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.
| Chronological | Time | Buy | Title | Type | Author | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 100,000 BC |
| 2009-11-24 | |||
2 | 100,000 BC |
| Cryptum + | 2011-01-04 | ||
3 | 100,000 BC |
| 2012-01-03 | |||
4 | 100,000 BC |
| 2013-03-19 | |||
5 | 100,000 BC |
| 2016-09-20 | |||
6 | 100,000 BC |
| 2016-09-20 | |||
7 | 100,000 BC |
| 2016-09-20 | |||
8 | 2142 CE |
| 2010-02-16 | |||
9 | 2514 CE |
| 2011-04-27 | |||
10 | 2528 CE |
| 2009-11-24 | |||
11 | 2525 CE |
| 2007-10-30 | |||
12 | 2525 CE |
| 2018-12-18 | |||
Ties together with Silent Storm. | ||||||
13 | 2525 CE |
| 2011-12-14 | |||
14 | 2525 CE |
| 2015-10-27 | |||
15 | 2526 CE |
| 2018-09-04 | |||
Ties together with Collateral Damage. | ||||||
16 | 2526 CE |
| 2019-09-24 | |||
17 | 2526 CE |
| 2012-11-02 | |||
Bulk of this miniseries goes here. Frame story takes place in 2558 CE. | ||||||
18 | 2531 CE |
| 2010-02-16 | |||
19 | 2531 CE |
| 2009-03-03 | |||
20 | 2531 CE |
| 2009-02-26 | |||
21 | 2532 CE |
| 2010-02-16 | |||
22 | 2532 CE |
| 2009-11-24 | |||
23 | 2535 CE |
| 2008-11-25 | |||
24 | 2535 CE |
| 2016-09-20 | |||
25 | 2537 CE |
| 2016-10-25 | |||
26 | 2542 CE |
| 2010-02-16 | |||
27 | 2544 CE |
| 2010-02-16 | |||
28 | 2548 CE |
| 2019-01-01 | |||
29 | 2548 CE |
| 2019-10-01 | |||
30 | 2551 CE |
| 2009-11-24 | |||
31 | ? |
| 2016-10-25 | |||
32 | January 2552 CE |
| 2010-03-10 | |||
33 | July 2552 CE |
| 2009-11-24 | |||
34 | July 2552 CE |
| 2010-07-28 | |||
35 | 2514-2552 CE |
| 2001-10-30 | |||
36 | August 2552 CE |
| 2012-07-18 | |||
37 | August 2552 CE |
| 2010-09-14 | |||
38 | September 2552 CE |
| 2009-11-24 | |||
39 | September 2552 CE |
| 2001-11-15 | |||
Anniversary remake of the original was released in November 15, 2011. | ||||||
40 | September 2552 CE |
| 2003-04-01 | |||
41 | September 2552 CE |
| 2018-07-10 | |||
42 | September 2552 CE |
| 2006-07-19 | |||
43 | September 2552 CE |
| 2006-07-19 | |||
44 | 2552 CE |
| 2009-11-24 | |||
45 | October 2552 CE |
| 2003-12-02 | |||
46 | October 2552 CE |
| 2006-07-19 | |||
47 | October 2552 CE |
| Halo 2 + | 2004-11-09 | ||
Anniversary remake of the original was released in November 11, 2014. | ||||||
48 | 2552 CE |
| 2014-11-04 | |||
49 | October 2552 CE |
| 2009-11-24 | |||
50 | October 2552 CE |
| 2006-07-19 | |||
Jason Hamilton- 13 Comments
- Featured Timelines, Game Timelines, Timelines
- November 11, 2019
I would like to point out a couple of mistakes. I don’t know about the rest of it, but I do know that Spartan assault takes place before halo 4 and Nightfall after.
Thanks! I’ll look into those.
Hi, Is there a way to copy this Chronology Table for personal use? I’d like to have this on my google drive and use it as a checklist and add personal notes.
Not currently, but it shouldn’t be too hard to copy and paste into a spreadsheet which you can then manipulate from there.
Forward unto Dawn happens before Oblivion, as the rescue of the students from Corbulo is mentioned in the beginning of Oblivion as having happened five weeks prior and two weeks after Silent Storm
I believe Broken Circle is now out of order. A few months ago it was correct, and has since been misplaced. I believe it should be located after Legends: The Duel.
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.
I found out recently that newer versions of the fall of reach have a section of short stories called the Adjunct section. I don’t believe you included it.
The release order is wrong
I want to point out another mistake. You said the placement on this list is based on where it ends. That would mean that “Fall of Reach: Covenent” is improperly placed. It begins in 2525, just before “Collateral Damage,” but it ends in 2552.
I recommend a couple of changes. I would put “Fall of Reach: the animated series” between “Contact Harvest” and “Collateral Damage. Then Move “Fall of Reach: Covenant: to around the area of “Evolution: Blunt Instruments,” and “Bloodline.”
I would like to make an edit to my comment. I had indicated that Broken Circle was misplaced. That is true and false at the same time. Part one of the book takes place at 850 BCE while Part Two does take place at 2552 CE. Is there a way for you to distinguish these two parts in the list above? Thanks!
He stated that the placement is based on where it ends.