PC Gamer’s review of Gears of War: E-Day highlights a clear trade-off: the cover shooting feels better than ever, but the campaign stretches familiar firefights across more than 20 hours. Its verdict praises the multiplayer too, while warning that the solo adventure can outstay its welcome.
A Gears prequel with a familiar Marcus
Developed by The Coalition and published by Xbox Game Studios, E-Day launched on October 6, 2026, at an expected price of $70/£60. The prequel follows the day the Locust emerge from underground, opening with Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago as the invasion begins.
The review’s concern is that this origin story does not give Marcus much of an origin. He already resembles the cynical, traumatized veteran players know from the original game, leaving the prequel’s central premise struggling to justify itself. The opening leans into horror as the squad confronts the invasion, but that mood gives way to familiar Gears combat.
The shooting is the standout
“Gears has never felt better to play,” PC Gamer’s review says. More acrobatic movement and remapped controls make it easier to reach cover without accidentally rolling into danger, while Hardcore difficulty pushes players to keep shifting position instead of camping behind one barrier.
That movement gives combat a satisfying rhythm: weigh up a sniper shot, a chainsaw kill, or a risky dash to better cover. New threats and tools add some bite, from acid attacks and the torso-grappling Goreshot to a device that sends out stunning shockwaves. The review also singles out the spike trap, Torque Bow, and sniper rifle for their punchy feel and sound.
A long campaign that runs out of ideas
The opening’s horror touches offer a change of pace, but the review says the game settles into standard Gears by the start of its second act, once the squad has its weapons and armor. From there, objectives repeatedly boil down to shooting Locust or surviving another wave, with encounters remixing enemy combinations rather than changing the formula.
PC Gamer puts the campaign at more than 20 hours and argues that its narrow loop cannot sustain that length. The review contrasts E-Day’s near-constant firefights with Gears 5’s stealth, traversal, and varied set pieces. Even two helicopter turret sections draw criticism, while checkpoints before unskippable dialogue can add frustration after a failed fight.
Progression and difficulty do not fix the pacing
Weapon and armor mod slots add upgrades such as reduced recoil, better scopes, and faster chainsaw revving. Mods come from sidequests and cases, but the review finds the all-caps “HARD CASE NEARBY” alerts and map markers too heavy-handed, leaving little reason to explore carefully.
Difficulty is another balancing act: Normal is not challenging enough for the reviewer, while Hardcore offers a stronger test but can bring overlong boss health bars. Elite enemies can also feel bullet-spongy, blunting the impact of otherwise excellent gunplay; a vulnerable weak point and the sniper rifle are among the exceptions that make hits feel satisfying.
For players who want polished cover shooting and demanding encounters, E-Day’s core combat has a lot to offer, and PC Gamer’s verdict also praises its multiplayer. But anyone looking for brisk pacing, varied campaign missions, or a shorter run should expect a substantial commitment. The review’s bottom line is that excellent shooting cannot fully rescue a repetitive campaign or a prequel story that struggles to make its case.
