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GamesRadar+ reviewer Andrew Brown’s early take is that Gears of War: E-Day recaptures the series’ strengths with a focused campaign set in one city, responsive cover-based combat, and hectic firefights. His comparison to Halo 3: ODST is about the impact of a setting that changes over the campaign—not a claim that the games are otherwise alike. The review is still in progress: multiplayer has not been fully assessed, and there is no overall score yet.
Why does Brown compare E-Day to Halo 3: ODST?
The comparison rests on place and atmosphere. Brown describes a campaign that stays in Kalona, an industrial city of Gothic streets, dockyards, and military forts. Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago confront the Locust emergence there, returning to familiar locations as the city is devastated. That single-city structure gives the campaign a strong sense of place and lets the player see its setting change over time—the specific quality behind the ODST comparison.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Gears of War E-Day | Premium Edition | XBOX Series X|S and Windows Digital | $99.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | $14.17 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Xbox One - Gears Of War 5 - [PAL EU - NO NTSC]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51duB8cYpdL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Xbox One - Gears Of War 5 - [PAL EU - NO NTSC] | $16.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Gears of War 3 | $3.81 | Buy on Amazon |
GamesRadar+’s October 1, 2026 review-in-progress calls this a five-act campaign. Brown reports spending 16 hours to finish it while completing most side objectives. That is his playthrough, not a general estimate for how long the game takes.
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Cover and firefights
Brown’s strongest gameplay praise is for the adaptive cover system and the scrappy, fluid fights it helps produce. He says Locust enemies press their advantage by rushing and flanking, which makes combat feel forceful rather than static. His line, “Precision and brute force are equally viable,” captures the range of approaches he found effective. These are the reviewer’s impressions, not independent technical measurements.
#1 Best Overall
- AN ORIGIN STORY BEGINS — Fight alongside Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago in the gripping origin story of Emergence Day, as the Locust Horde erupts from below.
- A DARKER, GRITTIER THREAT — Face reimagined enemies and a terrifying underground invasion that restores the fear, dread, and intensity at the heart of the Gears of War series.
- MULTIPLAYER EVOLVED — Battle in Horde Siege for large‑scale PvE action or prove your skill in refined Versus PvP with greater precision and competitive depth.
- CLASSIC COMBAT, MODERNIZED — Experience signature cover‑based gameplay enhanced with updated movement, traversal, and controls that feel like Gears while playing like something new.
- CO‑OP YOUR WAY — Play online with up to four players across Campaign, Horde Siege, and Versus, or team up locally with 2‑player split‑screen co‑op on console.
Weapons and melee
The weapons are a less consistent part of Brown’s early verdict: he says some guns benefit from modification. He also finds melee combat soft and weightless, a noticeable weakness alongside the otherwise forceful firefights. Dialogue, in his view, can sometimes feel overwritten.
Is this a final review?
No. GamesRadar+ identifies the piece as a review-in-progress and says its multiplayer elements are not fully online for the review. Brown has not yet assessed multiplayer in full, and the page promises a later update and an overall score. The current praise and criticisms should therefore be read as an early campaign-focused assessment, not a final verdict on the whole game.
Rank #2
- PREMIUM EDITION — Includes Bravo Squad Signature Weapon Pack, five Seasonal Customization Packs starting with the Emergence Pack, plus 1,000 Iron to unlock additional in‑game content.
- AN ORIGIN STORY BEGINS — Fight alongside Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago in the gripping origin story of Emergence Day, as the Locust Horde erupts from below.
- A DARKER, GRITTIER THREAT — Face reimagined enemies and a terrifying underground invasion that restores the fear, dread, and intensity at the heart of the Gears of War series.
- MULTIPLAYER EVOLVED — Battle in Horde Siege for large‑scale PvE action or prove your skill in refined Versus PvP with greater precision and competitive depth.
- CLASSIC COMBAT, MODERNIZED — Experience signature cover‑based gameplay enhanced with updated movement, traversal, and controls that feel like Gears while playing like something new.
Platforms and release date listed
GamesRadar+ lists PC and Xbox Series X as platforms and October 6, 2026 as the release date. Those are details shown on the review page; they do not independently confirm current availability. The page’s mention of Xbox Game Pass does not establish that E-Day is included in the service, so check the current listing for your region and platform before making a purchase or subscription decision.
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Best Value
- This item does not work outside US. We cannot guarantee compatibility. You can contact the call center for more information on compatibility.
- Enthralling cinematic story. Experience the epic finale to the Gears of War trilogy
- Unparalleled gameplay
- One of the definitive multiplayer experiences on Xbox LIVE
- Gears of War 3 pushes the envelope for stunning visuals on Xbox 360
Rank #3
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
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.
