The usual way to play the Halo games is in release order: Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, and Halo Infinite.

Best play order

  • Release order is the easiest pick because the story, mechanics, and callbacks build naturally.
  • Chronological order follows the timeline instead, starting earlier in the lore with Halo Wars and Halo: Reach before Combat Evolved.

Simple timeline

Order| Games
---|---
Release order| Halo: Combat Evolved → Halo 2 → Halo 3 → Halo 3: ODST → Halo: Reach → Halo 4 → Halo 5: Guardians → Halo Infinite 3
Chronological order| Halo Wars → Halo: Reach → Halo: Combat Evolved → Halo 2 → Halo 3: ODST → Halo 3 → Halo 4 → Halo 5: Guardians → Halo Wars 2 → Halo Infinite 23

Quick recommendation

If you want the smoothest first-time experience, start with release order. If you want the story to line up by in-universe events, use chronological order.