Gears of War: Reloaded

Updates to the backend and visuals as well as cross platform play and progression make Gears of War: Reloaded the true 'Ultimate Edition' of Gears of War.

Gears of War Reloaded is a masterclass in how to bring a classic game into the modern era. The title comes packed with an impressive suite of new technologies and removes all the barriers in its PC version. On top of that, the game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, showcasing its impressive scalability. It’s practically a development handbook that more studios should follow when it comes to preserving legendary franchises.

Gears of War Reloaded is undoubtedly the best version to try out this iconic saga of its genre. And while we may regret a certain ease in the formula proposed by The Coalition to bring Epic Games' game up to date, a certain laziness even to be more blunt, it remains a very good game to discover in Game Pass. We highly recommend it... but probably not at the price it is offered outside of Game Pass: graphics filters at the price of full games, enough is enough.

A remaster that, between one misstep and one shortcoming, reminds everyone, without exception, how important, epic, and devastating the impact of the first Gears of War was.

Marcus returns to action with improved performance, gameplay refinements, and the same gripping story from 2006. With remastered character models, soundtrack, and voice acting, the game feels both as good and as nostalgic, whether you play solo or with friends. It’s a solid effort by the developers to preserve the essence of the original while elevating it through new technology and modern platforms.

Gears of War: Reloaded stands as the most accessible and stable way to revisit the original chapter, delivering the same heavy gameplay and grim atmosphere that defined the franchise nearly twenty years ago. Choosing to remaster a remaster rather than invest in a full remake feels like a missed opportunity, but on PC the technical polish, consistent performance, and overall fidelity make for a satisfying experience. Some limitations, such as the imperfect ultrawide support and the reliance on an aging engine, hold it back from true greatness, yet the strength of the original design still shines through, reminding us why this classic remains worth playing today.

Gears of War’s second remaster isn’t a substantial makeover, and some rough edges linger, but small improvements pile up to make Reloaded the best way to experience a modern classic.

The renewed legend is once again trying to win the hearts of players - both older and younger. It still manages to entertain and stands solidly alongside current shooters. But it doesn't bring any surprises. It will be appreciated mainly by console players.

A solid and (hopefully) definitive remake of an action classic that can't hide its age.

There are games that more than deserve their "timeless classic" label: Gears of War probably falls into this category, as it has aged so well. Sure, The Coalition's rework has something to do with it, but we're talking about an action title that, at its core, is solid enough to grab the hearts of even those who never got their hands on it. In itself, there's nothing truly new on the horizon, especially since the title already benefited from a remaster in 2016: the experience remains imperfect, it's sometimes a little bland and thin, but it's brutal, enjoyable, and surprisingly timeless. And that's not bad, especially for a first installment released almost twenty years ago.

Undoubtedly the best Gears of War has ever looked, the continuous finessing of the title has only set to highlight some of its eccentricities in an unflattering light. Charming jank of yesteryear is instead jarring to behold by modern standards, even if the gameplay experience still nails the brief in the lofty year of 2025.

A groundbreaking third-person shooter is becoming available on new platforms, everything else remains unchanged compared to a decade ago.

Gears of War's simple shooting and world design are as strong now as they were in 2007, but Reloaded's more technologically advanced visuals sap away the earlier versions’ grimy cartoon charm.