Halo Order: Games, Books, TV, and Movies (Complete Guide)

Quick answer: start with Halo: Combat Evolved (via MCC), follow the core games, and use the books and film/TV entries to deepen universe context.

Halo combines large-scale military science fiction, ancient alien mystery, and character-driven war stories led by Master Chief and the UNSC.

Order view: Release | Chronological

Recommended Order (Release)

Order	Title	Type	Canon	Supported Platforms	Release	Notes	Buy
1	Halo: The Fall of Reach	Book	Canon	Print, Kindle, Audible	Oct 30, 2001	Foundational novel introducing Spartan-II origins and early Covenant war context.	Buy on Amazon
2	Halo: Combat Evolved	Game	Canon	Xbox Series X\|S, Xbox One, PC	Nov 15, 2001	Core starting game. Modern recommended purchase is via Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Included in Halo: The Master Chief Collection. As of February 13, 2026, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is also available through Xbox Game Pass.	Buy on Amazon
3	Halo: The Flood	Book	Canon	Print, Kindle, Audible	Apr 01, 2003	Novel adaptation and expansion of Combat Evolved events.	Buy on Amazon
4	Halo: First Strike	Book	Canon	Print, Kindle, Audible	Dec 02, 2003	Bridges Halo CE and Halo 2 with key UNSC and Covenant developments.	Buy on Amazon
5	Halo 2	Game	Canon	Xbox Series X\|S, Xbox One, PC	Nov 09, 2004	Core campaign continuation. Modern recommended purchase is via Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Included in Halo: The Master Chief Collection. As of February 13, 2026, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is also available through Xbox Game Pass.	Buy on Amazon
6	Halo: Ghosts of Onyx	Book	Canon	Print, Kindle, Audible	Oct 31, 2006	Major Spartan and ONI storyline that informs later arcs.	Buy on Amazon
7	Halo 3	Game	Canon	Xbox Series X\|S, Xbox One, PC	Sep 25, 2007	Original trilogy conclusion. Modern recommended purchase is via Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Included in Halo: The Master Chief Collection. As of February 13, 2026, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is also available through Xbox Game Pass.	Buy on Amazon
8	Halo 3: ODST	Game	Canon	Xbox Series X\|S, Xbox One, PC	Sep 22, 2009	Parallel campaign during Halo 2/3 era. Modern recommended purchase is via Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Included in Halo: The Master Chief Collection. As of February 13, 2026, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is also available through Xbox Game Pass.	Buy on Amazon
9	Halo Legends	Movie	Unconfirmed	Blu-ray, Digital	Feb 16, 2010	Animated anthology with mixed continuity treatment across episodes.	Buy on Amazon
10	Halo: Reach	Game	Canon	Xbox Series X\|S, Xbox One, PC	Sep 14, 2010	Prequel campaign. Modern recommended purchase is via Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Included in Halo: The Master Chief Collection. As of February 13, 2026, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is also available through Xbox Game Pass.	Buy on Amazon
11	Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn	Show	Canon	Blu-ray, Digital	Oct 05, 2012	Live-action prequel linked to Halo 4.	Buy on Amazon
12	Halo 4	Game	Canon	Xbox Series X\|S, Xbox One, PC	Nov 06, 2012	Start of the Reclaimer Saga. Modern recommended purchase is via Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Included in Halo: The Master Chief Collection. As of February 13, 2026, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is also available through Xbox Game Pass.
13	Halo: The Master Chief Collection	Game	Canon	Xbox Series X\|S, Xbox One, PC	Nov 11, 2014	Definitive modern bundle for Halo CE, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Reach, and Halo 4. As of February 13, 2026, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is also available through Xbox Game Pass.	Buy on Amazon
14	Halo: Nightfall	Show	Canon	Blu-ray, Digital	Nov 11, 2014	Live-action series featuring Agent Locke.	Buy on Amazon
15	Halo: The Fall of Reach (Animated)	Movie	Canon	Blu-ray, Digital	Oct 27, 2015	Animated adaptation tied to Halo 5 era release materials.	Buy on Amazon
16	Halo 5: Guardians	Game	Canon	Xbox Series X\|S, Xbox One	Oct 27, 2015	Mainline sequel featuring Master Chief and Spartan Locke.	Buy on Amazon
17	Halo (TV Series)	Show	Non Canon	Paramount+	Mar 24, 2022	Set in the alternate Silver Timeline, separate from mainline game canon.	Paramount+ (Streaming)
18	Halo Infinite	Game	Canon	Xbox Series X\|S, Xbox One, PC	Dec 08, 2021	Current mainline entry and best modern on-ramp after previous core games.	Buy on Amazon

FAQ

Is the Halo TV show canon to the games?

No. The Paramount+ series uses the separate Silver Timeline and is labeled non-canon for the main game universe.

Do I need to buy each older Halo game separately?

No. Most legacy core titles are covered by Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which is the recommended modern purchase path.

What is the best modern starting point?

Start with Halo: Combat Evolved via MCC, then continue in order through the core games and connected media.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.