Halo Wars 2 Reviews

Halo Wars 2 is ranked in the 75th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Dan Stapleton
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Feb 22, 2017

Halo Wars 2 will scratch a real-time strategy itch and give you a dose of Halo-Universe flavor with a decent story, but it won't go much deeper than that. A run-of-the-mill campaign, controls that hamper micromanagement, conspicuous bugs, and multiplayer that relies on luck limit its long-term appeal, but its fast and flashy action makes it fun for a while.

Read full review

No Recommendation / Blank
Feb 22, 2017

Halo Wars 2 proves once again that an RTS can work on a controller, but that aside there's little to get excited about here.

Read full review

65 / 100
Feb 21, 2017

Halo Wars 2's cutscenes are pretty, but the controls remains too console-focused for PC and the strategy is a little thin.

Read full review

Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
8 / 10
Feb 16, 2017

Easily the best real-time strategy on a console, and a fast-paced, accessible wargame that every Xbox owner should try and experience.

Read full review

Feb 16, 2017

Blitz mode aside, Halo Wars 2 sticks with a tried, tested and slightly tired RTS formula that's competent, but lacking in depth and originality.

Read full review

7.8 / 10.0
Feb 21, 2017

Halo Wars 2's story is engrossing and the battles are fun, but the mission design follows a predictable pattern

Read full review

6 / 10
Feb 16, 2017

Halo Wars 2 is an RTS game for Halo fans with stripped-down strategy elements and limited lasting appeal.

Read full review

Polygon
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Feb 16, 2017

Halo Wars 2 can't stick its landing, but it remains accessible without feeling dumbed down

Read full review

Luke Plunkett
Top Critic
Unscored
Feb 20, 2017

If you want to play a Halo game with the simpler story, backs-to-the-wall tone and cinematic flair of Bungie's good ol' days go right ahead and play Halo Wars 2. Just don't expect the quality of the game to match that of the cutscenes.

Read full review

USgamer
Top Critic
Feb 22, 2017

Halo Wars 2 is a very accessible RTS that's easy to pick up and play, but becomes increasingly complex as you get to grips with its more advanced commands. Assuming you're willing to invest the time and effort to truly master its intricate controls, the game offers plenty to get your teeth into. The campaign is a little short, but the multiplayer components are varied and robust - even if the really entertaining Blitz mode is soured somewhat by its microtransactional focus.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Feb 16, 2017

If you're craving an RTS on a console, or perhaps aren't particularly well-versed in the genre, Halo Wars 2 has you covered. It doesn't offer much that other games in the same space have given us over the past 10 years, but it's polished and fun to play.

Read full review

83 / 100
Feb 16, 2017

A solid effort in the RTS genre. It may not be revolutionary, but delivers in transmitting the epic battles of the main series.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10
Feb 17, 2017

Halo Wars 2 is an excellent and long overdue return for the console RTS, doing everything that can be expected of a sequel. Bigger, better and fresher, the Blitz mode is a welcome addition to an already solid package, and while fans of the mainline Halo games may find the transition too hard to bear, this is a worthy addition to any Xbox One owner’s collection.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Feb 16, 2017

Halo Wars 2 brings back the RTS genre for the console players. Featuring a very direct and not complex action, this game is accessible for everybody who wants to try this kind of games.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7 / 10
Feb 24, 2017

Halo Wars didn't rewrite the RTS playbook, and Halo Wars 2 is unlikely to bring on many converts who weren't convinced by the first attempt. In many ways this is an iterative sequel, with new units and balance, and a handful of additions. The campaign is well-made and the multiplayer shines thanks largely to Blitz Mode. It's a streamlined take on a genre that has faded even more in recent years, but in its own way, Halo Wars 2 is still carrying the flame.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Feb 16, 2017

Don't expect great new features compared to Halo Wars or some kind of strategic depth, but the Blitz mode and online multiplayer will entertain you in the long run.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Unscored
Feb 16, 2017

Halo Wars 2's campaign is an exciting enough ride with a very plain final drop. Thankfully, there will be plenty of multiplayer modes to run with what the campaign teaches. Try it.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Feb 16, 2017

Halo Wars 2 is an excellent game for the fans of Halo and for the fans of RTS games with little to none flaws.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Feb 16, 2017

Halo Wars 2 is the best RTS you can play on consoles today. Whether you're a Halo lore junky looking to toy around with the campaign or a competitive RTS player looking for intense multiplayer matches, you can't do much better than this. Creative Assembly definitely stuck the landing with Halo Wars 2, pleasing fans of the original, bringing new players into the fold, and delivering a worthy successor to Ensemble's 2009 cult classic.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Feb 16, 2017

With its intuitive controls and accessible nature, Halo Wars 2 could finally be the RTS to break the console market, and may even be able to take on the mighty Starcraft II.

Read full review