Halo is a legendary video game series from the team at Xbox Game Studios. The events in the games primarily take place in the 26th century. The game is full of futuristic megastructures, thrilling combat, and iconic weapons.
The first game in the series is Halo: Combat Evolved. It came out in 2001 and achieved both critical and commercial success. It’s often regarded as one of the best video games of all time. Since then, there have been a number of other fantastic titles, each adding their own flair to this behemoth of a series.
If you’re reading this list, chances are that you’ve already played all the Halo games, or at least, most of them. If so, we’ve got you covered. Here are the best 10 games like Halo to add to your library today, with similar themes, combat, and stories.
Crysis
Crysis is a first-person shooter from Crytek that came out in 2007. Its gameplay and setting are similar to Halo. The game spawned an expansion pack and two sequels. News came out in 2022 that another sequel is in the works, at the time of writing.
Upon its release, the game got a lot of love for its graphics. The story in Crysis follows a U.S. Army Delta Force soldier named Jake Dunn. The events in the game are set in the future. Your mission is to investigate an ancient alien-built structure that was found in Lingshan Islands.
The original Crysis got a remaster in 2020, so now is the perfect time to give this game a try if you have never played it before. The new edition features revamped graphics that make the playing experience more enjoyable.
You can play the remastered version on Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. The following two titles in the Crysis trilogy got a remaster a year after the original title.
There is a heavy focus on exploration in Crysis. You’ll get to explore various environments in the open world. Players can drive vehicles, destroy obstacles, and use the environment to defeat enemies. The game features a wide variety of weapons, including sniper rifles, missile launchers, shotguns, and sub-machine guns.
There are stealth elements in the gameplay. Your character has a Nanosuit that enables him to become invisible. You can use the ability this suit gives you to stalk enemy patrols and attack them when they least expect it.
Doom Eternal
Doom Eternal represents the fifth main entry in the Doom video game series. It comes from the team at id Software and it came out in 2020. It serves as the direct sequel to Doom (2016) and follows the Doomslayer as he saves humanity from the demonic forces of Hell.
Doom Eternal features both single-player and multiplayer modes. The game features a multiplayer mode called Battlemode. Here, you can choose between playing as the Doomslayer and a demon. You can play the game on Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Stadia, and Nintendo Switch.
The game has a first-person perspective and involves push-forward combat. In other words, you have to kill as many enemies as possible to acquire more health, armor, and ammo. There are many weapons you can use in Doom Eternal, including energy swords, hammers, chainsaws, rocket launchers, shotguns, and more.
In the beginning, players can run and gun through levels to be as efficient as possible. The challenges get progressively harder over time, which means you’ll have to strategize more later on in the game. To make it through the levels in Doom Eternal, you’ll have to move a lot and quickly change weapons.
For the first time in the Doom series, new movement mechanics like dash moves and wall-climbing were available. After its release, Doom Eternal got a lot of love for its combat, graphics, level design, and soundtrack. A two-part standalone campaign DLC for Doom Eternal came out several months after the game.
This is one of the best FPS games on the PS5, and fans of games like Halo are sure to enjoy the adrenaline-packed combat that it offers.
Titanfall 2
Titanfall 2 is a first-person shooter that came out in 2016 from Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment. It came out two years after the original Titanfall. There are both single-player and multiplayer modes in the game. You can play Titanfall 2 on Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
The game is arguably one of the best first-person shooters from the last decade. It received outstanding critical success after its release. The single-player campaign was highly praised for its execution and design.
In the single-player campaign, you take on the role of a rifleman for the Frontier Militia named Jack Cooper. The story is set in a futuristic environment. Players control both Jack and the titan. In the game, titans are mech-style robots that are operated by certified pilots.
It’s truly a thrill to play the campaign that’s filled with twists and action. As Jack, you encounter a veteran Titan who you bond with. Together, you decide to stop an evil corporation from launching a superweapon. You become the pilot of this titan and attempt to save a planet called Harmony.
There are several different multiplayer modes you can play in Titanfall 2. Some of the most popular modes include capture the flag, last titan standing, frontier defense, bounty hunt, skirmish, and amped hardpoint.
Based on your performance in a multiplayer match, you’ll earn experience points called merits. You can use these points to customize your character and unlock more abilities and weapons.
Titanfall 2 is one of the best mech games on Steam. If you’re looking for more games like Halo, this is one of the most unique picks for you.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Andromeda is the fourth major entry in the Mass Effect video game series. It’s also the Mass Effect entry that most resembles Halo.
This is an action role-playing game from the team at BioWare and it came out in 2017. Mass Effect: Andromeda is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. It supports both single-player and multiplayer modes.
The story is set in the future and follows humans as they attempt to populate planets in the Andromeda Galaxy. You play an inexperienced military recruit who joins the Andromeda Initiative and wakes up after traveling 634 years to reach the galaxy nearest to the Milky Way.
Players have the option to choose the gender of the main character at the beginning of the game. Based on your choice, you’ll be either Sara or Scott Ryder. Your mission is to find the perfect planet for the future of humanity. This won’t be an easy task, as you’ll face both an alien and a synthetic intelligence species that will challenge you on your journey.
The game has a third-person perspective. In previous Mass Effect games, players could choose one of six character classes that each had their own unique abilities. In Andromeda, you have the freedom to assign any skills you want to your character.
As you complete quests in the game, you will earn experience points. With experience points, you can upgrade or learn new skills. The game is notable for its graphics, open world, and combat system, and fans of games like Halo will love it.
Splitgate
Are you a fan of both the Halo and the Portal series? If so, you’re really going to love this game. Often described as a mix of Halo, Portal, and Quake, Splitgate offers very interesting gameplay that any first-person shooter fan will love.
You can play the game on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows, and Linux.
This is a free-to-play multiplayer game from 1047 Games. The development initially began as a school project by two students at Stanford University. They worked on a demo for half a year before releasing it and quickly got a lot of people interested. They raised millions after the demo release and began working on Splitgate more seriously.
In case you’re into fast-paced combat matches with a variety of weapons, you are going to love Splitgate. It takes the best out of the Halo combat system and gives it a unique twist with the various portals you can open.
Some of the weapons available in the game include rocket launchers, plasma rifles, sub-machine guns, and carbines.
The game hardly ever gets boring because there are a lot of modes and maps. You have more than 15 game modes to choose from. There are also over 20 maps you can play on. There is a unique play style and setting attached to each map. Players who can adapt to different maps quickly have a competitive edge over others.
Singularity
Singularity is an FPS with horror elements from Raven Software. It came out in 2010 and is available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows. The game didn’t receive a lot of hype upon its release but it has attracted a cult following since and is worth checking out if you’re a fan of games like Halo.
In this underrated gem, you take on the role of a member of U.S. Recon Marines named Captain Nathaniel Renko. The story takes place after an electromagnetic surge occurs on an uninhabited island and damages a United States spy satellite. The island, once in control of the Soviet Union, needs investigation and you’re the best person for the job.
The mysterious surge strikes once again as you’re on your way to the island and you start experiencing two separate timelines. One is set in 1955 while the other is in the present day. You then go on a mission to change the past.
One of the main gameplay elements in Singularity is the use of an artifact referred to as the time manipulation device. As the name suggests, the device enables you to manipulate time. You can even use it to send objects to the past or future.
Although some enemies are immune to the time manipulation device, you’ll be able to age others to dust in a matter of seconds. As you progress in the game, you’ll be able to unlock upgrades and make the device more powerful.
Destiny 2
If you’re a fan of Halo but mostly enjoy multiplayer action, you should start playing Destiny 2. This is a free-to-play online multiplayer game from Bungie. The game came out in 2017 and has a first-person perspective. You can play Destiny 2 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Stadia, and Windows.
The story behind Destiny 2 involves a mysterious alien entity referred to as the Traveler who humans encountered a very long time ago. The Traveler shared its knowledge with people and helped them develop new technology that allowed them to colonize other planets and explore the cosmos.
Everything was great until the Traveler’s enemy arrived. The destructive entity called the Darkness came after the Traveler and almost wiped off the human species in the process. The Traveler dispersed its life force before its demise to resurrect the greatest human warriors. These warriors became known as the Guardians.
As a Guardian, you have three different character classes to choose from. The first is the Titan, who is known for both good defense abilities and aggressive attacks. The second is the Warlock who can use the forces of the universe to defeat enemies. Finally, there’s the Hunter who moves fast and can easily take out foes from a distance.
You can choose between PvE and PvP modes in Destiny 2. If you want to challenge others to competitive matches, you’ll be happy with the variety of PvP modes in the game. This is one of the best multiplayer games set in space.
Red Faction: Armageddon
Red Faction: Armageddon is an underrated third-person shooter video game from the team at Volition. It represents the fourth and final entry in the Red Faction video game series. The first entry in the series came out in 2001, the same year as Halo: Combat Evolved. It’s notable that it also featured a combat system similar to Halo.
All of the previous entries in the Red Faction series featured gameplay from a first-person perspective. This is the only game in the series that has a third-person perspective. The story is set in the future and primarily follows the player character as he fights aliens in a huge tunnel complex.
You assume the role of a character named Darius Mason, who does mercenary work. You’re used to danger and aren’t scared of any threat you may come across. One day, you’re tricked into opening a shaft in an ancient temple. This action causes you to release a great evil that can destroy humanity if you don’t stop it.
There is a wide variety of weapons you can use in Red Faction: Armageddon. You can also count on a device known as the Nano Forge that you can use to repair various structures.
The Geo-Mod feature in the game allows you to destroy landscapes at your will. Throughout certain parts of the game, you’ll be able to use mech-suits that give you interesting advantages.
Black Mesa
Black Mesa is a third-party remake of the original Half-Life game. It became one of the most iconic third-party video game remakes of all time. It originally came out as a free mod in 2012 before being greenlit by Valve for an official release. The development took several years before the game came out in 2020. You can play Black Mesa only on Windows and Linux.
There’s no doubt that Halo was at least partly inspired by Half-Life. The legendary first-person shooter game had a tremendous impact on the entire video game industry. Black Mesa does an excellent job of bringing back the uniqueness of Half-Life and presenting it in a new light.
The game comes from the team at Crowbar Collective. It was meant to come out in 2009 but it came out much later because the team wanted to ensure that it would be a high-quality remake. Apart from improving the visuals significantly, the team added new dialogue, improved enemy AI, and provided a longer runtime.
If you’re not too familiar with Half-Life, here’s a short overview of the story.
You take on the role of a theoretical physicist named Gordon Freeman who opens an interdimensional portal during a routine experiment at the Black Mesa Research Facility. You need to fight aliens that come through the portal and the aggressive military clean-up crew that was sent to the facility.
Apart from fighting on Earth, you’ll also travel to the alien dimension where the world is weirder than you’d expect. If you’re looking for more games like Halo to play, this is an essential title to add to your library.
Natural Selection 2
Natural Selection 2 is a multiplayer video game with first-person shooter and real-time strategy elements. It come from the team at Unknown Worlds Entertainment and it came out in 2012. You can play Natural Selection 2 on Windows and Linux.
The gameplay features matches between two opposing teams of players. One team plays as aliens while the other takes on the role of marines. Your objective is to destroy the other team’s base. Although both teams share the same objective, the gameplay varies heavily depending on whether you’re an alien or marine.
In case you’re a marine, you’ll rely mostly on guns to destroy enemies. On the other hand, aliens rely primarily on melee attacks. Some aliens have the ability to fly, walk on walls, and dash forward at extreme speeds.
Each team has a commander who needs to observe the battlefield and give out orders. As a commander, you can also deploy abilities, collect resources, and research technology.
The most notable feature of Natural Selection 2 is its blend of real-time strategy and first-person shooter gameplay. Commanders play the game as a real-time strategy while marines and aliens play from a third-person shooter perspective.
