Halo 3

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5503 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,271 out of 5503
  2. Mixed: 542 out of 5503
  3. Negative: 690 out of 5503
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  1. watithink123
    Dec 25, 2012
    9
    I was thinking on what Halo was the best for the past week. Halo CE: Best campaign but multiplayer was not as good. Halo 2: had Amazing multiplayer great campaign but goes a bit out of control with the story at times for me. Halo 3 ODST: great campaign, best firefight but multiplayer disc was Halo 3 multiplayer with 4 new non-special maps
    .Halo Reach amazing campaign, best forge but    I was thinking on what Halo was the best for the past week. Halo CE: Best campaign but multiplayer was not as good. Halo 2: had Amazing multiplayer great campaign but goes a bit out of control with the story at times for me. Halo 3 ODST: great campaign, best firefight but multiplayer disc was Halo 3 multiplayer with 4 new non-special maps
    .Halo Reach amazing campaign, best forge but multiplayer was a bit unbalanced but still amazing and firefight was good but not as interesting as in ODST and the worst maps in a Halo game ever
    . Halo 4: Best looking Halo yet, amazing multiplayer great but not a very griping campaign as other Halos, forge is really good and Spartan ops is a nice and really good new feature. But however the one Halo witch I got hooked on for 5 to 6 years of life and never, ever got bored of it is Halo 3. The first Halo I ever played and I fell in love with the games world almost as soon as I played it. Campaign is awesome been my third favorite campaign out of all the Halos with the ledendary ending been one of my favorite moments of gaming of all time. Multiplayer in Halo 3 is my favorite Halo(I know Halo 2s' multiplayer is supposed to be the best but we hav opinions) multiplayer by far, too bad its nowhere near as popular as it was the 3 years it was king of Xbox multiplayer. Forge may not be as good as Halo: Reach and Halo 4, Halo 3 has really good forge still and has the best map of any Halo game (this including the map packs). Thierter will always be the best in Halo 3. Halo 3 is my favorite Halo game of all time and alos one of my favorite games of all time. Halo 3 9.8/10    … Expand
  2. MrR
    Nov 2, 2012
    9
    It's been 5 years since this game released. Very few other video games have brought me as much enjoyment. The story was pretty good, though the campaign didn't live up to what I expected. However, I did expect a LOT, and I still had a great time playing through it. The visuals, music, and gameplay were far above par for this time, and there were many easter eggs and achievements to go backIt's been 5 years since this game released. Very few other video games have brought me as much enjoyment. The story was pretty good, though the campaign didn't live up to what I expected. However, I did expect a LOT, and I still had a great time playing through it. The visuals, music, and gameplay were far above par for this time, and there were many easter eggs and achievements to go back to and try to accomplish. Where Halo 3 really shined though, was the multiplayer. I played this for years, and still to date have yet to play a game so fun and addicting. Every match online played differently, with different dynamics. Additions such as the Elephants on Sandbox changed the formula like never before. Forge. Oh forge. This was the innovation that made custom games with my friends more fun than ever before. There was not limit to the amazing maps to be found and played. With all the custom game options, there was always something new to try. The classic wide variety of weapons in Halo Games really sets it above other FPS's for me. There are always different strategies, different weapons are useful in different situations, and there was just so much fun and joy in killing my foes in so many creative ways. What a game. I'll give it a 9 because the single player wasn't quite as enjoyable as I had hoped :)… Expand
  3. akwaman96
    Dec 31, 2013
    9
    Amazing first-person action and an excellent narrative, Halo 3 is an excellent game. There are several frustrating parts in the game that came of as time killers rather than proper missions.
  4. iB_PiKaChu
    Nov 28, 2012
    9
    This game is very good, although people will say leading shots is stupid it just takes some time to get use to. After people got use to it they started to enjoy the game more and overall I gave this game a 9 because the maps were excellent, and the weapons were very well balanced. The only flaw is that sometimes online, your shots will not register if the connection is bad.
  5. GTR24
    Feb 16, 2013
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Halo 3 is phenomenal game.Why you ask, because it was the first game that really got my attention when buying an Xbox 360. I made the right choice too. I've played all the Halos(Except Halo Wars) and this one was the game that made me love the Xbox. Bungie is known for mostly its popular Halo series of course. But nothing the less the game is fantastic and all Xbox 360 should buy this game.After the events of Halo 2, both Prophet of Regret and Mercy are dead and Truth is on his way to the Ark(A forerunner like construct of the Halo rings) with his Covenant armada. Cheif who is following Truth to Earth because of a Forerunner construct in New Mombasa. Arbiter is on your side and so is the rest of the UNSC platoon. Cheif must stop Truth and the firing of the Halos and find Cortana who is with the Gravemind(a.k.a. Flood leader) while also dealing with the Flood and Covenant and finishing them of to. Their are new vehicles,weapons,characters,enemies and so much more. The multiplayer and custom games is fun and easy for all. Forging maps in Forge with your friends is also amazing.The Story of Halo is amazing unique and makes you wonder what all the remaining questions about the universe and foreunners and much more. The fate of the Universe really depends on Cheif, so does the money that comes out of your wallet torward this game is worth it.If you haven't played Halo then do so,you will not regret it, I promise you.… Expand
  6. ERB
    Sep 7, 2013
    9
    Wow!For a 2007 game this game has unbelievable graphics!The game play is so awesome and I totally get it why it has a high score.I like the story but the only problem is it is short.But still for me this is a game that is so cool and awesome and also memorable.I like this game!
  7. busbfran
    May 16, 2014
    9
    I remember when i first play this game i was blown away by the graphics and environments, i couldn't put down the controller! turns out I finished halo 3 in 3 days. Halo 3 is an amazing squeal to such a popular gaming series, it really pushed the franchise forward! Everything that was great in the past games is now amazing! the only thing it's missing is something new. Halo 3 broughtI remember when i first play this game i was blown away by the graphics and environments, i couldn't put down the controller! turns out I finished halo 3 in 3 days. Halo 3 is an amazing squeal to such a popular gaming series, it really pushed the franchise forward! Everything that was great in the past games is now amazing! the only thing it's missing is something new. Halo 3 brought nothing new to the table just stuck to its pros and gave us a solid FPS if not the best. A worthy game to play! Microsoft Studios has really out done themselves.… Expand
  8. rehamrick14
    Jun 24, 2013
    9
    Wow. Probably my all time favorite video game.
    Campaign: The campaign has an amazing mixture of level design, enemies, character development, and weapons. The story and lore are both amazing. The trilogy really does end beautifully. It really tugs at your heartstrings. So if you like a good story, you will like this game. Of course the story isn't as good as say mass effect, but for an    Wow. Probably my all time favorite video game.
    Campaign: The campaign has an amazing mixture of level design, enemies, character development, and weapons. The story and lore are both amazing. The trilogy really does end beautifully. It really tugs at your heartstrings. So if you like a good story, you will like this game. Of course the story isn't as good as say mass effect, but for an fps, it is amazing. The only complaint I have is the Marine AI. They're just plain stupid. (:
    Multiplayer: Multiplayer encompasses many things so im going to break it down into
    1. Matchmaking/CustomGames: Matchmaking and custom games in halo is so amazing. It can be for both the casual and hardcore. I cant describe the fun of getting a couple friends and going on matchmaking or just screwing around on custom games.
    2. Forge: Forge is amazing. It is basically a level designer. You can add vehicles, structures. weapons, etc. Or, you can just do crazy stuff like drop tanks on people's heads.

    Halo 3 is such an amazing game. It has a great campaign, great multiplayer, and a really fun level designer. I'd recommend it to anyone.    … Expand
  9. AlonsoFrag
    Jun 26, 2013
    9
    Its just perfect idjfjjfjfjfjfjfnfjfjjfjhggghjjifrmekfkrjfnfkfnfkejfbgbvwgvvdhfjckflfpfoflfkwnqnwmcogorñxnxnfbfjejfjfjfbdbfbfhfjwjqksiqkqkskfofoficicoglgkgifufhejjwjealofbfnfjfrjgjfjfjfjfj
  10. Muscularmouse
    Sep 24, 2013
    9
    Halo; Combat Evolved or Halo 2 are often considered the best halo games. Though they are fantastic games, the only things they have to offer that Halo 3 doesn't are the nostalgia, story (Excluding Halo 2) and possibly balancing with the enemies and weapons. Other than that, Halo 3 is pretty much superior in all ways. You can't argue that the multiplayer for the first two were better thanHalo; Combat Evolved or Halo 2 are often considered the best halo games. Though they are fantastic games, the only things they have to offer that Halo 3 doesn't are the nostalgia, story (Excluding Halo 2) and possibly balancing with the enemies and weapons. Other than that, Halo 3 is pretty much superior in all ways. You can't argue that the multiplayer for the first two were better than Halo 3's multiplayer. Balancing issues aside, Halo 3 has NUMEROUS multiplayer options like forge, custom game options, more weapons and customization, and most importantly, online multiplayer. While The first two may have had online multiplayer on the PC version, Halo 3 was more superior and more successful than both. Now, on the side or story, the story of the first two (Referring to opinion) could very well be much superior in terms of everything, but the story can't be the way you compare the two, since single-player wasn't exactly Halo 3's goal. While they put more effort into the story than, say Call of Duty, they weren't aiming for a story-game, but more of a multiplayer game.
    The main reason that people preferred Halo 1 or 2 over 3 is mostly due to nostalgia, which isn't something you should let review your games for you. You have to review the game for how good it is, not nostalgia or memories. And when you look at Halo 3 in that perspective, it is definitely better than the first two.    … Expand
  11. SupaChigga
    Nov 19, 2013
    9
    Single Player/Multi Player (2/2)

    (If the single player is better than the multiplayer, review this section as if it had no multplayer) (If the multiplayer is better than the multiplayer, review this section as if it had no single player) Gameplay (2/2) Visuals/Story (2/2) (If the visuals are better than the story, review this section as if it had no story) (If the story is    Single Player/Multi Player (2/2)

    (If the single player is better than the multiplayer, review this section as if it had no multplayer) (If the multiplayer is better than the multiplayer, review this section as if it had no single player)

    Gameplay (2/2)

    Visuals/Story (2/2)

    (If the visuals are better than the story, review this section as if it had no story) (If the story is better than the visuals, review this section as if the visuals didn’t matter)

    Accessibility/Longevity (2/2)

    (Review this section only on Accessibility if the game has no longevity) (Review this section only on longevity if the game isn’t accessible)

    Pricing (1/2)

    Wildcard (0)

    This is a guideline for how to properly review games. Many reviewers like to get a “feel” for a game, and arbitrarily give a game a score that they believe it deserves. This results in wildly different scores between different reviewers, and vastly different scores between similar games. This guideline addresses these problems and scores games fairly and consistently. This guideline also gives scores that are usually similar to the metacritic score.

    The review score is based out of 10 points. There are no “half” or 0.5 increments. It is impossible to have a score above 10 or below 0. The review score will change as the game gets new dlc, drops in price, or if more secrets are found through the game increasing its appeal.

    The scoring is split into 6 sections. The first five sections can add a possible 2 points to the final score. The first 5 sections are Single Player/Multi Player, Gameplay, Visuals/Story, Accessibility/Longevity, and Pricing.

    Notice that 3 of these sections have two parts. These particular sections will be scored based on the stronger part of the game of the two. For example, if a game has a lousy single player campaign, but an excellent multiplayer component, that section will be based solely on the multiplayer as if the single player did not exist. This allows games to be based on their own merits, as many unnecessary features are shoehorned into video games by publishers to reach a “feature quota”. Games that excel in both areas of a section don’t receive should be noted in the written review, but cannot increase the score past 2 in that section. However, it can be taken into account in the final section

    The final section can add 1, add 0, or subtract 1 to the final score. This final section is the “wildcard” section. This section is for how the reviewer “feels” about the game, but limits this only to this section, rather than the entire 10 point review. This section can include any positive or negative point that was not covered in the previous 5 sections.    … Expand
  12. ThatReviewGuy
    Jun 25, 2014
    9
    Halo 3 is one of the most influential games of our time. It has one of the most enjoyable multiplayers and best stories in the business. It was my first game for the 360, and by God it was one of my favorites. For it's time, the graphics were astounding, the gameplay was smooth as cream and the soundtrack... oh Lord the soundtrack. It was one of the most sublime compositions of our time.Halo 3 is one of the most influential games of our time. It has one of the most enjoyable multiplayers and best stories in the business. It was my first game for the 360, and by God it was one of my favorites. For it's time, the graphics were astounding, the gameplay was smooth as cream and the soundtrack... oh Lord the soundtrack. It was one of the most sublime compositions of our time. In 2014 you can find it at a measly price, so grab your AR and jump into one of the last servers remaining, or simply enjoy the amazing campaign.

    9/10    … Expand
  13. XBOXftw
    Jan 10, 2015
    9
    Awesome game, kept me at the edge of my seat, introduced new game changing forge mode, and once again reinforced Xbox superiority over PC and PlayStation. The reason it's not a 10/10 for me is because it wasn't as big a leap forward from halo 2, as halo 2 was from halo 1. Still a leap forward though!
  14. TurtleDrum18
    Nov 15, 2014
    9
    I'll lay out this game quickly with a score for each section.

    Campaign gameplay: 8.5/10 Mechanics, enemies, guns, mission designs are all done great (with the exception of the last two mission). Story: 9/10 Great Bungie storytelling that really "finishes the fight" but is left of with a cliff hanger (Setting up for Halo 4). Graphics/Sound: 9/10 Big jump from Halo 2 and looks and    I'll lay out this game quickly with a score for each section.

    Campaign gameplay: 8.5/10 Mechanics, enemies, guns, mission designs are all done great (with the exception of the last two mission).

    Story: 9/10 Great Bungie storytelling that really "finishes the fight" but is left of with a cliff hanger (Setting up for Halo 4).

    Graphics/Sound: 9/10 Big jump from Halo 2 and looks and sounds great for its time.

    Multiplayer: 9/10 Fantastic multiplayer maps (some of the best of its franchise), great NEW gamemodes and amazing gameplay and balance.

    Forge 8/10: If you're looking for a great way to construct your own maps in Halo, then Halo Reach is for you. But, forge on Halo 3 isn't to far behind.    … Expand
  15. dacritic82
    Aug 30, 2015
    9
    This reivew covers Halo 3 available in the Master Chief Collection for XBOX ONE.

    Halo 3 carries the great story in Halo 2 on and I have a fantastic time throughout the campaign. In terms of graphics and music, these are top-notch, as usual. However, having played the Halo 2 Anniversary edition in the Master Chief Collection, I was disappointed that they didn't remastered this game    This reivew covers Halo 3 available in the Master Chief Collection for XBOX ONE.

    Halo 3 carries the great story in Halo 2 on and I have a fantastic time throughout the campaign.

    In terms of graphics and music, these are top-notch, as usual. However, having played the Halo 2 Anniversary edition in the Master Chief Collection, I was disappointed that they didn't remastered this game too.

    Vehicles stay a main part of the game and that's awesome. And, with the inclusion of new weapons, the games remains always fresh. Dual-wielding is also available, though there's been some changes (e.g you cannot wield 2 Needlers).

    The only con that I can think of is that each of the so called "missions" is a collection of missions in itself separated by a cutscene. So, if you play short sessions, you'll most likely lose a bit of your context regarding your objective (and the story) because you might just end up running from checkpoint A to B.    … Expand
  16. gamingisgreat
    Oct 23, 2016
    9
    Halo 3 is an amazing game,one of the best in this franchise.

    The gameplay is great,with excellent AI,great controls and great level/map design.Pack in a solid storyline with a great multiplayer component and you have an incredible game here.One problem with the campaign is a lot of backtracking due to poorly spaced out checkpoints. The graphics and production values are great,and the    Halo 3 is an amazing game,one of the best in this franchise.

    The gameplay is great,with excellent AI,great controls and great level/map design.Pack in a solid storyline with a great multiplayer component and you have an incredible game here.One problem with the campaign is a lot of backtracking due to poorly spaced out checkpoints.

    The graphics and production values are great,and the framerate is solid.

    The sound design is good,with an unbelievable soundtrack to back it up.

    Overall,Halo 3 is an amazing FPS that you must own if you have a 360.    … Expand
  17. homer4president
    Nov 19, 2015
    9
    One of my favorite games in the Halo universe. The graphics were insanely good for the time it was released and it still holds up today. The online gameplay was great for the time and continues to be great in the Master chief collection on the Xbox One. If you have a 360 and haven't played Halo 3 then what are you doing?!
  18. ManemanFTW
    Apr 18, 2015
    9
    Amazing game. story, gameplay and multiplayer. the games now days should learn from these gems. the only things that bothers me is that you will need a decent connection in order to enjoy at its full potential the multiplayer. you will ned "host"
  19. vexarez
    May 31, 2015
    9
    I don´t know if it´s only the background music in the menu or the perfect combat system, but to me Halo 3 is the highlight of the actual Halo trilogy and one of the best shooters.
    The campaign isn´t perfect, but the story is nice and all in all it´s just epic !
  20. UltraTektite
    May 8, 2016
    9
    Halo 3, being my first Halo game, was a remarkable experience. The multiplayer is (or was, at this point) like no other, and the campaign is also extremely fun, especially with co-op. The amount of effort put into this game is astounding, with a great story, well-designed campaign levels and multiplayer maps, and more multiplayer gamemodes than you can shake an energy sword at. However,Halo 3, being my first Halo game, was a remarkable experience. The multiplayer is (or was, at this point) like no other, and the campaign is also extremely fun, especially with co-op. The amount of effort put into this game is astounding, with a great story, well-designed campaign levels and multiplayer maps, and more multiplayer gamemodes than you can shake an energy sword at. However, after going back and playing the first two Halo games, the story seems a little underwhelming, feeling like a sort of anticlimactic ending for the epic cliffhanger at the end of Halo 2. This is the only reason I didn't give it a 10 (my actual review score is a 9.5). To end on a more positive note however, Halo 3 is without a doubt one of the greatest Xbox 360 games of all time, and one you should definitely play if you haven't yet.… Expand
  21. njja02
    May 15, 2018
    9
    An excellent shooter that improves upon Halo 2 in every way. Beautiful, epic, and fun. Sure, there was one or two parts that had me confused on where to go, but that's the only annoying problem.
  22. N4Z1M
    Sep 12, 2015
    9
    Great, great game and the most fun that I have had playing computer games since MarioKart64 and Golden Eye. The maps, the balance of weapons, the teamwork, the playlists, theatre mode and forge, all amazing. There are a few small things that let it down but they are all XBL issues: Cheating, bullet registration, matchmaking preferences.

    Overall, still my favourite game of all time.
  23. AgentVenom117
    Feb 21, 2016
    9
    Easily my favorite Halo story wise it's epic from beginning to end and through out the whole campaign you will have a big smile on your face as Master Chief and The Arbiter go through the covenant and eventually the flood and it sets up the new trilogy perfectly for 343 industries (I don't know if Bungie had plans for a Halo 4). However the multiplayer is a little stale now a days and canEasily my favorite Halo story wise it's epic from beginning to end and through out the whole campaign you will have a big smile on your face as Master Chief and The Arbiter go through the covenant and eventually the flood and it sets up the new trilogy perfectly for 343 industries (I don't know if Bungie had plans for a Halo 4). However the multiplayer is a little stale now a days and can be boring at times but it still holds up to this day, I am so glad that they remastered the campaign in the Master Chief collection and you should defiantly get the MCC if you have an Xbox one just to play Halo 3 if you only have a 360 then buy this game if you already haven't.… Expand
  24. Pachuli1981
    Nov 24, 2019
    9
    Una excelente aventura del Jefe Maestro que te mantendrá en vilo hasta el final.
  25. Jimi360
    Mar 24, 2016
    9
    The reason that I purchased an Xbox 360 over a PS3, Halo 3 expands and completes the original chapter of the Master Chief in a way that will leave you wanting more and more. The campaign is as solid and interesting as previous entries in the series, and the relationship between the Master Chief, Cortana and others will keep you immersed in what you are playing.

    The uniqueness in the    The reason that I purchased an Xbox 360 over a PS3, Halo 3 expands and completes the original chapter of the Master Chief in a way that will leave you wanting more and more. The campaign is as solid and interesting as previous entries in the series, and the relationship between the Master Chief, Cortana and others will keep you immersed in what you are playing.

    The uniqueness in the multiplayer however, really brings Halo 3 to another level. Its 'highest skill' ranking system allows players to always be playing other gamers of the same level as themselves, therefore never getting drawn away from the game because of other players being more advanced than them. It still provides motivation to get that high skill all the way up to 50 however, to really show who's boss. Custom maps are another highlight of this excellent FPS, and I personally had most fun on these custom games with friends. Downloaded from Bungie.net, the custom games are a true draw towards Halo 3, as if it didn't have enough draws already.

    All in all, if you haven't played Halo 3, what exactly have you been doing?    … Expand
  26. ILCAVALIERE
    Nov 20, 2016
    9
    Junto con el primero,este es el mejor,sobretodo su multijugador ,aunque la historia no es tan buena como la original es un gran juego,un clasico ya e imprescindible
  27. andrewmckibbin1
    May 16, 2016
    9
    The online to this game was bland and like every other halo now there is different game modes in this game there wasn't very many and the only fun one to play was swat I had fun with that one. But what I really want to talk about is the campaign, this was one of the most beautiful campaigns to play. With the newer games and older games I never really enjoyed the campaign or the story of itThe online to this game was bland and like every other halo now there is different game modes in this game there wasn't very many and the only fun one to play was swat I had fun with that one. But what I really want to talk about is the campaign, this was one of the most beautiful campaigns to play. With the newer games and older games I never really enjoyed the campaign or the story of it but halo it all connects and it's fun to play and your on the edge of your seat, especially more towards the end that was a lot of fun. I know with the newer halo's the stories have gotten more bland and confusing but the whole halo franchise is amazing and I would play all the campaigns again and again… Expand
  28. Xyodanl
    Aug 30, 2016
    9
    THE BEST Halo game i have played so far. Campaign AWESOME. Multiplayer AMAZING. Forge INCREDIBLE. Theater BRILLIANT. Easy 10 in my mind and a lot of others. HALO FTW!
  29. sgthombre
    Sep 23, 2016
    9
    I'm just writing at least 150 characters because I wanted to save this review in a more convenient way to look back at scores that I had given stuff as a user.
  30. Untitled94
    Jul 15, 2021
    9
    What a legendary game. This is possibly my favorite Halo game yet. Halo Reach is very close, but I mainly just like the multiplayer in that one. This one I like the multiplayer and story. This was the first is the first to have (on an Xbox system at least) Forge mode, and I would spend hours on it. Forge mode got better in games after this, but I still get enjoyment out of 3's Forge. AWhat a legendary game. This is possibly my favorite Halo game yet. Halo Reach is very close, but I mainly just like the multiplayer in that one. This one I like the multiplayer and story. This was the first is the first to have (on an Xbox system at least) Forge mode, and I would spend hours on it. Forge mode got better in games after this, but I still get enjoyment out of 3's Forge. A fantastic FPS.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2007
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2007
2
#2 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 86 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 85 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 86
  3. Negative: 0 out of 86
  1. GameSpot
    95
    It's the addition of the Forge level editor and the saved films that give the game an even longer set of legs, legs that will probably keep you running at full speed until Bungie figures out where, exactly, to go from here.
    Read full review
  2. TeamXbox
    97
    Halo 3 is the best Xbox 360 game to date. The single-player campaign and storyline are both very strong, but it's Forge and the Saved Films features that will likely go down in history as Bungie's crowning achievements. They've basically taken everything great about the series and improved upon it in every way, then added some amazing new features that we'll be using for years to come.
    Read full review
  3. GamePro
    100
    It's solid gameplay, immense replayability, online functionality and incredible production values will ensure its place in video game history, and it is, without a doubt, a satisfying and fulfilling close to the beloved trilogy[?].
    Read full review
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