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Gears 5
Critics Consensus (Play It)
Gears 5 features a polished and varied campaign in addition to its stalwart PvE and PvP modes. No matter how you approach it, Gears 5 is a bold step forward for the franchise.
Game Info
From one of gaming’s most acclaimed sagas, Gears is bigger than ever, with five thrilling modes and the deepest campaign yet. With all-out war descending, Kait Diaz breaks away to uncover her connection to the enemy and discovers the true danger to Sera – herself.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 123
Nom: Best Shooter (2019)
Silver TIER
40% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Shooter, Adventure
DEVELOPER(S):
- The Coalition
PUBLISHER(S):
- Xbox Game Studios
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- Gears of War
GAME MODES:
- Co-operative, Multiplayer, Single player
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
123
Critic Reviews
85
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
100%
Median Score
87%
Low Score
60%
Ryan McCaffrey (IGN)
[Date Unavailable]
9/10
“No matter which mode you approach it from, Gears 5 is an incredibly fun and polished game.”
Phil Iwaniuk (PC Gamer)
[Date Unavailable]
78/100
“A polished and surprisingly varied campaign married to stalwart PvE and PvP modes which gently refine, rather than revolutionise, the classic Gears experience.”
Mike Epstein (GamesRadar+)
[Date Unavailable]
4/5 stars
“Gears 5 biggest changes don’t reinvent the series, but give the classic shooter more room to breathe. Let Gears be Gears.”
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (123 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33bits | Jose Antonio Calvo Ceniceros | 90 / 100 | 09-18-2019 | Ambition and quality for the return of one of the most powerful action sagas of the last lustrums. Gears of War 5 is not only a great video game production, but it’s also tremendously comprehensive. The Coalition has made some very powerful decisions to move the saga forward, and the play has been tremendous. | Read review |
| 3DNews | Денис Щенников | 9 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | Classic Gears of War experience is greatly modified with cool new mechanics and not so necessary open world sections. But overall the game is close to be brilliant. | Read review |
| AbsoluteXbox | Mike Jenkins | 5 / 5 stars | 09-19-2019 | I think Gears 5 is a resounding success for The Coalition and Xbox as a whole. We’ve been crying out for quality first party games for ages now, and Gears 5 has managed to hit the standard everyone wants. | Read review |
| ACG | Jeremy Penter | Recommended | 09-04-2019 | “Despite some open world fluff and a story that didn’t move me a ton the gameplay is ace.” | Read review |
| AnaitGames | Víctor Manuel Martínez García | 8 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | The Coalition takes Gears to new places, finally building on top of the superb foundations of Epic Games’ action masterpiece. | Read review |
| Areajugones | Josep Carceller | 9.5 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 is the greatest iteration on Xbox One | Read review |
| Ars Technica | Sam Machkovech | Recommended | 09-10-2019 | Should you have read this much of a Gears of War-related review, I imagine at least one of the above four modes sounds up your alley. Just because Escape is currently wonky in action doesn’t mean it’s not a unique and satisfying co-op action experience. The campaign’s herky-jerky start is likely worth enduring for a certain brand of shooter fan. And both Horde and versus are likely to delight fans old and new for entirely different reasons. | Read review |
| Atomix | Rodrigo Martínez | 88 / 100 | 09-10-2019 | Gears is finally back with it’s fifth major game. The Coalition did a wonderful job making the Gears game the all the fans deserve. | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | William Schwartz | 4 / 5 stars | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 once again feels like a safe bet by The Coalition. You can start to see the developer thinking about new ideas and potential directions that the series can go, but Gears 5 feels largely familiar. The additions of some new features and a new mode added to the fan-favorites that return make for a robust package though. | Read review |
| AusGamers | Steve Farrelly | 7.9 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Milad Taher Nejad | 8 / 10 | 09-10-2019 | Gears 5 tries to bombard players with tons of contents, and offers many days of entertainment as it aims to introduce itself as a true AAA+ game. The result is a very entertaining game, but is that enough to justify Microsoft’s flagship? Not sure. Maybe the only part that Gears 5 shines at is visuals, and while everything else is also okay, we expect a lot more than that from a title like Gears of War. | Read review |
| Bazimag | Mahdi Eftekhari | 8.5 / 10 | 09-07-2019 | Gears 5 will be a pleasant and enjoyable experience not only for the fans of Gears of War but also for all the gamers. However, the game struggles with lots of technical problems and can’t convey the feelings of a real Gears of War to the players as best as possible. That being said, Gears 5 still manages to show why Gears series is one of the best and most unique videogame franchises of all time. | Read review |
| But Why Tho? | Charles Hartford | 9 / 10 | 09-11-2019 | Gears 5 more than lives up to that legacy. With only a couple hiccups, Gears 5 delivers a nearly flawless campaign I cannot endorse more wholeheartedly. | Read review |
| Cerealkillerz | Gabriel Bogdan | 8 / 10 | 09-03-2019 | Gears 5 delivers the usual solid co-op experience and offers enough variety in the gameplay-mix over the different modes. Sadly a lot of technical issues, bad level design and a lot of well meant ideas of the developers that didn’t really delivered the effect they wanted doesn’t make Gears 5 stand that much out compared to Gears of War 4. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Jed Whitaker | 6.5 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| Cheat Code Central | Unknown | 4 / 5 stars | 09-06-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Luke Mitchell | Recommended | 09-04-2019 | Across the board, Gears 5 really is the whole bloody package… and it’s bloody excellent. | Read review |
| Chicas Gamers | Estela Villa | Recommended | 09-06-2019 | Gears 5 offers us fun and spectacularity in a game of about 15-20 hours in which fans of the saga will see a breath of fresh air with new situations such as stealth, new characters, new multiplayer modes and action with quality seal. | Read review |
| COGconnected | Paul Sullivan | 87 / 100 | 09-04-2019 | No matter what your experience level is with these familiar faces, Gears 5 is the most accessible title in the line, and is ultimately successful in trying to be something for everyone. | Read review |
| Critical Hit | Geoffrey Tim | 9 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | There are missteps, especially with the open worlds feeling lifeless, but Gears 5 is a more confident turn from a developer that no longer has to prove it’s capable of making a faithful Gears of War sequel. Bigger, better and more beautiful – and a bold step in the right direction for the series. The action is superlative, the writing hits humorous and emotional notes, and the number of multiplayer modes is extensive. If ever there was a reason to subscribe to Xbox’s Game Pass service, this is it. | Read review |
| Cubed3 | Albert Lichi | 6 / 10 | 09-20-2019 | The developer has done an admirable job of maintaining the core of Epic Games’ legacy, yet they have been unable to truly improve upon it. It is still the same cover-shooting action it has always been. Still satisfying and very crunchy. | Read review |
| Cultured Vultures | Billy Givens | 8 / 10 | 09-10-2019 | Gears 5 is a beautiful balancing act of new and old, and it manages to offer the franchise’s trademark action and gore while telling a compelling story that sets up the future of the series in a big way. | Read review |
| Daily Dot | AJ Moser | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-09-2019 | Overall, I can’t imagine anyone walking away from Gears 5 disappointed. This is a complete package, tied together with some of the most consistently engaging gameplay you could ask for. The storytelling on display proves that the franchise has yet to peak, and it lays the foundation to continue improving with whatever comes next. | Read review |
| Daily Mirror | JC Suttun | 4 / 5 stars | 09-05-2019 | For Gears of War fans, this is a package that is essential, and a game that certainly surpasses its predecessor. | Read review |
| Daily Star | Dom Peppiatt | 4 / 5 stars | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 is a return to form for Microsoft’s hardcore series, delivering fans the roadie-running, head-bursting, visceral joy that made the franchise such a success in the first place. | Read review |
| Darkstation | Mark Steighner | 4 / 5 stars | 09-04-2019 | By most metrics — polish, graphics, writing, acting and engaging game play mechanics — Gears 5 is an impressive product for both solo players and competitive or cooperative shooter fans. But moving forward, the series desperately needs to venture into new ways of telling its stories and pacing its encounters. | Read review |
| DASHGAMER.com | Dan Rizzo | 9.5 / 10 | 09-17-2019 | It’s violent, it’s gorey, it’s bloody, and story intense. It boldly delivers an emotional investment that will certainly surprise the hell out of gamer’s who decide to experience it. I for one implore any fans of any third person shooters to play Gears 5, it’s damn sure a hell of a good time. Gears 5 has Game of the Year potential written all over it, and will surely be remembered as XBOX One’s best of the best. | Read review |
| Destructoid | Brett Makedonski | 8 / 10 | 09-11-2019 | The Coalition has achieved a lot with Gears 5. The writing and action often rivals the best moments in the series, even surpassing its predecessors at times. The overall package is the most robust Gears has ever seen. But, the big structural alteration feels like an unequivocal misstep. Gears 5 is a rousing success, but it could’ve done without the needless change. | Read review |
| Digital Trends | Gabe Gurwin | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 is one of the best games on Xbox One, with a satisfying campaign and tremendous multiplayer. | Read review |
| DualShockers | Logan Moore | 9 / 10 | 09-10-2019 | Gears 5 is perhaps the best entry in the long-running shooter series and stands as one of the best games of the Xbox One era. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Bradley Ellis | 4 / 5 stars | 09-14-2019 | Along with solid multiplayer, improvements in both the campaign structure and the story help Gears 5 to elevate the series once again. | Read review |
| Echo Boomer | David Fialho | Recommended | 09-08-2019 | Gears 5 could have been more of the same. And somehow that’s exactly what it is. But it’s also proud and secure enough to take some interesting risks that made it the best of the series. | Read review |
| EGM | Michael Goroff | 8 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 makes major strides in the series’ approach to storytelling. This is the most heartfelt Delta Squad has ever been, and The Coalition backs up that emotion with genuine improvements to gameplay. While its new co-op mode, Escape, is generally underwhelming, Arcade mixes up the competitive meta enough to keep things interesting. All told, Gears 5 is more Gears, but it’s also a bold statement for why this series is still relevant. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Unknown | Recommended | 09-11-2019 | Mixed multiplayer and a depressing grind can’t dim the light of a superb new Gears campaign. | Read review |
| Everyeye.it | Marco Mottura | 8.7 / 10 | 09-09-2019 | Gears 5 is a very solid chapter in one of the sagas that truly define Xbox as a gaming platform: an episode that boldly reaffirms the attitude of the Lancer-armored squads and the talent of The Coalition as a studio ‘ stopping just a small step before excellence. | Read review |
| Flickering Myth | Shaun Munro | 7.5 / 10 | 09-09-2019 | Gears 5 doesn’t reinvent the wheel of this formula-keen franchise, but nevertheless makes baby steps towards something a little more adventurous. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Andrew Reiner | 8.5 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 delivers plenty of excitement in its encounters and story, and offers nearly endless thrills in its excellently crafted multiplayer experiences | Read review |
| Game Rant | Dalton Cooper | 5 / 5 stars | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 is the complete package, with a compelling campaign, entertaining multiplayer, and a Horde Mode that will keep players engaged for hours. | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Mack Ashworth | 4 / 5 stars | 09-04-2019 | If you’re any kind of shooter fan, this game has earned your attention. | Read review |
| Gameblog | Romain Mahut | 8 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 is both a very generous and welcoming game. Building on what made the Gears franchise a power house, The Coalition changed the campaign’s structure, added useful features to Horde mode, created a fun new coop mode and made the game more accessible for people with disabilities and new players. And it doesn’t hurt that the game is really pretty (especially on the Xbox One X) Gears 5 is only being dragged down a bit by a couple technical issues that shouldn’t be seen in AAA first party games. | Read review |
| GameCrate | Nate Hohl | 8.8 / 10 | 09-10-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| GameGrin | Francis Kenna | 6 / 10 | 10-03-2019 | Gears 5 feels like a desperate attempt by The Coalition at trying to carve out a new identity for the series, but the execution feels half-hearted. The pseudo open-world skiff exploration is enjoyable early on, but the uninspired objectives end up making it feel dull after a while. | Read review |
| GameMAG | Unknown | 8 / 10 | 09-16-2019 | Gears 5 is a dynamic and exciting third-person shooter with incredibly beautiful graphics, hardcore multiplayer and a variety of cooperative modes, which lacks the challenge in the main campaign and really unexpected and interesting plot twists. New elements, such as large maps, RPG-system, stealth and side missions, turned out worthy and add freshness to the classic mechanics, so if you are a fan of the genre and the series, it is not recommended to miss. Especially given the democratic price on Steam and the presence of the project in the Game Pass for Windows 10 and Xbox One. | Read review |
| Gameplanet | Ben Allan | 8 / 10 | 09-19-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| GamePro | Tobias Veltin | 86 / 100 | 09-09-2019 | Even if not all new features work: Gears 5 is a great action game with a huge display value. | Read review |
| Gamerheadquarters | Jason Stettner | 9.2 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 is an ambitious, and incredible expansion of the franchise that takes this series to new heights. | Read review |
| Gamers Heroes | Blaine Smith | 9 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | Much like its iconic Lancer Assault Rifle, Gears 5 functions as perfectly as it was designed. The developers threw on a chainsaw of character, narrative, and content to make an over-the-top, thrilling experience from start to finish. Gears 5 is a badass game, and you’ll come away feeling more badass than the legendary Marcus himself. | Read review |
| Gamersky | 战术大米 | 9 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| GamesBeat | Dean Takahashi | 90 / 100 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 has a lot to offer, with multiplayer, co-op modes, and a single-player campaign with wide range of emotions, from humor and laughter to despair and tragedy. It leaves the fans with a bit of a cliffhanger ending, but that just means that fans will want Gears 6 to come soon. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | Mark Delaney | 9 / 10 | 09-13-2019 | The Coalition has set a new benchmark for Microsoft’s first-party campaigns. By taking huge risks, subverting expectations, and delivering a visual spectacle, Gears 5 is the best in the series. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Phil Hornshaw | 7 / 10 | 09-11-2019 | The Coalition adds a lot of smart new ideas to the Gears of War formula in Gears 5. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Mike Epstein | 4 / 5 stars | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 biggest changes don’t reinvent the series, but give the classic shooter more room to breathe. Let Gears be Gears. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Shubhankar Parijat | 9 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Travis Northup | 90 / 100 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 is an impressive evolution in the Gears of War series with a campaign that feels like a huge leap forward and a dizzying amount of excellent multiplayer modes. The story isn’t without its issues, especially the final act which I’m sure will draw controversy, but that does little to hold back this awesome next chapter in the Gears saga. | Read review |
| Geek Culture | Jake Su | 8.5 / 10 | 09-18-2019 | Gears 5 gives us a robust campaign worth reliving, a familiar Versus and Horde experience, but a poor progression system takes off some of the gloss, even with the new Escape mode. | Read review |
| Geeks Under Grace | Joe Morgan | 9 / 10 | 09-11-2019 | Gears 5 continues to prove the team at Coalition can tell a fantastic story while providing plenty of great content for fans beyond the campaign. | Read review |
| Generación Xbox | Pedro del Pozo | 9.8 / 10 | 09-03-2019 | Gears 5 is perfect as a new Gears and one of the best action titles of this generation. You can’t ask for more quality content in one game. | Read review |
| Giant Bomb | Jeff Gerstmann | 4 / 5 stars | 10-22-2019 | Gears 5 plays around with the formula a bit, but it’s still at its best when it’s just being a solid-ass Gears of War game. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Adam Cook | 10 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | If you didn’t think you needed another Gears of War, you were wrong. Gears 5 is a barnstorming success, and a triumphant return for the series. This is the essential first party game the Xbox One desperately needed. | Read review |
| GotGame | David Poole | 9 / 10 | 09-29-2019 | On top of the strong campaign are the three equally strong multiplayer modes, making the game a great option for that competitive itch. Gears 5 continues to take the series in a different direction, and I can’t wait to see where it heads next. | Read review |
| GRYOnline.pl | Adam Zechenter | 8.5 / 10 | 09-08-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| Guardian | Rick Lane | 4 / 5 stars | 09-06-2019 | A female protagonist, more comedy and increased tactical options bring subtlety without sacrificing adrenalin | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Adam Beck | 4 / 5 stars | 09-04-2019 | The Coalition is clearly making substantial strides to evolve Gears into a bigger and better shooter, but the fifth installment is only half a step in the right direction. | Read review |
| Heavy | Elton Jones | 9.5 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | The Coalition has simply knocked it out of the park with Gears 5. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | Alejandro Alcolea Huertos | 95 / 100 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 takes a step forward in all aspects, with a campaign with open levels, but still very intense. Audiovisually it’s a delight and the multiplayer expands with new more approachable modes and a renewed horde mode with hero shooter features. The best Microsoft Studios game in recent years. | Read review |
| IGN | By Ryan McCaffrey | 9 / 10 | 09-13-2019 | No matter which mode you approach it from, Gears 5 is an incredibly fun and polished game. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Lorenzo Fantoni | 8.7 / 10 | 09-10-2019 | Gears 5 is still the same game it has always been, but in Katie it finds a fresh, new character with a more intriguing story. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | Juan García | 9.2 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | An outstanding game that offers more and better in every aspect of it, making Gears 5 one of the biggest first party games ever released on an Xbox console. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | James Wright (Impulsegamer) | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-01-2019 | Initially I thought Gears 5 was just another Gears of War game, however the developers have upped the ante by focusing on a new protagonist but ensuring that the old guard are still around. The gameplay while familiar has been tweaked and the level design is easily one of the best created worlds on a console, especially seeing it on 4K on the Xbox One X. So if you’re a fan of the Gears of War franchise, Gears 5 takes that love to a whole new level and then multiplies it! | Read review |
| INDIANTVCZ | Petr Duppal | 8 / 10 | 09-06-2019 | The story of Gears 5 is so breathtaking, that to be honest, I cried many times. Gears 5 moved the series in a new direction, but unfortunately some older mechanics can still make you angry. It was difficult to determine the final degree of recommendation of the title. So we give an excellent eight, but if you are fans of the series, or looking for a title that you can play with your friends on the PC calmly add one more point to good. Now we have no choice but to pray that we will see the sixth part soon and I hope that I will get it again for a review. | Read review |
| Jump Dash Roll | Peter Taylor | 8 / 10 | 09-23-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| Just Push Start | Mark Fajardo | 4.6 / 5 stars | 09-10-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| Kotaku | Maddy Myers | Recommended | 09-10-2019 | Gears 5 doesn’t top the original Gears trilogy, but it’s easily my favorite of the latter-day Gears games. | Read review |
| LevelUp | Pedro Pérez Cesari | 9 / 10 | 09-05-2019 | After many doubts | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | Unknown | 7 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | The attempts to innovate in terms of storytelling and structure feel superficial and ineffective, leaving Gears 5 to survive purely on its increasingly overfamiliar action. | Read review |
| MSPoweruser | Lewis White | 9 / 10 | 09-08-2019 | If anything, Gears 5 proves that not only does The Coalition knows how to make a solid game in the series, but they also know how to evolve a long-running franchise. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Alex Varankou | 73 / 100 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 offers a familiar action experience that should satisfy fans who gravitate towards its expanded multiplayer options. And yet, the uneven campaign and lack of significant gameplay innovations mean this latest chapter does little to draw in the uninitiated. | Read review |
| Nexus | Lynley James | 8.6 / 10 | 09-08-2019 | Gears 5 is The Coalition’s coming-out party, showing the world that the Gears IP is in good hands, and that the future for fans of the series is bright. | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Tyler Valle | 9 / 10 | 08-31-2019 | Gears 5 is not just a good Gears of War title, it is a love letter to fans who have been around from the beginning with many callbacks to previous entries. | Read review |
| NoobFeed | Unknown | 75 / 100 | 09-09-2019 | Gears of War 4 introduced a new enemy and didn’t attempt to stray from the established formula of the original games. Gears 5 takes a lot more risks, shifting the focus of the narrative, introducing side missions, and new gameplay mechanics by building on previous systems. Much of these new changes work in the game’s benefit, providing a refreshing take on the franchise. It’s unfortunate that a glitch exists that can cause halt progression in the campaign and the multiplayer, while loyal to the Gears formula, has experience boosting options. Along with the promising campaign ending with an awful cliffhanger, Gears 5 takes a lot of steps in the right direction to provide a refreshing experience from this acclaimed series but stumbles way too many times along the way. | Read review |
| OnlySP | Richard Flint | 4 / 5 stars | 09-13-2019 | To sum up Gears 5 in a word would be “satisfying”. From the combat, plot, and ensemble of characters, it all fits neatly together in a well-wrapped present. | Read review |
| Pardis Game | Matin Nasiri | 8 / 10 | 09-20-2019 | Gears 5 is a full package of exciting content that can entertain fans for tons of hours. The campaign tries to deliver a fresh experience by borrowing some new elements from other genres and and the multiplayer is better than ever before. Gears 5 is also a new visual showcase for Xbox One X with running at native 4K and fixed 60fps. However, repetitive & boring level design in the second half of the campaign, alongside open world areas’ bugs & imperfections, prevent this game from becoming a perfect experience. Overall, Gears 5 is a good game but not as epic as how a Gears of War game should be | Read review |
| Paste Magazine | Javy Gwaltney | 7 / 10 | 09-10-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| PC Gamer | Unknown | 78 / 100 | 09-09-2019 | A polished and surprisingly varied campaign married to stalwart PvE and PvP modes which gently refine, rather than revolutionise, the classic Gears experience. | Read review |
| PCGamesN | Benjamin Griffin | 6 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | Familiarly solid cover shooting with the occasional surprise. It’s fitting The Coalition has opted to simply call the latest game ‘Gears’, because mostly, it’s just going through the motions.Benjamin Griffin | Read review |
| PCMag | Benjamin Moore | 4 / 5 stars | 09-16-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| PCWorld | Unknown | 3.5 / 5 stars | 09-11-2019 | Gears 5 still feels like a series in need of an identity, but a more charismatic lead and experiments with open-world structure hold promise for the future—even if they don’t quite pay off now. | Read review |
| Player2.net.au | Unknown | Recommended | 09-03-2019 | Gears 5 offers, in my mind at least, the best game in the franchise yet and that is thanks to the developers feeling comfortable enough to take the game out of its usual wheelhouse. The introduction of the open maps, along with a fantastic story that is sure to make long-time fans jump with glee takes the Gears we know and love and brings it to the next level. | Read review |
| Polygon | Dave Tach | Recommended | 09-13-2019 | Gears 5 is personal, like its predecessor, and insistent in focusing on its characters. It’s thoughtful, and unafraid to stop the action in favor of slower story beats and sections focused on exploration. And those are the parts that I enjoyed the most. | Read review |
| Post Arcade (National Post) | Chad Sapieha | 8 / 10 | 09-06-2019 | The latest Gears of War game is still the gory Gears players know and love, but The Coalition is working hard to evolve Microsoft’s shooter | Read review |
| PowerUp! | Leo Stevenson | 8.1 / 10 | 09-03-2019 | Gears 5, is a decent addition to the franchise. Fans will love the story and lore and will equally enjoy the combat. It doesn’t reinvent the COG but then again, it doesn’t have to. | Read review |
| Press Start | Brodie Gibbons | 9 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 is a big, loud blockbuster that brings so much to the table, it’s easy to under-appreciate it. | Read review |
| Rapid Reviews UK | Aaron Jones | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-08-2019 | The massively popular Xbox exclusive series Gears of War has finally returned, with this latest entry into the franchise being simply titled “Gears 5”. As a fan since the first game, this shortened title is one that speaks to me. It tells me I already know what this game is about, what I should expect and yet the game still managed to blow me away as it does so much more than what fans have come to expect from these games. | Read review |
| Rectify Gaming | Dave Rodriguez | 8 / 10 | 09-10-2019 | Gears 5 ambition and bold direction breathes new life into old legends. | Read review |
| Rock, Paper, Shotgun | Matthew Castle | Recommended | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 left my belly nice and fat, and keen for the next course. | Read review |
| Saudi Gamer | عبدالرحمن بعيون | 9 / 10 | 09-09-2019 | With the new gameplay mechanics, beautiful world, character development and diversity in multiplayer game modes, Gears 5 is the most complete gears experience. It’s an entry in the right direction and one of the best shooter games of this generation. | Read review |
| Saving Content | Scott Ellison II | 5 / 5 stars | 09-17-2019 | The Coalition have changed what it means to be Gears of War. The ambition, drive, and execution on all fronts is to be applauded, this is a Hollywood blockbuster at its finest. Gears 5 has an exceptional campaign that needs to be played. Once you factor in its versus and cooperative modes, this is a package of quality above its value. Gears 5 is absolutely best and most important game in the series across all modes. Do not miss this one. | Read review |
| Screen Rant | Rob Gordon | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 takes steps forward for the franchise, providing the bombastic, bloody violence of the series with both a greater scope and intimate story. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Matúš Štrba | 9 / 10 | 09-06-2019 | Gears 5 dives deeper in Kait’s story and offers better gameplay experience than Gears of War 4 with a lot of fresh ideas, bigger areas and a huge amount of content. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Chris Jarrard | 9 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | If you never liked Gears of War before, this is not going to be the game to change your mind, as it sticks with the same formula, but does finally evolve the design in a positive way. If you were previously a Gears Stan, then this game is a must-buy. | Read review |
| Skill Up | Ralph Panebianco | Recommended | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 Is So Damn Good… | Read review |
| Slant Magazine | Justin Clark | 4 / 5 stars | 09-13-2019 | Gears 5 is the first time the series has made the brutality of its combat feel captivating and disturbingly intimate. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Unknown | 9.1 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| Stevivor | Steve Wright | 9 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 has some great innovations, held back behind the same ol’. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Samuel Guglielmo | 9 / 10 | 09-12-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| Telegraph | Tom Hoggins | 5 / 5 stars | 09-18-2019 | Of all the things I expected from Gears 5 –ear-splitting gunfire, chainsaws and alien heads popping like watermelons– bursts of laughter were not on the list. | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Alessandro Alosi | 9.1 / 10 | 09-03-2019 | Gears 5 is the natural evolution of the historic TPS series and, with its solid gameplay and contents, is a step towards the future that so many fans wanted. Perhaps some of them wished for a more decisive revolution, but the developers’ hard work can be seen and felt, and it can satisfy any kind of player. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Nick Petrasiti | 9 / 10 | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 is a brilliant experience which can be enjoyed alone or with friends in equal measure. It keeps much of the series’ core gameplay and feel, but also takes it in some new directions. It’s great to see Gears evolving, opening the door for even more positive changes in the future. | Read review |
| TrueGaming | Unknown | 8.5 / 10 | 09-06-2019 | Gears 5 is one of the best instalments in the series, the story surprises us with some twists and the multiplayer content is massive, but the series needs to find a new direction in the future before it suffers from fatigue. | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Chris Jecks | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-04-2019 | With Gears 5, The Coalition took some risks, and it makes for one of the best entries in the series yet. | Read review |
| Unboxholics | Θέμης Μπολτσής | Recommended | 09-10-2019 | Gears 5 exceeds expectations and offers an excellent content rich package, with a refreshing campaign and addictive multiplayer. | Read review |
| USgamer | Hirun Cryer | 3 / 5 stars | 09-04-2019 | Gears 5 survives on its solid cover shooting gameplay and a campaign that isn’t afraid to pose difficult questions about problematic topics. But the largely stagnant Horde mode and general mess of an Escape mode really pull the sequel back from being a bold step forward. | Read review |
| VG247 | Simon Miller | Recommended | 09-05-2019 | . It’s like welcoming home an old friend only to find they have a new haircut that looks better the more you see of it. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Lee Mehr | 7 / 10 | 09-15-2019 | Among the upper echelon of Gears entries but sometimes stifled by technical issues. | Read review |
| Video Chums | A.J. Maciejewski | 8.9 / 10 | 09-05-2019 | Gears 5 is the best Gears of War game so far as it features one thrilling campaign and plenty of exciting online multiplayer modes. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Colm Ahern | 8 / 10 | 09-06-2019 | The Coalition has slightly fiddled with the formula, and whilst some adjustments need to be refined for future entries, Gears 5 is ultimately the gorgeous third-person shooter you want it to be. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Dave Aubrey | 8.6 / 10 | 09-09-2019 | Gears 5 is excellent, albeit with a major narrative downfall. While the finale of the campaign definitely left a sour taste in my mouth, the game was so good that I want to keep playing the Horde and multiplayer modes just to get more Gears 5. | Read review |
Awards & Recognition
RECOGNITION
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