When it comes to naming the best video game stories out there, Halo is often left off the list, which is a shame, considering the games take place in one of the most fleshed-out sci-fi universes ever created.
While the story in each individual Halo game might not do much to push the medium forward, they're often a cut above most other titles. On top of that, the story of the games is only the tip of the iceberg.
After the first Halo game became a blockbuster success, Microsoft was quick to begin expanding the series' lore.
What started as a series of novels quickly grew to include comic books, live-action shorts, graphic novels, short stories, mini-series...it's clear that Halo isn't just about the games anymore.
Of course, for newcomers, navigating the Halo Expanded Universe isn't always easy: over a decade's worth of stories can be a little much to handle, even for the most die-hard fans.
That's why we've collected all of Halo's Expanded Universe content in this guide. If you've ever been curious about diving into the stories outside of the games, this guide will help you find out where to start. First up:
The Novels
The Fall of Reach
One of the Master Chief's greatest allies during Halo 4 was SPARTAN-IV Sarah Palmer, but she wasn't given much in the way of backstory. Thankfully Halo: Initiation tells the SPARTAN's story, and how she rose through the ranks and eventually met the Master Chief.
Halo: Escalation
Following the events of Halo 4, humanity realized that it had found itself a new foe...and an old enemy had reemerged. The series also gives fans a glimpse of the Elites post-Halo 3, and establishes story threads that will continue into Halo 5: Guardians.
The Movies & TV Series
Halo 3: Landfall
The first live-action Halo project may have been promotional material, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. The brain-child of District 9 director Neil Blomkamp, Halo 3: Landfall could have been the progenitor to a full-fledged Halo film...until the project got bogged down in studio nonsense.
Halo Legends
Like The Halo Graphic Novel, Halo Legends is an animated anthology featuring stories across the Halo universe. Some of the biggest anime studios in the world helped make the film, and it shows: each and every single story is absolutely gorgeous.
Halo: Forward Unto Dawn
Despite the fact that the Master Chief only makes a brief cameo, Forward Unto Dawn is still a fantastic miniseries. It gives fans a glimpse of what life was like during the early days of the Human-Covenant War, and proves that (if the studios could just work together) a Halo movie would totally work.
Halo: Nightfall
The latest piece of live-action Halo content, Halo: Nightfall tells the story of Agent Locke, a soldier who leads a mission back to the ruins of the first Halo ring. It's just as much an origin story as it is a tie-in, as Locke will be one of Halo 5: Guardians' two playable characters.
As you can see, there's a lot more to the Halo universe than just the games themselves. For those who want to dive deeper into the world of the Master Chief, there are plenty of different options: The Fall of Reach is a great starting point, as is Halo Legends and The Halo Graphic Novel. At roughly six minutes, Halo 3: Landfall doesn't require much of a commitment, and it's just beautiful. For fans looking for something more long-form, you should go with Halo: Forward Unto Dawn.
So, even if you've played through the games a million times, there's still plenty of story out there: make sure to get brushed up on your lore before Halo 5: Guardians hits store shelves on Oct. 27.
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