Roundup: Here’s What The Critics Are Saying About Gears Of War: Reloaded

Gears of War: Reloaded is out now across Xbox, PC and PS5 platforms – as Marcus Fenix and co. make their big return on even more platforms than ever. We’ve delivered our Pure Xbox review elsewhere on the site already, but what are other critics thinking? And what are folks saying about the PS5 release?

Well, we’re here to round up some of the initial reviews for Gears Reloaded, to see how others are getting on with the brand-new remaster. So, without further ado, here’s what the early reviews say about Gears of War: Reloaded:

Loot Level Chill (10/10)

“It’s easy for me to say play Gears of War: Reloaded on PS5. The gameplay is still exceptional. The enhancements via the DualSense controller make it even better. Some of the visuals aren’t as crisp as they used to be, but nowhere near enough to make the game suffer. This is still a masterpiece. We have a lot to thank The Coalition for, and a whole new generation of gamers have been given the opportunity to play one of the finest shooters of all time. There’s nothing else I can say other than get out there and give ’em hell.”

Pure Xbox (9/10)

“Gears of War: Reloaded is an excellent game. Sure, it’s quite basic compared to modern Gears games and sure, the core of the experience is very similar to Gears of War: Ultimate Edition – but I still think this release was a worthwhile endeavour, and then some. Gears of War: Reloaded is a great reintroduction to one of Xbox’s most famous franchises, and I’m going to soak it all in as I wait with baited breath for the next Gears installment in 2026.”

COGConnected (8.5/10)

“Sure, Gears of War: Reloaded shows its age. But that was inevitable. This is by no means a remake. Rather, it’s a solid remaster that updates a classic experience just enough to bring it into the modern world. I wish we had the ability to remap controls, but overall, Reloaded did an excellent job of scratching a nostalgic itch I didn’t even know I had. If there are plans to remaster Gears 2 and 3, I’ll be there, Lancer in hand.”

TechRadar Gaming (8/10)

“Beneath all of the enhancements, Gears of War: Reloaded is the same ultra-violent adventure starring everyone’s favorite group of gruff, foul-mouthed soldiers and their chainsaw-sporting guns. The fact that this previously Xbox-exclusive game is now available on PlayStation for the first time is a clear sign of changing times, but one thing hasn’t changed a bit: it’s still just as fun mowing through grubs now as it was in 2006.”

Dexerto (8/10)

“Gears of War: Reloaded is the definitive version of one of the best shooters ever made. Developer The Coalition has brought the legendary shooter into 2025 while retaining all of the bloody magic that made it special in the first place. Sure, the story is nothing to write home about, and you might spend a little too much time fighting the wrong kind of bugs, but this is an otherwise perfect introduction to Marcus and his muscly band of misfits.”

CGMagazine (7.5/10)

“Gears of War: Reloaded is a great way to experience the original Gears game with a friend if neither of you has played it before. Otherwise, it is notable to see a flagship Xbox title on PlayStation, but the gameplay feels especially clunky in 2025.”

Push Square (7/10)

“One of the most iconic Xbox franchises ever lands on PS5 with somewhat of a graphical thud. On its second remaster, Gears of War: Reloaded won’t impress visually. However, with a campaign that still has something to offer despite its dated design, and an excellent multiplayer mode on top, this is a welcome introduction to the Gears of War series. 20 years later, the game that started it all is still more than worth playing.”

WellPlayed (6.5/10)

“Undoubtedly the best Gears of War has ever looked, the continuous finessing of the title has only set to highlight some of its eccentricities in an unflattering light. Charming jank of yesteryear is instead jarring to behold by modern standards, even if the gameplay experience still nails the brief in the lofty year of 2025.”

Final Weapon (6/10)

“Gears of War makes its PlayStation debut with a new remaster of the first game in the series, Gears of War: Reloaded. I’ll admit, there is something surreal about seeing Marcus Fenix and Cole Train chainsawing through locusts on a Sony console. However, once the novelty of playing a Gears game on PlayStation wears off, it quickly becomes apparent that you are playing a nearly two-decade-old game with very few visual updates or new upgrades. I was left wanting much more, especially considering this is the second remaster we’ve seen for Gears of War.”

We were definitely on the high-end then being big Gears fans, but still, Gears of War: Reloaded is doing pretty well for itself right now. We’re looking at a score of 81 on both Metacritic and OpenCritic at the moment, and this latest Gears release is available right now on Xbox Game Pass.

Who’s getting stuck into Gears Reloaded, then? Talk to us about this latest Xbox release down below.