Critics rate Gears of War: E-Day as generally favorable: it holds a Metascore of 87 and an OpenCritic score of 87, with 92% of critics recommending it. Reviewers almost unanimously praise the best combat the series has had in 20 years and outstanding visuals. The main criticisms are a thin, emotionally uneven story and AI squadmates who sometimes fail to revive you. On Steam, players are cooler, at about 77% positive.
Review scores at a glance
| Aggregate | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic (Xbox Series X) | 87 | 48 critic reviews, 92% positive, none negative |
| OpenCritic | 87 | Top Critic average 88, 92% recommend |
| Steam user reviews | Mostly Positive (~77%) | 3,472 positive of 4,534 on October 6 |
Scores moved a little as reviews came in after the embargo lifted, so you may see 88 or 89 quoted in earlier coverage. The figures above are the ones we checked on launch day. For the full breakdown, see our Metacritic page.
The first wave of reviews covered the campaign only. Multiplayer was not available during the review period, so Horde Siege and Versus are not reflected in these scores.
Scores from individual outlets
| Outlet | Score | Verdict in brief |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Xbox | 10/10 | The best the combat has felt in twenty years |
| DayOne | 10/10 | The best Gears has ever felt to play |
| IGN | 9/10 | Evolves the enemies, weapons and combat |
| GamingBolt | 9/10 | Some of the tightest combat in a long time |
| VGC | 8/10 (4/5) | Lacks emotion but makes up for it in commotion |
| GAMINGbible | 8/10 | A must-play for any Gears fan |
| Gamekult | 5/10 | Does not measure up to recent rivals |
| Polygon, Eurogamer, Game Informer, Windows Central | Unscored | Mostly positive write-ups |
IGN's review was written by Ryan McCaffrey, and VGC's by Chris Scullion. The lone low score came from Gamekult, which felt the game falls short of comparable recent shooters. Windows Central called the visuals some of the most stunning ever seen.
What critics praised
Combat is the headline. Pure Xbox said it is the best the combat has felt in twenty years, and GamingBolt called it some of the tightest shooting in a long time. Eurogamer said it evolves the best parts of the original 2006–2011 trilogy while dropping the cringiest bits.
The weapons get special mention. IGN loved the mix of old and new guns and said each one has a unique purpose. The Breechshot, Incinerator, Ripper and Torque Bow all came up in reviews as standouts.
Visuals are the other big win. Skill Up said it is wild how good the game looks, and reviewers widely described the technical performance as solid. Several critics also called E-Day a good entry point for players new to the series.
IGN also credited the campaign for giving the lesser-known Bravo Squad members whole sections of their own. That made players care about characters such as Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes.
What critics criticised
- Story: several critics found the emotional beats uneven. Skill Up argued there is barely a plot beyond the Locust emerging and you fighting them for 15-plus hours.
- Spectacle over story: some reviews said the narrative sometimes takes a back seat to action set pieces.
- AI squadmates: IGN described being stomped by heavy Locust while an AI ally stood nearby without reviving them.
- Progression: Skill Up called the weapon and gear mod system basic and boring.
- Level design and innovation: some felt the level structure was restrictive at times and that the game leans on nostalgia, with comparisons to Space Marine 2 not in its favour.
The AI issue has a simple fix: play in co-op. The campaign supports up to four players online, or two in split-screen on a single Xbox. Our tips page has more on surviving solo.
What Steam players think
Steam players are more divided than critics. On launch day, user reviews stood at Mostly Positive, with 3,472 of 4,534 reviews positive — about 77%. Coverage at the time framed it as a game that won critics over while splitting Steam players.
The most common complaints were the absence of series trademarks such as chainsaw duels and meat-shield grabs, a story some found dull, and leads who felt toned down. Some players also felt Mags Carter got too much of the spotlight. What players did like was the graphics and the feel of the guns.
Despite the split, interest was strong. During early access, the game peaked at 20,374 concurrent players on Steam, roughly double Gears 5's Steam record of 10,196. See our Steam page for more.
Visuals and technical performance
E-Day was rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5 and targets up to 4K at 60 FPS on console. Critics responded strongly to the result, with Windows Central calling it some of the most stunning visuals ever seen. The darker, more horror-leaning tone of Kalona came through in many write-ups.
On PC the game is demanding: hardware ray tracing is always on and an SSD is required. That means some older graphics cards cannot run it at all. If you are on PC, read our system requirements and best PC settings guides before buying.
What about multiplayer?
Because review copies only included the campaign, there were no scored verdicts on Horde Siege or Versus at launch. The best early read comes from the beta weekends in August. IGN, which played them, described the revamped Horde Siege as a neat evolution of Horde.
Steam players, who did play multiplayer, focused their complaints on missing series mechanics such as chainsaw duels and meat-shield grabs. Expect more multiplayer-focused opinions to emerge in the weeks after launch. Our beta recap explains how the modes work.
Who will enjoy it most
- Series fans: the combat and weapon feel are the strongest the series has had, according to most critics.
- Newcomers: as a prequel, it needs no prior knowledge, and several reviewers called it a good entry point.
- Co-op groups: four-player online co-op fixes the AI revive problem and suits the campaign's tough fights.
- Story-first players: expect a straightforward invasion story rather than a deep narrative.
Is Gears of War: E-Day worth it?
If you care most about combat and spectacle, reviewers are close to unanimous that it is worth playing. Skill Up summed it up as a strong statement of intent and an easy recommendation for anyone after an old-fashioned shooter, solo or in co-op. It is also on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, which lowers the cost of trying it.
If story is your priority, temper expectations. Most critics found the narrative the weakest part, even while praising how the game makes time for its squad. The campaign runs more than 14 hours, so there is plenty to chew on either way.
Weigh up the editions on our Premium Edition page and check how much time you will need in how long to beat.
Sources
References used for this page. Figures were checked on October 6, 2026.
