Halo: Campaign Evolved is out now, with the 25th-anniversary remake judged a strong modernization of the 2001 shooter even as some pacing changes and visual updates blunt its original character.
Unreal Engine 5 gives the game a cleaner, more contemporary look, but expanded cutscenes, altered handling and occasional split-screen slowdowns make parts of the remake feel less distinctive than Bungie’s original.
The core campaign still stands out because Halo’s AI-driven combat remains unusually dynamic in 2026, with Elites flanking, retreating and remixing firefights in ways many modern single-player shooters no longer match.
Mid-game Flood sections remain a weak point, though new waypoints shorten the most frustrating levels, while co-op still turns the open-ended battles into the chaotic social experience that made Halo a long-running favorite.
The release follows the July 30 launch on PlayStation, Xbox and PC—Halo’s first PlayStation debut—giving younger players an entry point to a style of shooter the review argues has largely disappeared.