Bungie's 2007 shooter Halo 3 was released 11 years ago today on September 25, 2007. One of the final entries in the series that Bungie made before handing the reigns over to 343, Halo 3 is a superb game that many fans agree is one of the best entries in the sci-fi franchise.

Praised for its compelling story and excellent multiplayer, Halo 3 also introduced the Forge map-making tools that have gone on to become one of Halo's trademark features. Halo stewards 343 remarked about the milestone with a tweet today and more.

Halo 5 recently added a Halo 3 throwback playlists that features Halo 3 maps remade inside Halo 5 complete with Halo 3-accurate gravity and functionality like no sprinting.

If you prefer the OG Halo 3 experience, the game's Xbox 360 servers remain online (and decently populated), while you can also play Halo 3 from within the Halo: The Master Chief Collection. There are multiple Halo 3-specific playlists, including Halo 3 Big Team Battle, Halo 3 Lone Wolves, Halo 3 Team Arena, Halo 3 Team Doubles, and Halo 3 Team Hardcore.

2007 was a big year for great games. In addition to Halo 3, games like Rock Band, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Assassin's Creed, BioShock, The Witcher, and Uncharted came out that year. It was truly one of the best years ever in gaming.

The next Halo game is Halo: Infinite. The game is currently in development for Xbox One and PC, and it still appears to be a long time off from release.