Gears of War came back swingin’!
Gears of War: E-Day officially launched on October 6, 2026. Early access players jumped in five days early, and this latest entry in Xbox’s iconic franchise has already earned an impressive 88 on Metacritic.
Read our full review of the campaign here. In the review, we praised the game for its strong accessibility options, immersive story, and support for Xbox initiatives such as Xbox Play Anywhere. Ultimately, we awarded Gears of War: E-Day a 9.3 out of 10.
However, with our campaign impressions already covered in depth, one major question remains: How do the other modes hold up?
Gears of War: E-Day offers more than just its campaign, with online PvP multiplayer and Horde Siege giving players plenty to experience after the credits roll. In this breakdown, I’ll take a closer look at both modes, explain what they bring to the overall package, and determine whether they are worth your time.
For the horde!
What is Horde Siege in Gears of War: E-Day?
Horde Siege is a 12-player PvE mode that divides players into three squads, with each group completing separate objectives across the map. Squads can help one another when needed, but they are not required to stay together in order to succeed.
Throughout each match, players will encounter a mix of primary and secondary objectives. One example is Secure, which requires your squad to push into a Locust-controlled area and clear out the enemies holding it. Another is Defend, where players must protect a R.I.G. from incoming Locust attacks. Secondary objectives can also appear along the way, such as eliminating a high-value target for additional rewards.
As the match progresses, the action steadily becomes more intense, eventually leading to a final wave with a boss encounter. This structure gives Horde Siege a better sense of momentum and helps each run feel more varied than simply surviving one wave after another.
For players who prefer a more traditional Horde experience, similar to what was featured in Gears of War 2, there is also a horde defense mode. This option removes the objective-based structure and focuses more heavily on straightforward combat. If you would rather spend your time shooting, chainsawing, and fighting through waves of enemies, horde mode offers the closest thing to that familiar experience.
Personally, I preferred the objective-based approach. Working with my squad toward specific goals gave each match a stronger sense of purpose and made Horde Siege feel more engaging than a standard wave-based mode.
Play Your Way
The class system also plays a big role in keeping the experience fresh. At launch, players can choose between four classes: Assault, Breacher, Medic, and Marksman. Each one supports a different playstyle and gives players a clear role on the battlefield.
My favorite was the Marksman, which is built around long-range precision combat. The class also has access to a drone that can tag enemies across the battlefield, making it easier for your squad to identify threats and coordinate attacks. That combination of precision shooting and team support made the Marksman the best fit for how I like to play.
Let’s Talk PVP
PvP multiplayer has always played a major role in the Gears of War series, and Gears of War: E-Day continues that tradition while taking a noticeably different approach from many modern online games.
One of the biggest differences comes from the decision to skip a traditional battle pass. Instead, players can earn nearly all in-game cosmetics simply by playing. The game avoids locking most rewards behind limited-time seasonal progression or forcing players to grind before content disappears. A few exceptions exist, such as cosmetics included with premium editions, but regular gameplay still unlocks most of the available rewards.
For me, that approach feels like a breath of fresh air. As I get older, FOMO-driven content has become a major turnoff. I appreciate a multiplayer game that allows me to unlock rewards at my own pace instead of constantly pressuring me to log in before something disappears.
Missing Core Features
The Coalition has stated that it built Gears of War: E-Day from a clean slate rather than relying on data or systems from previous games in the series. As a result, some core multiplayer features are currently missing at launch, including Ranked mode and private lobbies.
Personally, their absence does not bother me much because I do not play Gears of War primarily for competitive multiplayer. Still, they are important omissions to mention, especially for longtime and hardcore players who rely on Ranked play and private matches as a major part of the Gears multiplayer experience.
The New Movement System is Great!
Gears of War: E-Day introduces several new movement mechanics to the franchise, including sliding, taking cover behind lower terrain, and a generally smoother feel during combat. In my opinion, these changes greatly improve the PvP experience.
In previous Gears of War games, many close-range fights could devolve into chaotic wall-bouncing battles because of how movement worked. E-Day feels more fluid and controlled, which makes gunfights easier to read and more satisfying to play. So far, I believe it offers the best-feeling PvP combat in the Gears of War series.
That said, the Gnasher still feels overused and arguably overpowered, much like it has in previous entries. The game is still very new, though, and the competitive meta has not had enough time to fully develop. As players continue to experiment with weapons, movement, and team strategies, it will be interesting to see how the Gears of War: E-Day PvP meta evolves.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I believe Gears of War: E-Day delivers a multiplayer package that’s well worth your time outside of the campaign. Horde Siege offers a fun and varied PvE experience when you want to kick back, relax, and tear through waves of Locust with friends.
When you want something more competitive, the PvP multiplayer delivers some of the best combat the Gears of War series has offered. While the absence of features like Ranked mode and private lobbies keeps the multiplayer suite from feeling completely finished, the core gameplay remains strong enough to keep me coming back.
I also appreciate E-Day’s lack of FOMO-driven progression. Unlocking most rewards at my own pace makes the experience feel far less demanding than many modern multiplayer games. That player-friendly approach, combined with Horde Siege and satisfying PvP combat, gives me plenty of reasons to jump back into Gears of War: E-Day long after finishing the campaign.
