Halo campaigns have been linear affairs in the past, but 343 Industries promised something new this time around and players are expecting a lot after a year delay. Fans have been wondering if the campaign in Halo Infinite is open-world, which would be a first for the series. However, the answer lies somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. It’s neither completely linear nor is it a wide-open world (or ring) to explore.
Is Halo Infinite open-world or linear?
Halo Infinite is open-world, at least in the sense that players are free to explore parts of the environment at their leisure. However, the mission structure is linear. Various points of no return are scattered throughout the game that effectively lock players out of previous areas.
Like other open-world games, Halo Infinite has a variety of activities that players can optionally complete. There are Marine squads to be rescued, FOBs to be captured, Spartan Cores (for upgrades) to be found, and bounties to complete, among other things. However, all these are more focused than we see in many open-world titles. They are quick to complete, and players are typically restricted to a small area while doing so.
Most main missions unlock part of the map while closing off another. This means players have to complete all the activities in an area if they want to maximize their rewards. This is what makes Halo Infinite a blend of linear and open-world gameplay since players don’t have complete freedom to travel throughout the map. It somewhat prevents the lack of urgency that is a hallmark of many open-world games and keeps things focused.
We haven’t got a chance to complete the Halo Infinite campaign for ourselves yet, so we’re not sure if the map does completely open up near the end. However, there’s a possibility that it’ll transform into a full open-world near the conclusion that’ll allow players to go back and complete unfinished activities.
