Gears of War: E-Day Reviews
Gears of War: E-Day has been promoted as the most ambitious game ever made by The Coalition, but to be honest, it feels like a step back from Gears 5 in several ways. The narrative is a lot less memorable, and the side content is forgettable. Its saving grace is that the third-person shooter gameplay is better than ever, thanks to improved movement and fluidity, making combat encounters generally a lot of fun. Still, it's not the kind of masterpiece that sells a console like the original did.
Gears of War: E-Day is the best game in the series. The story gives us an up-close and personal look at the events of E-Day, providing a horror-filled and harrowing experience. Meanwhile, the enhancements to movement are very welcome, and gunplay feels more varied with a great roster of weapons and the inclusion of mods.
Gears of War: E-Day is everything I wanted from a prequel and more. It finally delivers the Emergence Day story fans have waited two decades to experience, while deepening the relationship between Marcus and Dom and returning the series to the darker, horror-inspired tone of the original trilogy. With the best gameplay the franchise has ever had, incredible visuals, excellent pacing and memorable characters, E-Day isn’t just the best Gears game yet; it’s one of Xbox’s strongest exclusives in years.
Gears of War: E-Day successfully fulfils its mission of returning to the roots of the series, whilst offering noticeable improvements over all previous instalments and reminding us once again of the horror of the Locusts. Unfortunately, it also suffers from issues with pacing and enemy AI, while pushing Marcus into the background in favour of a new character. Nevertheless, this dynamic, emotional and extremely brutal shooter should appeal to fans of the series – and many others as well.
Review in Polish | Read full review
It could be seen as a return to form or as a retread of the series’ glory days, but in any case it’s a fun and bloody good time.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Gears of War: E-Day marks a brilliant return for one of Xbox’s most iconic franchises, allowing players to experience E-Day and witness the beginning of Marcus and Dom’s story from a completely new perspective. The Coalition isn’t revolutionising the familiar formula, but in a way it’s building on it – improving mobility, shooting and exploration, offering a varied campaign, and in the process showcasing the immense capabilities of Unreal Engine 5. It’s a modern Gears game that never forgets its roots.
Review in Polish | Read full review
It's definitely a step in the right direction for the franchise. With its story, the way it's presented, and the gameplay, a solid GoW game is waiting for us. They've kindly reminded us once again why we love this series. We can easily overlook a few minor flaws.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Gears of War: E-Day is more than I could have hoped for: a focused, tightly contained, action-packed story filled with memorable characters and moments that deliver an emotional rollercoaster for those brave enough to witness the horrors of the first days of Emergence Day. E-Day is what a Gears of War game should be: relentlessly fun, engaging from all angles, and best experienced with friends.
Ultimately, Gears of War: E-Day is an enjoyable campaign wrapped inside an exceptionally impressive technical package. It is a pleasure to look at, the combat remains satisfying, and the return of Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago is exactly what many longtime fans wanted. Unfortunately, the forced DEI character writing, unnecessary social commentary, excessive dialogue, questionable level-design decisions, technical stuttering, and underwhelming ending prevent E-Day from becoming the definitive Gears experience I was hoping for after such a long wait when it comes to it's single player campaign portion.
Gears of War: E-Day is set during Emergence Day, fourteen years before the events of the original Gears of War, as Marcus and Dom, along with a host of other Gears, face off against the first wave of Locust. They’ll have to fight and survive against the unknown as they scramble to save civilians scattered throughout the city. Gears of War: E-Day is a third person action shooter where players will be able to use a myriad of weapons to take the fight up to the Locust. Returning players will notice that The Coalition have made a few tweaks in terms of controls. Given that our protagonists are younger, their movement is a bit more nimble. Running has been delegated to pressing the left joystick instead of holding A. Marcus and company can now jump and climb up reasonably high surfaces. There’s also a useful slide mechanic to dodge enemy projectiles.
Kalona is the real star of «Gears of War: E-Day», transforming so dramatically throughout the campaign that it feels like the game's main character. The story and characters are less memorable, but the weighty, satisfying gunplay and improved movement make for a solid «Gears» experience. It gets repetitive, but fans of the series should feel right at home.
Review in German | Read full review
Pending a final analysis that must inevitably evaluate server stability and the longevity of the multiplayer offering, what The Coalition has delivered with this campaign is a truly remarkable achievement. The seventeen hours spent on the streets of Kalona offer no downtime and suffer from absolutely no filler; instead, they build into a relentless crescendo of drama, explosions, and emotion, culminating in an ending that lays the groundwork for something significant for the future of this prequel. 2026 has been a stellar year packed with stunning productions (just look at the technical magnificence achieved by highly anticipated titles like Requiem or Pragmata), but the emotional and gameplay impact of this comeback certainly commands attention. If the multiplayer suite and Horde mode can match the sheer excellence and passion poured into the writing of this story campaign, we are looking at one of the best games of the year and undoubtedly the best shooter of 2026.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Gears of War: E-Day shines by showing off humanity’s perseverance. Every new character stands out, never overshadowed by the legacy of Marcus or Dom.
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.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Gears of War: E-Day not only revives one of Xbox's greatest franchises, but also manages to restore much of the identity that seemed to have been lost in its last two installments. The Coalition understands what made the original trilogy special: the brutality of war, the depth of its characters, an oppressive atmosphere, and spectacular action that doesn't have to sacrifice emotion
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Gears of War: E-Day marks the return of Marcus and Dom in an excellent campaign, with renewed gameplay, impressive graphics, and a few issues that don’t overshadow the game’s major achievements. One of the best Xbox titles of this generation, worthy of all the attention.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Following Marcus and Dom on Emergence Day is an action-packed rollercoaster ride. Gears of War: E-Day shines on the PC with stunning graphics and addictive combat, with the weapon customisation adding an extra touch. Unfortunately, the pace drops off in the final third of the campaign, let down by a dull ending and an uninspired boss.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
E-Day succeeds in telling the story of Emergence Day in a gripping, desperate, and most importantly, fun way. The culmination of 20 years as a franchise, refining everything the series is into a must-play XBOX title that takes you on a gloriously brutal, emotionally-satisfying, and epic, cinematic adventure.
Gears of War: E-Day does not disappoint; the story starts strong and only gets better. For players who have experienced the previous entries in the franchise, there are plenty of easter eggs scattered throughout. Any graphic and audio-related glitches I ran into were very minor and did not detract from the experience overall. For me, this game is in the running for my Game of the Year.