Gears of War: E-Day Reviews: Marcus Fenix returns in style. Read what gamers are saying

The highly anticipated game Gears of War: E-Day is set to release on October 6, 2026. Meanwhile, early reviews gave the title a huge thumbs up. On Metacritic, the game has a score of 87 based on 20 critic reviews. Developed by The Coalition and People Can Fly, E-Day is a prequel that takes players back to the pivotal Emergence Day, when the Locust Horde first emerged. It is the first mainline Gears of War game since Gears 5 in 2019 and combines the series' signature cover-based combat with a story centered on the origins of the Locust invasion.

Gears of War: E-Day plot

The story takes place 14 years before the events of the original Gears of War. Players return to the younger versions of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago as they face the arrival of the Locust Horde. The campaign explores the events immediately following the Pendulum Wars and shows COG soldiers living relatively normal lives before the Emergence Day invasion changes everything. The story also puts the relationship between Marcus and Dom at the center of the campaign, bringing back the sense of camaraderie and brotherhood that was a defining part of the earlier games.

Gears of War: E-Day gameplay

The campaign features a combination of linear and semi-open environments, giving players opportunities to explore and complete side objectives. The game also supports four-player online co-op.


The competitive multiplayer component features four-on-four matches, including team deathmatch and conquest-style modes. Players start with basic equipment and can pick up more powerful weapons placed around the maps, continuing the series' focus on weapon control and map positioning.

For players who prefer cooperative gameplay, E-Day also introduces the Horde Siege mode. It supports up to 12 players divided into three squads of four. Players can take on different class roles, including Assault, Breacher, Marksman and Medic.

Horde Siege uses larger maps and gives squads separate objectives while also creating events that encourage teams to interact. Its progression system increases the challenge as players level up their classes, while collected energy can be used to purchase upgrades.

The game also introduces mobility improvements. Players can slide, move through lower cover and climb higher obstacles more fluidly. The active-reload system from previous Gears of War games also returns, while players can interrupt reloads with melee attacks and other actions when responding to enemies.

Gears of War: E-Day reviews

E-Day is built using Unreal Engine 5, which reportedly offers detailed environments and improved visual effects. Environmental destruction and more detailed damage effects make combat feel more dynamic and visceral.

The game's sound design also adds to the intensity of battles, with detailed weapon sounds and battlefield ambience helping create a sense of chaos during combat.

Early reviews have been largely positive, with E-Day currently holding a Metacritic score of 87 based on 20 critic reviews.

That places it below the highest-rated games in the series but still among the stronger entries. The original Gears of War has a score of 94, while Gears of War 2 and Gears of War 3 scored 93 and 91, respectively. With a score of 87, E-Day currently ranks fourth among the mainline games mentioned.

IGN wrote that "E-Day carries its own satisfying emotional weight," while praising the additional backstory for Marcus and Dom and the game's action.

Bleacher Report described the game as fantastic-looking, immersive and fun.

Men's Journal called Gears of War: E-Day the "most visually impressive game on the Xbox Series X."

One X user described it as "one of the greatest single player experiences that Xbox has put out in a long time and easily my favorite Xbox game from this generation."

Another player wrote that "Gears of War E-Day legitimately has one of the best campaign missions I've played in YEARS."