Gears of War 4

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 123 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Gears of War 4 Game Cover
Gears of War 4 is the Gears revival that fans have been waiting for, and proof that the franchise is in the right hands.
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"Gears of War 4" is a horror shooter game that offers a variety of gameplay modes, including single-player, co-op, and multiplayer. The game features a new saga with a good story and splendid visuals, allowing you to fight alongside friends in two-player co-op campaign, both locally and online. With Horde 3.0 and explosive Versus Multiplayer, expect intense action, class selection, leveling, and fortification deployment. The game supports Xbox Play Anywhere and requires broadband internet for download.

  • PC
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 123 reviews
story18 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Gears of War 4 successfully balances nostalgia with new elements, offering an engaging campaign and enjoyable multiplayer modes.
  • The campaign features a solid narrative with relatable characters, and the gameplay mechanics are polished and satisfying.
  • Horde mode has been revamped with a class system and new strategies, making it a fun and cooperative experience.
  • The campaign feels short and lacks a compelling antagonist, leading to a predictable story and unsatisfying ending.
  • Multiplayer modes can feel repetitive and overly reliant on shotguns, which may frustrate players looking for variety.
  • The game introduces microtransactions and a grind for credits, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • story60 mentions

    The story in Gears of War 4 has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its fresh direction and engaging characters, while others found it predictable and lacking depth compared to earlier installments. Many noted that the campaign starts slowly but improves towards the end, though some felt it was ultimately unsatisfying and too short. Overall, while the gameplay remains strong, the narrative has been criticized for being less compelling and innovative than previous entries in the series.

    • “The story has evolved to a new generation, but they have stayed true to their roots.”
    • “The story and characters in the campaign are engaging.”
    • “The story was much better than any of the previous, the gameplay was on par or better than in the past and I can't wait till they come out with Gears 5… so many ways for the story to go!”
    • “When I first started this game, I was feeling a little suspicious and disappointed because the story is so different from the previous games.”
    • “But the story was just flat out boring and predictable.”
    • “Gears of War 4 offers brutish new weapons, new monster fodder, and excellent multiplayer modes, but the game drops the ball by introducing weak characters and a predictable story.”
  • gameplay27 mentions

    Gears of War 4 maintains the franchise's signature cover-based shooting mechanics, delivering a nostalgic yet familiar gameplay experience that fans appreciate. While the game introduces some new mechanics, many players feel it lacks innovation and can be repetitive, with some criticizing the overall pacing and mission design. Despite these concerns, the multiplayer modes, particularly Horde, and the refined mechanics provide enjoyable moments, making it a solid entry in the series.

    • “Gears of War 4 hits the mark with its nostalgic gameplay, engaging narrative, and enjoyable multiplayer mode.”
    • “The game looks incredible, the gameplay is perfect, and it's just tons of gory fun.”
    • “The story is new and fresh and the gameplay is just as fun as ever.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, outside of two unique sections bookmarking the halfway point of the campaign and the end of the campaign, nothing has changed.”
    • “Graphically it's awesome, but man that gameplay is so repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay itself is lacking the visceral 'oomph' of the predecessors: there is no tension, no mood, the colors are too bright, the gunshots, explosions, and even the chainsawing somehow less satisfying.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    Overall, the graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and detail, particularly on next-gen consoles, with many reviewers noting impressive visuals and a strong art style. However, some criticism arises regarding repetitive environments and certain less appealing textures, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these mixed elements, the graphics are generally considered a standout feature that enhances the gameplay.

    • “The next-gen visuals blow me away.”
    • “Graphics are amazing, sound quality is jaw-dropping, especially with Dolby Atmos support that was recently added on the Xbox One Insider program.”
    • “The graphics are top notch and the variety of enemy swarms they throw at you is a blast!”
    • “Much like the new Star Wars sequels, this game is graphically amazing, but completely lacks the soul of the originals.”
    • “There's a few things that made it special - (1.) odd, clunky, slow third-person controls, (2.) ultra-gritty, ultra-gore, hyper-masculine art style (very much a Cliff Bleszinski game), (3.) the epic, apocalyptic story/cinematic set pieces, and (4.) super memorable characters due to great, often witty dialogue and incredible voice acting.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the new main characters, who are both funny and relatable, providing a refreshing change from previous installments. Players found themselves laughing throughout the experience, particularly enjoying the witty dialogue exchanged between characters.

    • “The new main characters are funny and relatable in a way that previous Gears games were not.”
    • “This game had me laughing all the way through it!”
    • “One plus was some funny dialogue between the characters.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players express frustration with the excessive grinding required to progress in the game without resorting to microtransactions, highlighting that this aspect can make the experience tedious and less enjoyable. Additionally, concerns are raised about the high cost of the season pass and other related issues.

    • “But the microtransactions, the insane amount of grinding needed if you don't buy the microtransactions, the overpriced season pass, and the below issues with horde are definitely worth mentioning before you buy.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its stability, with users reporting numerous bugs, including menu freezes and in-game glitches, which detract from the overall experience. While the story may appeal to fans, the technical issues significantly impact gameplay quality.

    • “As a fan of the Gears of War series, I enjoyed the story, but the game itself seems quite buggy.”
    • “Poor campaign pacing, menu freezes, and in-game glitches.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is notably more lighthearted compared to its predecessors, featuring characters who engage in playful banter and humor, while still retaining some of the charm from the original titles.

    • “The atmosphere is more lighthearted than in the previous games, with the characters delivering more quips and joking around, although there was some of that in the originals too.”
    • “The atmosphere is more lighthearted than the previous games, with the characters spouting more quips and kidding around, although there was some of that in the originals too.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game's deeper classes, diverse skill sets, and card-based system significantly enhance its replayability, offering players varied tactical options and encouraging multiple playthroughs.

    • “The deeper classes, skill sets, and card-based system make it highly replayable and enhance tactics for the better.”
    • “Each playthrough offers new strategies and experiences, keeping the game fresh and engaging.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two games feel the same, encouraging multiple runs.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Gears of War 4 features a loot treadmill that heavily emphasizes microtransactions, which detracts from the overall experience, particularly for casual players. While the campaign is praised, the monetization strategy has received criticism for being overly aggressive and uninviting.

    • “Gears of War 4 is probably the best Gears campaign so far, but it's saddled with uninteresting robotic enemies, a multiplayer suite that makes no concessions to casual players, and a loot treadmill that pushes microtransactions too aggressively.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
9hMain story
14hCompletionist
4-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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