Halo 3 Review: Score, Pros and Cons (2007)

Halo 3, released in 2007, closed the original trilogy. It delivered a large campaign, cooperative play and multiplayer modes that became a standard for online console shooters. Its Forge editor and map-making tools kept players creating for years.

What works

The campaign has great set pieces and a strong finale.
Multiplayer's balance of weapons and maps made matches tense and fun.
Forge and custom game options let the community make new experiences.

What does not

Its matchmaking was frustrating for some players, especially with imbalanced teams.

Category	Score
Gameplay and shooting	9/10
Visuals and sound	8.5/10
Content and modes	9/10
Multiplayer and community	9/10
Value for money	8.5/10

Our scores are editorial ratings out of 10, based on each game's design and reported features. They are not a record of hands-on play sessions on this site.

Who should play it

Fans of the series and players who enjoy a long, cooperative campaign with strong online multiplayer history.

Verdict

A high point for console multiplayer and a fitting finale. Our score: 9.0 out of 10.

Tips for the campaign and multiplayer

On higher difficulties, plan encounters before you enter an area, and use grenades to flush enemies out of cover. In multiplayer, learn each map's power weapons and spawn points, and try to control the central area. Team play with clear calls makes a bigger difference than individual kill counts.

The Forge editor

Forge let players move objects and build custom maps and game modes. Many of the best community creations came from Forge, and learning the editor is a rewarding way to understand how map design shapes gameplay.