On November 15, 2001, Bungie released Halo: Combat Evolved for the Xbox. This title evolved from a real-time strategy game started in 1997, through a third-person shooter, to consolidating into a first-person format. Microsoft had acquired Bungie in 2000 with the goal of including the game in the console's launch titles.
This Sunday (11/15), the complex production project celebrates 25 years. The game is recognized as a milestone in the modernization of the shooter genre and a crucial factor in the success of the Xbox.
At the core of the narrative is the Halo Array, a network of circular megastructures conceived by the Forerunners, an ancient civilization. The Forerunners faced the Flood parasite, exterminating all sentient life in the galaxy to deprive it of food. About one hundred thousand years later, in the 26th century, humanity established colonies on other planets under the management of the UNSC, becoming the target of a holy war waged by the Covenant, a theocratic alliance of alien species that considers humans an affront to their Forerunner gods.
Master Chief, a supersoldier identified as John-117, and Cortana, his artificial intelligence, are central figures in this conflict, responsible for destroying a ring and discovering the true purpose of the network. Later, the series addresses the internal civil war in the Covenant, introducing the Arbiter, a disgraced alien commander, and the awakening of the Didact, a Forerunner commander. Cortana breaks away from the UNSC to seek control of the galaxy through the Created. In Halo Infinite, she deliberately destroys part of the Zeta Halo ring to prevent the Banished, a mercenary group, from using it in a dispute with the UNSC.
Currently, the franchise has 17 games, encompassing main titles, remasters, spin-offs, mobile versions, mixed reality experiences, and even arcade games, exceeding 81 million copies sold in February 2021. Over these 25 years, the series has transitioned between console shooting, online multiplayer, real-time strategy, and mobile games.
Due to the vast amount of content, a list of the nine games that have had the greatest impact in terms of sales and notoriety was selected, based on an analysis of sales figures, Metacritic reviews, and fan perception.
In the 26th century, Master Chief, a cybernetically enhanced supersoldier, and Cortana, his AI, battle alongside the UNSC against the Covenant, the alien theocratic alliance. They seek to unravel the mysteries of the Halo ring, a gigantic artificial structure that gives the game its name. This was the beginning of the saga and is credited with revolutionizing first-person shooter games.
The campaign develops with Master Chief and the Arbiter, the disgraced alien commander. While the Covenant plunges into a civil war and a plan to activate the rings advances, both work to prevent the annihilation of all sentient life. The suspenseful ending shows the Ark of the True Prophet's ship arriving on Earth. The game also set the industry standard with its Xbox Live multiplayer, solidifying concepts such as matchmaking and lobbies.
The story begins on Earth, located in East Africa, where Master Chief returns to combat alongside the Arbiter against the Covenant and the Flood. The objective is to prevent the True Prophet, leader of the Covenant, from activating the ring network from the Ark. To contain the Flood, the protagonist activates a new ring, culminating in the Forward Unto Dawn frigate being split in half. The game introduced Forge, a map editor, and Theater, a feature to save and review matches, as well as allowing cooperative campaigns for up to four players.
From another perspective, the player assumes the role of the Rookie, one of the ODST Marines (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers), on a mission to find lost comrades in the devastated streets of New Mombasa during the Covenant invasion. This plot occurs between Halo 2 and Halo 3, set in a noir style with jazzy influences, and includes the Firefight cooperative mode, where the group faces increasing waves of enemies.
Another point of view is that of Noble Six, a member of the Noble Team, a squad of supersoldiers attempting to defend the planet Reach from the Covenant attack. While Cortana uses data from an alien artifact to guide the Pillar of Autumn ship to a Halo ring, Noble Six offers a final resistance against overwhelming forces. This was Bungie's last title, incorporating armor upgrades such as jetpack and camouflage.
Later, Master Chief and Cortana explore Requiem, a shield planet built by the Forerunners, confronting a new faction of the Covenant and the Prometheans, mechanical warriors of the ancient empire. Cortana experiences rampancy, the mental decline of AIs after the end of their useful life, and the hero manages to free the Didact, a Forerunner warrior. This was the first title developed by 343 Industries, which took over the franchise after Bungie.
Instead of presenting a totally new narrative, a collection gathered the saga from Combat Evolved up to Halo 4. Released on Xbox One in 2014, this collection included four games: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo 3, and Halo 4. It later added the ODST campaign in 2015 and Reach. It is currently available for PC and Xbox Series X/S, facilitating access to the classics on modern platforms.
The story divides between two units: the Blue Team, led by Master Chief, and Fireteam Osiris, commanded by Spartan Locke. When the Blue Team separates to locate Cortana, Master Chief's loyalty is questioned, and Osiris is dispatched to bring him back. The game introduced Warzone, a 24-player mode, and abandoned split-screen.
In Halo Zeta Halo, Master Chief confronts the Banished and encounters Weapon, an AI designed to replicate and capture Cortana for its exclusion. This is the series' most recent main title, which suffered a postponed announcement in August 2020, and its multiplayer mode is free.
These nine games represent the greatest weight of the franchise, either in revenue or cultural relevance. The eight excluded titles demonstrate the experimental nature of the series. Halo Wars (2009) introduced real-time strategy on the Xbox 360, following the Spirit of Fire ship. Halo Wars 2 (2017) added the Blitz mode, which combines card and strategy elements. Combat Evolved Anniversary (2011) offered a reinterpretation of the first game, allowing switching between old and new graphics with a single button. Spartan Assault (2013) and Spartan Strike (2015) are PC and mobile shooters with dual-stick controls. Halo: Recruit (2017) is a brief five-minute mixed reality experience, and Fireteam Raven (2018) is a cooperative arcade shooter for up to four players. The remake Halo: Campaign Evolved (2026) concludes this list.
On July 28, 2026, Halo Studios released Campaign Evolved, a remake of the first game developed in Unreal Engine 5 for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. It features three new missions set one year before the original, nine additional weapons, sprinting, and real-time destructible vehicles. Critical reception was positive, with scores ranging between 77 and 81 on Metacritic, depending on the platform.
