Top 10 Best Halo Levels
Some Halo levels are shocking but there are some that you can do over and over again and explore.
Along with Halo from Combat Evolved, this feels like the definitive Halo experience. First, you are dropped off to pick off the number of the Covenant at the Barrier (that you have to destroy) where the Prophet of Truth is located.
Soon you have to save Sergeant Johnson and Miranda Keyes, fight two Scarabs, and ride in a Hornet! Not to mention it looks so open while also being able to focus on the main goal (I could barely focus on where I was supposed to go in Halo from Combat Evolved). This has a lot of variety as well! Definitely my favorite mission in all of gaming!
While I think this rivals "Shock and Awe" from COD4 as one of the greatest moments in FPS video game history, this level is not without flaws. Most notably, the "boss fight" with 343, due to only having one attack that is easily dodged and being able to use a Spartan Laser with infinite ammo. But ignoring that, this was, to sum up in one word: incredible.
Especially during the Warthog Run segment that everyone knows this chapter for. And the music. Three words: One. Last. Effort!
The ending vehicle section is so much fun! The world explodes and crumbles behind you as you drive a Warthog towards the Forward Unto Dawn. I replayed the final section of this level so many times just for this vehicle section.
The boss fight with 343 Guilty Spark is a bit lackluster, but the epic conclusion to the Halo franchise puts this level at the top of my personal list of the best Halo levels.
In my opinion, this level is better than The Covenant. It contains the same feeling of epic sci-fi warfare while also being better paced and not going as long. From the sniper section to the showdown with the Brute Chieftain, this is the level you should show your friends.
This level is very epic. Getting that tank was my favorite part, and it just feels awesome to experience all of the stuff going on in this level. This level is second place to me.
Tons of wide-open vehicle sections make this level work very well, even if it isn't entirely open.
Easily the best. Each part on its own would be one of the best, from the raid you do at the beach into the facility, the legendary Sabre fight, and invading the Corvette, all before you have the emotional death of George, who died in one of Halo's coolest explosions, behind when the Pillar of Autumn blows up and when the ring goes off.
Atmospheric and epic, the tone of the whole game changes here. A beautiful mission with a lot of freedom, what's not to love? Though perhaps some more ground combat would be nice.
I never quite understood how this one was left so ignored. My point is, Quarantine Zone is a dark and cold world that's breathtaking and has a profound history. The whole place is a technical and artistic marvel.
I have to stop so often to just look at the surroundings.
Glad to see this is number 3. Really one of the few entirely Flood-based (and Sentinel) levels that really is a blast to play. Add in the tension of a four-way war and the awesome opener with Reclaimer playing, and it's hard to forget.
The best level in Halo: Reach. It has countless interesting and varied gameplay moments while also not being too long. The pacing of the level is just right, and the feeling of urban warfare makes it stand out above the rest.
More atmospheric than any mission in the rest of the series. At the beginning, you are alone with your pistol fighting suicide grunts. Later on, the mission has so many unique experiences such as fighting using a jet pack with a group of ODSTs.
I remember playing this in 8th grade thinking that this is what makes Halo so great. A new, fun, and long air vehicle battle that takes place in space was just the most fun I had in the series up to that point.
Plus, the end with Jorge was just so heartbreaking and emotional. No doubt, best mission in any Halo.
Amazing beach sequence, amazing flying parts, the awesome corridor fights, storming the bridge, and defending the hangar. My favorite level by far.
This is my favorite Halo mission. The beginning battle was fun, then you get on the Saber fighters, and after that, you get to blow up the Covenant ship.
The longest level in the entire franchise. There are so many moments of awesome as you dismantle the Covenant war machine bit by bit.
How is the Quarantine Zone above this? The combat in this level is second to none.
It's just in a class of its own. It's so remembered because it's so thrilling with all the vehicles and open battles. However, it's a shame that Bungie couldn't help but slap on some more copy and paste interior segments. Make the exteriors the main focus!
Enjoyed fighting on the Mammoth - two Warthogs, turrets, an awesome action-movie moment when you jump off an exploding Spirit. Extremely fun when playing with a buddy.
This was fun actually. I loved trying to catch the Mammoth and run up and down in there.
The highway portion of this level is peak cinematic. The feeling of awe as these massive Covenant ships fly just above your head is such a cool experience.
My second favorite level ever. This level feels so much like the E3 2003 demo, and there are plenty of awesome moments. If only you could destroy the Scarab, though.
So much fun to drive around and upgrade vehicles.
The Newcomers
I'm amazed at how unappreciated this level is. For me, this is where my love for Halo began. Playing this for hours with my brother added to the free roam of the level, epic gunfights, and the elite armed with an energy sword to top it all off, made for a great level.
Storming the beach with a bunch of Marines already set the level and made me hooked. Exploring the sandbox was beautiful, and going into Forerunner structures was intriguing. It made me come back again so many times. Love this one.
Hearing the "GO GO GO" while disembarking the Pelican in the beginning of this level introduces the feeling of storming the beaches of Normandy in Medal of Honor to the future imperfect world of Halo.
One of the longest levels in the game! The only difference with this level is I never got bored because of that. It is also introduced with one of the greatest plot twists in gaming history, the two betrayals, which is still being discussed to this day.
This is the part of the game that made Halo: CE great. Combined with the awesome intro, twist ending, the moment the Flood finds you and immediately attacks you, to the moment you pass through the mountainous passage and see the Flood fighting the Covenant with its outstanding soundtrack playing in the background.
This may not have been the best part of the Halo series, but this level definitely had the most awesome moments happening all at the same time. It was intense, suspenseful, and you couldn't wait to get to the next level to solve the mystery and find out what happens next.
The Tank Bridge, as I call it, and conquering the Scarab makes this mission so much fun to replay. It's honestly a crime if you haven't played this one.
How is this not in the top 5? Epic Scorpion section, amazing battles, and that AWESOME Scarab part. Let's get this level in at least the top 10!
This level is one of the only levels I love to play over and over again in the Halo series.
A standout in Halo. The whole mission is truly refreshing and next-gen. You're on a Banshee and you blow stuff up. And Bungie made it. How could this not be fun?
This mission just has a great atmosphere of excitement and thrills because it is the first major engagement Noble Team has with the Covenant on Reach.
This is Halo Reach's "The Covenant." It's gigantic, jaw-dropping, thrilling, and has some astoundingly beautiful vistas.
The ship is a sorry play off of Long Night of Solace, but then it becomes awesome. So incredibly awesome it hurts.
This game came out at a time before the internet could post spoilers. Imagine that you're six levels into this game that you've never played before. You're still wondering what this ring is for and what your objective is, besides getting off the ring.
Then you land in this swamp and are tasked with finding Captain Keyes. When you first start heading to the base, you realize something is off. This is the first level where Cortana isn't talking to you, which only adds to the overall creepiness of the level.
Then you near the base, only to hear gunfire and see the Covenant running away from it. When has the Covenant ever run from a fight? After killing the Covenant, you enter the base, only to be unable to locate the source of the gunfire. You descend deeper into the base to discover blood-stained corridors, damaged rooms, and light bridges. Then you come across a crazed marine who shoots at you.
Can you imagine the thoughts running through people's minds who have never played this before and don't know what's going on? Then you get to the locked door, see a dead marine fall into your arms, watch Jenkins' helmet cam video, and get introduced to the Flood. After finally escaping that room, you're running, trying to get away from this abomination and all the while, descending deeper into the facility.
After what feels like an eternity, you finally get the elevator to the surface. After uniting with some marines, you're back in the swamp trying to get to the Pelican. While walking through the swamp, the Flood attacks and one by one the marines fall. When it seems like all hope is lost, the Sentinels show up and help out. You're confused by these new arrivals but grateful for the help.
That's how the level ends. Just take that all in. Consider the fact that back in 2001, there was no YouTube to spoil the game. Pretty much, word of mouth is the way you found out about video games. Now take into account the creepy music, the swamp, the... more
This level is really good. You link up with Rtas Vadamee and then go into a fight against piles of Specters, Wraiths, and Ghosts. Then you go into a room with two Hunters and an Elite and then fight through waves of Brutes.
You end up finding Johnson, who gets in a Scarab and fires on the door while you cover him. The most intense, awesome part of the level is when you fight Tartarus, although it's difficult if you jump and try to get him with your energy sword (or other weapon). I don't know if it's my favorite level of Halo 2 (or all Halos), but it's one hell of a level.
If you know Halo, then you know the ending. The Warthog run and the beautiful climactic ending cutscene are just palpable. The intense combat featuring the stronger Covenant troops and a cool engine room sequence complement that very well.
I still remember playing this level very clearly. The Warthog run was AMAZING. I will never forget it.
Easily recognizable as Halo 4's best mission. The introduction to the Prometheans was very smooth and perfectly showcased the game's tremendous graphics engine. The whole level was visually stunning and atmospheric.
Though many seem to forget Halo 2's greatness, many also forget that it was the game that really allowed Halo to expand by bringing great gameplay. This is the level (and game) that brought Halo 3 and allowed for it to be so good.
Gravemind shows in depth the Covenant's struggle during the Great Schism, and it's so fun to watch the historical air battles. Therefore, this level along with Halo 2 deserve respect.
Despite being the hardest level in Halo 2 (though Regret is close) on Legendary, and being linear, it is easily one of my favorites. The opening cutscene with the Gravemind is the best in the game, and then it throws you into the middle of the Covenant civil war.
Despite being linear, the opposing sides keep gameplay fresh, and you can feel the tension as Truth talks to the Covenant, Tartarus commands his Brutes, and Cortana keeps you informed at all times. And to top it all off, you have the best soundtracks of the entire game while you take in the awesome views of High Charity, visit places from the cutscenes, and finish with an epic battle with Blow Me Away playing. Now that's hard to top.
Alone. All your companions are dead. You step out of the capsule and realize: This isn't home.
But really, this is the very first level in the series where you get to feel the freedom that surrounds some of Halo's levels. You can go at whatever pace you want, there are many different paths, and, of course, the first time you encounter the Warthog (and don't know how to drive it).
A great level. Your ship crashes and you have to find the marines all over the land. One of my favorite levels.
The level. The one that defined a generation, and the one that made Halo what it is today.
Honestly, I'm surprised that this isn't higher up on the list. You have this feeling of heavy suspense throughout the whole mission. It also contains what I think is the best cutscene in Halo, with Emile's death.
Really though, this is my favorite mission in all of Halo. P.S. Check out that cutscene.