Halohas been around for over 13 years now, and though the franchise is doing okay, its glory days are far behind it. Though its launch went very well,Halo Infinite’s post-launchfumbles left fans wanting much more from the Sci-Fi franchise, and the recent second season of Paramount’sHaloshow has only made that feeling grow. Long gone are the days of successful spinoffs likeHalo 3: ODST.
Released on June 11, 2025,Halo 3: ODSTis widely considered to be a high point for theHalofranchise. Though its shorter runtime knocked a few points off its review scores,Halo 3: ODSTstill received almost universal acclaim from critics and fans alike, and it’s aged like a fine wine. By farHalo 3: ODST’s greatest strength is its ability to take a familiar formula and give it a fresh spin, and that’s something theHaloseries desperately needs right now.
Halo 3: ODST Set a Blueprint That’s Been Lying Dormant for 15 Years
Halo 3: ODST Was Exactly What a Halo Spinoff Needed To Be
With three Master Chief-led mainline entries under its belt, theHalofranchise knew it needed to shake things up. Bungie and its collaborators did exactly that in 2009, delivering the powerful one-two-punch ofHalo WarsandHalo 3: ODST, both of which took the franchise in new directions. WhileHalo Warswas a completely different type ofHaloexperience,Halo 3: ODSTprovided a familiar but fresh take on the usualHaloFPS formula, and much of its uniqueness hinged on its main cast.
Rather than taking control of an all-powerful super-soldier or a trained alien warrior,Halo 3: ODSTput players in the slightly less armored boots of a team of titularOrbital Drop Shock Troopers. Across the game’s campaign, players take control of each of the squad’s five members – Rookie, Dutch, Mickey, Buck, and Romeo – as they battle their way through the deserted streets of New Mombasa.
This new perspective doesn’t change too much in terms of gameplay, but it brings a new, lighter tone to the franchise. With excellent performances from the likes ofFireflycrew Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, and Adam Baldwin, the banter between teammates is a highlight ofODST, and something that separates it subtly from the mainlineHalotrilogy.
ThoughHalo 3: ODST’s shorter lengthwas a common critique at the time of its release, a 5-6-hour campaign is the perfect size for a spinoff ofODST’s scale, giving players plenty of time to soak in the game’s atmosphere and unique squad dynamic while not outstaying its welcome.ODSTalso shipped with the series' first iteration of Firefight, a wave-based horde mode that fit right in with its 2009 contemporaries. Though its $60 price tag was steep,Halo 3: ODSToffered just the experience that the franchise and its fans needed.
Halo Sorely Needs a New ODST-Like Spinoff
Halois stillXbox’s flagship franchiseand it feels like it should be a bit more prolific. There have been countless opportunities for 343 to make aHalospinoff during its tenure, from a game focused on Agent Locke after the events ofHalo 5to a spinoff game that fleshes out Blue Team.Haloneeds another short and sweet campaign, and something that’s familiar but fresh. And while that’s much easier said than done,Halo 3: ODST’s blueprint is there for the taking.
Halo 3 ODST
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Now optimized for PC, witness the Master Chief’s return to finish the fight between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire Human race in this dramatic, pulse-pounding conclusion of the original Halo trilogy. With the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance, the Master Chief returns to uncover an ancient secret hidden beneath the sands of Africa, which could hold the key to humanity’s salvation or destruction – an object that could change the tide of the Human-Covenant conflict.
