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Gears 5 is worth considering if you enjoy third-person cover-based shooting and want both a campaign and multiplayer options in one game. Its appeal is less certain if you want a different combat style or are choosing primarily for a particular co-op or split-screen setup: mode availability and edition contents should be checked for your platform before buying.
What is Gears 5?
Gears 5 is a third-person cover-based shooter from The Coalition, published by Xbox Game Studios. Its action is built around moving between cover, using weapons and grenades, and fighting Swarm and Locust enemies. That structure gives the game a distinct tactical-shooter identity, but it also means the central combat style is not a fit for everyone. TIME’s launch review discusses the campaign and multiplayer, but its critical judgments are one reviewer’s perspective rather than a universal verdict.
The official Xbox listing and Gears of War page present the campaign and multiplayer as core parts of the game. On Steam, the feature listing includes single-player, online PvP, shared/split-screen PvP, online co-op, shared/split-screen co-op, and cross-platform multiplayer. Those labels describe the Steam listing; they do not establish that every mode works in every platform and mode combination or reflect current online-service conditions.
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| Potential advantage | Possible drawback | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign and multiplayer give you different ways to play. | The value of the campaign’s story and pacing depends on personal taste. | Players who want both a solo campaign and multiplayer options. |
| Cover-based squad combat provides a clear, recognizable action style. | Players who prefer a different combat structure may find the core formula less appealing. | Fans of tactical movement between cover and coordinated firefights. |
| Steam lists online and split-screen PvP and co-op options. | Exact mode support varies by platform and should be verified for the setup you plan to use. | Players who have confirmed their preferred mode is supported on their platform. |
| Game of the Year Edition listings include Hivebusters and other add-on content. | Contents can differ by listing or region, and buyers who already own add-ons should check for duplication. | New buyers who want the expansion and included extras in one purchase. |
| Official Xbox pages describe optimization or new features for Xbox Series X|S. | The cited listings do not establish a specific resolution or frame rate. | Series X|S owners looking for the optimized version. |
What does Gears 5 do well?
It combines a campaign with multiplayer
The game offers more than one kind of engagement: a campaign for solo play and multiplayer modes for competitive or cooperative play. That breadth is a practical strength if you want a single game that can serve different play sessions. The official pages foreground the campaign and multiplayer, while Steam’s listing specifies its advertised play categories.
#1 Best Overall
- GAME LIST: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version), Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. Versions for other regions of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD Collection version) can be downloaded separately from the store. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker supports online play for up to 6 players.
- DIGITAL BOOKS: Metal Gear Solid 4: Screenplay Book, Metal Gear Solid 4: Master Book, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Screenplay Book, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Master Book. All are accessible via the in-game Start Menu.
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Its combat has a focused identity
Cover is central to how Gears 5 plays. Players who enjoy advancing between defensive positions, coordinating with a squad, and choosing when to attack may find that structure satisfying. The same design is a limitation if you would rather have fast, open movement or another style of shooting; this is a fit assessment based on the game’s described combat, not a measured claim about player opinion.
There is an expansion-inclusive edition
The Xbox and Steam listings identify a Game of the Year Edition that includes the Hivebusters expansion and additional add-on content. If the expansion is the reason you are choosing an edition, inspect the exact store listing for your region and platform: the available sources do not establish that every regional listing has identical contents.
Rank #2
- The story, characters, voice acting, gameplay, and music that made the original a sensation return, remade for modern consoles
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Series X|S support is officially highlighted
Xbox and the official Gears of War page describe the game as optimized for Xbox Series X|S or highlight a Series X|S update. This supports saying that the game has Series X|S-specific optimization or features; it does not support promising a particular frame rate or resolution.
What might disappoint you?
The campaign may not suit your story preferences
Whether the campaign’s narrative and pacing work for you is subjective. TIME’s launch review provides an individual critical perspective, not enough evidence to represent a comprehensive critical consensus. Consider whether you are primarily interested in the shooting and setting or whether a particular kind of story is essential to your purchase.
Rank #3
- From one of the most acclaimed game franchises in history, Gears 5 delivers an epic campaign and brutal action across five thrilling modes
- Campaign: With all out war descending, Kait Diaz breaks away to uncover her connection to the enemy and discovers the true danger to Sera herself
- Escape: A new, aggressive, high stakes co op mode featuring a three player suicide squad that must work together to take out enemy hives from within
- Versus: May the best team win with 10+ other game types plus new and classic maps. Versus rewards every competitive style, from casual to pro
- Horde: Endure 50 waves of ever tougher enemies using new hero abilities, building defenses, collecting power, leveling up your skills and working as a team
The cover-based formula is not a universal draw
The game’s core combat remains cover-based third-person shooting. That is a selling point for players who want that style, but a meaningful drawback for anyone looking for a substantially different approach to combat. The choice is not simply whether the game is good; it is whether this particular structure is what you want to play.
Mode support is platform-specific
A store’s list of features should not be treated as proof that every mode is available in every configuration. If you plan to play split-screen, co-op, PvP, or across platforms, confirm the exact mode support on the platform and edition you intend to use. The Steam listing includes those feature labels, but current service conditions and all platform-specific combinations are not established by that listing.
Rank #4
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- Experience an original scoundrel story. Live the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. Turn any situation to your advantage with Nix by your side: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.
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- Jump into the pilot seat. Pilot your ship, the Trailblazer, as you engage in thrilling dogfights with the Empire and other foes. Find the right opportunities to chase, evade, and attack to get the upper hand.
Which Gears 5 edition or platform should you choose?
Choose based on how you will play and what content you already own, rather than assuming one edition is best for everyone.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match- For campaign-first play: Compare the base game and Game of the Year Edition in your store. Choose the latter if you want Hivebusters and its listed add-on content.
- For multiplayer or local play: Check that the exact platform listing supports your intended mode—online or split-screen, PvP or co-op—before purchasing.
- For Xbox Series X|S: The official Xbox and Gears pages identify optimization or Series X|S features. Do not base the decision on an assumed resolution or frame rate.
- If you own some content already: Review the edition’s included add-ons and your library to avoid paying again for content you have.
Store prices and edition contents can change, and the cited sources do not establish current regional pricing or physical-disc availability. Check the live listing for your region, platform, and preferred format before you buy.
Best Value
- This innovative game series was born from the idea of avoiding combat and infiltrating enemy territory undetected
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- Video: Metal Gear Solid; Digital Graphic Novel and Metal Gear Solid 2; Digital Graphic Novel
- Includes Metal Gear Solid: Digital Soundtrack
Is Gears 5 worth playing?
Gears 5 is a stronger fit if you want a cover-based shooter with a campaign plus competitive or cooperative options, and its Game of the Year Edition may make sense if you also want Hivebusters. It is a weaker fit if you dislike cover-focused combat or are buying for a mode that your particular platform does not support. Treat “worth playing” as a decision about combat preference, story interest, play mode, and edition contents—not a single verdict that applies to every player.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
