Game of the Week – Halo: Campaign Evolved is a legendary FPS reborn for a new generation of players

• Halo: Campaign Evolved is perfect if you want a well-paced FPS packed with memorable levels that can be comfortably completed in a single weekend, either solo or with friends.

Let me give you a 60-second pitch for why you should play Halo: Campaign Evolved this weekend. I still remember the first time I played Halo, back when it was called Combat Evolved and the infamous "Duke" controller was too big for my little-kid hands – it was an extraordinary experience that set a new benchmark for first-person shooters on console.

Whether you're looking to indulge in a little nostalgia or looking to discover Halo for the very first time, Halo: Campaign Evolved is a must play; a well-crafted remake that retains the spirit of the 2001 original and introduces plenty of modern flourishes.

Why play it today?

• Halo: Combat Evolved changed the way a generation of players thought about first-person shooters.

Almost 25 years later, it's certainly true that there are elements of Halo: Campaign Evolved that are a little on the tired side – developer Halo Studios was intent on building a faithful remake, and didn't want to stray far from the foundations that plenty of other prominent shooters have expanded since. Elements of Halo's debut adventure that were once revolutionary are now quite perfunctory, such is its wide influence.

Still, Halo: Campaign Evolved is still an absolute riot for newcomers and returning players alike. There's a quality to its mission design, world scale, and enemy intelligence that's astounding. Seeing this game rebuilt so lovingly in Unreal Engine 5 is well worth the price of admission – and the introduction of console campaign-crossplay means there's more utility here than with Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

Time commitment:

If you're wondering how long it's going to take to beat Halo: Campaign Evolved, you're looking at around 10-14 hours for the main campaign. That means it's perfect for couch co-op sessions with a friend or online co-op with a group over either a long weekend or three evenings after work.

Play Halo: Campaign Evolved if you love:

Skip Halo: Campaign Evolved if you want:

One thing to know:

Halo: Campaign Evolved does actually contain some brand new content that is exclusive to this version of the original Master Chief adventure. Halo Studios has delivered three new prologue missions, set about a year before the events of Combat Evolved – a brand new adventure for Chief to go on alongside Sergeant Johnson.

A moment you'll remember:

There's a magic to the moment Master Chief steps onto Installation 04 for the first time. After evacuating the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, Chief is given a minute to breathe. Looking up at the curving Halo ring felt revolutionary back in 2001, and today it still generates a real feeling of genuine awe.

The final verdict:

• Read our full Halo: Campaign Evolved review to learn more.

You should play Halo: Campaign Evolved because it remains a true masterclass in FPS level design, with gunplay and enemy AI that revolutionized a genre. A lot has changed in 25 years, but Master Chief's debut adventure has lost none of its power. Campaign Evolved is every bit as enjoyable as Combat Evolved was back in 2001.

So, where can you play it?

Halo: Campaign Evolved is available now for for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. You can also download the game as part of Game Pass Ultimate.

If you don't have a Game Pass subscription, the Halo: Campaign Evolved standard edition costs $49.99, while the premium edition is $69.99.

How to get started with Halo: Campaign Evolved:

If you're looking to get a better sense of where to start with Halo: Campaign Evolved this weekend, here's four essential guides to assist with your journey onto Installation 04.

Have your say:

If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to Halo: Campaign Evolved, both Titanfall 2 and Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus feature in our best FPS games ranking and are regularly on sale across all major platforms.