Halo is going full horror in stunning new Unreal Engine 5 game

If you’ve ever dreamed of playing a Halo horror game then this indie Unreal Engine 5 project might just be your cup of tea.

The Halo series has been one of Microsoft’s leading properties on Xbox, ever since it made its debut on the original console in November 2001. In many ways, Halo: Combat Evolved revolutionised the FPS genre on console with its smooth and high-octane gameplay.

Check out the Halo: Anniversary trailer below!

Before Halo: Combat Evolved, FPS games on consoles were clunky experiences, unlike the super smooth shooters on PC such as the Quake series. Yet somehow, the original developers of the series, Bungie, managed to replicate the PC FPS experience on the console to near perfection when using a control pad instead of the traditional keyboard and mouse.

Despite its bright colours and emphasis on action, it might be easy to forget that Halo also has its fair share of intense, horror-inspired moments. Anyone who remembers the mission ‘Well Enough Alone’ in Halo: Combat Evolved will know the horror that section brings, largely thanks to the Flood.

Sadly, those horror moments in the Halo series are few and far between, and for good reason, because this is a series not focused on horror. However, if you wanted a heavy dose of Halo scares, then you’re in the right place.

Branching Sickness is a project powered by Unreal Engine 5 and it’s being created by a team of indie developers led by Twitter user Sidera. Oh, and if for whatever reason you wanted more Flood, Branching Sickness brings those parasites in its typical swarms to torment you evermore with added roguelike mechanics.

Fans of the Halo series have been impressed with a recent gameplay video shared on the YouTube channel, ‘Unseen Halo - Corbin’. “GIVE THESE GUYS THE RIGHTS TO HALO NOW,” said BreadSlice404 in the comments section of the video.

“Now this is what modern Halo should look like,” exclaimed emmanuelontiveros8094 and blueneonbladei3523 said, “Looks so cool. After years of disappointment under 343 Industries, I've been diving into mods and other fan content, and I have to say this one looks like it will make it to the podium.”

There is no release date for Branching Sickness at the time of writing, but you can join the developer's Discord channel to stay updated on its progress.

The entire Halo series is available to subscribers of Xbox Game Pass at no extra cost.