Halo: Campaign Evolved is available on PlayStation 5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X, giving players a fresh route into the classic sci-fi shooter. When its campaign ends, these ten games offer familiar combinations of military science fiction, inventive weapons, squad play, exploration and fast first-person action.
1. Halo Infinite (November 2021)
Available on: PC, Xbox Series X
Halo Infinite is the most direct follow-up, particularly for players who want another modern Master Chief campaign. Its open environments are larger in scope than the corridors of the original game, while sprinting and the grappleshot give exploration a much more mobile rhythm. It also includes classic competitive modes absent from Halo: Campaign Evolved, making it a strong choice for solo play or sessions with friends. After arriving with less content than many expected, the game has continued to receive additions, including a new update this year.
2. Titanfall 2 (October 2016)
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Respawn Entertainment created Titanfall after the team moved beyond its success with Call of Duty. The sequel adds the story campaign that its predecessor lacked, pairing pilot Jack Cooper with his Titan across a memorable series of missions. Wall-running, power slides and rapid movement keep combat energetic both inside and outside the machines. The wider universe also lives on through Apex Legends.
3. Crysis Remastered (September 2020)
Available on: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
The tropical setting and demanding visuals of the original Crysis helped create the famous “can your computer run Crysis?” joke, but its appeal extends beyond technology. The nanosuit lets players become invisible, sprint across long distances, punch through walls and absorb incoming fire. Developed with Saber Interactive, the remaster initially missed elements such as the Ascension level and classic suit controls. Later improvements restored much of what players expected at launch.
4. Star Wars Republic Commando (February 2005)
Available on: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox
Set during the Clone Wars, Star Wars Republic Commando puts players in control of Delta Squad, a unit of clone commandos without Jedi abilities but with plenty of discipline and firepower. Missions involve clearing rooms, hacking terminals and setting up sniper positions, giving the campaign a tactical edge. Its story ends on an unresolved cliffhanger, yet the distinctive squad-based shooting remains worthwhile. Updated versions for PS4 and Switch make this sci-fi shooter accessible to newer audiences.
5. Wolfenstein: The New Order (May 2014)
Available on: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Wolfenstein: The New Order imagines a world where the Nazis won the Second World War. B.J. Blazkowicz fights back through detailed environments, collecting armour and weapons while switching between loud assaults and occasional stealth. Dual-wielding and brisk movement make much of the campaign satisfyingly aggressive, although slower sections interrupt the pace. It is not a Halo imitation, but its polished first-person combat offers a comparable action fix.
6. BioShock Infinite (March 2013)
Available on: Mac, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
BioShock Infinite trades Rapture for Columbia, a city suspended in the sky that may remind Halo players of Forerunner architecture. Its campaign includes a companion, a two-weapon inventory and a striking science-fiction setting. Some areas are more linear than earlier BioShock games, and the objectives offer less variety, but the adventure still combines memorable locations with enjoyable shooting.
7. Black Mesa: Definitive Edition (March 2020)
Available on: PC
Half-Life remains celebrated for immersive storytelling, physics-driven play and inventive science-fiction combat. Black Mesa began as a fan project before becoming a commercial remake approved by Valve in 2012. It entered Steam Early Access in May 2015, launched in March 2020 and later received a Definitive Edition with further improvements. For players coming from Halo, its environmental puzzles and narrative-led progression make it a particularly natural next step.
8. Singularity (June 2010)
Available on: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Despite troubled development and a near cancellation, Raven Software’s Singularity released to solid reviews. Its central device allows players to manipulate time while solving puzzles and altering objects or enemies. The story is not as substantial as Halo’s, but it gives the shooting a clear purpose and adds variety to the campaign. Raven’s experience across many shooters is evident in the game’s confident action design.
9. Destiny 2 (September 2017)
Available on: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Bungie created the early Halo games before leaving Microsoft and later partnering with Activision on Destiny. While the first game had strengths, Destiny 2 developed greater staying power through its live-service structure. Players can explore broad locations, collect armour and weapons, and fight large enemy groups while building around different perks. Bungie released the Monument of Triumph update on 9 June this year, ending new updates, although the existing game and its content are expected to remain online for some time.
10. TimeShift (October 2007)
Available on: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
TimeShift is an overlooked shooter that can be completed over a weekend. Its Beta suit lets the player slow, stop or reverse time, creating combat and puzzle opportunities beyond a standard first-person campaign. The 2007 release also featured impressive sights for its era, even if the visuals have aged. Its plot is a less ambitious variation on themes explored by Half-Life 2, and some sequences feel padded, but the studio’s second game still showed considerable promise. Saber Interactive later took on larger projects, including Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary in 2011.
Choosing your next sci-fi shooter
These games cover several sides of the Halo experience: Halo Infinite stays closest to the source, Titanfall 2 adds acrobatic movement and mechs, while Republic Commando and Destiny 2 emphasise teamwork. For more arcade-focused gaming coverage, visit RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog and arcade videos. If you are building a dedicated setup for shooters, the arcade light guns range is another place to explore, alongside the arcade machine buying guide.
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