Gears of War: Reloaded

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.