When it comes to naming the best video game stories out there, Halo is often left off the list, which is a shame, considering the games take place in one of the most fleshed-out sci-fi universes ever created.

While the story in each individual Halo game might not do much to push the medium forward, they're often a cut above most other titles. On top of that, the story of the games is only the tip of the iceberg.

After the first Halo game became a blockbuster success, Microsoft was quick to begin expanding the series' lore.

What started as a series of novels quickly grew to include comic books, live-action shorts, graphic novels, short stories, mini-series...it's clear that Halo isn't just about the games anymore.

Of course, for newcomers, navigating the Halo Expanded Universe isn't always easy: over a decade's worth of stories can be a little much to handle, even for the most die-hard fans.

That's why we've collected all of Halo's Expanded Universe content in this guide. If you've ever been curious about diving into the stories outside of the games, this guide will help you find out where to start. First up:

The Novels

The Fall of Reach

If you've ever wondered how the Master Chief came to be, read The Fall of Reach. As the first Halo novel, Fall of Reach kick-started the series' expanded universe, and even fans of sci-fi literature that never touched an Xbox controller would find something to like here. If you're a Halo fan, definitely pick this one up.

The Flood

The Flood is basically a retelling of the original Halo: Combat Evolved with a bit more detail mixed in. While the expanded story itself is cool, reading about Master Chief fighting off hordes of infected isn't as fun as actually playing it.

First Strike

So, how did the Master Chief make it back to Earth after the events of Halo: Combat Evolved? That's the story of First Strike, though it expands upon much of the events and fallout from The Fall of Reach as well. Another must-read for Halo fans.

Ghosts of Onyx

At first, it seemed like Ghosts of Onyx would be a relatively self-contained side-story about the Master Chief's successors, but it quickly expanded into one of the most important Expanded Universe stories of the series.

Contact Harvest

The Fall of Reach was the Master Chief's origin story, but Contact Harvest is the backstory of the entire war. The book tells the story of humanity's first contact with the Covenant armies, which goes about as well as anyone could have expected.

The Cole Protocol

As something of a follow-up to Contact Harvest, The Cole Protocol continues to fill out the franchise's backstory. Again, some of the most defining moments in non-game canon happen here: anyone who's interested in the formation of the modern Halo universe should definitely pick it up.

The Kilo-Five Trilogy

The Master Chief and Cortana may have been sealed away during the four years in between Halo 3 and Halo 4, but the war had only come to a shaky cease-fire. The Kilo-Five Trilogy, which consists of Halo: Grasslands, The Thursday War, and Mortal Dictata, tells the story of life 'after' the war.

The Forerunner Saga

Halo 4 introduced new concepts to the Halo franchise, though reading through the Forerunner Saga should help clear things up. Set hundreds of thousands of years before the events of the game, the novels Cryptum, Primordium and Silentium detail the rise - and fall - of the Forerunners...otherwise known as the creators of the Halo rings.

Halo: Evolutions

A collection of Halo-themed short stories may sound odd at first, but Halo: Evolutions features work from some of the series' most prolific writers. The stories within the collection are a far cry from the military bravado the franchise is known for - if you're looking for something with a more emotional vibe, Halo: Evolutions is a good place to start.

The Comics

The Halo Graphic Novel

The Halo Graphic Novel doesn't just tell one story from one point on the timeline, but instead acts as an anthology: each individual piece has a different art style, cast of characters and story to tell. Plus, it's absolutely gorgeous.

Halo: Uprising

Ever wonder why Halo 3 starts with the Master Chief crash-landing on Earth? Halo: Uprising tells the story of the events between Halo 2 and Halo 3, as the Master Chief makes his way through the Covenant Dreadnaught in an attempt to assassinate the last remaining Prophet.

Halo: Blood Line

It's impossible to think that humanity and the Covenant could ever work together, but that's exactly what happens in Halo: Blood Line. A side-story set before the first game in the series, the book features an otherwise unexplored aspect of the Halo universe: cooperation.

Halo: Helljumper

Aside from the SPARTAN-IIs, the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (or ODSTs) are some of the fiercest fighters humanity has to offer. Halo: Helljumper follows the story of a single ODST squad as they desperately try to repel the armies of the Covenant.

Halo: Initiation

One of the Master Chief's greatest allies during Halo 4 was SPARTAN-IV Sarah Palmer, but she wasn't given much in the way of backstory. Thankfully Halo: Initiation tells the SPARTAN's story, and how she rose through the ranks and eventually met the Master Chief.

Halo: Escalation

Following the events of Halo 4, humanity realized that it had found itself a new foe...and an old enemy had reemerged. The series also gives fans a glimpse of the Elites post-Halo 3, and establishes story threads that will continue into Halo 5: Guardians.

The Movies & TV Series

Halo 3: Landfall

The first live-action Halo project may have been promotional material, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. The brain-child of District 9 director Neil Blomkamp, Halo 3: Landfall could have been the progenitor to a full-fledged Halo film...until the project got bogged down in studio nonsense.

Halo Legends

Like The Halo Graphic Novel, Halo Legends is an animated anthology featuring stories across the Halo universe. Some of the biggest anime studios in the world helped make the film, and it shows: each and every single story is absolutely gorgeous.

Halo: Forward Unto Dawn

Despite the fact that the Master Chief only makes a brief cameo, Forward Unto Dawn is still a fantastic miniseries. It gives fans a glimpse of what life was like during the early days of the Human-Covenant War, and proves that (if the studios could just work together) a Halo movie would totally work.

Halo: Nightfall

The latest piece of live-action Halo content, Halo: Nightfall tells the story of Agent Locke, a soldier who leads a mission back to the ruins of the first Halo ring. It's just as much an origin story as it is a tie-in, as Locke will be one of Halo 5: Guardians' two playable characters.

As you can see, there's a lot more to the Halo universe than just the games themselves. For those who want to dive deeper into the world of the Master Chief, there are plenty of different options: The Fall of Reach is a great starting point, as is Halo Legends and The Halo Graphic Novel. At roughly six minutes, Halo 3: Landfall doesn't require much of a commitment, and it's just beautiful. For fans looking for something more long-form, you should go with Halo: Forward Unto Dawn.

So, even if you've played through the games a million times, there's still plenty of story out there: make sure to get brushed up on your lore before Halo 5: Guardians hits store shelves on Oct. 27.

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