💪 Gears of War: E-Day has a Metacritic score of 88 after 49 critic reviews
👏 95% of the reviews are positive, with 5% mixed, and 0% negative
⚙️ Most outlets have only critiqued the campaign and not the multiplayer
🎮 Gears of War: E-Day is exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC
Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel to Microsoft’s iconic gritty, third-person cover-based shooter, and it seems like reviewers agree that i’s a return to form for developer The Coalition.
The game is currently sitting on a Metacritic score of 88 after 49 critic reviews, which puts it above Gears 5 and Gears of War: Reloaded, which achieved scores of 85 and 79, respectively.
The reviews primarily focus on the game’s campaign, with impressions of Gears of War: E-Day’s multiplayer still to come.
PureXbox thought Gears of War: E-Day’s campaign deserved full marks, and said:
“Gears of War: E-Day is a monumental triumph from a developer that irrefutably understands what’s important to fans: Gears isn’t just about tearing through Locust with a chainsaw, it’s about brotherhood, sacrifice, and grief. The Coalition has delivered an unforgettable campaign packed full of fresh ideas whilst staying true to what makes Gears so special. The Locust are back and more terrifying than ever, and blasting them to bits is incredibly satisfying. This is the best the combat has felt in twenty years, and fighting to survive the fall of Kalona will leave you speechless. Through its stunning locations, characters, and cinematics, E-Day is a visual powerhouse and one of the best-looking games I’ve ever seen on Xbox.”
DayOne gave Gears of War: E-Day a perfect score and said:
”The Coalition has elevated the franchise to new heights, crafting an engaging, brutal, and surprisingly intimate campaign that’s full of smart gameplay mechanics and wonderful surprises. It’s the best Gears has ever felt to play, and the best it’s ever looked and sounded on the big screen. Gears of War: E-Day? It's a f.cking masterpiece.”
GamingBolt praised the game’s new movement mechanics and combat in its 9/10 review:
“It stumbles sometimes with its story, but thanks to new and improved movement mechanics, Gears of War: E-Day ends up delivering some of the tightest combat and one of the series’ most excellently paced campaigns in a long, long time.”
VGC was also a fan of Gears of War: E-Day’s campaign and gave the game 8/10:
“Gears of War: E-Day's campaign offers balls-to-the-wall action and rarely lets up, but that means the story takes more of a back seat than I'd like. It's good that time is given to the backstories of new protagonists Mags and Lucas, but given that the game is literally the playable Marcus and Dom backstory fans have been waiting decades to see, more time could have been spent on their relationship. In terms of pure gunplay, however, very little beats it this year.”
GAMINGbible felt similar and said it’s a solid prequel in its 8/10 review:
“Gears of War: E-Day is a solid prequel that gets a lot of things right. The characters, the combat, and the visuals all mesh together into a must-play adventure for any Gears of War fan, but it’s also an excellent starting point for those new to the series.”
Several outlets are yet to give Gears of War: E-Day a score, like Windows Central, which said:
“Gears of War: E-Day has some of the most stunning visuals I've ever seen committed to the medium, with absolutely immaculate lighting treatment, immense and meticulous city detailing, and gorgeous character work. The gunplay is also fantastic, smoothing off some of the series' rough edges with boosted mobility, without sacrificing the Gears feel…But, the overall gameplay structure does the overall game a pretty sizeable disservice in my view, preventing it from reaching its full potential.”
Gamekult was one of the most critical outlets, giving Gears of War: E-Day a score of 5/10:
”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.”
With an average of 88 as of writing, it’s clear that Gears of War: E-Day will satisfy returning fans and is the best Gears has been for many years. That will come as a relief to Microsoft, as it pivoted Gears of War: E-Day back to being a console exclusive to some controversy.
Up next: Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave review roundup: ‘a sumptuous feast of a game’
Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.