Every now and then, a video game comes along and revolutionizes gaming. In the early 2000s, Halo: Combat Evolved was that game. Now, Call of Duty – the fourth highest selling game franchise of all time – is where the cool kids are.
Both games have merit, but where’s the fun in that? We want to know: which game is better, Halo or Call of Duty? They’re apples and oranges, so we’re diving deep into each one – their history, lore, mechanics, fanbase, gameplay and more – to help you determine which one best suits your playstyle, budget, and skill level. You’ll also discover why you should pick CyberGhost as your gaming VPN.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer strategy or raw power, Call of Duty or Halo, or other MMOs – CyberGhost VPN is your ultimate ally. Change your IP address to prevent DDoS attacks, virtually place yourself closer to game servers to potentially lower ping, encrypt your data, and hide your activity to avoid ISP throttling.
About Call of Duty
Call of Duty’s initial 2003 release raised the bar for FPS war games by miles. Lauded for its realism, innovative mechanics, immersive AI, and scale, it won game of the year across the board. What began as campaign-focused stories of world war evolved into what we recognize today: gritty tales of modern combat, action-packed multiplayer, and – speaking of Warzone – one of the biggest battle royales. Call of Duty fans enjoy a new release every year. Black Ops 6 is scheduled for release in October 2024.
About Halo
Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) did something few games can claim: it redefined how we play video games. It was the first to optimize shooter games for handheld controllers, and it also laid the foundation for online multiplayer as we know it today. The sci-fi smash hit has seen consistent releases over the years, with the latest title, Halo Infinite, published in 2021. Rumour has it Halo 7 is in the works, but as of yet, no release date is scheduled.
Call of Duty vs. Halo: The Ultimate Comparison
Both franchises are juggernauts in the gaming world, but which one should you reach for – Call of Duty or Halo? They’re vastly different games marketed to entirely different audiences, so, to even out the playing field, this 1v1 takes everything into account.
Exposition
Let’s start with Halo. In a nutshell, it follows a super soldier, Master Chief, as he fights against the Covenant – a religious alliance out to destroy all sentient life. You’ll find rich and complex lore, a unique and masterfully told story, and a universe you can immerse yourself in.
Speaking of Halo Infinite, 343 Industries stated prior knowledge of the story isn’t a prerequisite, but it’s highly recommended you play its predecessors if you appreciate lore and want the full experience.
On the other hand, Call of Duty depicts different wars spanning various eras. The franchise kicked off with somewhat accurate tales of World War II, and now leans more to modern, futuristic, and, in some cases, fantasy warfare.
The games emphasize the complexities and impact of battle, and tend to incorporate haunting stories of sacrifice, honor, and heroism. It’s not quite as linear as Halo, but it’s a good idea to start with Black Ops 1, 2, and Cold War before you dive into Black Ops 6.
Gameplay and Content
Call of Duty’s gameplay is action-packed, intense, and fast-paced. In Modern Warfare III’s campaign, you’ll play as various Task 141 operatives, as they track Vladimir Marakov, a Russian terrorist aiming to start World War III.
It’s a linear campaign, but in its “Open Combat Missions,” players have greater control over how they complete objectives – a nice touch added to an otherwise formulaic franchise. Modern Warfare III’s multiplayer has 16 classic maps and at least a dozen modes. While it hasn’t reinvented the wheel in terms of Call of Duty games, it has enhanced a few aspects like faster mechanics and increased health.
Halo Infinite’s campaign picks up where Halo 5: Guardians left off. You’ll play as Master Chief as he fights against The Banished – a troublesome alien faction in pursuit of power. The story is linear, but the gameplay is semi-open world, giving you the freedom to explore Halo Zeta and distract yourself with side quests.
Its multiplayer has a variety of game modes for solo and team runs, and its campaign supports online co-op. While it’s not the same charm as couch co-op, it’s still an excellent edition if you don’t want to play alone but have no interest in multiplayer.
Difficulty
The trickier game depends on your play style and talent, but, suffice to say, Halo is said to require a little more skill. Its mechanics are more complex, gameplay requires more strategy, and other nuances – like a higher TTK – make Infinite a little more challenging for new players.
Modern Warfare III is difficult for a different reason. While playing CoD multiplayer is straightforward – you go in guns ablazing – its multiplayer is extremely competitive. The enemy team won’t go easy on you, even if you’re a newbie.
Platforms and Accessibility
Since 2020, Call of Duty releases are available on Windows, PS4 and PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and Series S. Mobile players can enjoy Call of Duty: Mobile, a free to play standalone game, on iOS and Android devices.
Halo is more straightforward. You can get Infinite, or the six-game Master Chief Collection, on Windows or on Xbox.
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Price
Halo Infinite’s multiplayer is free to play, but if you’d like the campaign, you’ll have to purchase it. The Master Chief Collection gives you great value for money, and includes Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo Reach and Halo 4.
As for CoD, Modern Warfare III, the standard edition or the cross-gen bundle cost the same, but they’re slightly pricier than Halo: Infinite. If you’re willing to pay extra for more value, opt for The vault edition. You’ll get the Nemesis Operator and Soap Operator Packs, 2 weapon vaults, Battle Pass perks, and the Zombie Ghost Operator skin.
Both Halo Infinite and Modern Warfare III: Standard Edition are included in Microsoft’s cloud gaming service, Game Pass, which could save you some money. You can also play Warzone and Call of Duty: Mobile for free.
Ratings and Reviews
| Steam | Xbox Games Store | IGN | OpenCritic | Metacritic | |
| Modern Warfare III | 5/10 | 2.5/5 | 6/10 | 58 | 56% |
| Halo Infinite | 7/10 | 3/5 | 9/10 | 86 | 87% |
Halo Infinite has favorable reviews across the board. Most critics and community reviewers praise it as a strong return to form for the franchise. Some commenters state it’s the best Halo entry of them all. Negative commentary mostly denounces its repetitive environments, glitches, and lack of multiplayer progression.
Modern Warfare III is the exact opposite. It has received mostly negative reviews, with some critics calling it the worst Call of Duty game ever produced. Players are displeased with its microtransactions, and many complain the franchise has stagnated. On the other hand, it’s praised for its smooth and fast-paced gameplay, its overall design, and its faithful adherence to the franchise as a whole.
Don’t let the critics sway you, though. Modern Warfare III lags behind in ratings, but it dominates in sales. On its launch day, it sold 6.5 million copies and grossed almost $400,000 in the US and UK alone. Is CoD better than Halo? Not necessarily, but it sure does outsell it – by a landslide.
Player Base and Community
Both games – and franchises – have thriving player bases, though Call of Duty takes the lead. Halo Infinite is said to have an average of 100,000 active players daily, while Modern Warfare III averages approximately 500,000 active players daily.
Halo scores bonus points for its Forge – an editor you can use to create your own levels. Once you publish them, other players can enjoy your custom maps.
Fun Factor
Which one is more fun for you will likely depend on your tastes, but also what you’re looking for.
If you’d prefer a game that is easier to plunge into, or one with ample competition, steady releases and action-packed, run and gun style gameplay, Call of Duty is for you. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a game with rich lore that requires a little more practice, or you simply want to play co-op or have free reign of your gameplay, Halo is your best bet.
Call of Duty vs. Halo: Pros and Cons
Now that we’ve covered all our bases, here’s the TL/DR of what makes these games excellent, and also a few pitfalls you should keep in mind.
Call of Duty Pros and Cons
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- ✅ Annual Releases, usually published each October or November.
- ✅ Beginner-friendly mechanics.
- ✅ Available on Playstation, Xbox, and Windows.
- ✅ Huge player base and competitive scene.
- ✅ Warzone and Call of Duty: Mobile are free to play.
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- ⛔ Competition can be unkind to newbies.
- ⛔ It implements microtransactions.
- ⛔ The games are huge. Black Ops 6 will use approximately 140GB of space.
Halo Pros and Cons
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- ✅ Multiplayer co-op, so you can play campaigns with friends.
- ✅ Infinite’s multiplayer is free to play.
- ✅ Halo Forge lets you create your own maps.
- ✅ The Master Chief Collection is available through gamepass.
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- ⛔ It has a higher skill ceiling.
- ⛔ Its player base and competitive scene are smaller.
- ⛔ Knowledge of previous Halo games is recommended.
- ⛔ It’s only available on Windows and Xbox.
Why You Need a VPN for Gaming
If you use a VPN to virtually place yourself closer to game servers, you could lower ping and loading times. You can even change your location to improve match-making, or join servers – or play games from – outside of your home region.
A VPN will hide your IP address, and encrypt your data, too – a necessary precaution to protect yourself against DDoS attacks and swatting. It also means your ISP won’t be able to throttle you based on your activity.
If your office or school has video game services blocked, you can also use a VPN to bypass network restrictions. Go ahead and sneak a match or two in while on your lunch break, during off-peak hours. They’ll never know!
Why CyberGhost VPN Is the Best VPN for Gaming
Since Halo Infinite and Call of Duty are fast-moving games, you’ll need a high-speed VPN to match. CyberGhost’s VPN servers span 100 countries, so you’ll always have a fast connection, and you can enjoy as much gaming as you like. It also has 10-Gbps servers in high-traffic locations, so you never have to deal with overcrowding and congestion.
Cyberghost VPN uses robust encryption to protect your data on all devices, including Xbox and Playstation. It’s the easiest way to hide your location and activity to get around ISP throttling or network restrictions while on the clock.
Whether you’re a Spartan or a Private, get ready to take your gaming to the next level with a VPN download. Take CyberGhost VPN for a risk-free test run with a 45-day money-back guarantee. Enjoy the power up!
FAQ
Call of Duty, and it’s not even close. The franchise as a whole has sold more than 400 million games, and is said to have 100 million active players across all platforms. It’s also one of the most played games on Steam and Xbox. By comparison, Halo has sold 81 million units in its lifetime. It’s unclear how many active players it has, but its Steam numbers dwindled in 2023.
It depends on how you define difficult. Most players say Halo Infinite has a higher skill ceiling, that its controls are trickier to master, and that it requires more strategy. Modern Warfare is beginner friendly and requires less strategy or skill to enjoy, but its community is highly competitive and isn’t always kind to newbies.
In 2004, Halo 2 was the best selling video game in the US, while Call of Duty didn’t make it into the top 10. Halo 3 outsold Call of Duty 3 in 2007, once again ranking as the highest grossing video game. The tables turned in 2009 when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 took the top spot, while Halo: ODST placed ninth. Since then, it’s consistently failed to match Call of Duty’s sales.
Halo Infinite and Call of Duty are both excellent FPS games with large multiplayer communities, but they differ greatly. Infinite is a sci-fi game with rich lore and semi-open world mechanics, while Call of Duty is a realistic portrayal of classic and modern combat.
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