Players can choose to command one of three factions -- the UNSC, the Covenant or the Flood -- then engage in battle for supremacy of Arcadia. The custom game board features a map of 42 territories and six sectors covering the planet Arcadia. The standard RISK Capitals have been replaced with the UNSC Firebase, Covenant Command Center and Flood ProtoGravemind bases. Over 275 plastic playing pieces represent the three factions. The UNSC Army includes Marines, Scorpion Tanks and Spartans. The Covenant Army features Grunts, Wraiths and Arbiters, while the Flood Army is composed of Flood Infection Forms, Carrier Forms and Juggernaut. Halo Wars adversaries engage in strategic battles and territory takeovers to determine the fate of Arcadia.

Hasbro's recent update of RISK introduced new rules and faster action to the classic game. Now, playing for objectives allows a game to be completed in 60 to 90 minutes without any decrease in strategy. Objectives in the RISK: Halo Wars Collector's Edition can include: controlling 18 Arcadia territories, taking over 10 territories in one turn, or controlling two enemy bases. Hasbro's new version also offers three levels of game play; basic, advanced and classic, allowing players to select their game play based on skill level and desired playing time.