025, but that does not prove that the item remains listed, maintained, or compatible today.
- Read the current player-count statement. The original description intended solo and up to four-player co-op. Verify whether the current build actually supports those modes and whether all players need matching files.
- Back up saves and keep an unmodified install available. A separate mod profile or clean installation makes troubleshooting easier if a campaign update conflicts with other files.
- Record the version you install. Keep the project version, base-game version, and installation date together. This is essential when reporting a crash or checking whether a later fix applies.
Common problems and the sensible response
- The mod does not appear in the launcher: recheck the platform and distribution method; an old Workshop reference may no longer match the current release process.
- The game crashes on launch: verify the base-game edition and patch requirements, then test a clean ODST installation without other modifications.
- Co-op players cannot connect: confirm that everyone has the same build and that the current project page still advertises multiplayer support. Do not infer support from the 2025 announcement.
- The mission count differs from an old article: prefer the current project page. “Three missions complete, fourth on the way” describes the January 2025 state, not a permanent specification.
There is no responsible way to provide a universal installation command from the dated description alone. The exact steps depend on the current official distribution page and the edition of ODST you own.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Official context: Campaign Evolved is a separate option
Xbox Wire described Halo: Campaign Evolved as a full remake of the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, with plans announced for 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, and Game Pass. That makes it relevant to readers looking for another major Halo campaign, but it does not make it a sequel to New Covenant or evidence about the mod’s development.
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Do not treat Foundry as a playable campaign
Halo Waypoint described Foundry as research and reflection on building Halo in Unreal, not as a game or technology demo. It is therefore not a recommendation for what to play after New Covenant. Mentioning it as a playable product would confuse an exploration of development technology with an actual campaign release.
Three useful play orders
The direct mod route
- Halo 3: ODST
- Verify the current New Covenant build and requirements.
- Halo: New Covenant, if your installation is supported.
This is the shortest route and the only one centered on the mod’s technical relationship.
The story-context route
- Halo 3
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo: New Covenant, after current compatibility checks.
This order follows the project description’s reference to a new direction after Halo 3, while keeping the fan campaign separate from official canon.
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The official-franchise survey
- Halo: Combat Evolved
- Halo 2
- Halo 3
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo: Reach
- Continue with Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, and Halo Infinite according to platform access and interest.
This is the broadest option for someone who wants to understand the official games around the mod rather than reach the mod quickly.
Bottom line for different readers
- Want to play New Covenant? Get Halo 3: ODST and verify the current project requirements.
- Want the clearest preceding story? Play Halo 3, then ODST.
- Want another official campaign with a related military mood? Try Halo: Reach or remain with ODST.
- Want to start at the beginning? Choose Halo: Combat Evolved, followed by Halo 2.
- Want the newest official direction? Consider Halo Infinite, while treating Campaign Evolved as a separate remake project and checking its current status.
The central answer remains simple: Halo 3: ODST is the best game to play after Halo: New Covenant because it is the mod’s stated base game. Every other recommendation serves a different purpose—story context, official continuity, atmosphere, or a fresh starting point.
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