With the release of Halo Infinite, it is only natural to look back at the previous installments of the iconic Halo franchise. For over 20 years, fans have been treated to many epic Halo campaigns that, at times, have felt more like a blockbuster movie than a video game.
The Halo franchise has long been a pioneer in the realm of first-person shooters, pushing the creative boundaries of what a video game campaign can be. With such an impressive legacy, the Halo games naturally contain some of the best missions in video game history, with the very best containing moments of challenging battles, epic action, and immense poignancy.
Midnight - Halo 4
As the last playable mission of Halo 4, the events in “Midnight” are highly significant to the Halo 4 campaign and the Halo timeline in general. The Master Chief and Cortana must pursue the Didact in a last-ditch attempt to save humanity from destruction, with Cortana ultimately sacrificing herself for the cause.
“Midnight” combines both contemporary and classic Halo brilliance, making it one of the best missions in the Halo franchise. From piloting a spaceship through the treacherous trenches of the Mantle’s Approach to fighting through throngs of alien antagonists with an eclectic array of weapons, "Midnight" is simply outstanding.
Cortana - Halo 3
“Cortana” is undoubtedly one of the most divisive Halo missions among fans, notorious for being one of the hardest missions in Halo, especially on Legendary difficulty. The Chief must fight his way through hordes of the Flood within a Flood-ridden High Charity to rescue Cortana, making for a challenging gameplay experience.
The mission’s difficulty is what makes it great, and the unique Left 4 Dead meets Halo gameplay provides a rewarding experience that gets better with every playthrough. In addition, “Cortana” functions well at advancing Halo 3’s overarching narrative through a series of interjections from Cortana and Gravemind, which gives the mission an interesting dynamic.
Reclaimer - Halo 4
Aside from its awesome name, there are many valid reasons why “Reclaimer” is one of the best missions in the Halo series. Firstly, the mission features a franchise debut for the UNSC vehicle referred to as a “Mammoth”, which incidentally is a larger version of another UNSC vehicle known as an “Elephant”.
The main aim for the Master Chief throughout “Reclaimer” is to escort the Mammoth through the battlefield so that it can help destroy the enemy cannons. The mission features many epic moments of classic Halo action and is wonderfully reminiscent of the first three titles in the series.
Metropolis - Halo 2
Halo 2 is undoubtedly one of the best games in the Halo series, and its campaign is full of epic missions. “Metropolis” is easily one of Halo 2’s finest missions, giving players the chance to drive a multitude of armored vehicles around New Mombasa in an attempt to save Earth from the Covenant invasion.
One of the primary reasons that “Midnight” is such a great level is that it places the Master Chief in a unique and interesting setting, pitting him against throngs of Covenant troops as well as Scarabs on a futuristic version of Earth. The mission’s context and setting give it a last-stand feel, making the gameplay far more meaningful, intense, and enjoyable.
Coastal Highway - Halo 3: ODST
The Halo games are famous for having fantastic final missions, and Halo 3: ODST is certainly no exception. “Coastal Highway” is one of the most thrilling and chaotic final missions in the entire Halo series, combining Mad Max-style Warthog madness with classic Halo dramatics.
The mission requires the ODST team to escape from New Mombasa by using various armored vehicles to fight through waves of Covenant forces blocking their way. “Coastal Highway” contains everything a Halo fan could ever ask for, with frantic battles, epic cutscenes, and high-caliber weapons.
Lone Wolf - Halo: Reach
The Halo: Reach campaign is simply magnificent, and the final mission, “Lone Wolf”, is the icing on the cake. At the beginning of the level, players are given a chilling mission objective simply reading "survive". Despite his best efforts, Noble Six does inevitably fall to the Covenant, which leads to a poignant ending cutscene of his helmet laying on the ground.
“Lone Wolf” is undoubtedly one of the best missions in the Halo franchise as not only is it unique, it also encapsulates the very essence of what being a Spartan is all about – selflessness and self-sacrifice for a greater cause.
The Silent Cartographer - Halo: Combat Evolved
Despite having been developed in 2001, “The Silent Cartographer” is one of the most expansive and action-packed missions in the entire Halo series. The level was ahead of its time in terms of the immersive gameplay and detailed graphics, and it functioned well at bringing the Halo universe to life.
During the level, players are provided with Warthogs to traverse the vast map and augment the Master Chief’s firepower. "The Silent Cartographer" perfectly demonstrates the notion that driving around the beaches of a Halo installation while mowing down throngs of Covenant troops will never get old, and it is this mission where many players fell in love with Halo.
Outskirts - Halo 2
“Outskirts” marks a significant point in the Halo timeline, as it is the first time that the Covenant has landed on Earth. The mission really feels like a last-stand situation, with the fate of the human race resting on the Master Chief’s shoulders. The high-stakes context of “Outskirts” is just one of the reasons that it is one of the best missions in the Halo series, as the level is packed with so much epic Halo brilliance.
The mission pits the Chief (with an array of epic vehicles and weapons at his disposal) against a whole Covenant armada, all within the context of a futuristic Earth, which makes the gameplay experience even more intense.
Halo - Halo 3
The final mission of Halo 3 is undoubtedly one of the best missions in the Halo franchise and arguably one the best missions of any first-person shooter. After activating Installation 08, causing it to self-destruct, the Master Chief and the Arbiter must escape the crumbing ring on a Warthog, reminiscent of the final mission from Halo: Combat Evolved.
The mission contains many twists and turns in the form of falling debris, lethal explosions, and falling platforms which requires immense concentration and skill at the wheel of a Warthog. The ability to play co-op is what makes “Halo” so brilliant and enjoyable, as coping with the chaos with a friend enhances the gameplay experience.
The Covenant - Halo 3
If there was ever a mission to perfectly encapsulate what Halo is all about, it would definitely be “The Covenant”. The mission is stuffed with everything that makes Halo great: high stakes, awesome weapons and vehicles, and non-stop action.
The Master Chief and the Arbiter must stop the Prophet of Truth from firing the Halo rings, which necessarily requires them to fight their way through a Covenant armada containing Scarabs, Wraiths, Banshees, as well as thousands of ground troops. “The Covenant” is the most epic and expansive mission in Halo, and its size is symbolic of the significance of the mission itself, as it marks the Covenant’s last stand against humanity.