Gears of War: Reloaded Reviews
Gears of War Reloaded introduces some noticeable improvements here and there, but in my opinion, they’re not enough—especially if you’ve already played the Ultimate Edition released back in 2015. For longtime fans who have experienced both the original and the remaster, Reloaded won’t offer much that feels new. However, if you’re completely new to the series—say, primarily a PlayStation player—Gears of War Reloaded delivers a significant graphical boost along with an enjoyable gameplay experience.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Gears of War: Reloaded walks a fine line between simply honouring an old-school horror shooter and making a video game worthy of modern gaming. The game aims high and could quite possibly be one of the best remasters I’ve ever played. Sure, nostalgia hits hard, and this review is slightly biased, but game developers The Coalition created something special here. They have left the classic duck-cover-shoot combat system intact, while greatly improving the game’s graphics. Sharper visuals, smoother controls, and a higher frame rate all make it feel like a modern game without losing its brutal, rugged, gory, dystopian, old-school soul. Gears of War: Reloaded is worthy of Thumb Culture’s Gold Award!
The title is exactly what it was twenty years ago, just prettier. The industry however, hasn’t been frozen in time, so certain elements fall short of today’s standards. Still, it's fun if you remember about few cons.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Gears of War: Reloaded is perfect for anyone who wants to revisit the roots of the cover shooter - still an enjoyable experience, even if its age is hard to miss.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Whether you’ve played the original game twenty times or are new to the franchise, this is undoubtedly the best way to start. For owners of the Ultimate Edition on Xbox, you can simply purchase an upgrade and the full edition is largely cheaper than most new release games at $49 AU. Xbox fans seem to be left out of the lurch a little bit as there is no physical release for this edition, unlike the PS5 copy, possibly due to the fact that it’s a day 1 release on Game Pass and that is their sole focus currently.
Playing Reloaded feels like coming home while seeing everything fresh. The campaign still hits hard with cover mechanics and chainsaw action, and teaming up with a friend makes fights even better. Multiplayer is quick, smooth and cross-play keeps it easy to join friends. Visually, the game pops in 4K, and the sound design really sells each firefight.
Overall, I had a great time playing Gears of War: Reloaded. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to preview it on the PlayStation 5 and the Pro. Playing through these levels took me back to 2006, almost 20 years back in time. Because the gameplay remains the same, the muscle memory makes embracing the controller very comforting. The graphics were great, the gameplay was great, and the music, cinematic.
Gears of War: Reloaded isn't as impressive as a complete remake, but it perfectly fulfills its role as a technical upgrade and accessible gateway for a new generation of players. The campaign retains all its power, the multiplayer benefits from modern options, and the whole thing is supported by production values that are finally on par with current standards. The addition of PS5-specific features even offers a pleasant little surprise, giving this version a special appeal. Of course, veterans would probably have hoped for more new features, but it's hard to deny the pleasure of rediscovering such a memorable classic in such good conditions. While we wait for Gears of War: E-Day, Reloaded effectively reminds us why this series has left a lasting mark on its genre.
Review in French | Read full review
Gears of War Reloaded does not attempt to reinvent the wheel: it is a careful and respectful tribute to the classic that changed third-person shooters.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Gears of War: Reloaded coming to PlayStation represents a big step forward for the industry, but underneath all the visual and performance tweaks is still the same immensely fun game at its core.
Being able to play the game anytime, anywhere with cross-play and cross-progression, and being able to join your friends regardless of platform, is a fantastic feature. There will inevitably be some imbalances in the multiplayer, but with a little fine-tuning, I think I could return to multiplayer Gears sessions after all these years.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Gears of War: Reloaded brings one of the Xbox 360's flagship titles in a new guise. But don't expect new content - just the familiar gameplay with improved performance and higher resolution.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Playing Gears of War in 2025 is still fun, whether someone has played it or not. From now on, Gears of War: Reloaded is the definitive way to play the first Gears of War game.
Gears of War: Reloaded honors a classic shooter with care, accuracy, and just the right amount of polish to bring you back to Delta Squad without losing what made the series great in the first place. This release finally feels like the archival edition that the original deserves if you care about preservation.
"A successful return for the legend" Gears of War: Reloaded proves that some classics never lose their luster. It combines loyalty to the original with technical mastery that elevates the experience to a modern level. Despite the simple story and some minor flaws, the gameplay, iconic weapons, and cinematic atmosphere make it a successful reboot. Whether you're a new player or a longtime fan of the series, Reloaded offers the best opportunity to experience Gears battles with a fresh new spirit.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Rating Gears of War: Reloaded isn’t easy. The gameplay is still solid, fun, and true to the original, delivering the physicality and tactical tension that made the series famous. However, most of the updates are technical or cosmetic—better graphics, cross-play, and a few extra maps aren’t enough to make it a must-have for longtime fans. Reloaded feels more like a way to cash in on nostalgia, introduce the franchise to PlayStation players and new audiences, and keep the series alive until the next entry, rather than a true new release. Great for what it is, but hard to recommend at full price to veterans.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Gears of War: Reloaded is a solid remaster of the already excellent remaster of the already excellent first and historic chapter of the series, which in this case has done the bare minimum - perhaps even less than the bare minimum. Perhaps there was no need for anything else, in fact, given the price at which it is offered, but in some respects the game shows its age, almost 20 years since its debut. It remains a monumental game, but one whose genre has already made great strides forward.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Gears of War Reloaded brings back the original with sharper visuals, smoother performance, and cross-play. The campaign still delivers big moments, and co-op or multiplayer make it even better. A few rough edges remain, but it’s an easy reminder of why Gears is still fun to play nearly twenty years later.
Gears of War: Reloaded is the definitive version of the original classic—visually enhanced and performance-boosted, yet still unmistakably a 2006 game in tone and structure—but thanks to its thrilling combat, full DualSense integration, and complete package free of modern monetization, it's both a nostalgic triumph and a must-play for newcomers and veterans alike.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Gears of War: Reloaded is a nostalgic, yet dated, trek through the iconic origins of the beloved Gears series. While the game is essentially a remaster of a remaster from 2015’s Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, it’s a worthwhile introduction for more gamers looking to play on this generation of consoles.