Halo: The Master Chief Collection – What Order Should You Play

How to Play HTMCC

There are a few different orders to play the game if you are talking about campaign.

Release order which is CE, 2, 3, ODST, Reach. Probably the best order to play if you want to experience the games fresh. This is generally what I would recommend to friends but it depends on the friend.

The order given in MCC is pretty good too which is Reach, CE, 2, 3, ODST. If I don’t recommend release order to a friend this is what I would go with. Reach is a prequel to CE and fits with the Narrative about the same as Rogue One fit with Star Wars, In the sense that you are following a different cast of Characters through part of the “Story so Far” Blurb from CE’s manual, just like Rogue One was Following the opening crawl to New Hope. Defiantly could be played first and it provides a pretty good introduction to the Covenant and since it is the final game made so the covenant has their full roster of units in this game.

The only other order would be chronological order which is Reach, CE, 2, ODST, 3. ODST is a side story takes place simultaneously with the second half of 2 in the same game engine as 3. It is almost best to play this one on its own after you finish the main trilogy which is why I would just go into 3 after 2 and not usually recommend breaking up those games especially as 2 ends on a cliff hanger that leads into 3.

Play CE on original Graphics. Many of the changes in the anniversary graphics are detrimental to the game, some levels do look better in the new graphics but missed the point of the original design. Halo 2 on Anniversary did a much better job but there is reason to do it either way, I would just recommend the newer graphics for H2 as the new cutscenes are incredible. In both games you can change between old and new graphics mid game.

Both Halo CE and Halo 2 Anniversary have terminals (Easter egg videos) in the newer graphics. that were added with the new graphics. I would ignore these on a first play through as many contain spoilers for later in the game.

I don’t like 4 so I don’t really include it in any order but it is definitely meant to be played sometime after the OT. You may like it as the fan base does seem split on that one and many do really like it but I don’t consider it any more than bad fanfiction.