Gears 5 Reviews

Gears 5 is ranked in the 95th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
GameCrate
Top Critic
8.8 / 10.0
Sep 10, 2019

It's unfortunate that Gears 5 continues the trend of 'games that were clearly shipped before they were ready' since its diverse offering of different gameplay experiences is virtually unmatched by any other shooter game or franchise. Once The Coalition has ironed out the campaign performance issues and multiplayer network problems, this latest Gears of War game has a very bright future and is a must-play for any fans of the shooter genre no matter their individual tastes.

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Sep 13, 2019

Gears 5 is the first time the series has made the brutality of its combat feel captivating and disturbingly intimate.

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PCMag
Top Critic
Sep 16, 2019

Gears 5's compelling campaign and great graphics performance make it a worthwhile experience for both Gears of War fans and those new to the series.

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Gameplanet
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Sep 19, 2019

Gears 5 is a return to form for the venerable series, and though some new ideas and better writing aren't quite executed to perfection, they bring a welcome sense of freshness to a series where the fundamentals are as strong as ever.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 12, 2019

Gears 5's campaign is the best the series has seen, and Escape mode is a brilliant new addition. It's fun to play, beautiful to look at, and full of some of the best characters the series has ever seen.

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4.6 / 5.0
Sep 10, 2019

After 13 years of the same thing, Gears 5 finally manages to change things for the better. With some much-added flair and long-overdue tweaks, it's a refreshing and easily the best the series has ever been. The Coalition did a phenomenal job with the campaign, co-op elements and the newly added Escape mode is an absolute delight. So, if you're expecting business as usual, you'll be pleasantly surprised by Gears 5.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2019

Gears 5 has some great innovations, held back behind the same ol'.

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90%
Sep 4, 2019

Once again, The Coalition proves itself as Gears of War's ideal custodian. Gears 5 is one of the best entries in the series yet, delivering an unrivalled package that still boasts the best headshots in the business.

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9 / 10
Sep 4, 2019

Gears 5 is a big, loud blockbuster that brings so much to the table, it’s easy to under-appreciate it.

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Loved
Sep 4, 2019

Across the board, Gears 5 really is the whole bloody package… and it’s bloody excellent.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 10, 2019

Luckily the foundation of the series is still strong in and out of the campaign, with the multiplayer suite of Horde and Versus being as fun as ever. Escape, clearly inspired by Left 4 Dead, is also a great way to kill an hour if you've got competent squaddies for the ride. Ultimately, I had a fair amount of fun tearing my way through swarms of foes with shotguns and chainsaws, but there's definitely a part of me that's disappointed Gears 5 isn't the evolution its bloody heart is set on being.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 8, 2019

Gears 5 is simply a very good game, tailored for the fans of the series. The new installment works great regardless of whether you play alone, or in coop, as well as during multiplayer battles. Sure, maybe it's not very inventive and rather similar to previous GoWs, but in this case, it’s a great recommendation.

Review in Polish | Read full review

8 / 10
Sep 23, 2019

Gears 5 takes the series to new heights but it's weighed down by some annoying bugs and a story that seems to try a touch too hard to tie itself to the original trilogy. Whilst Horde mode is still excellent and the various Versus modes are fun, the new Escape mode is a bit hit and miss.

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Press Start
Brodie Gibbons
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Nov 6, 2020

Gears 5 is a big, loud blockbuster that brings so much to the table, it's easy to under-appreciate it. By building on the stories set in motion by its predecessor, Gears 5's narrative journey is a benchmark for the series so far with well-rounded characters that are far easier to love when compared to the original trilogy's gruff, motley crew. Once you throw a polished, brutally competitive online facet, Horde's best iteration, and the promising Escape into the mix, Gears 5 becomes a package too hard to refuse considering the clear value on offer. The story's driving force might be "bound by blood" but Gears 5 is bound for greatness.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2019

Gears 5 is one of Microsoft's best games this console generation. It's a package that's brimming with content, and has top-notch stuff on offer for you no matter what you're looking for. With its campaign, it successfully revitalizes a franchise may had feared was becoming stale, while with its online component, it continues to be on the top of its game, the way the series always been since the day it was born.

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6.5 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2019

Gears of War 5 isn't a bad game, it's just the worst game in the series (I quite liked Judgement). It promised to bring new ideas to the series, and it does, but to the detriment of the game as a whole with how poorly designed they all are. The open-world levels are empty and boring, the story is lackluster after a great first act, and the new Escape mode is a fleeting distraction at best. Gears of War needs changes, but not like this.

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Spaziogames
Top Critic
9.1 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2019

Gears 5 is the natural evolution of the Gears series: a more daring game, in every possible way. The Campaign took us by surprise, not only with its narration, but also with its bold design choices. The singleplayer experience prepares the player for a second round, with the gargantuan multiplayer section, where we find the glorious old modes and an Escape mode that punished and seduced us.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2019

Gears 5 has a solid single-player campaign which is full of interesting ideas and a brand new PVE mode. It might be a breakthrough for the franchise if it keeps providing high-quality multiplayer content in the future.

Review in Chinese | Read full review

7.9 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2019

I played the first Gears of War, and right now, Gears 5 has barely changed the flavour of the original. And while the original might have been a revelation, Gears 5 presents as a detriment.

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Cheat Code Central
Top Critic
4 / 5.0
Sep 6, 2019

Combined with a clean, user-friendly multiplayer suite that even finds time to add brand new ways to play, Gears 5 is a standout even among its own series. It’s rough around the edges, but in a good way.

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