Gears of War: E-Day is the return to form I’ve been waiting for — here’s why

Gears of War: E-Day is the best game in the franchise since Gears of War 3. Developer The Coalition wisely went back to basics, bringing back the dynamic duo of Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago in this thrilling prequel, placing us right at the start of the Locust invasion. It’s a fresh take on established lore that keeps you hooked through the climactic end.

The cover-based third-person shooting is as satisfying and brutal as ever, with the game expertly mixing things up to keep each battle engaging. While some areas are smaller and linear, most environments are expansive, keeping you constantly on the move during heavier combat segments. Unique weapon and equipment loadouts also let you tailor Marcus to your playstyle or to better handle specific encounters.

As a longtime Gears of War fan who was less than enthused by the last two mainline installments, it’s great to see this iconic franchise reclaim its glory days. If you’re also a fan, you’ll likely feel the same way. And if you’re brand-new to Gears, you have an excellent entry point that shows why this is such an iconic series. In short, Gears of War: E-Day is phenomenal. Find out why in my full review!

Gears of War: E-Day: The basics

• What is it? Gears of War: E-Day is the latest installment of the long-running franchise and a prequel to the entire series.
• Who is it for? It's for fans of the series and the cover-based third-person shooters it inspired.
• What's the price? Gears of War: E-Day costs $69 and is available for the Xbox Series X/S and PC.
• What other games has the developer made? The Coalition has worked on other Gears of War games such as Gears of War 4, Gears of War 5, and Gears of War: Reloaded.
• What games is it similar to? Gears of War: E-Day is similar to games like Uncharted and The Division.

Reliving the horror

As the title suggests, Gears of War: E-Day takes place on E-Day, or Emergence Day, when the Locust hordes burst from underground and begin decimating the world of Sera, where the protagonists live. Fresh off the just-concluded war against the Union of Independent Republics (UIR), the Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) must do their best to fight the vicious monsters so that humanity isn’t wiped out.

The central story follows Marcus and Dom, who, along with Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes, form Bravo Squad, are tasked with a wide range of dangerous missions throughout the game. The squad dynamic feels natural, and we learn what motivates each of them.

The newer characters get most of the screen time because we’re already familiar with Marcus and Dom—though both get time to shine as well. The rest of the cast consists of the usual government and military types, doing their best (or worst) under the circumstances.

The world of Sera in previous games was already in ruins after years of constant war with the Locusts. Here, we see it systematically destroyed — which is even more terrifying because we witness the world’s former beauty and grandeur being lost forever. Speaking of terrifying, this game smartly resurrects some of the horror elements from the first game to amp up the terror and hopelessness Serans feel as they lose everything they once loved.

While the story has plenty of over-the-top action sequences that get the blood pumping, it is the most emotional and poignant yet for the series. Just because Gears is the video game equivalent of the Predator handshake scene doesn’t mean it can’t have heart!

Tools of war

Gears of War: E-Day is a great example of why this franchise is the king of cover-based third-person shooters, as the core loop of slamming shoulder-first into a wall and hunkering down to pick off the enemy hordes is as satisfying as ever. You’ll do a lot, and I mean a lot, of shooting, but none of it ever gets boring or repetitive thanks to some clever level design and escalating enemy variety.

There’s no shortage of expansive battlefields throughout the game that force you to constantly move from cover to cover — or climb higher to get a better shot at foes. Locust Drones will also shoot from behind cover, but some, like the Feral Wretches and Tickers, will rush at you, forcing you out of cover and making you easier pickings for Drones and other nastier Locust types.

As for Locust types, my favorites are the gigantic beasts that always seem to show up at the worst time. This includes series staples like the spider-like Corpsers and the gorilla-esque armored Brumaks, along with a host of other new horrors to contend with. Where previous games held back on giant enemy encounters, E-Day goes full tilt, making battles even more exciting.

You wield a deadly arsenal, including the series’ signature Chainsaw Lancer, whose origin is told here. In addition, there’s the Gnasher shotgun, the Longshot sniper rifles, my beloved Frag grenades, and many more.

The Locusts have similar weapons, and you can pick them up and use them as you see fit. Though you can only wield two primary weapons, a sidearm, and a grenade type, you can always mix things up by picking up whatever you find or by stopping at a supply crate, which are generously strewn throughout the maps.

Supply crates not only let you select weapons and restock their ammo but also let you enhance them with various mods. For instance, some mods speed up reloading, while others add scopes and improve weapon stability. You can add up to four mods per weapon, and there are plenty of mods to find across the maps, so there’s no shortage of variety. Given how difficult certain encounters can be, it’s always good to try different mods to see what works best.

Bloody beautiful

Like previous games, Gears of War: E-Day looks absolutely stunning. It’s easily one of the best-looking Unreal Engine 5 games you’re likely to see, thanks to the sheer level of detail on display. The engine certainly had to work overtime here, with many sections featuring buildings collapsing or the street erupting with Locust hordes. The big stuff looks stunning, but smaller details, like blood smears on armor, look just as impressive.

The sound design matches the visuals, convincingly drawing you into the action and drama. The score is appropriately cinematic, making the game feel like a Hollywood blockbuster. Voice acting is also convincing, with everyone bringing their A-game to each scene — whether barking orders or lamenting the world they’ve lost.

My only gripe is with some of the repetitive lines during combat sequences. As much fun as it is to hear Marcus taunt the Locust with lines like “Where are you going? I thought you wanted some of this,” it gets old after a few hours. I wish there had been more lines recorded to keep the one-liners from growing stale.

Gears of War: E-Day review: Verdict

The Gears of War franchise has lost some of its blood-stained luster over the past decade, but E-Day masterfully returns to form and delivers a series highlight. Right now, it’s easily the best Xbox Studios game of the year, and one folks shouldn’t miss.

Gears of War: E-Day also proves that the series only truly works when it has Marcus and Dom — which presents The Coalition with an interesting conundrum. With its open-ended conclusion, it’s clear the devs plan to make a follow-up. And as exciting as that is, does it now mean future games will be prequels that don’t push the current narrative forward?

We won’t know the answer to that, but for now I’m just happy to see the band reunited — even if it’s only for a series of prequels. There’s still plenty of story to tell, so I’m already locked and loaded for the next Gears of War installment. After playing this game, I’m sure you’ll agree!

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