Halo Missions Ranked
Halo is a series that is very important to me. It's the series that made me look at games differently, and the first series I really obsessed over. So to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series I have compiled a list of every Halo level in the mainline titles and ranked them from worst to best. Some omissions have been made from this list such as missions that are non-playable (such as Halo 2's The Heretic), as well as any non FPS entries to the series such as Halo Wars 1&2, and Spartan Assault & Strike. I have ranked the missions based on how much I enjoy playing them. I have tried to avoid influences from the story where possible, so for the most part this is objectively looking at level design and gameplay.
#75: The Armoury - Halo 2
#75: The Armoury - Halo 2
Kicking off our list is the first playable level in Halo 2, but it’s not really a level. I don’t know why this was given its own mission. All you do is learn how to walk, move the camera, and understand how your shield works. Then you stand on a gondola with Sgt. Johnson and he provides some exposition that could be given in a cutscene whilst the gondola moves and once it reaches its destination the mission ends. There is literally nothing to do in this level and it could have just been a cutscene.
#74: Before the Storm - Halo 5: Guardians
#74: Before the Storm - Halo 5: Guardians
Halo 5 had a few non-combat missions which 343 industries intended to break up the flow of the game and allow for some optional info to be learned from NPC’s in your area. There were three in the game and Before the Storm is the final one, it comes last mainly because it takes place in the same areas as Alliance (the next entry on this list), and the only NPC’s you can interact with are mandatory for moving the mission forward. It’s pretty much just a few lines of dialogue before the mission wraps up so why this couldn’t have been done as a cutscene I don’t know.
#73: Alliance - Halo 5: Guardians
#73: Alliance - Halo 5: Guardians
Another non-combat mission. Slightly better than Before the Storm because you can interact with more people, but none of the information is particularly interesting and it’s not as intriguing as the next entry.
#72: Meridian Station - Halo 5: Guardians
#72: Meridian Station - Halo 5: Guardians
The first of three non-combat missions you experience in Halo 5. Meridian Station sees you arrive at the eponymous location and you must interact with various NPC’s to determine the whereabouts of Master Chief and Blue Team. There’s a fair amount of NPC’s to talk to and the info you learn does expand the universe in meaningful ways, so although it’s low on the list it was a neat idea from 343 Industries. Just a shame the other two levels like it weren’t as interesting as this.
#71: Lone Wolf - Halo: Reach
#71: Lone Wolf - Halo: Reach
Much like the previous entries, this level doesn’t really constitute as a level because of how barebones it is. It comes as the grand finale to Halo: Reach and is simply wave survival against endless Covenant forces. The level ends when you die. The amount of fun you can get out of this level depends on your mood and skill. There are a couple of secrets to find which is a nice touch, but 99% of the time I will just stand and get killed by the first enemies I come to as there is no reward for surviving a long time.
#70: Keyes - Halo: Combat Evolved
#70: Keyes - Halo: Combat Evolved
The first actual level on this list, Keyes is pretty dire for two reasons. The Flood in Halo: Combat Evolved were a nightmare to fight and rarely will you have a fun encounter with them. Add to this that Keyes is a repeat of The Truth and Reconciliation mission which is the weakest of the non-Flood missions. So not only does it feel like you’re backtracking through the labyrinthian Covenant ship, but now you’re trapped in confined spaces that are crammed with Flood forms which quickly overwhelm. Tactics go out of the window with this level, it’s all luck and perseverance.
#69: The Library - Halo: Combat Evolved
#69: The Library - Halo: Combat Evolved
I bet you’re surprised this wasn’t the bottom entry, but there is a good reason why The Library made it this high up. Firstly, why is it so bad? Well, The Library is simply labyrinthian in design and you only fight Flood in an environment that simply doesn’t function well as a combat environment. You are regularly left waiting for several minutes for doors to open, it’s easy to get lost, and as stated in my previous entry fighting the Flood is not enjoyable because there are no real tactics you can employ against them. As to why I put it higher on this list than the previous entries, the Anniversary version of the game does a good job in making the level more balanced and easier to navigate. It’s still a nightmare, but I’d rather do The Library than Keyes provided I was playing the Anniversary version of the game.
#68: Two Betrayals - Halo: Combat Evolved
#68: Two Betrayals - Halo: Combat Evolved
The third entry in a row for Combat Evolved, Two Betrayals much like Keyes forces you to backtrack through a previous level but this time combating the Flood. Thankfully Two Betrayals puts you back into the areas from Assault on the Control Room and you do navigate the environment in a vastly different way from your previous time there which does make the level feel somewhat different. But that doesn’t change that this is an inferior version of a level from earlier in the game that only exists for the sake of padding the game out.
#67: Reclaimer - Halo 4
#67: Reclaimer - Halo 4
There are few things quite so tedious as being forced to move a great distance at a slow speed. Reclaimer has that in droves however as you must ride a very large very slow vehicle known as the Mammoth as it proceeds along a set path that cannot be traversed on foot or a faster vehicle. You cannot drive, you must simply stand on it and wait. Whilst the level is keen to throw various waves of enemies at you, none of them pose any real challenge and it only makes my point even clearer that I would have more fun watching paint dry than playing this level.
#66: Cortana - Halo 3
#66: Cortana - Halo 3
By now I’ve made it abundantly clear that I don’t like Flood levels and I am not alone on this, much of the Halo community has been just as vocal as I have. Cortana is without a doubt the worst level in Halo 3 and that is because it revels in everything awful about Flood levels. The geometry is near incomprehensible leading to you getting lost constantly, the Flood are not enjoyable to fight, and even worse is that this level is at the climax of Halo 3 which aside from a rocky start was incredible! It puts an extremely dour note on the finale to Halo 3 and it is baffling to me as to why Bungie ever thought this kind of level design was a good idea.
#65: Regret - Halo 2
#65: Regret - Halo 2
The thing is about Regret is that on paper it sounds great. You traverse a great lake and explore underground ruins within it to reach a temple at the middle wherein to engage in a boss battle with one of the games main antagonists. In practice though it’s just a load of gondola rides and you constantly get spammed with high-ranking enemies that are total bullet sponges. Total let down!
#64: Sacred Icon - Halo 2
#64: Sacred Icon - Halo 2
Quite what was going through Bungie’s head with this level I don’t know. Considering the backlash, The Library got in Combat Evolved you would think the last thing they would want to do is repeat that same mistake. But here we are with Sacred Icon. The only saving grace for Sacred Icon is that you play as the Arbiter and so have the ability to cloak yourself. This is very handy when trying to push past large groups of Flood forms making the level a bit of a breeze in comparison to The Library. It’s also not quite as confusing in its layout, but it’s still not a fun mission.
#63: Oracle - Halo 2
#63: Oracle - Halo 2
The Arbiter’s second mission in Halo 2 sees him continuing to pursue the Heretic leader on a base that is also swarming with Flood forms. Much like Regret which I spoke of earlier, Oracle sounds great on paper. You make your way through the base fighting Flood and Covenant Heretic’s as you go, then you get to literally cut the support cables of the base and make it freefall to get the leader out of his hiding place, then you have a showdown with him and his holograms. But in reality, it’s just you trying to push your way through tight corridors that are filled with Flood and if there’s one thing I hate, it’s doing exactly that.
#62: Quarantine Zone - Halo 2
#62: Quarantine Zone - Halo 2
The level following Sacred Icon is almost as bad, but not quite. It’s only saving grace is that you get a nice long vehicle section at the beginning of the level where you get to fight in big battles between Covenant and Flood forces. Only problem is that once that vehicle section is over you get a nice long gondola ride where you just have to face wave after wave of Flood in a confined area.
#61: The Arbiter - Halo 2
#61: The Arbiter - Halo 2
Yet another Halo 2 level and this time it is the first Arbiter level in the game, directly preceding The Oracle. Here you begin your search of the base where the Heretic Leader is hiding. This level has the audacity to stick you on an extremely small elevator platform for a very long time whilst Flood forms descend on you. It’s a nightmare to say the least. You then also get trapped in a room with them at one point and need to hold off until the doors open. It’s a whole mess. But it does redeem itself right at the end with a great Banshee piloting sequence.
#60: The Truth and Reconciliation - Halo: Combat Evolved
#60: The Truth and Reconciliation - Halo: Combat Evolved
So, The Truth and Reconciliation is not a bad level as such. It’s just kind of boring. You start off with a great sniper sequence and then a wave survival section just before entering the eponymous Covenant vessel. But once you’re inside you just get funnelled through a series of extremely repetitive corridors which are very easy to get lost in, and eventually end up in larger rooms where you have to fight waves of enemies. It starts well but loses its way, and considering you will most likely still have your sniper by the time you get aboard the ship it then becomes a case of that one of your weapons is totally useless because you’re now in close quarters combat.
#59: Crows Nest - Halo 3
#59: Crows Nest - Halo 3
Halo 3’s second mission is similar to Truth and Reconciliation in that it’s not a bad level, but it’s just boring. You are in an underground bunker and must keep running backwards and forwards between three different rooms to kill groups of enemies. It just kind of feels like Bungie had an awesome multiplayer map and they wanted to put it in the campaign...which is almost what happened when you consider most of the level shows up in the multiplayer map Rats Nest.
#58: Evacuation - Halo 5: Guardians
#58: Evacuation - Halo 5: Guardians
This level is somewhat enjoyable as it places you in an environment that’s literally falling apart around you. The biggest problem with it though is that it just isn’t all that exciting to play. Much of the time you’ll find that you’re just being held in certain areas to fight enemies when really you should be continuing your escape, and at other times you feel like you’re being arbitrarily pushed the long way round because the level didn’t want to be short. But the idea of escaping a city that’s literally crumbling around you is somewhat enjoyable.
#57: Shutdown - Halo 4
#57: Shutdown - Halo 4
This should have been a great level but instead it is uninspired and has you repeating the same tasks over and over again. Here you must pilot a Pelican for the first time in series history. However, the Pelican flying sections are brief and straightforward with very little in the way of skill or brain power needed to complete them. Once you get to your various objectives you simply need to complete the same objective over and over again. I seem to remember you need to do it three times in total so essentially this level is only a few minutes long but you need to repeat the same actions over and over again to pad out the length of it.
#56: The Breaking - Halo 5: Guardians
#56: The Breaking - Halo 5: Guardians
Halo 5’s penultimate level is grand in scale but uninspired in design. You simply need to work your way up an elaborately designed structure to reach Cortana. What stands in your way are relentless waves of Promethean enemies that simply exist to ruin your day. It’s not bad, but it’s underwhelming considering the stakes at this point in the game. There’s nothing that really makes this level stand out from the crowd.
#55: Requiem - Halo 4
#55: Requiem - Halo 4
This mission is just long. It starts off well with you escaping the ruins of the Forward Unto Dawn and getting to play about on the newly discovered planet of Requiem for a little bit. But then you need to go through a series of Forerunner structures and they all kind of look and feel the same and it just ends up dragging on for way longer than it needs to as a result.
#54: Data Hive - Halo 3: ODST
#54: Data Hive - Halo 3: ODST
The worst level in ODST which is saying something because there’s nothing inherently wrong with it, it just sticks out like a sore thumb in comparison to the rest of the levels because it’s a bit too long and is the only level in the game where you’re confined to close quarters combat in repetitive looking environments. It’s the penultimate level which doesn’t do it any favours either. But there are some good parts to it such as the walkways where you fight the waves of Buggers.
#53: Forerunner - Halo 4
#53: Forerunner - Halo 4
This one feels very familiar to the previous level, Requiem, but I seem to remember enjoying the combat encounters more, and it’s a bit shorter. In all honesty I don’t remember all that much about it because it feels so similar to Requiem.
#52: Infinity - Halo 4
#52: Infinity - Halo 4
This mission is so damn long! It’s outrageously long. It feels like two or maybe even three missions that got squashed together. Whilst it is fun because you get lots of combat in a jungle environment, as well as a nice long Scorpion tank section, and then you pilot the Mantis for the first time. But there’s so many defence sections that take a while too and when you consider that this level takes place in like four different environments and has so many different gameplay styles in play, it just makes you wonder why it was all crammed into one level.
#51: Osiris - Halo 5: Guardians
#51: Osiris - Halo 5: Guardians
When the first level of a game is this far down a list you should probably temper your expectations for the rest of the game. Osiris is a strange first level because it dumps you in combat from the word go, but it doesn’t really explain the games new mechanics to you and you’re just kind of left to work them out on your own in some battles that are actually relatively large. The level isn’t bad it’s just jarring especially because Halo 5 introduces a lot of new gameplay mechanics and to put you into this kind of scenario out the gate without any explanation as to how the game functions is just strange.
#50: Unconfirmed - Halo 5: Guardians
#50: Unconfirmed - Halo 5: Guardians
This mission feels slow. Whilst it’s not particularly long and it is fun to play, much of the combat requires you to stay behind cover and not move around much because there are so many snipers waiting to pick you off. It doesn’t feel an awful lot like a Halo level as a result. The way the environment is designed and the sheer number of enemies with snipers makes this feel more like a Call of Duty mission and so it brings the gameplay down to a crawl.
#49: Glassed - Halo 5: Guardians
#49: Glassed - Halo 5: Guardians
I like that Glassed peppers some really interesting dialogue regarding this new settlement that we are going to. It’s also a nice big vehicle level which is always a bonus. What holds it back is that it does feel quite restrictive and there’s no real change of pace throughout the level. It’s a level that is definitely a good time, but it’s not memorable enough to warrant being higher on the list.
#48: The Package - Halo: Reach
#48: The Package - Halo: Reach
When we are almost thirty entries deep into this list and I finally put a proper Halo Reach level in goes to show just how strong the quality of the levels in this game are. The Package comes out bottom for two reasons. Firstly, the level takes place in the same area as ONI: Sword Base, and secondly there’s a big firefight section at the end of the level that’s not really all that interesting. It’s still fun, but when stacked up against the rest of Reach’s levels it really does stick out like a sore thumb.
#47: ONI: Alpha Site - Halo 3: ODST
#47: ONI: Alpha Site - Halo 3: ODST
Much like Reach, ODST’s missions are all relatively strong. But ONI: Alpha Site does feel like a bit of a drag because you’re playing by the computer's rules with this one. You’re constantly repelling endless enemy forces whilst falling back inside Alpha Site, which starts off strong when you’re outside the building but once you move inside it grinds to a halt as you’re in one room for ages (which is also used as a firefight map) and then you’re put on a long elevator defence section. It’s just ok, I’d be surprised if it’s a mission people look forward to but it’s still enjoyable.
#46: Cairo Station - Halo 2
#46: Cairo Station - Halo 2
This one needs a bit of an explanation because Cairo Station is actually a great level, if you’re playing on any difficulty other than Legendary. But if you are playing on Legendary, or god forbid LASO, then Cairo Station is enough to turn anybody off Halo 2 straight away seeing as this is the game's first level. There are so many enemies and the environments are so cramped. It’s like someone took the first level of Combat Evolved and just put more enemies in it. It’s perfectly enjoyable and it’s a good opening to the game, but dear lord it can be so difficult at times.
#45: Sierra-117 - Halo 3
#45: Sierra-117 - Halo 3
This is generally a very enjoyable level and a good way to open Halo 3, but there’s a lot of walking. There are long stretches of time where you just walk and traverse the scenery. It’s perfectly nice scenery, but I feel like had these walking sections been reduced the level would have been significantly stronger. I do very much enjoy how the Jackals use the trees and cliffs, and the final area on the dam is some great level design. Just a tad too much walking without doing anything.
#44: Nightfall - Halo: Reach
#44: Nightfall - Halo: Reach
This is the level The Truth and Reconciliation should have been. I think Bungie knew their mistake coming off the back of Combat Evolved which is why they didn’t do another night-time sniper mission until their final game as Halo developer. Nightfall is generally pretty great. You’ve got plenty of opportunities to use the sniper, and you also get to engage in some area defence objectives which require more close quarters combat, though you’re never confined to tight hallways in this level. Lots of wide outdoor space.
#43: Guardians - Halo 5: Guardians
#43: Guardians - Halo 5: Guardians
This is generally a good final mission as it really puts all your skills to the test. You’re given a whole menagerie of enemies to fight, as well as lots of high-level foes to battle at the same time. But you never feel as though it’s insurmountable. Whilst the final few minutes of the mission do bring it does as it’s reduced to just pushing forward on the left stick whilst Locke crawls painfully slowly to the end point. But aside from that it was a generally good last mission that really requires a good understanding of all of the game's mechanics.
#42: Reunion - Halo 5: Guardians
#42: Reunion - Halo 5: Guardians
This level stands out to me as it’s the first time you get to use the Promethean Phaeton vehicle. It’s not a particularly great vehicle but the times you do get to use it show some great level design. You can also opt out of using the Phaeton for a more traditional walk to the next objective though you encounter different enemies and as a result require different tactics to progress. It’s one of the few cases of Halo 5 really expanding on Halo’s gameplay strategy beyond simply throwing tons of enemies at you in awkward combat arenas.
#41: Swords of Sanghelios - Halo 5: Guardians
#41: Swords of Sanghelios - Halo 5: Guardians
This level has some awesome level design. Lots of routes to take to get to the objectives, lots of ways to approach combat scenarios. Plus, you get to take part in some awesome large-scale battles and it’s on the home world of the Elite’s so you get some great dialogue regarding the Human-Covenant war and what happened prior, and since.
#40: Genesis - Halo 5: Guardians
#40: Genesis - Halo 5: Guardians
This level has an awesome opening section where Fireteam Osiris are running down the side of a Guardian fighting Prometheans in an attempt to get to the surface of Genesis. Following this sequence is a series of enjoyable battles, which you can use vehicles in if you so choose. This level really gets you pumped for the end of the game due to the large battles that takes a fair amount of skill in order to win, and the great level design at play.
#39: Enemy Lines - Halo 5: Guardians
#39: Enemy Lines - Halo 5: Guardians
Missions where you are tasked with taking on massive mobile structures are among the best in the entire Halo series and whilst Enemy Lines is perhaps the weakest of all of them, it is still a very fun time. You’re tasked with destroying a Kraken and to do that you get a great mix of engaging ground forces in combat, piloting flying vehicles to engage in dogfights and to board the massive structure, and then top it off by infiltrating the structure, killing the crew and destroying the Kraken from the inside. Very enjoyable all round.
#38: Midnight - Halo 4
#38: Midnight - Halo 4
The final mission to Halo 4 is a mission of two halves. I’m placing it this high because the first half of the mission that sees you piloting a Broadsword fighter through a Star Wars-esque trench run whilst destroying turrets and taking down the enemy ships shields is extremely fun. The second half where you must just do the same objective three times and then do a QTE fight with the game’s villain, The Didact, is quite underwhelming. Overall, I enjoy playing Midnight, but the second half of the level is a bit uninspired.
#37: Dawn - Halo 4
#37: Dawn - Halo 4
Halo 4’s best mission only makes it to number thirty-seven on my list, and even worse is that it’s the game's first mission. Dawn feels right at home with Halo games past and it painted a pretty picture for what was to come over the following eight to ten hours, but it was also the only level to feel like it was making an effort to be new but also appeal to existing fans. Awaking from cryosleep Chief must fight off invading Covenant forces. Very reminiscent of Combat Evolved & Halo 2’s first missions.
#36: Blue Team - Halo 5: Guardians
#36: Blue Team - Halo 5: Guardians
Blue Team, the games second mission, is the first where you control Master Chief and feels somewhat reminiscent of Halo 4’s Dawn in many ways. It does though have a fun Banshee section at the end which edges it out in front. Nothing overly complicated, just good level design and a fun but brief vehicle section.
#35: Winter Contingency - Halo: Reach
#35: Winter Contingency - Halo: Reach
It's usually the second missions in a Halo title that offer the open spaces and vehicular combat sequences. But in Reach we get two missions like that to open the game. The first mission being Winter Contingency where you must investigate a number of farms where strange sightings have led to an investigation by Noble Team. There you find Covenant, and a lot of them, so you obviously need to clear them out. Winter Contingency is relatively freeform and can be tackled in a number of ways, but what knocks it down a few pegs is that much of the levels opening is spent just walking. Perhaps if the opening of the mission hadn’t been so slow it would have made it considerably higher on the list.
#34: Long Night of Solace - Halo: Reach
#34: Long Night of Solace - Halo: Reach
This level was particularly noteworthy upon Reach’s launch for being a space combat mission, still the only one of its kind in a Halo title. It does have traditional gunplay for sure, but the main bulk of the mission is spent in a spaceship and doing flight combat in space.
It’s odd though because although the mission is great on a first run, on subsequent runs it is very tedious once it comes to this section because there are no real tactics to make it go by quicker. The opening section where you storm the beach is incredible, and the sequence after the space combat where you board the Covenant cruiser is enjoyable. But the middle section feels very weak upon subsequent playthroughs which lets the level down.
#33: Tayari Plaza - Halo 3: ODST
It’s odd though because although the mission is great on a first run, on subsequent runs it is very tedious once it comes to this section because there are no real tactics to make it go by quicker. The opening section where you storm the beach is incredible, and the sequence after the space combat where you board the Covenant cruiser is enjoyable. But the middle section feels very weak upon subsequent playthroughs which lets the level down.
#33: Tayari Plaza - Halo 3: ODST
The main meat of ODST was told in flashback missions, the first of which being Tayari Plaza. Here you play as the leader of the ODST squad, Buck, and must search the streets for your superior, Ms. Naval Intelligence, Veronica Dare. A good way to get ODST going and show you the combat ropes in preparation for what you will encounter later on in the city with Rookie, but it does feel a little simple in comparison to the other exciting missions ODST is keen to throw at you.
#32: Mombasa Streets - Halo 3: ODST
#32: Mombasa Streets - Halo 3: ODST
One of the most unique levels in the Halo series. Mombasa Streets is a non-linear hub world where you control Rookie as he searches for his lost squadmates. If you play the campaign traditionally Mombasa Streets bookends each flashback mission as more of the city unlocks to you. However, you can opt to play Mombasa Streets as a straight run if you have completed the game. Whilst Mombasa Streets is certainly unique, it is a little skimpy on pretty much everything. You don’t have the opportunity to engage in much combat, and there isn’t anything to do other than head to the next objective and find hidden audio logs. It’s a great mission, but not the most exciting.
#31: ONI: Sword Base - Halo: Reach
#31: ONI: Sword Base - Halo: Reach
Reach’s second mission takes the traditional second mission approach of giving you a large area and a vehicle. You start off by pushing your way through enemy forces in a courtyard battle before jumping in a Warthog and tackling two objectives in any order you see fit before heading back to the start of the level and entering the ONI facility to help clear out the invaders. It’s straight forward, you know what you’re getting here, and its good fun.
#30: Composer - Halo 4
#30: Composer - Halo 4
Here we are, the best mission in Halo 4 and we are only at entry number thirty! Composer, the games penultimate mission, sees Chief defending a UNSC space station from invading Forerunner forces that are after the eponymous artefact. Despite being set in a space station you’re given a lot of room to engage in combat however you like, and even given the opportunity to pilot a Mantis. There’s a lot to like in this level, but it is somewhat disappointing to see that this is the best Halo 4 had to offer.
#29: Floodgate - Halo 3
#29: Floodgate - Halo 3
Floodgate is a divisive level as some people love it and some people hate it. It’s easy to see why people dislike it as it’s entirely Flood focused, and despite Flood being more fun to fight in Halo 3 than any other entry they’re still a chore, and it is just a reverse version of the level you’ve literally just finished. But I think Floodgate is pretty fun and one of the best Flood missions in the entire series. It changes up just enough from the previous level to make it feel somewhat fresh, and the environment works really well for fighting Flood because there’s a good amount of verticality and the geometry is clear. Seems as though Bungie finally managed to make a Flood level right!
#28: Coastal Highway - Halo 3: ODST
#28: Coastal Highway - Halo 3: ODST
The epic finale to ODST is pretty good to say the least. You must escort Dare and Virgil (who are driving an Elephant) along a highway littered with enemy vehicles and turrets. Once you get them through you must hold out for evac from New Mombasa and engage in one last firefight with Covenant forces. It’s a great vehicle sequence and the firefight arena is pretty well designed, so whilst I may not be the biggest fan of ODST constantly dropping you into firefight scenarios, this one was pretty good. This level also has one of the best Vidmaster challenges attached to it where instead of driving a Warthog along the highway you must use Mongooses and infinite rocket launchers instead.
#27: NMPD HQ - Halo 3: ODST
#27: NMPD HQ - Halo 3: ODST
Whilst NMPD HQ isn’t anything particularly special in terms of gameplay, I really like the level design of this mission. Taking place in the upper floors of a skyscraper, there’s a lot of balconies with Jackal snipers perched, as well as a great sequence where you use a crane to cross from one building to another and then hold out to engage in a firefight with lots of high-level Brutes and Banshee’s. Although the mission isn’t anything you haven’t done before, it’s never happened in an environment like this before.
#26: Gravemind - Halo 2
#26: Gravemind - Halo 2
Another divisive level and this only scored so low because of the steep difficulty spike. Without a doubt this is the hardest level in the entire Halo series, but it’s also one of the most awesome from a story perspective. After being sent by Gravemind to the Covenant city of High Charity, Master Chief must battle through seemingly endless waves of high-level enemies as the Elite uprising takes hold. You'll get caught up in massive three-way firefights between the Brutes, Elites, and yourself. If you play the game on Heroic or Legendary this level can be frustratingly difficult, and if you are attempting a LASO run it’s damn near impossible. So, whilst it is a very fun level narratively and on lower difficulties, part of the reason why it lands so low on this list is simply because of how much hair I have lost trying to finish this level sometimes.
#25: Outskirts - Halo 2
#25: Outskirts - Halo 2
Halo 2 promised players that the fight would be taken to Earth, and whilst that was certainly true it was only for two levels very early on in the game. Outskirts is the first. It starts off with a firefight in a courtyard that takes far too long, but once you move past this section you get some pretty great moments such as the rooftop snipers as you move through an alleyway, the heavy resistance at the hotel, then the awesome vehicle section that closes the mission out as you move from the beach to an underground tunnel system and take out some Covenant vehicle transports. It may be a little on the long side at times, but its very enjoyable.
#24: High Charity - Halo 2
#24: High Charity - Halo 2
Following up Gravemind was going to be hard but High Charity somehow manages it despite throwing Flood into the mix. Most of the reason why this is such a great level is because you can actually use the Flood to your advantage a lot of the time as you engage in these massive firefights that you couldn’t succeed in on your own. Part of the fun is laying low and watching the AI fight itself for a while. It was a great way to end Master Chief’s storyline for Halo 2.
#23: Uprising - Halo 2
#23: Uprising - Halo 2
Sandwiched between Gravemind and High Charity is Uprising, the Arbiter’s penultimate mission of the game. This level puts you in a gorgeous jungle environment and allows you to use various vehicles to push through thick enemy resistance on your way to the Halo control room. You have the backing of the Elite’s and some of the fights in the larger areas are very fun to play. The biggest issue with this level is when it funnels you into some corridors about halfway through and it can get very hairy in there which on higher difficulties can be frustrating.
#22: Delta Halo - Halo 2
#22: Delta Halo - Halo 2
In Combat Evolved landing on the Halo was an accident and you felt so small and weak in comparison to this imposing environment. But come Halo 2 you’re now a Halo destroyer, so landing on another installation for an all-out offensive on the Covenant was a lot of fun. You also get to pilot a Scorpion tank for most of the mission and that’s always a good time. Whilst the missions opening firefight can go on a bit too long, the rest of it is a whale of a time.
#21: Exodus - Halo: Reach
#21: Exodus - Halo: Reach
Spirits are low after Long Night of Solace and nothing encapsulates that loneliness, or that desire to fight back harder than ever than Exodus. You start out by picking off small squads of covenant with little health and ammo, but as the mission progresses you get into larger and larger fights. Come the end of the mission you’re taking on Wraith tanks, Ghosts, and high-ranking elites as you storm a building the Covenant have set up camp at. It’s just what you need to let out your anger and get your spirits back up after that gut wrenching end to the previous mission.
#20: The Storm - Halo 3
#20: The Storm - Halo 3
The Storm is a kind of foreplay by Halo 3 to give you a taste of what you’re shortly going to be getting yourself into. The bulk of this mission is spent in a large combat arena where you must battle Wraith tanks, Ghosts, and a Scarab mobile base. Halo 2 had you fight one Scarab across the entire game and you didn’t even really fight the Scarab as such, you just jumped onto it from a bridge and killed the driver.
The Storm sees you face off against formidable anti-air wraiths that have mounted fuel rod cannons, as well as a Scarab that you must actually battle. You’ll need to figure out a way to get onto it and destroy the generator in order to blow it up. You also need to mount an offensive on a massive anti-air gun that’s heavily defended. Very fun mission.
#19: Battle of Sunaion - Halo 5: Guardians
The Storm sees you face off against formidable anti-air wraiths that have mounted fuel rod cannons, as well as a Scarab that you must actually battle. You’ll need to figure out a way to get onto it and destroy the generator in order to blow it up. You also need to mount an offensive on a massive anti-air gun that’s heavily defended. Very fun mission.
#19: Battle of Sunaion - Halo 5: Guardians
Halo 5 for the most part was pretty mediocre, but one level stood out as actually very impressive and that was Battle of Sunaion. This mission sees you mount an attack on Promethean & Jul Mdama’s Covenant forces alongside The Arbiter and his band of Elites. This level really shows off Halo 5’s full range of combat options with varying objectives, vertical level design, and has almost every enemy type you face in the game present. It requires a lot of switching up tactics, prioritisation, and squad commands to come out of this level alive on higher difficulties. It’s a shame that you play as Locke in this mission, because honestly if it could have been Chief & Arby back at it again then it would have been incredible.
#18: Kizingo Boulevard - Halo 3: ODST
#18: Kizingo Boulevard - Halo 3: ODST
Everybody loves a tank mission. ODST’s second flashback provided us with one that was quite different from normal however. Usually, tank missions give you wide open space and loads of vehicles to shoot at. But Kizingo Boulevard is different in that you are driving the tank around Mombasa’s narrow streets, and mostly shooting at infantry. They’re heavily armed with plasma cannons, snipers, and more grenades than ever, so it’s no cakewalk. But it does require vastly different tactics to what you’re used to in tank missions.
#17: 343 Guilty Spark - Halo: Combat Evolved
#17: 343 Guilty Spark - Halo: Combat Evolved
The first Flood mission of the entire series is arguably one of the best. 343 Guilty Spark toes the line of outright horror for this level as you’re dropped off in a murky swamp and find various signs that UNSC soldiers have not had a particularly great time here. You shortly stumble across some Covenant, which are in an equally big mess. You descend into a Forerunner facility where the Covenant have set up camp only to discover that they’ve awakened something terrible. Once the Flood emerge, zombified versions of Covenant and UNSC forces, the shotguns come out and you start getting the hell out of dodge.
Claustrophobic level design, a great setup and payoff. Though the Flood aren’t the best to fight they are great in this level.
#16: The Pillar of Autumn - Halo: Reach
Claustrophobic level design, a great setup and payoff. Though the Flood aren’t the best to fight they are great in this level.
#16: The Pillar of Autumn - Halo: Reach
The final level of Reach tasks you with transporting Cortana to The Pillar of Autumn in preparation for its imminent take-off. It kicks off in high gear with Noble Team leader Carter sacrificing himself to take out a Scarab blocking your path. From there you must navigate winding canyons whilst under heavy fire from Covenant forces. Once you reach The Pillar of Autumn you’re then tasked with fending off waves on incoming attackers, and mounting a MAC cannon to destroy an inbound Covenant cruiser that’s charging up to glass the area. It’s really thrilling stuff and a great culmination of almost every gameplay style seen in Reach so far.
#15: New Alexandria - Halo: Reach
#15: New Alexandria - Halo: Reach
Cast your mind back to earlier in the list when I spoke of Halo 4’s Shutdown mission. This is what that mission should have been closer to. New Alexandria has fallen to Covenant invaders and you are tasked with evacuating pockets of soldiers that are still holding out in hotspots around the city. You must fly in using a Falcon, repel any enemy forces, sometimes destroy a generator for good measure, then move on to the next location. It’s a lot of fun and does require some very different tactics to what you’re used to in a Halo game. A level I look forward to playing every time I restart Reach.
#14: The Pillar of Autumn - Halo: Combat Evolved
#14: The Pillar of Autumn - Halo: Combat Evolved
The final level of Reach and the first level of Combat Evolved share the same level title which is a little confusing, but not the only time this happens in the Halo series. This is where the entire franchise started, and it’s a damn fine mission to kick it off from.
After narrowly escaping the planet Reach, The Pillar of Autumn finds itself in orbit of a mysterious ring world. The Covenant have followed them through slip space and so Captain Keyes awakes Spartan-117, the Master Chief, to protect the ship and ensure crew can safely evac the doomed vessel.
This mission is very simple, move through all the narrow corridors of the Autumn and kill any Covenant you find. But the mood, level design, and awesome music make it such a memorable mission and it was such a great way to kick the series off.
#13: Tsavo Highway - Halo 3
After narrowly escaping the planet Reach, The Pillar of Autumn finds itself in orbit of a mysterious ring world. The Covenant have followed them through slip space and so Captain Keyes awakes Spartan-117, the Master Chief, to protect the ship and ensure crew can safely evac the doomed vessel.
This mission is very simple, move through all the narrow corridors of the Autumn and kill any Covenant you find. But the mood, level design, and awesome music make it such a memorable mission and it was such a great way to kick the series off.
#13: Tsavo Highway - Halo 3
Halo 3’s first vehicle mission is a pretty awesome one at that. Escaping the from the rubble of a now destroyed UNSC base in a Warthog, Chief must make his way along the Tsavo Highway to regroup with friendly forces. The highway is heavily fortified with Covenant forces however, so the journey will not be as straightforward as it would initially seem.
You can have access to almost all of the driveable vehicles in Halo 3 in this mission, and the large open combat arenas are thrilling. It’s a particular favourite of mine to speedrun and truly the first mission in the game where you get an idea of the scope and scale of the game.
#12: Uplift Reserve - Halo 3: ODST
You can have access to almost all of the driveable vehicles in Halo 3 in this mission, and the large open combat arenas are thrilling. It’s a particular favourite of mine to speedrun and truly the first mission in the game where you get an idea of the scope and scale of the game.
#12: Uplift Reserve - Halo 3: ODST
Another vehicle mission, not too dissimilar to Tsavo Highway in many respects. Uplift Reserve sees you play as Dutch whose pod lands in the Uplift Nature Reserve. Covenant have already set up camp in the reserve and so you must escape as quickly as you can. Uplift Reserve is another great speedrunning level as you can easily just drive from one end of the mission to the other without ever leaving your vehicle. But if you do choose to take it slower you’ve got lots of high-level enemies to fight, as well as plenty of vehicles to keep you occupied.
#11: The Great Journey - Halo 2
#11: The Great Journey - Halo 2
The final mission in Halo 2 is very enjoyable. You start off by piloting a Banshee through a heavily fortified canyon as an escort to a Scarab piloted by Sergeant Johnson. Once you reach the end of it, you can fly across into the structure Johnson gives you access to. Inside you’ll find waves of high-level Brutes defending the control room. Once you pass these, you’ll face Tartarus, the Brute Chieftan, in a great boss battle that on higher difficulties can be quite challenging.
It’s a good mix of vehicle combat and difficult yet rewarding traditional combat, with a boss battle mixed in for good measure.
#10: Kikowani Station - Halo 3: ODST
It’s a good mix of vehicle combat and difficult yet rewarding traditional combat, with a boss battle mixed in for good measure.
#10: Kikowani Station - Halo 3: ODST
The best mission in ODST just about cracks the top ten list. Kikowani Station sees the majority of the ODST squad reunited. Together they hijack a Phantom, which you must escort with a Banshee. There are dozens of anti-air wraiths, fuel rod cannon wielding grunts, engineer factories, and more waiting for you as you fly around the city. For the first time in ODST you feel powerful, yet at the same time are very vulnerable if you're not paying attention.
#9: Metropolis - Halo 2
#9: Metropolis - Halo 2
Halo 2’s best mission is without a doubt Metropolis. The mission starts you off in a Scorpion tank as you make your way over a long suspension bridge, and then into a long underpass where you’re bombarded with attacks from Wraiths, Ghosts, and Banshee’s. You’ll catch glimpses of your first ever Scarab in the distance, then up close when it makes its way through the street, you’re currently fighting in. You then need to make your way up to the Scarab’s position and board it, killing all the crew rendering the mobile base useless.
It’s a very long, and very thrilling mission that gives you the true sense of scale Halo 2 was going for. Loads of vehicle combat, a pulse pounding finale, and some awesome level design. What more do you need?
#8: The Maw - Halo: Combat Evolved
It’s a very long, and very thrilling mission that gives you the true sense of scale Halo 2 was going for. Loads of vehicle combat, a pulse pounding finale, and some awesome level design. What more do you need?
#8: The Maw - Halo: Combat Evolved
The final mission of Combat Evolved takes you back to The Pillar of Autumn, but this time for a Flood mission. Although that may be enough to illicit a frustrated groan, it should be noted that The Maw is pretty great actually. Whilst fighting the Flood can certainly be frustrating at times, your objectives in this mission are so wildly different from what you’re used to doing in Combat Evolved that it makes it very memorable and quite fun. You need to destroy the ships engines by throwing grenades or shooting rockets into the reactor exhausts, and then you need to jump in a Warthog and participate in the legendary ‘Warthog Run’. An obstacle course designed to test your driving skills that you must complete in just a few minutes. It’s an awesome and pulse pounding way to end the game and despite starting out on the wrong foot with lots of Flood combat, it redeems itself a thousand times over come mission’s end.
#7: The Covenant - Halo 3
#7: The Covenant - Halo 3
When Halo 3 got to its midpoint it hit you with a double whammy of two ridiculously long and very large levels. The Covenant is the second of the two missions and sees you air dropped into a beach battle. You must push your way up and enter a Forerunner structure to deactivate one of three shield controls. Once that’s completed you must make your way back to the beach, engage in a dogfight whilst piloting a Hornet, then enter another structure and deactivate the shield in there. Once that’s done, you’ll then need to make your way into the previously shielded zone and engage in combat with Ghosts, Wraiths, and Phantoms, then tackle two Scarab’s at the same time. This can be done either driving a Scorpion, or piloting a Hornet. Then once that’s done, you’ll enter a final Forerunner structure where you must fight alongside the Flood to stop the Prophet of Truth from activating The Ark. Once that’s all said and done, and just as you think the level is over, you must then make your way back out of the structure and fighting all the Flood that were your allies a moment ago.
This level can take ages, over an hour depending on the difficulty you’re playing on. But it’s such an awesome mission that has great level design, a decent variety of vehicles to use which each have specific moments designed for them. Plus, you get to fight alongside Flood and take on TWO scarabs at the same time! This is Halo 3 at its most epic and Bungie’s vision of grand scale level design was truly realised.
#6: Assault on the Control Room - Halo: Combat Evolved
This level can take ages, over an hour depending on the difficulty you’re playing on. But it’s such an awesome mission that has great level design, a decent variety of vehicles to use which each have specific moments designed for them. Plus, you get to fight alongside Flood and take on TWO scarabs at the same time! This is Halo 3 at its most epic and Bungie’s vision of grand scale level design was truly realised.
#6: Assault on the Control Room - Halo: Combat Evolved
Another long level but this time from the first Halo game. Assault on the Control Room sees you navigate a massive icy canyon as you head towards the titular control room of Halo. You’ll spend much of the level's early stages in small indoor environments before finally making it outside and engaging in vehicle combat sequences, as well as your first opportunity to drive a Scorpion tank. I used to replay this mission all the time when I was younger trying to beat my best times. A lot of fun to be had.
#5: Halo - Halo 3
#5: Halo - Halo 3
The final mission of Halo 3 is very reminiscent of the end of Halo Combat Evolved in that it’s entirely Flood based, and there’s another Warthog run at the end of it. Halo beats out The Maw for several reasons though. Firstly, the Flood are a lot more fun to fight in Halo 3, yes they’re still a pain but they are more bearable at least. Then you get to have a fun, although easy fight with 343 Guilty Spark as the game's final boss before jumping in a Warthog and driving across a collapsing and exploding environment trying to make the jump to the Forward Unto Dawn before the Halo ring you’re on completely falls apart.
The driving controls in Halo 3 are much tighter, making the Warthog run more enjoyable. Plus add in the collapsing environment and you’ll need much faster reflexes than you did in Combat Evolved. It’s a great ending to one of the best Halo games.
#4: Tip of the Spear - Halo: Reach
The driving controls in Halo 3 are much tighter, making the Warthog run more enjoyable. Plus add in the collapsing environment and you’ll need much faster reflexes than you did in Combat Evolved. It’s a great ending to one of the best Halo games.
#4: Tip of the Spear - Halo: Reach
The best mission of Reach makes it all the way to the number four spot on my list with Tip of the Spear. This was the mission we all wanted in the lead up to Reach’s launch. A large-scale mission, with loads to do, some great vehicle combat, as well as some awesome traditional combat. You start off pushing back against an encampment of Covenant forces before jumping in a vehicle and taking down a large stationary gun. Once that’s done, you’ll jump in a Falcon and be transported to a nearby Covenant shield generator, a Spire, which you must climb and deactivate.
Lots of combat variety, a good level of challenge, and some great vehicle sections all blended in with Reach’s stellar gameplay mechanics makes Tip of the Spear one of the all-time greats.
#3: The Ark - Halo 3
Lots of combat variety, a good level of challenge, and some great vehicle sections all blended in with Reach’s stellar gameplay mechanics makes Tip of the Spear one of the all-time greats.
#3: The Ark - Halo 3
The first of Halo 3’s massive back-to-back levels I mentioned when talking about the number seven entry The Covenant. The Ark sets you down on the titular Installation 00 wherein you must locate the Cartographer. A desert level where you’ll spend most of your time in a tank. The mission starts off with some sniper sections, before moving on to a Ghost section to clear out some smaller enemy turret placements and anti-air Wraiths. The Forward Unto Dawn will land in and drop off a Scorpion for you where you then proceed to assault a nearby Forerunner facility the Covenant have holed up in. Once you get on the other side you’ll face off against a Scarab and then enter a final Forerunner facility where the Cartographer is located, as well as a bunch of high-level Covenant forces.
A bit tighter in the pacing than The Covenant, but just as grand in scale, The Ark is Halo 3 at its best.
#2: Halo - Halo: Combat Evolved
A bit tighter in the pacing than The Covenant, but just as grand in scale, The Ark is Halo 3 at its best.
#2: Halo - Halo: Combat Evolved
The second mission of Combat Evolved was the mission that made me fall in love with the series, and what could be possible with gaming as a medium, and almost had the top spot of this list. After crash landing on the Halo, Installation 04, the Master Chief must find and rescue several groups of stranded marines that managed to escape the Pillar of Autumn. The level is huge and almost entirely vehicle based. You can also tackle objectives in a non-linear fashion (one of the few missions in the series to allow this). There’s so much you can learn about Halo and the Covenant from this one level, just by soaking in the visuals and listening to the dialogue Cortana reels off.
Writing about it doesn’t do this beautiful level justice so I simply recommend that you play it for yourself and maybe you’ll understand how this level had such a profound effect on me back in the early 00’s.
#1: The Silent Cartographer - Halo: Combat Evolved
Writing about it doesn’t do this beautiful level justice so I simply recommend that you play it for yourself and maybe you’ll understand how this level had such a profound effect on me back in the early 00’s.
#1: The Silent Cartographer - Halo: Combat Evolved
Although Halo almost had the top spot I simply couldn’t deny that The Silent Cartographer is not only the best Halo mission of all time, but also one of the best missions in an FPS ever. The fourth level of Combat Evolved sees you storm a beach of an island on Halo where the Covenant have set up camp. From there you’ll jump in a Warthog and you can explore the island at your own pace. There’s multiple objectives that can be tackled in any order, and it then gets capped off with a fantastic exploration of the structure that sits underneath the island where you’ll fight various type of Covenant including Hunters, various ranks of Elites (including a Gold armoured sword wielding one), and countless Jackals and Grunts.
There’s nothing about this mission that it doesn’t nail perfectly, and much like the previous entry there’s so much you can learn about the world the game exists in jut by soaking in the environment and dialogue. This is how you make a great video game level. The fact that even twenty years after its launch, and with six mainline sequels, the best Halo had to offer was in the first games fourth level is astounding. A truly legendary mission.
There’s nothing about this mission that it doesn’t nail perfectly, and much like the previous entry there’s so much you can learn about the world the game exists in jut by soaking in the environment and dialogue. This is how you make a great video game level. The fact that even twenty years after its launch, and with six mainline sequels, the best Halo had to offer was in the first games fourth level is astounding. A truly legendary mission.