The graphics look crisper even though they aren’t a substantial upgrade over the original. The controls have seen the biggest improvement and it plays even better on Xbox One. While I wish the gameplay was more complex, the title is still a solid entry in the real-time strategy genre.

A faint attempt to bring this strategy saga to Xbox One and PC users before the release of Halo Wars 2. It’s quite limited on strategic options (especially on PC), but it’s still quite amusing and makes the time fly. In addition, it’s a fantastic way to remember a mythic studio as Ensemble.

It's definitely an improvement from the original version, and a great way to enjoy the franchise while we wait for the sequel.

To this day Halo Wars remains the most accessible RTS game to have ever been released on a console, and while it may lack the depth of some of its PC brethren, as an introduction to the genre it is still at the top of its class.

With an improved matchmaking system on offer, Halo Wars: Definitive Edition provides a truly exceptional title that shows just how well an RTS title can work on console, bringing all the quality of the Halo franchise to the table in a strategic and interesting way, and adding a new level of immersion to the series for newcomers and veterans alike.

[Halo Wars] may not be as strong as some other legitimate classics of the genre, or even the franchise it is associated with. However, what it is, undoubtedly, is an underrated game that deserves more attention.

Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is a solid game for series fans although real-time strategy enthusiasts may be put off by its simplistic gameplay formula. In the end, I'm surprised how well it holds up as it's a wholly worthwhile game even eight years after its initial release.