Cover art by Jesien_Sroka. (Source)

We’re back with another chapter of Your Halo Story, featuring fond memories from fellow Halo fans looking back on 25 years in the Halo community.

Keep up with past entries below:

• Your Halo Story: Chapter 1
• Your Halo Story: Chapter 2
• Your Halo Story: Chapter 3
• Your Halo Story: Chapter 4
• Your Halo Story: Chapter 5
• Your Halo Story: Chapter 6
• Your Halo Story: Chapter 7
• Your Halo Story: Chapter 8
• Your Halo Story: Chapter 9

Check out the next batch of fan submissions from our #Halo25Together haul below, and look for even more to come in next month’s mail bag!

I have played Halo since I was 6. I went through all the phases of playing it, from not knowing how to crouch, to the memorization of every plot. So much so that my parents took Halo away for 2 years because I could not stop talking about it! And I've been through all of Halo's identity crises. And can't wait for the possible remake of Halo 3!

Concrete117

I remember when I was playing Halo 2. I was all into it. I brought my little brother Adam to my friend David's house and we tried to hook up our device in his garage. This memory is treasured because it was early on when things were more simpler and family to me was closer.

Goodbutton7841

As I kid, I experienced Reach’s launch and I remember why it had such an impact. Until Reach, we only got the linear struggle of humans vs Covenant. Reach gave everyone a break and told some back story, early game cut scenes pointed towards conflicts with rebels. We got to see other Spartans and a world of Halo we hadn’t seen. Campaign earned most armor along with play time in multiplayer.

Garrett Taylor

The first thing I remember about Halo is that I was on the slot machines, seeing what game I was playing. That I took Halo to play it, I remember that it was Halo Anniversary, at that time I was about 12 years old. After being able to have my Xbox 360, I started playing Halo: Reach, I didn't imagine that this game would be something I would always like, that I would spend all my afternoons there playing in LAN with my cousins.

Apolo King

I've had many gamertags and usernames, but a few things always stuck and became the core of my Spartan attitude:

• Defeating the Covenant
• Rising again when we fall
• Preventing Flood outbreaks
• Training in battle simulators with my fellow Spartans and messing around when our general isn't looking playing some grifball

Life cannot be anymore rewarding.

HOO-RAH! Or at least I'd be ecstatic, but until the Flood are no longer a hidden threat, and until the Covenant has factions, we must live with the regret that

this.
is.
not.
over.

Outsidekiller/TinTLosT/Kersu

My dad raised me on the Halo series. Ever since I could hold a controller, we would play. We would host LAN parties with my uncles, wires crossing over into other rooms as we would run each other over with Warthogs and play deep into the night.

We bonded over the game, and it was our ritual every single weekend. When I was older, we'd play until early morning. Early 2018, I finally beat my dad's highscore. Hours and hours of playing paid off. He wrapped his arm around me as we cheered, and I snapped a picture. Life took over, and we grew busy. Was the last time we played Halo together.

I've got so many memories. And bring them with me everyday. An energy sword tattooed on my inner arm. My car has the legendary emblem on it. My home is decorated with figures and collectibles. Shelves lined with the books. My ring tone is the Halo theme. I'll never forget our memories. And I hope one day, we can make some more.

Spartan 427, over and out.

BalsamicHades52

I remember playing Halo: Reach with my older brother when I was younger every weekend.

Pancakespoon

One of my favorite memories was playing Halo 3. The battles felt huge, the explosions, vehicles, the feeling of fighting alongside everyone- it made me feel like I was part of something bigger. it wasn't just about winning. It was about being there in that moment. Halo 3: ODST is my second favorite halo game. I love this game. It felt different, quieter, and almost lonely at times. Walking through the city at night with some soft music playing made the world feel real and emotional. it showed me Halo wasn't just action; it had atmosphere and heart. Then, there was Halo: Reach. Reach had hit me in another way. Knowing the story was about sacrifice and fighting, even when the odds weren't in your favor, made it powerful. It also showed me that being a Spartan isn't about always winning. It's about standing strong no matter what happens.

Halo makes me feel special because it connects me to my childhood, to my dad, and to my cousin. It reminded me when I started as a little kid. Barely paying attention and how I grew into someone who truly loves this universe. It's not just about being good at the game. It's about growing from a rookie into someone stronger. I look forward to things like the Halo fest. I imagine what it would be like to be surrounded by other fans and the Master Chief himself, maybe feeling like a spartan for a day. But I don't have the money for it right now. I might miss that opportunity with the rest of the people. But halo already gave me something bigger than an event. it gave me memories. It gave me lessons. It gave me connection. And most of all, it showed me that even a Rookie can become a Spartan at heart.

LilFlako187

Estava procurando jogos para jogar e achei o Halo Infinite na minha Steam. Eu tinha comprado e nunca joguei, e aí virei fã e assinei o Game Pass só para jogar Halo.

ter3190

I remember playing Halo: Reach on my Xbox 360 with my older brother when I was little and I miss those times. Halo is very very special to me and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Aviean

Thinking about Halo, there's so many memories I made throughout the years. From Halo: CE to Reach and so on, the campaigns were so great when I was a child but when I first got on Xbox live it changed my life, going home after school just to play Halo: Reach i would play would play many hours of it. #Remember Reach

Houdini5287

If you ask most people how they got into Halo the trope is that, there is always this one friend who introduced them to the franchise. You know the type of friend I’m talking about. Has an awesome gaming set up, a room with tons of gaming posters and collectables, and of course, unlike other kids who had a PlayStation or Nintendo, they had an Xbox.

My story follows this tradition. I remember walking into my friend Matt’s house, in early 2002, following the sounds of laughing into his basement.
There, Matt was playing a game with one of our other friends. They were playing in a barren gulch, in a game I’d never seen before. Matt and our friend were crashing humvee’s into eachother to see how far they could fly with the low gravity and wonky physics, until it devolved into murdering eachother.
When the other friend was called home, Matt asked me a question. The question that would change everything. “There’s a campaign… Wanna play?”

And of course, I said yes.

Within 5 mins of the first level was fascinated by this crazy game of marines, aliens and space. But the real hook was yet to come We finished the level, getting on the last escape pod, and rushing towards a large ring world.

At the beginning of next level as our escape pod crashed landed. Matt talked me into walking out of the pod first “trust me Dave, go out first, I know you’ll love it, and I want to see your reaction.” As I look back on that moment, stepping out of the escape pod for the first time, there is a quote from Halo 2 that always comes to mind.

When you first saw Halo, were you blinded by its majesty? Paralyzed, Dumbstruck? In a word… YES, yes, I was. I just stared open mouthed at what I was seeing. I had never seen anything like this in a video game before. the landscape, skybox, the terrain, and most importantly the sense of wonder. it was glorious! From that moment on …. It was over, I was hooked for life. It was all I wanted to play when I went over to Matt’s house. Playing the campaign levels over and over again. This continued for years, first with Halo CE then with Halo 2.

Matt then introduced me to the Novels, with Halo: Ghosts of Onyx while he was in the hospital for one of his treatments, which opened a whole new way to consume Halo. The night he gave me his copy of GoO I stayed up that entire night reading long after Matt had passed out, I was absolutely hooked.
I got to the last chapter as my dad knocked on the door to pick me up. Matt, being the friend he was, let me keep the book, even after I was done reading it, “You’re a bigger fan than I am, you need it more than I do”. It was a year later that Matt passed away, and to this day, that copy of Ghosts of Onyx is the most prized part of my collection.

My love of Halo has only continued to grow, with each new game, novel and tidbit of lore, I have kept chasing that chasing the sense of amazement and wonder that I felt, taking those first steps out of the escape pod, making amazing friends, and joining incredible communities along the way all culminating with hosting Catalog, a segment on the daily Halo podcast ChatterNet.

It’s been 25 INCREDIBLE years of Halo and… I think we are just getting started.

Datoroth

I was at my cousins house when I saw them playing Halo: Reach system link.

Stagemedal98

December 30th, 2008 I met my best friend during a Halo 3 match on Avalanche, Big Team Battle. He was on the other team, but I noticed he was playing alone so I invited him after the match to join my team. As the night went on, our party dwindled until it was just us two, and I realized he was a pretty cool guy with a lot in common as a Halo-loving teenager navigating high school.

Fast forward to today - I went to his wedding, was named as his dogs’ uncle, we’ve met each others’ families, and traveled to Italy together for another friends’ wedding. Despite the distance, Halo has kept our friendship strong over the years - thousands of hours in Halo 3 matchmaking, Halo 4 Spartan Ops, Halo 5 Warzone, and Infinite campaign. We frequently revisit the original memories of Halo 3 through the Master Chief Collection, where we’ve spawned even more friendships.

Thanks, Halo for leading me to my best friend and keeping our friendship strong through the years, Myles.

byenate

I remember my first time playing Halo. I was 6 years old in 2001 with my older brother and his friends with 4 Xboxes, 4 TVs LAN party.

R1muru2365

Old School. Carrying 32 inch CRT TVs to Julian's for unhinged Halo LAN multiplayer. Thanks for carrying the flag. Wishing the team all the best.

KinsaleLanger

The first game to make something real in our hearts. The real OGs know.

Gage Blanchard

The first game I ever played was Halo CE on the translucent green Xbox original, begging my siblings to play capture the flag just so I could snipe 'em from across the map. Still one of my favorite games to this day.

Farlight

I grew up never really being into shooters until a friend dragged me to their place and roped me into a game of Halo 3- which hadn't been out for too long at the time.

Despite my reluctance to FPS games, I remember being so surprised how much this game had drawn me in. The atmosphere, the music, the story, world, and moments of uncontrollable laughter when playing with friends that I feel are quite unique to the Halo experience.

The First thing I did when I got home was frantically apply for jobs so I could buy my own Xbox 360.

I remember my mum raising an eyebrow at me when I came home on payday holding a brand new console. "Please don't tell me you spent all of your first pay check on that?" she said.

But when I think back to all the moments that came from that purchase; staying in touch with long distant friends, late nights of Halo campaigns with my siblings… I still think it's one of the best things I spent money on.

I hear a lot of other peoples stories mention about Halo being one of the few reliable constants in their life, and I couldn't agree more. I turned 35 last year and had a LAN Party with my friends to celebrate. My eldest son now joins me online for games in Infinite. Halo has found a way to stay in my life through it's different stages. I'm very grateful for it and the people behind the thriving communities that are still going today.

I don't think any other game series makes me smile and laugh as much as Halo does!

drnksylvari

My best friend and I beat all campaigns over a weekend. Favorite core memory, we stayed up with pizza, Doritos, and Mountain Dew in a classic Halo experience.

Quiller77

I will remember with love the years and the time I spent playing halo CE, came from school everyday to play, didn't have internet or other games besides warcraft III, but halo was definitely my favorite, I finished the game 13 times, (have to say like 4 in legendary)

I used to roleplay a lot, search for secrets (the little grunt in the end of the campaign was my favorite), it was amazing, I felt lots of emotions, excitement for a new world, power when driving the scorpion, fear of the flood, and sadness for the captain Keyes.

I will always remember with great love my time playing Halo CE as it was my childhood.

leaf1670

Recuerdo esas tardes después de salir de secundaria, cuando nos juntábamos en casa del amigo que tenía el Xbox negro, así le llamábamos. Jugábamos Halo en ese entonces con la pantalla dividida en 4.

Cuando tuve mi primer Xbox 360, igual fue el primer juego en instalar.

Ahora con Halo 5 están muy buenos los gráficos, felicidades por sus 25 años 🎉

RaggedTwo8601

Halo: CE was my first ever game, and it made me absolutely fall in love with the series as a whole, I sadly never got to finish it or play the others. That is, until recently, when I bought the Master Chief Collection, and now I got to play the games I first fell in love with and have been wanting to play all my life, these games are phenomenal and what got me into gaming as a whole.

V1rtuald3ath619

I saw Halo 2 in 2005 on the Xbox 360, and I liked it so much. The Halo theme is so great and has a cool sound that brings me back to 2005.

Williama28

Me and my cousins would stay up all night playing campaign. For breaks, instant oatmeal was our choice of snack.

PeacePipe42187

My name is Ray. I’ve been playing since the first Halo: Combat Evolved on Xbox with my cousins. The story was a masterpiece, with badass guns to kill both the Covenant and the Flood. The multiplayer—especially on Halo 3—was my favorite. Custom games and Forge mode were peak. I’m 30 years old now and still come back to them.

Mercenary800

Playing Halo 3 on my brother’s Xbox 360 for the first time, I remember thinking about how badass Chief was. The opening scene is still one of my favorites of all time.

Ssninja527

Halo: Reach was my first FPS game and my first Halo game. I remember playing Forge and Custom Games with friends. I’m glad Halo is still going after all these years. I can’t wait to get friends back together and meet new friends when Halo: Campaign Evolved releases.

To many more Halo memories. Axios.

TheAnimeMerc

When I was ten, I played my first Halo game: Halo 3: ODST. I’d never fallen in love with a piece of media so fast. The rainy city streets, the saxophones, the industrial combat music, the characters, the story—it all clicked with me. I loved Alpha‑Nine, and I loved every mission, from the drop to flying away in the Phantom.

I’m 18 now, and between discovering the game and today, I’ve played ODST alone or with my buddies almost daily. As I grew up, I played through all the other Halo games. As amazing as they all are, I always ended up back in New Mombasa.

Here’s to another 25 years with the Helljumpers! And as Dutch says on Kizingo Boulevard: “Shoot the Wraith, for God's sake!”

(P.S.—Here’s a cool screenie my friend took of me!)

Mickey5872

My top memory of Halo has to be hanging out with my friends online, who happened to be part of an all‑Elite clan I created during the Halo 3 era. We would play Multiplayer or straight‑up Custom Games—the clan’s favorite pastime—and even hold clan meetings on Forged maps. Our favorite custom game was "Hog Wars." The real Halo 2 OG players who played Custom Games back then will know exactly what I’m talking about.

I’m proud to say that even though the clan has been disbanded for five years, my friendship with the clanmates I made during Halo 3 continued on, and I even met a few of them IRL. I was truly blessed to find such nice people to call friends, and I hope others in the Halo community have had similar experiences.

On a quick note: The Arbiter in Halo 2 and Halo 3 is still a badass character—hence my Gamertag—which is an original name I came up with and still use today.

Darth Arbiter

My dad played the classic Halo games. Since I was little, he introduced them to me and taught me a technique we named “Juan‑117,” which consisted of fighting Hunters with only melee. From that day on, with every new release, I created, improved, and updated the technique to continue my dad’s legacy. May he rest in peace (2022).

AdustStorm47718

I’ve been playing Halo since the beginning with Halo: Combat Evolved back in 2001, even though I didn’t own my own Xbox until the release of Halo 2. I would race home from school every day to play CTF matches on Blood Gulch at my neighbor’s house.

With the imminent release of Halo 2, I pre‑ordered the Steelbook® limited edition before even owning an Xbox, and had to wait until after Christmas 2004 to finally get my own.

Halo has brought so much to my life. The Halo 2 soundtrack introduced me to my favorite band (Breaking Benjamin), and all the game soundtracks are still in constant rotation. It introduced me to montages, trick‑jump videos, machinima, and fan stories.

Halo 3 was my first midnight launch, and the hype made me buy an Xbox 360 when the announcement trailer dropped. I was in college when Halo 3 released and remember hosting huge LAN parties across dorm rooms every night. Some of my best friends were made through Halo.

When Halo: The Master Chief Collection came out, my friends and I were no longer in the same city, but we made a point to create a once‑a‑week Halo night. To this day, Thursday evening is “Halo Night,” and we’ve added many more friends over the years.

Halo isn’t just a video game. It’s a way to stay connected. It’s a venue for events like HCS and Halo Fest. It’s a world filled with meticulously crafted lore. It’s a community of fans who want the best for the franchise we grew up with.

(P.S.—The books are incredible and deserve every bit of praise. They’re an integral part of the Halo story and make the franchise richer.)

Cydon505

It was October 2012. I was 12 years old. A friend at school pulled up the Halo: Combat Evolved demo on his laptop. I’d never seen Halo before, but I was mesmerized watching him storm the beach on The Silent Cartographer—the scale, the enemies, the huge ring in the sky.

I moved in with my dad soon after, and he had an OG Xbox with Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2. I stayed up until 4 AM getting lost on Installation 04. I only went to bed when Dad asked if I planned on sleeping.

Every day at school, my friends and I played Halo: Combat Evolved or Custom Edition—wacky game modes, custom maps, everything. I also played CE online on Dad’s laptop.

I played through Halo 2 quickly and was blown away by the Scarab. Then came the wait to get an Xbox 360 and finish the fight in Halo 3. I got one for my birthday in 2013 and finally played 3, 4, Reach, ODST, Wars, and Anniversary. My first Legendary completion was Halo: Reach — a huge milestone.

When the Master Chief Collection was announced in 2014, I fell in love with Halo 2 Anniversary. I saved up for an Xbox One and played way too much of H2A’s campaign. Halo 5 followed, and I had countless late‑night custom games.

Fast‑forward to 2026: every physical release, every limited edition, 25+ novels, art books, guides, comics, figures, movies, Halo consoles, a 3D‑printed Spartan, 4000+ hours over 14 years—Halo is a huge part of my life. It was there for my wedding (Chief cufflinks) and the birth of my daughter (tattoo). It’ll be there for the rest of my life.

Happy 25th, Halo. Here’s to another 25.

ZealotSPNKr

I am Zach. I’m 30 years old and have been playing Halo for as long as I can remember. It was introduced to me when I was around seven or eight, and it defined a large part of my childhood.

I remember going to my cousin Cameron’s cousin Ashkaan’s house. They had a CRT with Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, and I got to play a few times. I thought it was the coolest game ever. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I found Halo Custom Edition and downloaded it on my dad’s computer, then on my grandparents’ computer because I wanted to play so badly.

As 2007 approached, I debated which console to get and knew I needed Halo 3. I went to Best Buy with my dad and bought the Xbox 360 Arcade edition with Halo 3, using all my saved Christmas money. I was so excited setting it up in my dad’s office and inviting Cameron over. We beat Halo 3’s campaign on Legendary—usually with my cousin hiding while I tried to take out as much Covenant as possible.

A few years later, my cousin got the Halo: Reach Edition Xbox 360 and Halo: Reach. We played online constantly until around 2014, when I left for college. After college, we lived in different places, but our shared Halo history kept us close—best friends, basically brothers.

When Halo Infinite came out, we played it with two other local friends for about a year. About a year ago, I replayed all the campaigns in MCC, reminiscing about those experiences. I even dressed as Master Chief for Halloween and collected Halo figurines—including a Brute Chieftain figure from Halo 3 that I’ve had since childhood.

Halo reminds me of all those stories from growing up. It inspired my interest in video game design and 3D modeling, which I now do professionally. It means so much to be part of this community, and it still connects my cousin and me.

Funny enough, I connected a retro‑style controller to replay some Halo: Combat Evolved right now and saw the message to submit this.

PersianBeast95

I fondly remember sitting in my grandpa’s lap when I was around four, playing Halo: Combat Evolved and sharing a joystick. It was the only thing I wanted to do when I was with him. Now I’ve played through every Halo campaign countless times, and I read every Halo book I can get my hands on. Thanks, Halo, for all the memories. Also, wish me luck on my first ever LASO run on Halo Infinite.

Ethan

Like many, my story began when I was young, constantly bouncing from friend’s house to friend’s house to play games. My parents didn’t allow video games in the house, so I could never play at home. One day, my friend Lorand introduced me to Halo 2—around 2005. After watching the first Bionicle movie, I played for the first time: rolling across the bridge in the tank, the music blaring, fighting the Scarab, and walking out like a certified badass with a shotgun in the cutscene. I was hooked.

Later that year, I got my first laptop and downloaded Halo Custom Edition for PC, then Halo 2 Vista. It took years of begging before I finally got an Xbox around 2009. I joined Xbox Live in January 2011—Halo gave me 15 solid years of Xbox Live memories.

Below is the last screenshot I took from my Bungie.net social record. Yes, I was an OG Recon-wearer. Halo 3 was the first game I ever got 100% achievements for.

Rematerialize

I'm 24 years old, almost as old Halo itself, born almost less than a month after when CE dropped. For all of my life, Halo has been an over-looming, yet comfortable shadow throughout my entire life. I remember the good times playing as a kid, and I remember the sweaty times as an eSports aspirant. Through all the ups and downs, I've been there, and will continue to be there, rocking an all-black Mjolnir Mark 4 with Emile's skull engraved on a gold visor EVA helmet.

HedhntrMorph

Halo 2 was my entry into the series, but Halo 3 was where I fell in love with Halo. I have played every game and read every book. I remember playing double EXP weekends on Halo 3 and playing hours of Forge in Halo: Reach. It’s my favorite sci‑fi series of all time.

Sheogorath2440

Halo 3 was my first ever first‑person shooter game. I fell in love with the story from the first play. I have bought every game on every console I could since. Honestly, it all got me through tough times when I was depressed as a kid. It saved my life, taught me lessons, and made me feel like I was worth something. It will always be a part of me and my story. I love all of them from Halo: Combat Evolved all the way to Halo Infinite. Thank you for always being there even when I had no one.

Stoicmeat14

I was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that mostly affects my lungs. I would always play Halo or read the novels while I had to sit and do my breathing treatments. When the yearly hospital stay came around, I’d have my Xbox hooked up and would work through the campaigns.

When the Make‑A‑Wish Foundation reached out to me, I knew exactly what I wanted: to visit the studio. From the moment I walked through those doors, I was greeted by the overwhelming welcome of the team. I knew that Halo would always have a place in my heart. I know the team at Halo Studios have the fans in mind in everything they do. Thank you, Halo!

Spartan Joe

I remember spending my entire middle school years coming home and playing Halo 3. It was the only game that I owned and the only game I needed. I forged lifelong friendships with real‑life friends and online friends alike. I remember being invited to my first LAN party. The comradery of playing Halo online with the boys is something that is so special. I remember spending countless nights trying to hit a 50 in Halo 3 ranked playlists! Grifball weekends. Custom game nights. (I miss you Duck Hunt.) Midnight release of Halo 3! All of these are my Halo memories.

XBL Hardest Try

Around 2011, two friends and I spent endless hours in the world of Halo: Reach:

• Alex Hudson [Rage v87]
• Rob H. [Buddahak]
• Neil N. [Fury sptn]

We didn’t just play—we became a unit. Naturally, we found our strengths and fell into rhythm, an advanced Kill Team moving as one, instinctively knowing where each of us belonged:

• Falcon: Rob – Pilot | Neil – Gunner | Alex – Gunner

• Warthog: Neil – Driver | Alex – Main Gun | Rob – Passenger Support

In SWAT matches, we were relentless. With constant communication and trusty headsets, we always knew where each of us was, covering one another, striking as one.

Eventually, life pulled us in different directions, but I will always carry Reach in my memory. Ironically, it wasn’t just a game—it was the place where we stood strong together, laughed endlessly, and savored every single moment of our time as a team.

Rage v87

In 2019, my uncle invited me to come with him to a Halo convention since he had one more VIP ticket. He knew I liked the game since we would play the campaign levels in split-screen on Halo: The Master Chief Collection whenever I was visiting. It was my first convention, and I met a ton of great people playing Halo 3 on the 360s there while we ate snacks. Also, I don’t think I’ve ever found laser tag as good as what they had. I still have the exclusive gold Master Chief figure from it sitting on my dresser.

Alex W.

Growing up, my school days were anything but easy. I remember the heavy feeling in my stomach every morning, dreading the walk through those school gates. The bullying was relentless, a constant, gnawing presence that stripped away my confidence bit by bit. There were days when the mere thought of facing those corridors seemed impossible, yet I somehow found the strength to keep going. I clung to a stubborn resolve, telling myself it would get better, even when I had little reason to believe it.

Everything changed in 2002, when I stumbled upon Halo for the first time. It was more than just a game; it became my refuge, a place where the noise and cruelty of the real world faded into the background. I still remember the exact moment I loaded up the first level, how the music kicked in, and I felt like I’d finally found somewhere I belonged.

But it was the release of Halo 3 in 2007 that truly transformed everything for me. There’s one night that stands out above all the rest: I’d just survived another rough day at school, and logging on to play with my friends felt like stepping into another universe. We found ourselves in an epic multiplayer match on Valhalla, exchanging jokes and coming up with ridiculous tactics. Midway through, I pulled off an impossible flag capture, my teammates erupted in cheers over voice chat, and for the first time in ages, I felt genuinely proud of myself. That moment wasn’t just about victory; it was about feeling accepted, a part of something bigger than just myself.

Halo brought people together in ways I never expected. What started as online matches quickly became real friendships. I’ll never forget the first time I met one of my Halo friends in person, we’d spent months conquering campaigns and laughing through late‑night matches, and suddenly we were sat in a pub, chatting over pints as if we’d known each other forever. Those weren’t fleeting online acquaintances; they became some of my closest mates, the kind you trust with your worst fears and your biggest dreams.

The impact of Halo rippled far beyond the screen. Inspired by the immersive worlds and the sense of community the game fostered, I decided to study Game Development and Design. I threw myself into my studies, surrounded by people who understood the magic of games—some had never played Halo themselves, but they respected the passion and drive it instilled in me. Together, we exchanged ideas, created projects, and supported one another through every triumph and setback. It was the first time I felt truly seen for who I was and what I loved.

Now, years on, I work as a Quality Inspector for a leading engineering firm in the UK, a career path I might never have considered if not for the confidence and resilience Halo taught me. The skills I learnt, both in the game and throughout my journey, continue to shape how I approach challenges and connect with others. I owe so much to the friendships forged through Halo; they’ve supported me through thick and thin, reminding me that I’m never alone in facing life’s battles.

As Halo celebrates its 25th anniversary, I find myself reflecting with immense gratitude. The game’s legacy, for me, is about far more than iconic battles or legendary storylines—it’s about the strength, hope, and community I found when I needed them most. I’m optimistic about the future, both within the ever‑evolving Halo universe and in my own life. The lessons I’ve learnt—resilience in the face of adversity, the value of meaningful connections, and the courage to pursue my passions—remain at the heart of who I am.

I look forward to the new adventures that Halo has yet to offer, and to the continued friendships and memories still waiting to be made. If not for Halo, I truly don’t know where I’d be. Here’s to the next chapter, and to the game that helped me become the person I am today.

This is me today. Plus a pooch 🐶

Diamond Jordy

I started off my Halo story with Reach and jumping into Reach campaign I started off feeling exactly where I needed to be and continued my journey through all the campaigns. Since I was ten I’ve learned a lot—bravery, courage, sacrifice, honor, integrity, loyalty—all traits I’ve learned from Halo, bettering not just my relationships with other players but people in my day‑to‑day life as well. Halo taught me one thing—don’t ever make a promise if you know you can’t keep it. To 25 years of Halo and more to come because Spartans never die.

Deadpool1178746

I was probably four years old when I was first exposed to Halo. I grew up sitting in my dad’s lap while he played video games on his PC. I’m talking Far Cry, Freelancer, Tribes, Splinter Cell, Privateer, and Halo: Combat Evolved were some of the most memorable childhood moments. I really leaned in on the graphics of Halo, because back then, they were so sleek and sci‑fi, and one of the most memorable moments that I still vividly remember was the mission: 343 Guilty Spark. Up until this point, it was a struggle of marines and aliens on a weird ring in space with this green computer lady telling you what to do, but then came the Flood. It was amazing, thrilling, and scary—especially as a little kid!

Fast forward to 2005, where my parents went on a trip for their wedding anniversary and I was left with a sister with my uncle, who had an Xbox—something I had heard of but never seen. He had Halo 2. I didn’t just play that game, I consumed it. Beating the campaign three times at Easy, Normal, and Heroic, and was halfway through Legendary when my parents got back.

Fast forward a bit and I got an Xbox and played the snot out of Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and KOTOR.

Fast forward a bit to 2007, I’ve got an Xbox 360 and get Halo 3 shortly after release. Me and my buddies said we’d play it at the same time, advancing one mission a day and Skype call to talk about it together.

There is always someone who can’t stick to the plan. After the first day, it was fine, but the second day he told us he finished it, opening the floodgates for the rest of us to. We also did sleepovers where we LAN‑partied Halo 3 on the 360s and the original Star Wars Battlefront 2 on the Xbox. Eight guys, adjacent rooms, one team per room.

Valhalla was our favorite, trying out new ways to play. Max invisibility with top movement speed and golf clubs? Check. Half movement speed with only shotguns and plasma grenades? Check. No vehicles and only plasma pistols? Check. Good times.

Then came the Halo 4 trailer. I was the one that had the books and was deep into the lore and I said Shield World first.

That’s when I got sick, really sick, in the hospital for long periods of time and had to have a bone marrow transplant in 2011. Not cancer, but rare blood disease I was born with. When I came out of my three‑month coma and was recovering, we set up my 360 on the TV in my hospital room and would play Halo 3 in my bed when my buddies came to see me. I was slower and weaker, but I still managed to do well, even if I wasn’t dominating them like before.

That’s when I was told that I would be eligible to receive a Make‑A‑Wish trip. I was dumbfounded. That was for really sick kids who weren’t going to make it, right? Turns out it was for families who had been through a lot too. I was twelve and when the Make‑A‑Wish people came and asked me what I wanted, I didn’t hesitate. “I want to see the Halo 4 production and meet the team.”

Now, this was extremely unusual for someone so young, and they clarified that I didn’t want Disney World or something. I was certain. They told me that they couldn’t be certain that 343 Industries would allow for it and asked me for a backup wish, which I don’t even remember now. It may have been something to do with Stan Lee, I don’t remember though.

I waited for the call that said what would happen and got it, and was going to be in Seattle, Washington just a few weeks before E3 2012.

I knew my Halo better than anyone I’d ever met, having read many of the books, and when I got there, we had a few days to explore Seattle. Make‑A‑Wish arranged a meal at the top of the Space Needle with reservations, all expenses paid. My mom got a rockfish that was amazing. I got my first salmon, which was delectable, but I digress.

The day of the main part, a limo shows up in front of our hotel and it takes us to the Microsoft campus where they gave me an Oakley bag and said as much as can fit in it, I could have in the Microsoft Store.

Quinn Bradley

The Halo franchise (including Halo 3 and Halo 4) is the best franchise on XBOX.

Richard James Goodall

I've been playing Halo since I was five years old and now I’m twelve, but ever since I touched Halo it’s been a game that’s in my heart, and from those eight years I got this far and collected some really rare trophies—for example, I collected all of the Skulls, or the hardest one, LASO, which took me so much time—so it would be a lot if you shout me out or do anything. I would love to see my post somewhere in the Halo community so please see this. I love your game byeeeeeeee.

Jacecool#89

It was 2018 when I heard some kids say something about Master Chief. I asked what they were talking about and they said it would change my life. When I got home, I played Halo: Reach and it was amazing, and I’ve been playing ever since.

Bowtx2097

Halo has been a major part of my family since its release in 2001. While I wasn’t alive for the release of Halo: Combat Evolved, my older brother and father were both massive fans, which spread to me with the release of Halo 3 in ’07. Ever since picking up the controller for the first time and spraying down my first grunt, I’ve been hooked, both to the games and lore alike.

Finisterre

Yeah… I’m not that one fan that has been playing Halo since the first second it came out. I've played since two or three years ago, but I really like the game. If there was more like this one it would be perfect.

MEGABLASTERSON

Where do I even begin… It all started back in 2005, when I discovered Halo thanks to my cousin.

It was with Halo 2. We used to play co‑op, and from the very first moment I tried it, I was completely amazed. I was always the only one who wanted to keep playing Halo, even when my cousins were ready to switch to another game.

After that, I went a long time without playing Halo. It wasn’t until early 2012 that everything changed. I walked into a Blockbuster for the first time and came across MEGA BLOKS Halo sets. I can honestly say it was love at first sight. Thanks to that first figure I bought, my passion for Halo was reignited—and this time, it was here to stay.

I remember the Halo 4 teasers so vividly. Halo 4 was the first Halo game I ever played online, and that experience is something I truly cherish. From that point on, over the following years, I became a young fan who connected deeply with Halo through MEGA BLOKS.

In 2015, I experienced my first big adventure: I traveled to Mexico City for the first time to attend a gaming event. There, I had the incredible fortune of winning a MEGA BLOKS set called the “Icons Character Pack,” exclusive to SDCC 2015. But that same year, something happened that would change my life forever. Alongside a friend, I founded the very first edition of what is now known as SPARTAN FEST.

Back then, it was just a small gathering of MEGA BLOKS Halo collectors in Mexico City. We thought maybe ten people would show up… and we were shocked when nearly 50 people filled that small venue. None of us imagined that this event would grow into something recognized nationally and internationally.

Since then, we’ve held the event every year under the motto “Made by fans, for fans”—a celebration entirely focused on Halo and dedicated to the Mexican community. Through SPARTAN FEST, I’ve gained valuable experience organizing and managing events, but more importantly, it has given me something priceless: the opportunity to meet and build friendships with the Latin American voice actors who bring Halo characters to life. I’ve met incredible people who I now consider family, and together we’ve built a high‑quality event worthy of the Mexican Halo community.

In the 2025 edition, we had the great honor and privilege of working with Halo Studios, who allowed us to feature the demo of Halo: Campaign Evolved, and to welcome Unyshek as a special guest. Without a doubt, it has been our greatest achievement—and the best part was sharing it with our community.

The Mexican Halo community is phenomenal. They always show up. They always support. Their love for this franchise is powerful and inspiring. For me and my fellow SPARTAN FEST organizers, it is a true honor to represent Mexico within the Halo universe.

This year, I have three very special goals:

1. That my little mini SPARTAN is born healthy.
2. That SPARTAN FEST 2026 continues to grow, because we are a community united by HALO.
3. To travel to Seattle and attend HALO FEST 2026—that would truly be a dream come true.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I trust that things will fall into place.

Halo is an important part of my life and my identity, and I am incredibly proud that we have contributed to strengthening and supporting the Mexican community. The Halo franchise has become a part of my life, and I’m grateful for that! Thank you so much for reading, and greetings to the entire Halo Studios team—from all of us at SPARTAN FEST.

Carlos Galicia (CGx117)

My Halo story began when I was a newborn. I had some early complications as a baby and wouldn’t sleep unless I was being held. My father would let my mother sleep at night and hold me while playing Halo: Combat Evolved through the night.

Fast forward to the release of Halo 2—that’s when the memories of watching my dad play with my two brothers really began. I’ve played Halo for as long as I could hold a controller, yet my fondest memories were always watching my dad play and thinking he was the coolest guy around.

I still think that, and I still love watching him play Halo Infinite online whenever I visit him. Now that I have a child of my own, I hope the legacy continues!

Linenanteater72

I remember when I was younger, having a sleepover with the kids in my neighborhood and deciding to spend the entire night playing games. The game that introduced me to the universe of augmented soldiers, ancient mysteries, and alien threats was none other than Halo 3: ODST. The armor, the weapons, the enemies, and the story captivated me, made me want to know more about what was going on. The following years, I was collecting Mega Bloks Halo merchandise, watched Halo Legends too many times, and began to unravel the story from the games to the books and comics.

KaotiChagenling

My best years of my young life were around this time. Simpler times—LAN parties with friends. One story I will never forget: I entered into my first Halo 2 tournament at our school with my cousins. We ended up winning, so that night I got a tattoo of the logo on my right shoulder. Plenty memories... Wish I knew where to upload old pictures.

Cleric101

"I need a weapon," owning the future of our destiny, with a charge to keep, solemnly and sovereign. Ripples of blue, a digital sea, a silent guardian, the key to be. Through the tide of stars, our hope won't hide.

Halo isn't just a game; it's a whole life thing. Remember the first time on the Ring? Or all the awesome wins with my friends? Halo has totally shaped what being a gamer is all about. Here's to 25 more years of awesome!

Seriously, from the cool actors and music to the amazing game design, Halo has brought so much fun and connection. It's where my family and friends always get together and make memories. Thank you all and God bless the Halo community. #Halo25Together

PulseCipher

I originally started playing Halo back when Halo 4 first released when I got it with my Xbox 360—my first ever console. From there I fell in love with the story and characters, and when I learned that there was so much more to the series, I scavenged whatever money I could get. At the time, being only eight, I didn’t have much, so I had to beg my parents to get me the games. I went from Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, to Halo 2 Anniversary, Halo: Reach, and then rounded it out with Halo 3 and ODST. I had every disk, as at the time Halo MCC hadn’t come out yet. When Halo 5: Guardians came out, despite what I was hearing from YouTube and such, I still really wanted the game, but I was still on the Xbox 360 and hadn’t gotten an Xbox One yet. Well, come that Christmas, I woke up to the Halo 5: Guardians limited edition. Sadly, due to how young I still was, I had no clue how to put together the Guardian it came with, so that was lost to the bin. And eventually I got Halo MCC after I had brought all my old games back to hope to get some money back to be able to buy Halo MCC, which I still have my original game disk—however, it doesn’t work anymore. And eventually, when I found out Halo: Reach wasn’t on MCC at the time, I eventually went back and bought a preowned version of Halo: Reach, which I played the most out of all the games. Even today I’ll still hop on Halo MCC on my PC to play, as no matter what, as bad at the game as I am at the moment, it’s still a blast to play with friends.

GRENADE SP (originally oOInnovatorOo o7)

I started playing Halo in 2009. I definitely was not old enough to be playing the game at the time, but my parents still let me play it with my older siblings (maybe that was why). I got destroyed a lot—and I mean a lot—but I didn’t care, it was fun. Sure, I may have been losing, but I genuinely had fun. Didn’t matter if I died or got a kill, but the point that really made me fall in love with the series was playing Halo 4 at a comicon event in 2011 or 2012 when we still lived in Utah. Again, I got destroyed, but other players taught me specific parts of certain maps (which I still abuse/use to this day). I ended up learning the flow properly and later started playing better when I went back to the booth (although I think they were letting me win). That night was still fun as hell. Halo has been a part of my life for the past 17 years. I grew up on it and many other shooters. I still go back and boot up my original Xbox from all those years ago and play split‑screen Halo: Combat Evolved with my friends. I love this franchise dearly, but it doesn’t feel the same (not that it’s a bad thing). But I also played a lot with my uncle who passed in 2013, so sometimes I load maps up by myself and walk around just reminiscing on old memories and times I had with him. I miss playing Spartan Ops with him on Halo 4 and wish I still could even though I can’t. Thanks for the memories. Thank you for being a franchise I’ve played so dearly for nearly 20 years and many more to come.

MythicalCarti

I got into the Halo franchise a lot later on, seven years ago. Our household was always fully Nintendo‑based, with the occasional PlayStation 2 or PlayStation Portable.

I loved retro gaming then (and I still do now). One day that time, I was at a flea market and I saw a pile of second‑hand DVDs. Out of so many black cases, one “DVD” case was green. I pulled it up and it took my attention. I loved the cover art. That “green DVD” was Halo: Combat Evolved for the original Xbox.

Weeks in, I saw a pile of Xboxes in that same area. It was a sign. So I looked into getting Halo.

Two months later, I got a physical copy of Halo: The Master Chief Collection for the Xbox One and a brand‑new Xbox One S console bundled with two controllers. My younger brother played split‑screen campaign co‑op and multiplayer, despite it being 2019. Our first multiplayer map was Sidewinder. This experience was timeless.

And so began “the greatest journey” for me. I played all the games in the collection, bought it again on PC, and I continue playing it and Halo Infinite to this day.

I also got the opportunity to be a special part of an also very special community: the Mint Blitz community. I made many memories with Remy and co playing custom games, social modes, so much fun with the iconic “Halo physics.” There’s more to come, more memories to make, more games to play.

I’ll always be extremely grateful for how I was welcomed in, despite my lateness. Better late than never, as they say.

Happy 25 years, Halo. I loved every single moment out of the seven years I played with this franchise. It changed gaming as I saw it forever, and I can’t wait for the future. Thank you.

DaniGrunt

Back in 2011 my family was going through a bit of a rough patch—parents having to work multiple jobs, barely making it at the end of the month—and while I wasn’t completely oblivious to it, they tried their best to cover the bad and make the good moments better. I’ve always been interested in Halo ever since I was smaller than a pea, and it was in 2011 that during all those troubles Halo: Reach landed on our doorstep. I still vividly remember spending entire nights, many of them school nights, playing with my dad trying to reach (pun totally intended) the rank of Commander, and then playing people online over and over and over. Wouldn’t come until I was an adult where my dad explained to me that Halo was a coping mechanism for him. So thank you, Halo—you made our hard times memorable.

HellmasterKenny

Twenty‑five years, twenty‑six years in November, me and the best turret gunner this side of Reach have been locked in an evolving combat. We started with the original killer IP on the Xbox, football controllers in hand. We beat that beast on every difficulty. Halo 2 online made online Halo an obsession, OhMyGodItsAGirl and NotASilentNinja locked in like Master Blaster. She rained turret flak death down on her enemies. I drove. Halo: Combat Evolved kicked off the sandbox I’d been waiting for. The world was captivating and the combat was innovative and fun. The physics were so beyond any shooter I’d played. That sense of impact and kinetic action has kept me coming back for 25 years and served as a supportive and fun environment for multiple generations and a lot of friends, past, present, and future. Hoping we’re evolving for another 25! Thank you to the Halo community, and thank you OhMyGodItsAGirl for being my bottom screen for life 😁

HerringDamage

I’ll never forget rushing home from high school to play the Halo 3 beta—when I got home I dropped my bag, skipped lunch, and instantly loaded it up. As soon as I loaded into a lobby, with excitement bursting out of me, I exclaimed “I am so damn hyped for this!” Another player instantly yelled back “me too!” and he told me he left work early just to play it. We spoke as if we were lifelong friends, laughing and joking about how nothing else in life matters right now except playing Halo 3. It was pure unbridled joy, shared between two strangers.

I had many wonderful memories playing Halo 2 and Halo 3 online, days I look back on with strong nostalgia and warmth, and I genuinely feel grateful to have lived through the golden age of video games. Of all my Halo memories, however, I still often wonder about that random man I spoke to that day and shared a few games with—wherever he is, I hope he is doing well and still enjoying the Halo franchise.

Tell em Rye

Back when I was young and in elementary school, one of my friends LOVED Halo. I thought it was cool—all the MEGA BLOKS stuff he brought, all the Halo shirts he had, so on and so forth. Toward the end of elementary school Halo 5: Guardians was about to release, he gifted me a tiny, tiny Grunt figure, one of the old style with the four points of articulation. I was gonna get an Xbox that summer and was gonna play Halo so I could talk to him more about it. He moved before middle school began, so I never got a chance to talk to him about it. I haven’t talked to him since, and I regret it. So since then, I’ve made it my own yearly tradition to replay all the Halo games I can. My younger brother is also someone I played a lot of Halo with. Hours upon hours playing Halo 3 Forge, whacking each other at full speed with Scorpion tanks, building crazy bases in Halo 4’s Anvil Islands and having sniper battles, and playing some of the campaign missions.

Back in 2019 when Outpost Discovery was going around, I had the opportunity to go to the Chicago one—by far one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Seeing all the Halo fans around me, getting to see Steve Downes and Jen Taylor on stage, reciting dialogue lines in real time, seeing the to‑scale statues—it’s something I’ll never forget as long as I live. Halo has been an integral part of my life for the last 11 years, and I’m glad I’m a fan during this exciting time for the franchise!!

Jared Masters

Halo 3: ODST was my first Halo and still holds a special place in my heart—from wandering the dark streets alone with the famous jazz music, to fighting off the Covenant on split‑screen Firefight, and not to mention all the times I got caught “screen cheating” on the Halo 3 MP pack. This franchise will always be special to me—weekend streams on Twitch, Forge mode with friends, or just revisiting the classic campaigns—Halo will always hold a special place in my heart.

Thehsg1yt

I was already a diehard Halo fan by the time this event occurred in my life. Parents were divorced, and my mom died from cancer on November 4th, 2004 when I was thirteen. Halo 2 came out November 9th. That day my dad surprised me by coming up over 2.5 hours away to pick me up from school and buy a copy of Halo 2 and then took me home. I beat the game three days later on the day of my mom’s wake with a bunch of friends watching me finish the campaign. That is the time period of what Halo made me into the person I am today.

SPRTNS NVR DIE

Halo: Reach is still the best game ever. Twenty‑five years of Halo, and fifteen of those go to my beloved Reach. I cannot and will not stress enough just how much this game shaped who I am and helped me through so much.

And then Halo as a whole, I owe a lot to. The franchise inspired me to be my own person (Spartan) and even then it helped me find amazing people, and one super awesome caring girlfriend, who I hang with today. Genuinely love this franchise so much, it’s been there for me thick and thin and I intend to do the same!

To this day I still yap about it whenever I can, I still blast the Halo: Reach soundtrack, and I still love Noble Six. One day, gonna make his armor too! Master Chief may be the OG, but Noble Six was a hero.

Hal0isfun117

My father was amazing at playing the whole series on Legendary difficulty. Halo: Reach, one, two, three, four, five. :)

Paul Lynch

My history with Halo was a late bloom but worth the wait.

I had been familiar with Halo since Halo: Combat Evolved, going over to friends’ houses and playing multiplayer or watching them play through the campaign. Seeing the Flood encounter first time was so creepy. As well as watching videos on the internet involving Halo, such as a popular machinima of red guys vs blue guys. However, not owning an Xbox of my own yet, Halo was still just a game I played at a friend’s house.

Then came December 2007. I was seventeen and Christmas had come and me and my brother had plenty of gift money to burn. Our PS2 was aging and having friends over to play on a system designed for two players was getting frustrating. I had planned on getting a PS3, but as me, my brother, and my friend stood at our local GameStop, we made the decision to buy a new Xbox 360. The games that came with it were Spider‑Man and Forza, neither peaked our interest and didn’t have the multiplayer we wanted. I knew Halo 3 had recently come out and asked the clerk if we could swap the two games the Xbox came with for Halo 3 and he agreed. Couple hours later we had set up our offline accounts and we were playing Halo 3 together. First split‑screen then co‑op campaign. We loved it right away and couldn’t put it down. But one ingredient was still missing: online. We had just recently got new internet and decided to try online multiplayer for the first time, Halo 3 guiding the way. And wow did that open the “flood gate” to our gaming future.

My brother and I spent hours and hours playing Halo 3 online, making us instant fans and making new friends around the world. It changed our perspective of online gaming forever. Now Halo had become ingrained with our newfound love of online competitive gaming.

As years went by, more games and new Halos came around. Being a fan I didn’t miss out on them. Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Wars, Halo Wars 2, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2 Anniversary, MCC, and Halo Infinite. I played them all and got entrenched with the lore and characters. Watching movies and series inspired by it.

Halo was more than just a game for me, it was a gateway into something bigger. Online gaming is now a defining part of my life, not just Halo but many other games I came to be a fan of. And it all started with a split‑second decision in a game store to get Halo 3.

I will always be a fan of Halo, both what it was and what it could become. I know there’s been missteps at times but I truly believe it still has much to offer. There may come a day when there will be a final Halo game, but until that day comes, I will continue to play and enrich my knowledge from it.

Thank you to all the developers and visionaries who’ve brought Halo to life these past twenty‑five years, and hopefully, here’s to twenty‑five more. Finish the Fight!

Fan Forever,

ISAF Mobius (Nick B.)

Halo has been a staple in my life since I opened my first Mega Bloks Super‑Posable Micro Action Figure and first pressed the power button on my beloved Xbox 360. Halo: Reach, however, has been nothing short of a tradition in my home for over a decade. Anyone who had the privilege of a parent interested in their hobbies might imagine how easy it was for my father to want to try out “the screen where the ships drop the guys” — better known as Firefight. “Set, Start.”

For years, my old man and I have come back to hold the hill of Overlook and secure Sword Base’s Courtyard against wave after wave, again and again. To this day, Jeff Steitzer’s timeless narration tallies out the countless alien assailants stacked atop their predecessors. Nathan Fillion’s Buck never gets old as my Spartan’s smart‑mouthed Firefight voice.

Armed with my custom Operator loadout, a hyper‑lethal recipe I cooked up at the ripe age of nine, father and son are always ready for asymmetrical warfare. We take our jetpacks up to quickly retrieve the Target Locator, get extra ammo for the shotgun, and find a vantage point from which to ascend into the sky and blast charging Covenant with fuel rod cannons. They rarely get to touch the ground on deployment, but when they make it past the blast zone, they meet a total of sixteen grenades between the two of us, four of each type, eight per person. “I got lots of these!”

The real fun comes in when we have to coordinate strategies after the initial destruction. I prefer a straightforward CQB counterattack while dad holds a point and baits them closer. Field procurement and resource management working parallel. Who knew that we’d be bonding by learning about each other’s strategies, our methods? Halo always brings childhood nostalgia, but Halo: Reach will always bring back me and my dad, be it showing him the controls, teaching him the story, covering his reload or health pack acquisition, or deciding where to respawn.

Despite life’s busy demands, every now and then, it’s time to lock and load and play defense with dad. Suddenly, I’m nine all over again.

I can never forget Halo 3’s Sandtrap custom games, Halo: Reach’s Slayer every Christmas Eve with my best friend, Halo 4’s multiplayer presence at parties, and the unbelievably talented community of painters, photographers, musicians, and artists Halo has spawned. At the end of the day, the hill I’ll die on will be the one where my old man is standing beside me.

FireteamVulture

As many have, I grew up with Halo. Born a year before Halo 3 dropped I can’t say I played much of it with Xbox Live; however, countless hours went into that campaign with my brother. I was always the Arbiter, him the Master Chief. I might convince him to get related tattoos of it. Even after Halo 3 we played Halo: Reach. The sandbox and world‑building always dragged me in. We spent hours just on Forge World, messing around with the infamous rotating grid/kill ball. Even without a super creative mind it helped me express myself, with countless stuff to mess around with. Building bases, death runs, or even just simply blowing stuff up. As Halo 4 came around the cycle repeated. I beat the campaign and played multiplayer. This time I had got to experience more of Xbox Live with it, the only other time being a bit in Halo: Reach with a few free trials. Infection being my favorite game mode. Halo 4 brought the one thing I dreaded yet loved with Infection: the Flood. It brought me all the way back to Halo 3 again. In Halo 3 they scared me senseless, it gave me an early feeling of dread that also gave me interest. While the Master Chief in books might have hated it, in game the bravery it seemed he had helped me. Chief was a great role model growing up; while he may not have felt it, he faced everything with what looked to be courage. When Halo 5: Guardians launched, man all I can say was I was hooked even more. I watched YouTubers play the multiplayer over and over again. I still had an Xbox 360, and at times could only play on my nephew’s Xbox One. Even then I never got to try Halo 5: Guardians, till one day on Christmas my dad gifted me and my brother something amazing. As you can guess, it was an Xbox One with Halo 5: Guardians as well and a year of Xbox Live. I finally got to play this game I was itching for for years. This game, like the previous installments, had brought me and my brother closer than already before. I played so much of the multiplayer it was all I touched pretty much. I spent hours on end after school. I have so much more, but I’ll wrap it up. Halo is so unbelievably fun. I have four posters in my room as well as an energy sword up on my walls. I loved it since I was like eight years old to now even being nineteen. I have recently beat them all on Legendary by myself. Soon to be on LASO as well. Two things I never thought I could accomplish. This series will forever hold a special place in my heart. Thank you, and sorry for the yap lol.

S1eepyDuck

I remember the first time I saw an Xbox (the OG green brick one), Duke controller and everything. It was shortly after Halo: Combat Evolved came out and I had a couple friends coming over for the weekend as was normal when we were kids. Our one friend arrived with a large black carrying case with a green X on it and we asked him about it and he said he had a new game system to share with us. We were ten or eleven years old at the time so we were usually playing PlayStation or on the computer my family had at the time when we did play games.

We went to the living room and he proceeded to open up this carrying case with this black square on it that said “Xbox” in the middle. At the time we all were regular fans of various gaming‑related magazines so we knew what the Xbox was so to say we were excited would be an understatement. He then told us he got Halo with it. That was it. We all sat around the TV till late in the night playing this new system, eating pizza, fighting over who had to suffer with the Duke controller (iykyk), but having a fantastic time playing this incredible new game that completely blew our minds.

When Halo 2 came out we loved all the easter eggs in it. Getting out of bounds on maps to find the blind skull and sword in New Mombasa. Driving along the out‑of‑bounds areas with ghosts and scorpions in Delta Halo. Trying our hardest to get through jackal sniper torture zones on Legendary. Trying to find the Scarab Gun and running around the out‑of‑bounds areas on Cairo Station. One of our favorites to do was fighting Tartarus by squeezing banshees through the tunnels leading to the boss fight. I was the one who figured out how to do that and laughed hysterically when my friends first saw me do it. Hilarious fun.

We ended up being huge fans of the franchise from that point onward. Some of us aren’t fans of recent titles over the years, but the OG series is something special to us and really defined an entire chapter of gaming hobbies for us and still does to this day. The stories I could tell of late gaming nights in high school and college. The competitions. The love of the stories and music, all of it.

DracoSedentis

I remember when the first Halo came out. I didn’t think it would make it this far. This clip from my YouTube channel brings back memories.

Watch on Youtube

auto6gforce

I remember when I was very little my grandpa brought me over to his house for my birthday. I was super excited since my grandpa and my dad all loved to play video games together and I knew he’d have something fantastic planned for us! When I got to his house I immediately ran in to give him a big old hug. He looked me in the eyes with a bright smile and said he wanted to show me something really cool upstairs in the theater room. I went up happily and found him holding an original Xbox with Halo 2 and MechAssault 2 on it! I was so excited as I had heard of Halo but never got to play it before.

For the rest of the day my dad, me, and my grandpa played Halo in the theater room. It was honestly an amazing memory from my childhood. But what was even more amazing was he let me keep his Xbox and his original Halo copy for my birthday. I will never forget that day and honestly that set me on the path towards enjoying Halo immensely as a setting.

Freecathlic

The first time I played Halo 4 and Halo: Reach happened when I was eight years old because I started playing after I picked up a controller. I didn’t know it at the time but those games would enter my existence through every aspect of my life. Other kids talked about Call of Duty or GTA but Halo felt different to me. The world and the music and the armor and the mission design which created larger experiences developed an instant attraction for me.

Halo remained constant for me through all the changes which came with growing up in a different world. I am turning twenty‑one in one month. I still play matches with my friends and experience the same excitement which I had as a child who played video games with a controller too big for my hands.

Life brought times when I faced intense difficulties because I experienced periods of isolation during which time vanished while people neglected to recognize my silent struggles. Halo transformed into something greater than just a video game during those times. The space provided me with a brief opportunity to exhale. The music and colors and battle rhythms created a space where I could find joy which existed in minor and temporary forms. The small things I achieved from that point helped me to complete my responsibilities throughout the daytime period.

The first video game I played at the age of eight developed into my life path because it connected my entire life as a stable element during times of complete uncertainty. The experience of playing matches with my friends at home continues to give me that same feeling today.

DeadlyChris#7858

My amazing dad got me into this game eleven years ago and I still love it even now, thanks to both Halo and my inspirational dad who got me to this amazing franchise.

DyspraxicNinja5

My brother and I did not have an Xbox as kids, but our cousin did. He showed us Halo 3 and we would play multiplayer all the time. He would turn into an oracle and torment us, not telling us how to do the same. One day my brother and I were at Toys R Us and found a game called "Halo: Combat Evolved." We thought we struck gold. A new Halo game our cousin did not know about! We went home and played through the entire campaign in eight hours and had so much fun. We would mess around and see how long we could last on the Pillar of Autumn fighting our own marines (not long) and ultimately beating the game. This was over a decade ago and I still remember it vividly. Halo is important to me and my family, and we will always remember playing the campaigns throughout childhood.

TOOTTOOT Sorry

All year long, we’ll be inviting Halo fans to share their favorite Halo memories, celebrate Halo’s iconic legacy, and vote on community polls to help us tell the whole Halo story.

Whether you’re a battle-hardened Spartan or a Halo rookie, we hope you’ll join the fun on social media @Halo using hashtag #Halo25Together, in our official Discord server, or on r/Halo with the #Halo25Together tag.