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Way Back When
Following two immensely popular Xbox hits with Halo: Combat Evolved and its exceptional sequel Halo 2, developer Bungie moved into the second generation of Microsoft consoles with a bang. 2007’s Halo 3 had more hype behind it than either of its predecessors, though, and the team knew it had to deliver an even bigger and more emotionally resonant campaign alongside an evolution of its beloved multiplayer formula. Did it succeed? In most ways, yes, it absolutely did. But did anyone expect differently?
After Halo 2‘s controversial cliffhanger ending, fans were eager to see what was next for main character Master Chief, and Bungie didn’t disappoint with a sweeping campaign that took players to various gorgeous locations and significantly deepened the lore and universe of Halo. Additionally, Halo 3 was the pinnacle of the series’ multiplayer for most gamers of the era, bringing together a mix of old and new to create a fantastical arena shooting experience. Some of the franchise’s most adored maps made their appearance in the third installment, and weirdly enough, it has continued to receive support all these years later via new maps. Pretty wild stuff.
Halo 3 received widespread critical acclaim and went on to become the 9th best-selling game on the Xbox 360 with 14.5 million copies sold to date. It was soon followed by a unique standalone prequel known as Halo 3: ODST, which ultimately went down as a meaningful but divisive entry in the canon. As for the legacy of Master Chief’s third outing, many feel the campaign has aged somewhat less gracefully than its predecessors – but even so, it consistently ranks among the best multiplayer experiences in the franchise’s history.
Where You Can Play It Now
The best and most efficient method to play Halo 3 is via Halo: The Master Chief Collection. This compilation grants you access to all of the mainline Halo titles prior to Halo 5. Even more, the fact that they’ve been updated with better visuals, audio, and cutscenes makes them the definitive versions. If you want to take a look at Halo 3, that’s your very best bet.
Here are the modern platforms on which you can access Halo 3:
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series S
- Xbox Series X
- PC
When you’re done with the franchise’s first Xbox 360 title, you’ll be able to use Halo: The Master Chief Collection to run through any of the other campaigns except Halo 5 and Halo Infinite. With so many options at your disposal, you’d be forgiven for not knowing what to dive into next!
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