Gears of War
Also known as Gears of War 1
Gears of War is a 2006 third-person shooter developed by Epic Games, a landmark console title that popularized cover-based combat and showcased the studio's Unreal Engine 3. Players join hardened soldier Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad in humanity's brutal war against the subterranean Locust Horde on the planet Sera.
The game built its tense, deliberate combat around ducking behind cover and advancing in bloody firefights, punctuated by the active-reload mini-game that rewarded well-timed button presses and the iconic Lancer rifle with its chainsaw bayonet. Its gritty, muscular aesthetic, drop-in cooperative campaign, and multiplayer modes helped define the visual style of a console generation and cemented the stop-and-pop cover shooter as a genre staple imitated for years.
Gears of War launched a hugely successful franchise spanning numerous sequels and spin-offs. The original was later remastered with updated visuals and effects, letting new players experience its brutal war on modern hardware.
Where can you play Gears of War today?
Device by device, which of the 3 alternatives below you can play on it.
- PC
- Deadlink (€ 24,99), Remnant II (€ 49,99) and Gears 5 (€ 39,99).
- Mac
- None of the alternatives to Gears of War runs on Mac.
- Linux
- None of the alternatives to Gears of War runs on Linux.
- iPhone
- None of the alternatives to Gears of War runs on iPhone.
- iPad
- None of the alternatives to Gears of War runs on iPad.
- Android phone
- None of the alternatives to Gears of War runs on Android phone.
- Android tablet
- None of the alternatives to Gears of War runs on Android tablet.
- PlayStation
- Deadlink (€ 24,99) and Remnant II (€ 49,99).
- Xbox
- Deadlink (€ 24,99), Remnant II (€ 49,99) and Gears 5 (€ 39,99).
- Switch
- Deadlink (€ 24,99).
Games like Gears of War
Modern alternatives to Gears of War, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
Deadlink Indie
€ 24,99An indie fast-paced roguelite shooter with punchy gunplay.
Deadlink is also an alternative to 1 other classic
Deadlink runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Playable.
Remnant II
€ 49,99A third-person cover shooter with co-op and tough bosses.
Remnant II runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch. It is Steam Deck Unsupported.
Gears 5
€ 39,99A modern entry continuing the cover-shooter formula.
Gears 5 runs on PC, Xbox. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Switch. It is Steam Deck Playable.
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