One of the most successful franchises in video game history, the Halo story has expanded more than any other game series before it with its multiple series of books, comics, and more!
What’s on the Halo Timeline?
This list attempts to create a reading order (or in some cases viewing/playing order) for all major pieces of Halo media. This includes primarily all video games, novels, films, and comic books. This list does not attempt to split up any media into individual scenes/pages, but rather focuses on an easy to follow reading/playing/watching list (with a few exceptions). In the event that two works cover the exact same time-frame we first list the first published work. Additionally we base the placement within the timeline on where the work ends rather than where it begins.This list of Halo media includes:
- The Halo Games: Considered the “core” medium for the Halo franchise. These include the main series of games, as well as a few mobile games such as Spartan Assault.
- Novels/Comics: Halo has more tie-in novels and comics than any other video game franchise. I include them in the timeline.
- Films/Short Films: Though the Halo franchise has never seen a theatrical release, the series does include a few films that were released through other mediums, often online.
There are a few other pieces of media that fit in, such as the Hunt the Truth podcast, and you can find it all in chronological order below. We hope you enjoy!
Where do I start reading the Halo books?
Since this is a franchise based on video games, you should definitely start with those. We recommend the Halo: Master Chief Collection for the best starting experience. However, if you’re looking to start reading the books and/or comics, you should start with The Fall of Reach, which has the richest background information for the game franchise.
As always, if you have questions or comments about this timeline, we recommend you visit our Contact page. We hope you enjoy.
| # | Amazon | Name | Media | Author/Director | Date | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Evolutions: Soma the Painter | Short Story | N/A | 2009-11-24 | 100,000 BC | |
| 2 | | Cryptum | Novel | Greg Bear | 2011-01-04 | 100,000 BC | |
| 3 | | Primordium | Novel | Greg Bear | 2012-01-03 | 100,000 BC | |
| 4 | | Silentium | Novel | Greg Bear | 2013-03-19 | 100,000 BC | |
| 5 | | Fractures: Defender of the Storm | Short Story | John Jackson Miller | 2016-09-20 | 100,000 BC | |
| 6 | | Fractures: Promises to Keep | Short Story | Christie Golden | 2016-09-20 | 100,000 BC | |
| 7 | | Fractures: Untitled Story | Short Story | N/A | 2016-09-20 | 100,000 BC | |
| 8 | | Legends: The Duel | Short Film | Frank O'Connor | 2010-02-16 | 2142 CE | |
| 9 | | The Fall of Reach: Boot Camp | Graphic Novel | Brian Reed | 2011-04-27 | 2514 CE | |
| 10 | | Evolutions: Pariah | Short Story | B. K. Evenson | 2009-11-24 | 2528 CE | |
| 11 | | Contact Harvest | Novel | Joseph Staten | 2007-10-30 | 2525 CE | |
| 12 | | The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series | Short Film | Ian Kirby | 2015-10-27 | 2525 CE | |
| 13 | | Collateral Damage | Graphic Novel | Alex Irvine | 2018-12-18 | 2525 CE | Ties together with Silent Storm. |
| 14 | | Silent Storm: A Master Chief Story | Novel | Troy Denning | 2018-09-04 | 2526 CE | Ties together with Collateral Damage. |
| 15 | | Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn | Film | Stewart Hendler | 2012-11-02 | 2526 CE | Bulk of this miniseries goes here. Frame story takes place in 2558 CE. |
| 16 | | Oblivion: A Master Chief Story | Novel | Troy Denning | 2019-09-24 | 2526 CE | |
| 17 | | Fall of Reach Adjunct #1 | Short Story | Eric Nylund | 2010-01-01 | 2531 CE | Included in the TOR edition of The Fall of Reach. |
| 18 | | Legends: Homecoming | Short Film | Frank O'Connor | 2010-02-16 | 2531 CE | |
| 19 | | Fall of Reach Adjunct #4 | Short Story | Eric Nylund | 2010-01-01 | 2531 CE | Included in the TOR edition of The Fall of Reach. |
| 20 | | Halo Wars: Genesis | Graphic Novel | Ensemble Studios | 2009-03-03 | 2531 CE | |
| 21 | | Halo Wars | Game | Ensemble Studios | 2009-02-26 | 2531 CE | |
| 22 | | Legends: Prototype | Short Film | Frank O'Connor | 2010-02-16 | 2532 CE | |
| 23 | | Evolutions: Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian | Short Story | Frank O'Connor | 2009-11-24 | 2532 CE | |
| 24 | | The Cole Protocol | Novel | Tobias S. Buckell | 2008-11-25 | 2535 CE | |
| 25 | | Fractures: The Ballad of Hamish Beamish | Short Story | Frank O'Connor | 2016-09-20 | 2535 CE | |
| 26 | | Tales from Slipspace: Something Has Happened | Comic Issue | Alex Irvine | 2016-10-25 | 2537 CE | |
| 27 | | Legends: The Babysitter | Short Film | Frank O'Connor | 2010-02-16 | 2542 CE | |
| 28 | | Fall of Reach Adjunct #3 | Short Story | Eric Nylund | 2010-01-01 | 2543 CE | Included in the TOR edition of The Fall of Reach. |
| 29 | | Legends: The Package | Short Film | Frank O'Connor | 2010-02-16 | 2544 CE | |
| 30 | | Battle Born | Novel | Cassandra Rose Clarke | 2019-01-01 | 2548 CE | |
| 31 | | Meridian Divide | Novel | Cassandra Rose Clarke | 2019-10-01 | 2548 CE | |
| 32 | | Evolutions: Headhunters | Short Story | Jonathan Goff | 2009-11-24 | 2551 CE | |
| 33 | | Helljumpers | Graphic Novel | Peter David | 2010-03-10 | January 2552 CE | |
| 34 | | The Fall of Reach: Covenant | Graphic Novel | Brian Reed | 2011-12-14 | 2525 CE | |
| 35 | | Evolutions: Blunt Instruments | Short Story | Fred Van Lente | 2009-11-24 | July 2552 CE | |
| 36 | | Blood Line | Graphic Novel | Fred Van Lente | 2010-07-28 | July 2552 CE | |
| 37 | | The Fall of Reach | Novel | Eric Nylund | 2001-10-30 | 2514-2552 CE | |
| 38 | | Fall of Reach Adjunct #6 | Short Story | Eric Nylund | 2010-01-01 | August 2552 CE | Included in the TOR edition of The Fall of Reach. |
| 39 | | The Fall of Reach: Invasion | Graphic Novel | Brian Reed | 2012-07-18 | August 2552 CE | |
| 40 | | Fall of Reach Adjunct #5 | Short Story | Eric Nylund | 2010-01-01 | August 2552 CE | Included in the TOR edition of The Fall of Reach. |
| 41 | | Fall of Reach Adjunct #7 | Short Story | Eric Nylund | 2010-01-01 | August 2552 CE | Included in the TOR edition of The Fall of Reach. |
| 42 | | Halo: Reach | Game | Bungie | 2010-09-14 | August 2552 CE | |
| 43 | | Fall of Reach Adjunct #2 | Short Story | Eric Nylund | 2010-01-01 | August 2552 CE | Included in the TOR edition of The Fall of Reach. |
| 44 | | Evolutions: Dirt | Short Story | Tobias Buckell | 2009-11-24 | September 2552 CE | |
| 45 | | Halo: Combat Evolved | Game | Bungie | 2001-11-15 | September 2552 CE | Anniversary remake of the original was released in November 15, 2011. |
| 46 | | The Flood | Novel | William C. Dietz | 2003-04-01 | September 2552 CE | |
| 47 |  | Halo: Fireteam Raven | Game | 343 Industries | 2018-07-10 | September 2552 CE | |
| 48 | | Halo Graphic Novel: Breaking Quarantine | Comic Issue | Tsutomu Nihei | 2006-07-19 | September 2552 CE | |
| 49 | | Halo Graphic Novel: The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor | Comic Issue | Lee Hammock | 2006-07-19 | September 2552 CE | |
| 50 | | Evolutions: Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss | Short Story | Eric Raab | 2009-11-24 | 2552 CE | |
| 51 | | First Strike | Novel | Eric Nylund | 2003-12-02 | October 2552 CE | |
| 52 | | Halo Graphic Novel: Armor Testing | Comic Issue | Ed Lee, Jay Faerber, Andrew Robinson | 2006-07-19 | October 2552 CE | |
| 53 | | Halo 2 | Game | Bungie | 2004-11-09 | October 2552 CE | Anniversary remake of the original was released in November 11, 2014. |
| 54 | | Broken Circle | Novel | John Shirley | 2014-11-04 | 2552 CE | |
| 55 | | Evolutions: Palace Hotel | Short Story | Robert McLees | 2009-11-24 | October 2552 CE | |
| 56 | | Halo Graphic Novel- Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa | Comic Issue | Jean Giraud | 2006-07-19 | October 2552 CE | |
| 57 | | Halo 3: ODST | Game | Bungie | 2009-09-22 | October 2552 CE | |
| 58 | | Evolutions: Mona Lisa | Short Story | Tessa Kum, Jeff VanderMeer | 2009-11-24 | October 2552 CE | |
| 59 | | Ghosts of Onyx | Novel | Eric Nylund | 2006-10-31 | 2552 CE | |
| 60 | | Evolutions: Wages of Sin | Short Story | N/A | 2009-11-24 | November 2552 CE | |
| 61 | | Uprising | Graphic Novel | Brian Michael Bendis | 2009-06-17 | November 2552 CE | |
| 62 | | Evolutions: Human Weakness | Short Story | Karen Traviss | 2009-11-24 | November 2552 CE | |
| 63 | | Landfall | Short Film | Neill Blomkamp | 2007-07-10 | November 2552 CE | |
| 64 | | Halo 3 | Game | Bungie | 2007-09-25 | 2552 CE | |
| 65 | | Evolutions: The Impossible Life & The Possible Death of Preston Cole | Short Story | Eric Nylund | 2009-11-24 | December 2552 CE | |
| 66 | | Glasslands | Novel | Karen Traviss | 2011-10-25 | 2553 CE | |
| 67 | | Initiation | Graphic Novel | Brian Reed | 2014-01-21 | 2553 CE | |
| 68 | | Evolutions: From the Office of Dr. William Arthur Iqbal | Short Story | Frank O'Connor | 2009-11-24 | 2553 CE | |
| 69 | | Shadow of Intent | Short Story | Joseph Staten | 2015-12-07 | 2553 CE | Included in Fractures |
| 70 | | Fractures: Breaking Strain | Short Story | James Swallow | 2016-09-20 | 2553 CE | |
| 71 | | The Thursday War | Novel | Karen Traviss | 2012-10-02 | 2553 CE | |
| 72 | | Mortal Dictata | Novel | Karen Traviss | 2014-01-21 | 2553 CE | |
| 73 | | Last Light | Novel | Troy Denning | 2015-09-15 | 2553 CE | |
| 74 | | Fractures: A Necessary Truth | Short Story | Troy Denning | 2016-09-20 | 2553 CE | |
| 75 | | Retribution | Novel | Troy Denning | 2017-08-29 | 2553 CE | |
| 76 | | Petra | Short Story | Christopher Schlerf | 2010-01-01 | 2553 CE | |
| 77 | | Lone Wolf | Graphic Novel | Anne Toole | 2019-06-25 | 2553 CE | Released and included with the re-issue of First Strike. |
| 78 | | Fractures: Lessons Learned | Short Story | Matt Forbeck | 2016-09-20 | 2554 CE | |
| 79 | | Hunters in the Dark | Novel | Peter David | 2015-06-16 | 2555 CE | |
| 80 | | New Blood | Novel | Matt Forbeck | 2015-03-02 | 2555 CE | |
| 81 | | Halo: Nightfall | Film | Sergio Mimica-Gezzan | 2015-03-16 | 2556 CE | |
| 82 | | Legends: Origins | Short Film | Frank O'Connor | 2010-02-16 | 2556 CE | |
| 83 | | Fractures: Anarosa | Short Story | Kevin Grace | 2016-09-20 | 2556 CE | |
| 84 | | Fractures: Into the Fire | Short Story | Kelly Gay | 2016-09-20 | 2557 CE | |
| 85 | | Smoke and Shadow | Novel | Kelly Gay | 2016-11-28 | 2557 CE | Continues the storyline of Into the Fire. |
| 86 | | Renegades | Novel | Kelly Gay | 2019-02-19 | 2557 CE | |
| 87 | | Tales from Slipspace: Hunting Party | Comic Issue | Jonathan Goff | 2016-10-25 | ? | |
| 88 | | Halo 4 | Game | 343 Industries | 2012-11-06 | July 2557 CE | |
| 89 | | Halo: Spartan Assault | Game | 343 Industries | 2013-07-18 | 2557 CE | |
| 90 | Halo: Spartan Strike | Game | 343 Industries | 2015-04-16 | 2557 CE | ||
| 91 | | Saint's Testimony | Short Story | Frank O'Connor | 2015-07-27 | January 2558 CE | Included in Fractures |
| 92 | | Tales from Slipspace: Knight Takes Bishop | Comic Issue | Tyler Jeffers | 2016-10-25 | January 2558 CE | |
| 93 | | Halo 4: Sparten Ops | Game | 343 Industries | 2012-11-06 | 2558 CE | |
| 94 | | Tales from Slipspace: Fireteam Majestic Poker Night | Comic Issue | Kody Chamberlain | 2016-10-25 | 2558 CE | |
| 95 | | Escalation, Vol. 1 | Graphic Novel | Christopher Schlerf | 2014-10-21 | 2558 CE | |
| 96 | | Escalation, Vol. 2 | Graphic Novel | Brian Reed | 2015-04-21 | 2558 CE | |
| 97 | Hunt the Truth (Season 1) | Audio Drama | 343 Industries | 2015-03-22 | 2558 CE | Available on iTunes. | |
| 98 | | Escalation, Vol. 3 | Graphic Novel | Brian Reed | 2015-09-29 | 2558 CE | |
| 99 | | Escalation, Vol. 4 | Graphic Novel | Duff Boudreu | 2016-03-22 | 2558 CE | |
| 100 | | Tales from Slipspace: On the Brink | Comic Issue | Duffy Boudreau | 2016-10-25 | 2558 CE | |
| 101 | | Fractures: Oasis | Short Story | Tobias Buckell | 2016-09-20 | 2558 CE | |
| 102 | | Tales from Slipspace: Dominion Splinter | Comic Issue | Frank O'Connor | 2016-10-25 | 2558 CE | |
| 103 | | Envoy | Novel | Tobias S. Buckell | 2017-04-25 | 2558 CE | |
| 104 | | Legacy of Onyx | Novel | Matt Forbeck | 2017-11-14 | 2558 CE | Has narrative connections with the Halo: Fractures short story Lessons Learned, also written by Forbeck. |
| 105 | Hunt the Truth (Season 2) | Audio Drama | 343 Industries | 2015-09-22 | 2558 CE | Available on iTunes. | |
| 106 | | Halo 5: Guardians | Game | 343 Industries | 2015-10-27 | 2558 CE | |
| 107 | | Rise of Atriox | Graphic Novel | Cullen Bunn, Jody Houser, John Jackson Miller, Alex Irvine, Claire Roe, Josan Gonzalez, Jonathan Wayshak, Tristan Jones | 2018-05-29 | 2558 CE | |
| 108 | | Fractures: What Remains | Short Story | Morgan Lockhart | 2016-09-20 | 2558 CE | |
| 109 | | Tales from Slipspace: Undefeated | Comic Issue | John Jackson Miller | 2016-10-25 | 2558 CE | |
| 110 | | Fractures: Rossbach's World | Short Story | Brian Reed | 2016-09-20 | 2558 CE | |
| 111 | | Bad Blood | Novel | Matt Forbeck | 2018-04-24 | 2558 CE | |
| 112 | | Halo Wars 2 | Game | Creative Assembly | 2017-02-21 | 2559 CE | |
| 113 | | Evolutions: The Return | Short Story | Kevin Grace | 2009-11-24 | 2559 CE | |
| 114 | | Shadows of Reach | Novel | Troy Denning | 2020-09-22 | 2559 CE | |
| 115 | | Halo: Infinite | Game | 343 Industries | TBD | TBD |
I realized that you didn’t add any of the live action trailers and I know that at least some of them are cannon. I don’t know when any of them take place except for Deliver Hope (the halo reach one) which I know takes place in April 2552. I don’t know if you’re still going to be editing the document, but I thought you should look into adding those since they are cannon and pretty good.
Nice job on all this hard work, Jason, my dude! Thanks to Abraham for the FoR Adjuncts too; any luck with the First Strike ones too? And as previously commented, I’d love to work the live action trailers into this timeline too (tho I know they’re not all definitively dated). Best to all.
I’ll definitely look into the trailers for my next update.
I am working through this list and just got to Tales from Slipspace: Hunting Party and you put it right after Headhunters because it doesn’t have a specific place it could go but based on what I read it probably makes more sense to go sometime after halo 3 but before halo wars 2. As they mention the death of Tatarus, and the fall of the covenant.
I did find that “The Flood” and “First Strike” had Adjuncts too. Most of the “Flood adjuncts took place at some time During the story so most of this is a guess. Flood adjunct 1: Just after H:CE/The Flood, Flood Adjunct 2: During H:CE/The Flood, Sometime shortly after the FLOOD were released. Flood Adjunct 3: During H:CE again sometime after the flood were released. Flood Adjunct 4: Different parts Throughout H: THE FLOOD. Flood Adjunct 5: While the chief is on the Flood infected Covenant ship looking for what remains of Captain Keyes. Flood adjunct 6: I am guessing “L” stood for “Librarian” so I’m guessing It took place during before Silentium. As for the First Strike Adjuncts: FS Adjunct 1: After Silent Storm, Adjunct 2: Unknown time after Halo 3, Adjunct 3: After between “Armor Testing” and Halo 2. Adjunct 4: Right after Halo 3. Hope this helps.
I have managed to figure out a few of the the Live action trailers. You have Landfall and a guy mention “Deliver hope” which takes place between HellJumpers and FoR: Covenant. There is another called, “Birth of a Spartan.” It is about the Spartan From Reach known as Carter (Noble 1). I can’t say exactly where but knowing his age in Reach and the looking at the age he appears to be in the trailer, I am estimating it takes place sometime between “Cole Protocol,” and “the Babysitter.” Another is called, “Remember Reach,” AKA “THe Day Before” Which I would place just after “Blood Line”. There is another called “The Commissioning”, which begins with them Commissioning the Infinity early in 2557, it visually ends with the ship falling towards Requiem, so you could put it just before Halo 4. Another one called, “The Life, ” or “We are ODST.” Probably takes place just before Halo 2. There one called “Scanned” though I couldn’t tell you when or if that takes place. Could take place in the Middle of Halo 4 while the CHief is being Augmented by the Librarian remnant. There Then there is “All Hail,” and “the Cost,” which introduce us to the duality of Chief and Locke, but I couldn’t tell you when or even IF they took place. “A hero falls,” and the “Believe” campaign will take place after “Infinite.” IF they even take place at all.
I still recommend that you switch “Spartan Assault” and “Nightfall”.
Have you thought about adding Fistful of Arrows to the list? I know it’s /technically/ not cannon, but both Bungie and 343 have acknowledged it and a few years ago they planned to make it cannon but I don’t think that ever went through. It still fits in modern day cannon though. I personally think it should be added to the list but I also fully understand why it shouldn’t be.
I just learned about Halo: Rebirth which is an epilogue to Silentium. It’s on Halo Waypoint but there are several reuploads on youtube. I think you should add that too.
There is also Halo Wars 2: Awakening the nightmare.
I found there is another Live action trailer called “Living Monument.” I believe it takes place right after Halo 3.
Wort wort wort.
Shouldn’t broken circle go before contact harvest?
Nevermind,
There is a new book coming in March. It is called, Point of Light.
I found out that Spartan assault takes place in 2554. It’s between “Lone Wolf” and “Hunters in the dark.” I don’t know if it comes Before “Lesson Learned” or after.
I just learned that 343 turned a few of the evolution stories into motion comics. I know of 4. Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian, Headhunters, Mona Lisa, and The Return.
Doing a little searching, I concluded that the new book coming, “Point of Light” will take place sometime between, “Spartan Ops,” and “Envoy.” However, I can’t tell you exactly where.