Look, I get that my above excerpt may ruffle some feathers. Some may think Gears of War lost its sheen a long time ago. Others may think I'm questioning past validity as a mainstay. Wherever you land, let me assure you that I love Gears and will always be a proponent for more of it. Although there have been tests and trials over the years, the franchise has had good recent entries, but not necessarily those that stand out. That changes with a return to form in Gears of War: E-Day, which is in my mind one of the best titles we've gotten this year.
Campaign
Creating a prequel has its own set of problems that are tough to overcome. You have established lore that you have to either tiptoe around or retcon, and you can’t do too much or you risk upsetting the balance of the universe. E-Day is in its own zip code of potential missteps, having to juggle five mainline entries and another prequel set after it. All that, and it's not exactly a happy story. It’s a tightrope, and people are just waiting for you to fall.
E-Day doesn’t just manage to barely cross the finish line with The Coalition’s reputation intact, it soars to heights I never would have expected. Somehow, everything about Emergence Day is impactful, from the larger plot device of the collapse of Kalona to Bravo squad’s personal lives. Everyone gets their fair share of the spotlight, but most importantly, the setting is the shining star.
Kalona is so much more than a bunch of corridors and rooms filled with chest-high walls. In the midst of desolation, it manages to exude so much vibrancy. It's almost contradictory, watching a world teeming with death exhibit life. The fall of Kalona to the emerging Locust horde has long been imagined by fans of the series, and it feels like you're stepping directly into the middle of it, with an immersive quality not many games find.
This “character” is telling a story, and one that isn't going to end well. Our favorite best friends Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago are in the city, celebrating the life of fallen comrades, including Dom’s brother, Carlos. As they drink to his life in a bar, tremors shake the establishment and bring with them screams from the outside. The commotion spurs them, along with rookie Gear Lucas Reyes and former Gear Mags Carter, to approach the scene.
And what a scene it is. Civilians are being viciously torn apart, sinkholes are appearing throughout the streets, and chunks of buildings are beginning to fall from the damage. Worst still, all of this is the product of some humanoid (and some not) creatures eventually dubbed the Locust: violent predators eager to extinguish all surface dwellers. The horrors of Emergence Day are on full display, and they are terrifying.
These four unsuspecting companions (maybe not Marcus and Dom) become Bravo Squad, and the journey they take is a somber, savage, and revealing one, both from the dread of the Locust and how unprepared and Draconian the COG is shown to be. Treading the line of cruel apathy and emotional rollercoaster isn't for the faint of heart, and E-Day handles the moment-to-moment heartbreak with respect. They don't manipulate you; The Coalition tells a tragic tale befitting of the situation our team finds themselves in. All of the emotions fitting of the brutality you'll witness are earned, not taken.
Appending these moments are the over-the-top ones you expect from Gears of War. Extravagant encounters are a Gears staple, and there are several times you hit a spot and really sense that in the level design. Capping all of this off are tremendous boss fights – all of them punch hard and high. There's a rush of adrenaline when you get that last shot or chainsaw execution in, and it leaves you deeply satisfied and ready to take on the next threat.
In between the incredible set pieces, E-Day fits in time with each of the squad members. We get to hear about their hopes, dreams, and mainly their failures. Each one has to find the grit to pull themselves together as their literal world is falling apart; to be the salvation that so many people need. Lucas Reyes’ story is especially poignant – underneath his “by the book” exterior is a kid who knows what it's like to mess up badly and watch others pay the price.
Outstanding gameplay systems are the foundation beneath E-Day, and The Coalition have outdone themselves in this regard. I already went to lengths discussing how amazing the makeover and reinforcement of integral mechanics have been in our multiplayer preview, but let me continue my swooning here. Moving around in Gears of War: E-Day is simply the best it's ever been. It's smooth, something you'd never accuse a Gears game of. From the sliding, to the dodge roll, to the new sprint, to scampering up the side of a car, E-Day just feels so good.
Combat, to no surprise, is stellar. Rending the Locust limb from entrails has always been a highlight for the series, and that doesn't change here. Every gunshot is felt, each head that explodes is gruesome yet gratifying, and tell me you don't grin whenever you rev the chainsaw for a kill. The rush of Gears of War’s combat doesn't get old.
There's plenty of new to go along with it as well. The arsenal is very recognizable, with Lancers, and Gnashers, and Longshots (oh my), but there is a new layer for your Gear. I’m unsure if this is a case of the campaign borrowing from Horde Siege, or vice-versa, but the additional loadout depth from supply caches scattered throughout the levels is a nice extra. Putting attachments on your weapons to buff your recoil control and accuracy or an extended magazine can help you out in a tight spot.
Tactical Gear (think Field Upgrade from Call of Duty) even have perks to add. I chose the Sonic Disruptor, which stuns enemies from sonic waves for a short time, and the best thing I ever did was put a fire damage buff on it, which caused my foes to burst into flame. Armor Mods are a couple of more general perks, but still are useful, offering healing for kills at a distance, extended health, and more. I’ll dive more into these when I’m able to access Horde Siege mode, but they don’t seem like throwaway skill trees – they’re a part of the game that’s worth engaging with.
While Gears of War has experimented with more open spaces before, the balance between linear and open world play is superb in E-Day. No matter what section you’re in, the game just feels right. There are plenty of collectibles to go find (which are also marked on your map in the open world if you miss the classic Gears sound cue), and a lot of cases holding attachments for the aforementioned loadout system. Although straightforward levels don’t feature the breadth of flanks and routes to fight the Locust, I never felt trapped even in the smallest of locations. The Coalition has to be commended on how they’ve crafted the linear levels; I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but it feels fresh in Gears even if it isn’t brand spanking new. Similarly, the combat arenas are impressive, featuring that living feeling that translates from the greater setting.
On the larger side, the open world areas are just a blast to explore, especially in a co-op squad. My friends and myself ran around and tried our best to get to every case and collectible we could find, doing our main missions along the way. Side missions aren’t generally much to write home about – you’ll more or less defend an area or person/people for a short time. Thankfully, it never is a waste, all of these tasks are miniscule and give you additional loadout gear. The open world manages to be dense while never devolving into a time sink. This is the mark of a good open world concept; my time is respected, and it never overstays its welcome.
It's not a stretch to call this the best looking game of 2026, and it might be the best looking game of this console generation. E-Day is absolutely gorgeous, with insane levels of detail that showcases The Coalition's talent. I keep going back to calling it alive, and it is, from the towering, neon-laced buildings to a pile of rubble on the ground. Seriously, your jaw will be on the floor from the opening. I’m awestruck in particular by the lighting, which dazzles in every aspect of the game. It can be costly depending on your hardware, but even on the XBOX Series X and an NVIDIA RTX 2080 graphics card, it shines. The only thing I can even ding the game on is the not as important NPCs. They tend to look kind of bland and stiff.
Next to the fantastic visuals is the audio. This might be the greatest audio I’ve heard since Hellblade delivered in their sensational game. Listening to the growls and screeching of the Locust in any setting is going to creep you out, and The Coalition succeeds time and time again as you traverse Kalona. The cadence of each weapon firing is also a triumph, with the bullets ripping from the barrels being oh so enjoyable. Of course, the signature sound of a headshot and a chainsaw execution is flawless. I’d also be remiss to not mention exceptional performances by the cast, as John DiMaggio and Carlos Ferro again nail Marcus and Dom, with Jake Ryan Lozano and Elizabeth Faith Ludlow providing excellent support as Lucas Reyes and Mags Carter.
If we were to score Gears of War: E-Day sheerly on the campaign, it'd be an easy 95 and a nominee for our Editors Choice Award. The brutal and stunning recount of Kalona’s fall is immaculate storytelling, featuring revived gameplay via reworked movement systems and the visceral combat we know and love. Unfortunately, admission to the Versus and Horde Siege modes will have to wait until early access on October 1st before full launch on October 6th. The beta did have us excited for its potential, so if it sticks the landing, I'd imagine E-Day might be one of the easiest recommendations we'll make all year, for purchase and awards season.
