Your Halo Story: Chapter 9

Cover art by SentinelBeam.

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:

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!

My Halo Tribute From the UK

Hey, Watch This!

To pick a favorite Halo memory is definitely a challenge, especially since I’ve been playing Halo for 20 years and have a library of many wonderful memories. After a lot of thinking, I’ve figured out what my favorite Halomemory is.

It has to be when I was making a Halo: Reach Machinima as a project for my media studies when I was in the Norwegian equivalent of high school. Writing a rough storyboard, script, making maps in forge and getting help from amazing friends and strangers to do body and voice acting, recording the footage in theater mode and editing it on my laptop, it was all so fantastic and a lot of fun.

And even though I didn’t get to make more than a trailer because of time limitations of the project as well as it being my first time making something of that scale by myself, it was still amazing to be able to show my creativity and abilities by using my favorite game franchise to show myself and my teachers what I could do with creative freedom.

Halo Mi Primer Juego Y Mi Favorito

Recuerdo jugar Halo: CE en una laptop humilde con mis hermanos, los cuales al principio no me dejaban, pero al final me volví un adicto al juego, tanto el modo historia como el multijugador. Mi sueño fue siempre jugar Halo 2 hasta que lo conseguí, y después me obsesioné en jugar la colección. Para mí, Halo es hermandad, experiencias y recuerdos nostálgicos, y aunque mi hermano se encuentra en el extranjero, jugar Halo me devuelve a mi niñez, donde todo era más fácil.

Reconnecting With An Old Friend

In college, in Utah, I bumped into a friend who I hadn’t seen in 8 years or so.

In reality he was my older brother’s friend. We ended up connecting through playing Halo together. This was Halo: CE on the original Xbox. I would pack up my TV, drive to his house, and we’d LAN-connect 2 Xboxes and play Halo all night with a huge group of friends.

When I graduated college I moved to the East Coast. We kept in touch, but we didn’t get much chance to play, and my time to play Xbox got disrupted by family life. When I finally returned to Utah, my friend picked up right where we left off.

He re-instituted Xbox game night, only this time with Xbox Ones, flat-screen TVs and Wireless connection through Xbox Gold.

We’re still friends to this day, even though I’m in UT and he’s now on the East Coast. And Halo has been a common love through it all.

First Time Playing

Halo 3 is the first Halo game I ever played. It was great.

Echoes of the Ring: A Halo Childhood Preserved

The first time I played Halo was on its release day, and it all began with a demo CD. I didn’t know it then, but the moment that music started and the ring stretched out in front of me, something locked into place. Halo wasn’t just amazing, it felt different. Bigger. Calmer. More powerful. It made me feel brave, curious, and completely present in a way no game ever had before.

Growing up, Halo stayed with me. It grew as I did, always finding new ways to pull me back in. Some of my favorite memories came from LAN multiplayer, cables stretched across the room, screens glowing side by side, playing with my father. Those matches weren’t about winning, they were about connection. Laughter, competition, and moments of pure chaos, especially when the flamethrower came out, turning tight spaces into blazing, unforgettable battlegrounds.

That same demo CD is still with me today, kept in perfect condition. No scratches. No fading. Just like the memories it holds. It’s more than a disc, it’s a reminder of first release day wonder, late nights, shared moments, and a game that didn’t just entertain me, but shaped how deeply I could feel.

Halo was amazing then. It’s amazing now. And every time I think about it, I’m right back there, mouse in hand, music swelling, ready to play again.

In Memory of My Brother

My brother was the one who got me into Halo. He was always telling me about the game and introduced me to it along side a funny show called Red vs. Blue. I played co-op campaign with him and we forged memories playing the games and quoting the dialogue constantly. We almost had the entire intro to Halo 2 memorized by heart. Sadly, my brother was killed while both of us were deployed overseas. Now whenever I see Halo, I remember him, the countless hours playing with him, the quotes we spat out back and forth, and the laughs watching rooster teeth and RvB. Going forward, I play and enjoy Halo in memory of him.

Rest in Peace, SSG Nate Howard.

Spartans never die, they are simply MIA.

For Daniel

Halo brought us together. Playing Halo as a kid was such an incredible experience. A memory that me and some of my friends still look fondly back on from our days as kids was pizza and soda-fueled LAN parties where we played Halo with friends all night long to kick off the weekend. The week leading up to the party, I would walk around school as a dorky kid in Jr High and talk to kids both in higher and lower grades trying to organize supplies for these events. I would go around and make sure we had everything we needed for maximum and uninterrupted fun: ethernet cables, TVs, controllers, routers, and most importantly, copies of Halo. These parties were a wonderful way to bring everyone together and have a wonderful time. They got so big I eventually organized school lock-ins in our gym just to play Halo.

In the attached photo, my friends and myself (top row, 3rd from right) organized a small fundraiser just so our good friend Joel (top row, 3rd from left) could play Halo with us. No one was left behind. My younger brother is seen in the bottom row far left.

My freshman year we were playing a basketball game in Lubbock, Texas. I’d like to think that the events leading to me breaking my arm in the game were heroic and inspiring to the team and I would just reset my arm like they do in movies to show how tough I was to intimidate the other team. However, me crying on the bench with a closed fracture wasn’t doing me any favors. My only saving grace was it was an away game so the social damage was minimal and the clarity of camera phones just wasn’t there yet. However, this wasn’t any night. It was November 9th, 2004 and Halo 2 had just released and my friend Zach (Top row, 2nd to right) already had plans on staying up all night at night playing the new game. After assuring my mom over the phone I was ok, I went over to Zach’s house and we began playing the co-op campaign. We marveled at the gameplay, story, and graphics of Halo 2. With every click of a button or pull of a trigger my arm flared in excruciating pain but it was one of the best midnight releases I had ever been a part of. My mom was furious when she picked me up the next day and after she saw the state of my swollen arm but it was worth it. I was part of a historic night in the gaming world.

Finally, and most importantly, I want to say thank you to the creators of Halo for providing me with a means to play with my older brother, Daniel. He had a terminal illness, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, that confined him to a wheelchair and greatly limited his mobility. However, in the medium of video games we were able to have so much fun together. In LAN parties, he would stay in the bunker near the flag in Blood Gulch to defend the flag against all would be-intruders and make short work of them with his trusty shotgun. It wasn’t until many years later after he had passed that I realized that his mobility at this time in his life had greatly waned and him camping in close quarters with a shotgun was one of the only ways he could contribute to his team. However, these moments where we gamed together were wonderful and beautiful moments that I will hold onto dearly to and cherish for my entire life. Because of the developers and creators of Halo, Daniel and I had as normal a childhood as we could with countless fond memories, inside jokes, and many laughs thanks to the creators of Halo. For that, you will always have my respect and appreciation for what you did for my family.

From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of my brother Daniel, thank you.

My First Video Game

When I was a little girl about 4 years old (2009) my brothers had the white Xbox 360 and taught me how to play Halo (1) and I fell in love with video games every since!! I am now twenty years old with an Xbox series X and I have conquered the Master Chief Collection and Halo 5: Guardians. I am currently on my play though on Halo Infinite!!

A Piece of My Heart

In 2005, I walked into a friend’s backyard and saw something that changed how I understood games forever — multiple Xboxes system-linked across backyards, kids shouting through fences, playing Shotty Snipers on Ascension. It wasn’t just Halo; it was a shared moment, a neighborhood ritual.

Halo 2 and Halo 3 became the center of gravity for my community. From local mall tournaments to waking up early to watch Walshy and the Ogre Twins take on T2 and Str8 Rippin Or Gho5t and Carbon in MLG finals on the USA Network, Halo wasn’t just a game — it was culture, competition, and belonging. I’d sprint home from school to update my custom game settings to match the latest MLG rules. 1v1s on Lockout were how disputes got settled.

I’m 34 now, and after a decade building products and communities as an entrepreneur, I still find myself back in Halo 2 on MCC. It holds up because the gameplay holds up — the rhythm of the fights, the flow of the maps, the feel of the gunplay. The Halo 2 Battle Rifle is, to this day, the smoothest-feeling weapon I’ve ever used in a game.

My ambition is to help steward Halo into its next era by building systems that preserve that sense of shared presence and collective energy for a new generation.

This game — this franchise — still deserves to be played on a global scale. It has all the pieces. With thoughtful modernization, Halo could absolutely capture a new generation the same way it once did for mine.

Yay Halo family! I’m a day one, bought an OG Xbox for the Halo it came with😇♾️ Well done Bungie & 343! Cant wait to play “Campaign Evolved,” we come full-halo after quarter century! Special thanks to Mr Bill Gates, godfather of a generation, prophet & visionary.

Me and My First Time

My first time ever playing any game it was Halo. I have nothing but love for Halo.

My Favorite Series of All Time

I had known about the Halo series ever since it was first released in 2001, but I never actually played any of the games until 2019, when Halo: The Master Chief Collection was released on Steam. My first Halo game was Halo: Reach, and I immediately fell in love with it. The story, the environments, the lore, the characters, everything about it felt perfect to me. I was especially fascinated by the enemies, the Covenant. Their design, culture, and mystery made the universe feel deep and alive.

However, after finishing Halo: Reach, I stopped playing the series. At that time, my father had been suffering from dementia for four years, and his condition became much worse in 2019. I could no longer enjoy games or anything else the way I used to. In 2020, my father passed away, and I fell into depression. For a long time, I felt disconnected from the things that once made me happy.

In 2024, I finally returned to the Halo series and decided to play the rest of the games. I started with Halo: Combat Evolved and finished it within a week. Playing it made me feel happy again, as if a part of me had woken up after being asleep for years. Then I moved on to Halo 2, and this was the game that truly helped me come out of depression. From start to finish, it felt absolutely perfect. I loved learning more about the Covenant and seeing the story from their perspective. I instantly became attached to the new characters, especially the Arbiter, Rtas Vadum, and Tartarus. The soundtrack was phenomenal, and the storytelling was powerful and emotional. To this day, Halo 2 remains my favorite game in the series.

Right after finishing Halo 2, I continued with Halo 3. Playing it was an incredible experience. The stakes felt much higher, as if the entire story was reaching its final chapter. Every mission felt important, and the journey toward the ending was intense and unforgettable. The conclusion was beautiful and bittersweet, and it left a strong emotional impact on me.

All I want to say is that Halo is easily my favorite game series of all time. These games did more than just entertain me, they helped me heal during one of the hardest periods of my life. Every game feels special and meaningful to me in its own way, and I am truly grateful to be part of the Halo community.

El Primer Juego que Jugue

Tenía 5 años y mi papá me regaló una lapto, era como el 2010, era mi primer computador. Recuerdo mucho que traía 2 juegos, uno de ellos era Halo 1. Antes de eso yo nunca había jugado en ningún medio electrónico, por así decirlo, pero cuando probé Halo me hizo tan feliz que ahora que tengo 21 años recuerdo tan bien la primera misión. Fue el primer juego que jugué, y qué hermoso juego. Gracias por hacer mi infancia feliz 😀

Unforgotten Memories

Halo was, and still is, a huge part of my life. I’m always grateful for that day, during an online match on Halo 3, when I met this guy who was screaming like a madman.
We started talking and playing together day after day, and eventually we became friends.

We finished every Halo game in co-op—how many hours have we put in? 3,000? 4,000? Honestly, I’ve lost count. There will always be that damn Halo Infinite, which we never got to play together because you passed away.

Thank you for everything, Gabriele. Nessuno muore finché vive nel cuore di chi resta.

Best Friends 😎

Since I started playing Halo more often, I have always had a partner who has supported, followed, and encouraged me. Together, we achieved things that seemed impossible at our young age, such as completing the campaigns on Legendary mode. Together we did it, always playing locally, but to this day he remains my best friend and my Spartan ally.

Endless nights of gaming, always alongside my greatest ally, until we both finished all the cooperative campaigns together.

Me PALOMONEITOR (old)/PNRGenesys (new)
My friend: Vengador2986

Mi Gran

A lo largo de los años, desde que empecé jugando Xbox, Halo se convirtió en mi juego favorito, no solo por su modo de juego, sino por su historia. Desde esas noches de desvelo entre amigos en el multijugador local hasta el competitivo.

Sin embargo, el tiempo no perdona, pero la historia continúa. Pasarán los años y ahora que soy un adulto responsable sigo viendo Halo como mi juego favorito, sin importar cuál sea la historia. Y aunque ya no juegue las mismas horas como antes, me regalo un tiempo para sentarme a jugar unas partidas y escuchar su intro en el menú.

Por más años y por más tiempo de juego, Halo no vive en mi memoria, vive en mi corazón ❤️

Halo: CE With Cousin

I’ve seen my cousin once a year and every year he would bring his Xbox Original and we would play Halo from morning till dawn (or when we’ve gotten yelled at). Some time later he gifted me his console so I could play with my friends as well. Long story short, Halo is a part of my childhood and it will always have a soft spot in my heart.

Reveille

2008. I was around 10 years old, and I was visiting my cousins. The four of us were cooped up in a bedroom, and on a small TV screen in the corner, two of them played Halo 3 (Slayer on High Ground) while the third watched. Being young and bored, all I could focus on was the image of two armored warriors dancing around each other and firing away. The only video game experience I had at that point was the likes of LEGO Star Wars, so it was like nothing I had ever seen before. Naturally, I asked if I could try.

Later, my parents weren’t exactly pleased to learn that I had been playing an M-rated video game (they took ratings very seriously back then), but ultimately considered it no harm done. Good thing for me, because that name…Halo…stuck in my head for a long time afterward. I would later learn in the next year that one of my best friends played, and he would regale me with crazy stories of the aliens, the Flood, and the Spartans. I could never get enough.

The turning point came in winter of 2009. While perusing the shelves of a local Barnes & Noble, I came across a certain book in the Science Fiction section: Halo: The Fall of Reach, by Eric Nylund. After some persuading, I was able to buy it. I remember snow falling outside as I took my first steps into this new world, completely enthralled by the story of Master Chief John-117, the Covenant, and the fall of the last human bastion before Earth. I was hooked by the end of the prologue, as the Chief observes the glassing of Jericho VII, but by the time the Pillar of Autumn left slipspace in range of Alpha Halo, I was completely invested.

Lacking the means to actually play the games at the time, I sought other methods of experiencing this story I had fallen in love with over the next few years. I started with more books, like William C. Dietz’s The Flood and Nylund’s First Strike. I would visit friends’ houses with Xboxes and get slaughtered in Slayer matches in Halo 3 and Reach. I acquired the official strategy guide for Halo 3 from my local library and tackled the campaign at my best friend’s house, several two-hour sessions at a time. My parents eventually let me install the PC edition of Combat Evolved on my dad’s work laptop, the only machine around the house that would run it. While familiar with the story thanks to The Flood, it was still a whole new experience getting to…well, experience it for the first time.

Then, on my fifteenth birthday in 2012, my parents gifted me an Xbox 360 and a copy of Halo: Reach. And the rest, as they say, is history…

February 2026. I’m now 28 years old, and although I have much adulting to deal with, Halo is still a massive part of my life. I regularly partake in the chaos of multiplayer and roll through the campaigns. I’m currently partway through replaying Halo 5 as I write this, and I have a whole stack of unread books and stories ahead of me. Halo has been with me, through all of my ups and downs, and it’s always something for me and my friends to rally around whenever one of us says “Hey, wanna play a few rounds?” I can’t imagine a life that Halo is not a part of. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thank you, Halo Studios, for 25 amazing years, and for giving this young-at-heart, eagerly awaiting the release of Campaign Evolved, a universe to love. As has been said elsewhere in these chronicles, here’s to 25 more!

Ready up, Spartans! As a certain gunnery sergeant once said: “You know the music, time to dance!”

My First Xbox and Halo Game

For most of my life, me and my family were dirt poor. My dad did tree work and whenever he didn’t have a job, he would pawn off his chainsaws, buying them back whenever we had money. Well one night, he went in the pawnshop to get his saws back and came out with them and a Xbox 360. We were all asking him what he was holding and when he told us it was something to play games on, we asked if Christmas came early! He had a few physical games that came with it, but nothing was like the game that came free.

Soon enough, my older brother was the one who found the game catalog, with one of them being Halo: Reach. When he found that game, all hell broke loose! We all wanted to try it, but when we found out it had split screen? Yeah, that was the end for him playing it alone because that was our top ten games moment right there. It actually took me almost a year to play it solo. I was shocked when it seemed like I suddenly had better shields and seemed to live longer. It’s been a few years since then, but my love for this game has been revived by playing all the games in the Master Chief Collection! It was nice seeing that I still knew Reach by heart (probably because I’ve played it so many times) but all in all, Reach, ODST and CE have to be my top three Halo games.

Halo 3

Getting my friend Recon Armor before vidmaster achievements came out on Xbox 360 by playing a game of Rocket Race with no objective points.

Late Night Fridays

When I was in my early twenties (43 now), instead of the typical clubs or bars my friends and coworkers would come to my place and play Halo 2 online. We would spend hours as a split-screen squad dual wielding, knowing every nook and cranny, and pushing ourselves to compete.

It meant more than that though.

We taught each other our experiences in the game of course. We learned “elite” teamwork that not only pushed into the work environment but still echoes today. I think daily about those carefree days. Fist pumps, and the occasional defeat. We analyzed every loss to grow stronger. So many adult traits were learned by us all through the camaraderie that Halo offered us.

I’m just very grateful for the lifelong friends Halo has solidified in my life, and the lessons that it has taught. I look forward to the next chapter.

A First Friendship

In 2007 when I got Halo 3, I remember spending a lot of evenings and late nights playing the multiplayer non-stop along with messing around in Forge mode. I met one of my first Xbox Live friends on it when we kept getting put in Snowbound together and it felt like it was only us two on the map. He ended up showing me how to get all the skulls and we stayed friends for many years. So many good memories were made in the years when Halo 3 was popular, the maps, the games and the Bungie community involvement made those some of the best years of my childhood.

The first ever game I played on my cousin’s Xbox was Halo so it brings back memories when life was not about school it was about getting on just to play story mode.

RevolutionaryGame; Changed My Childhood

This game was one of my favourites on Xbox; I had so much fun with my brothers and my cousin, who brought his Xbox console home, and played the first campaign.

The history was so exciting, and the Flood was so terrifying but was completely different, and I loved it.

When Halo 3 was launched, I really loved to play with my friends every night throughout high school. I wont forget how this game could be part of my history in so many ways.

Thanks to Master Chief and all the Microsoft/Bungie Studios crew for every story, adventure and emotion put in all games.

How Did I Love Halo

Halo was introduced to me at the age of 4 years old in 2007, Halo: CE to be specific.

Halo CE was the first EVER game that I touched and Xbox the first ever console for me. Playing the campaign and being able to slightly understand what the story was about at that age, I fell in love with the game and especially with the Master Chief.

I remember always thinking the Master Chief was cool, especially after playing Halo 2. After I completed the mission “Regret” and seeing the ending cutscene brought so much to me. Master Chief basically became someone I looked up to and wanted to be. Halo became my whole personality for my entire life after completing Halo 2.

I spent so much time playing EVERY game, watching videos about the lore and gameplay, and reading the books too (Halo: New Blood almost brought me to tears at work). I will support Halo for how ever long i live, and I hope that someone real ACTUALLY reads this and just knows that we in the Halo community will always be here to support Halo. We hope to see a new Halo game soon! That’s my story.

Jugano Con Un Amigo Hace 14 Años

El video fue grabado en Venezuela, en la frontera con Colombia, en un pueblo llamado San Antonio del Táchira.

Este era un lugar donde nos reuníamos todos a jugar Halo 1. Como éramos de escasos recursos, no teníamos cada uno un Xbox propio, y nos reuníamos en este lugar a jugar. Pagábamos por tiempo para poder jugar.

El video fue grabado con un celular Nokia de la época.

Jugue Halo De Mis Hermanos

Cuando era niño, de unos 4 o 5 años, mis hermanos me hicieron conocer Halo. Lo jugábamos en PC. Nunca podía pasar de la misión Biblioteca; mi misión favorita fue The Pillar of Autumn. De ahí pasaron unos cuantos años y mis hermanos también me enseñaron en una Xbox la secuela, Halo 2. Yo quedé enamorado y me gustaba mucho jugar al multijugador.

De hecho, jugaba en salas de videojuegos porque no teníamos para una consola, pero sí muchas ganas de jugar. Siempre que formateaban el PC descargaba una y otra vez Halo CE y siempre intentaba pasar el juego.

Ahora que soy adulto ya pasé todas las misiones. Incluso ahora estoy tratando de pasarlo en legendario, y nooooo está difícil, pero sé que lo voy a hacer. Ya pasé Halo: Reach (es mi juego favorito de la vida, me encanta; aunque no tengo buen PC, le puse gráficos bajitos y me lo pasé).

Salu2. Muchas gracias por una infancia muy bonita. Amo Halo y sigan haciendo un gran trabajo. Los quiero. Saludos de Pasto, Colombia <3

Halo 3

Halo was one of my favorite franchise since ever I was a kid. You can’t go wrong with good classic Halo game where it all started.

Halo 3: You Found Me

I’ve always enjoyed the bond between the MasterChef and Cortana since the very beginning. Their memories is mine as well to celebrate. Even though their journey may seem to have come to a close. Their memories together will forever be remembered and treasured.

In the Beginning

Was shopping with my future wife for games for my PS2 in 2001. A fellow shopper saw us and said I need to buy this new console for this game alone and pointed to a display with all these green games, a big X and this guy in a futuristic helmet. I had some money to spare so I bought it. The next day I was calling my best friend and told him he has to buy this new x box console for this Halo game alone.

That was 25 years ago, and we’re still playing.

Mi Infancia

Jugué Halo por primera vez a los 4 o 5 años, junto a mi hermano 4 años mayor. Descubrimos algo sumamente nuevo, y que a día de hoy me hace sentir representado, porque ha sido una franquicia que me ha acompañado desde entonces. Y ahora, a mis 21 casi 22 años, celebro el haber crecido y disfrutado de esta grandiosa saga.

Halo Steam

Hi, I first learned about your game in 2026 (i’m 27 years). I’d seen pictures of the game before, but I didn’t know where they came from.

When I bought the game, I was completely immersed in it. It’s perfectly suited for the Steamdeck, and I really enjoy playing Halo on the go.

Я из России и мое сообщение было переведено google translate ,я искренне выражаю благодарность всей команде,которая проделала эту огромную работу 🥰

My First Game

I’ll never forget my parents buying me an Xbox 360 and Halo 3. It was the start of my gaming experience and to this day, Halo has, and will be, my favorite games ever made. It’s influenced a lot in my life, and I’ll always be a Halo fan because of it.

Wake me when you need me.

Toda Mi Infancia

Como olvidar la primera vez que jugué este hermoso videojuego, sin duda nunca me voy a arrepentir. Así mismo, las horas que pasé en las salas de videojuegos tratando de completar las misiones. Para mí, Halo 3, Halo 2 y Halo 1 son mi top, el mejor tiempo de mi vida se lo llevó y se lo seguirá llevando Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Amo este juego, sin duda lo amaré hasta el último día. Gracias por existir.

My Best Halo Memory

My best memory of playing Halo was with my brothers after school or during all the holidays, from Halo: CE to Halo Infinite.

Halo 3

Jugué todos los Halos con mi hermano y mi favorito fue Halo 3.

Multiplayer

I’ve mostly played Halo in local multiplayer split-screen, but those times with my friends were pretty fun.

The LAN Parties

We had huge LAN parties. We had a 2400 sq ft house that was dedicated to these parties. We had up to 12 original Xboxes hooked together playing Capture the Flag until 4 in the morning. We had about dozen LG CRT TVs dedicated to this venture. Halo 1-3 were played this way.

Good times!!

Blew the SpeakersOut

I started my journey with the Halo series on the PC, in the Fall of ’04 after building my first desktop Windows PC a year earlier. I blew out the Pioneer bookshelf speakers my dad gave me, because the everything was just that good. 😛

Got in on Halo 2 (Vista), and posted on my social media a screenshot of when I was playing ‘The Ark’ map during the beta testing of Halo 3 for the PC, that “Hell has frozen over.” …’The Ark’ is my fav’ map. 🙂

For the First Time

Me and my sister were playing Halo 2 on the OG Xbox. We were playing the campaign, I booted up Cairo Station and we got to work. We got through the level for the first time! I remember my sister remarking, “Lets Go! We haven’t made it this far!” after we beat Cairo Station. Then, across 4 or 5 sessions, we got through the entire campaign! I still remember that first time i got through Halo 2’s campaign.

Playing Halo Trial in High School

I played Halo since I was a kid, but I started with a Halo trial. At the beginning, I didn’t know that it was a trial. I played Silent Cartographer like 30 times then I realized I didn’t have the complete game but that was the beginning for me.

Happy birthday Halo.

Prueba

Cuando era niño, el primer juego que jugué fue una prueba de Halo. Desde entonces, Halo ha sido mi saga de juegos favorita y nada la igualará. Han sido momentos inolvidables los que he vivido gracias a esta saga. Gracias por existir, Halo.

My Memory of Halo

I grow up playing Halo all I have to say is that it is a amazing game.

My First Time

Me and my brother played together and we keep playing till this day.

Halo Is More Than A Game

Here’s the typed out version of the video as well as the multiple links across platforms:

What does Halo mean to me? Well, I’m not sure if it’s something to answer that easily, but I’ll try.

Halo was the first video game or story in general that I was exposed to. I remember vividly as my neighbor and I would blast the Halo CE menu screen for hours while learning how to read. It was so calming and inspiring.

I remember playing the Halo 2: Campaign and being so excited to use our Fat Back TV and defeat Tartarus for the 30th time.

I remember making friends in 4th grade, having sleepovers and being called a “Squeaker” in lobbies that I had no business being in, getting T-bagged on Guardian and then endlessly investigating Cold Storage and its mysteries.

I grew up with Halo. I matured and discovered that it was much more than a game. It was a story, a story of heroics, epic drama, and sacrifice. It’s a community, one of which I have made great lifelong friends with.

It’s what I use in my English classroom with my sophomore students when explaining narratives and literary devices, creating a unique culture in my classrooms.

And now, it’s this little journey I’m on of making short videos and writing short stories, sharing ideas, theories, and opinions with all of you.

Halo is something that, for the most part, has grown and matured alongside me, and I personally believe, as weird as it sounds, has shaped my life more than I ever thought.

What does Halo mean to you?

Aquella Tarde de Halo

Era una tarde como cualquier otra cuando era niño, y estaba en casa de mi amigo Richard junto a otros amigos. Richard se puso a jugar Halo, y fue cuando lo vi por primera vez. Era un niño, pero en esa tarde cualquiera surgió un hermoso recuerdo que perdura hasta hoy.

Luego de ver a mi amigo jugar un rato a Halo, desde entonces recuerdo la paz que sentía en ese momento. Quizá también sea porque extraño esa época, pero sin duda fue por esa agradable sensación. Desde entonces, Halo tiene un lugar muy especial en mi corazón.

Family Genes, I Guess

I have been playing Halo since 2016. When I had my beautiful 2 daughters, I almost didn’t have time to play. I showed it to my oldest at about 11. She got scared of it at first, but grew fond of it after some time. She loves the game now and I get nostalgia when I see her play. I always told her I’d teach her how to shoot a gun!

En Anilla Que Jamas Deje

Recuerdo que conocí Halo cuando tenía 10 años, y por 5 años jugué Halo CE porque nunca tuve una PC potente o las otras entregas. Recién luego de una década jugué todos los Halo hasta el 4, y solo puedo decir que valió la pena. Actualmente tengo 23 años y sigo siendo un Spartan más de esta comunidad tan grande. Gracias por estar en mi infancia, gracias por estar en mi adolescencia, gracias por estar en mi presente y en mi futuro.

Infancia

Tenía 5 o 7 años cuando conocí Halo en una tienda Costco, y desde ahí marcó mi vida en la franquicia de Halo. Lo que más me encantó fue la canción cuando vas a entrar en acción.

Still My Favorite Game

I was a 2 year old when I stumbled across this game. I played and drew stuff like the Arbiter and Master Chief or just a random Spartan. I’ve finished most of the Halo campaign. I bought a book just to learn about the ships and how they work. I really liked to learn about the Covenant, I thought they looked cool and I really like the look of the Elites If there was an optional choice to become an Elite or Spartan I would usually pick Elite. My favorite ship was probably the Phantom and that’s all I got to share.

All 2,227 Halo Achievements

I remember when I got Halo achievement 2,227. That makes me tied for #1 in the world. That includes more than just one copy of each game. I had to do Halo game that has achievements multiple times on different consoles and devices. By the way, for someone with some with disabilities like me all 2,227 Halo Series achievements is very good. I’m not very disabled at least. On the website with tracked gamers with achievements there are less than 20 people that have all of the obtainable Halo achievements. I’m one of them. By unobtainable I’m referring to those nine across those two games. Not the ones too late to get.

We’ve been floored by the overwhelming response to our anniversary testimonial series. Since we still have countless fan stories to share in future installments of Your Halo Story, the submissions portal is now closed—but we’ll continue celebrating Halo’s iconic legacy with new video quizzes and community polls in the monthly Anniversary Angle.

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