Gears of War: E-Day

A campaign executed to perfection in terms of both technical aspects and gameplay. A brutal and intense war spectacle featuring the best Gears story to date.

Gears of War: E-Day delivers arguably the series’ strongest campaign, combining mature, restrained storytelling with the return of Marcus Fenix’s charismatic presence. Already among the franchise’s finest entries, it could become a serious Game of the Year contender if its content-rich multiplayer matches the campaign’s quality. Regardless, Xbox players should not miss this outstanding return to form.

Gears of War: E-Day is a stunning AAA production and the triumphant return the series deserves. The Coalition blends two decades of experience with meaningful experimentation, delivering a polished campaign that works equally well for newcomers and longtime fans. Gorgeous visuals, impeccable technical execution, and refined gameplay make E-Day a standout release and one of 2026’s essential games.

Gears of War: E-Day hits the mark by getting the basics right: embracing its identity as a Gears of War game and elevating the strengths inherent to the series. The game doesn't revolutionize the genre, but it delivers a fun gameplay experience featuring a cinematic narrative and local multiplayer support.

Gears of War: E-Day feels like the first true Coalition Gears of War game. It's a shift away from Gears 4 and Gears 5, and it feels like the game the studio genuinely wanted to make, capturing what made the original trilogy special while finally pushing the series forward in its own way. They've taken the horror, brutality, brotherhood, and incredible gunplay that defined those games and used them as the foundation for something more modern. Expanded movement gives combat more freedom, while perks and modifications add another layer of experimentation, and the larger environments make Emergence Day feel like a genuine catastrophe happening around you. Gears of War: E-Day is incredible. Despite a handful of frustrations keeping it from perfection, it's one of the best games I've played this year.

While E-Day’s cover-based third-person shooter gameplay doesn’t break the mold, it’s a finely tuned experience that builds on the mechanics established across the long-running series.

There's no point pretending otherwise: we're living in a post-Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 world. Up against the brutal generosity of its direct heir, Gears of War: E-Day simply doesn't measure up. And it would be a lie to say my feelings didn't turn from disappointment to anger over these 14 hours of play. Watching the series that once dictated terms to an entire industry turn into a sluggish follower—bloated with loot and filler—is heartbreaking. The worst part is that Act 3 and the sound design serve as a reminder of what Gears of War could still be. The rest just highlights what it has become: a franchise on autopilot with little left to say, except to cling to memories of its former glory. We tried everything to love it. It did precious little to make us.