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Halo Wars 2

Feb 21, 2017 9 years ago
Cinematic Trailer 1 / 4
Type Base game 2017 Genres Real Time Strategy (RTS)Strategy Companies 343 Industries · Developer · The Creative Assembly · Developer · Microsoft Studios · Publisher Follow Log in to follow

After decades adrift and declared “lost with all hands,” the brave crew of the UNSC Spirit of Fire are mysteriously awoken above an ancient Forerunner haven known as the Ark. In Halo Wars 2, Captain Cutter and his crew will face one of humanity’s most formidable threats yet: The Banished – a fierce and powerful Brute faction led by a cunning and lethal warrior known as Atriox. Halo Wars 2 delivers real-time strategy at the speed of Halo combat. Get ready to lead armies of Spartans and other Halo fighting forces like Warthogs, Scorpions and exciting new units in a brutal war against a terrifying new enemy on the biggest Halo battlefield yet.

What it’s like

Halo Wars 2 is a high-octane Real-Time Strategy experience that prioritizes visceral combat over complex economic management. Set against the backdrop of humanity’s return to the Ark, the game delivers a cinematic narrative focused on Captain Cutter and the Spirit of Fire as they confront the brutal Banished faction. The tone is consistently epic and urgent, emphasizing large-scale military engagement rather than political intrigue. Gameplay revolves around rapid unit deployment and tactical positioning, allowing players to command iconic Halo forces like Spartans and Warthogs in fast-paced skirmishes. While the campaign offers a straightforward linear progression through visually stunning, destructible environments, the strategic depth remains intentionally lightweight. The craft shines in its audiovisual presentation, capturing the franchise’s signature sci-fi grandeur with polished effects and an immersive score. It is designed for accessibility, particularly on consoles, making it an engaging entry point for fans of action-oriented strategy.

Strong in Audio / MusicCombatPacingVisuals / ArtAtmosphere / MoodCo-op / MultiplayerGameplay / MechanicsPolish / PerformanceStory / Narrative

Keep in mind The game lacks the strategic depth and base-building complexity expected by traditional RTS veterans, feeling more like a simplified arcade strategy title. Additionally, the PC port suffers from interface and control issues that make the console-centric design feel awkward on a keyboard and mouse setup.

AI-generated from catalog data, informed by reviews from metacritic.com, ign.com, pcgamer.com, eurogamer.net.

Screenshots

Releases

PlatformRegionTypeDate
PC (Microsoft Windows) Worldwide Full release Feb 21, 20179 years ago
Xbox One Worldwide Full release Feb 21, 20179 years ago

Reviews

77Critics · 19 76Players · 55

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