Gears Tactics

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,505 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Gears Tactics Game Cover
Gears Tactics is big and brash at times, but it’s also deep, intelligent and balanced, with all the heart and passion we’ve come to expect from a Gears game.
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Complete the Gears Tactics tutorial and get Armored Gabe Character Skin for multiplayer modes in Gears 5. Gears Tactics is the fast-paced, turn-based strategy game set 12 years before the first Gears of War. Cities on the planet Sera are beginning to fall to the monstrous threat rising from underground – the Locust Horde. With the government in disarray, a squad of survivors emerge as human…

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Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,505 reviews
story425 positive mentions
replayability31 negative mentions
  • The game features enjoyable and engaging tactical combat, allowing for creative strategies and combos.
  • Graphics and sound design are top-notch, providing a visually appealing experience that captures the essence of the Gears universe.
  • The character customization and skill trees offer a variety of builds, making each playthrough feel unique.
  • The game suffers from repetitive mission types and environments, leading to a lack of variety and engagement as the campaign progresses.
  • Mandatory side missions can feel tedious and serve as filler, detracting from the overall pacing of the story.
  • The requirement for a Microsoft account to play the game is frustrating and can hinder the experience for players.
  • story3,445 mentions

    The story in "Gears Tactics" is generally considered mediocre, serving primarily as a vehicle to connect the game's missions rather than offering a compelling narrative. While some players appreciate the character development and cutscenes, many criticize the repetitive nature of the side missions, which are mandatory and often feel like filler, detracting from the overall experience. The linear progression and limited mission variety contribute to a sense of monotony, making it difficult for players to remain engaged throughout the campaign.

    • “The story has a lot of tie-ins with the main series and for those that catch them, they will be a nice nod to the series.”
    • “The story is decent too, although short if you rip out the filler missions.”
    • “The story itself is also not very appealing, but the voice acting is solid and game mechanics are excellent as always.”
    • “However, it is sad for me to say this quality does not apply to the story as we are exposed to a mediocre one throughout the missions, so all that remains for us to play is the tactics side of the game.”
    • “The story is quite flat; it’s still a Gears game.”
    • “The mandatory side missions in between story missions are a bit of a letdown.”
  • gameplay875 mentions

    The gameplay of Gears Tactics is generally praised for its solid mechanics and engaging tactical depth, drawing comparisons to the XCOM series while introducing unique features like the execution mechanic that grants additional action points. However, many players note that the gameplay can become repetitive due to limited mission variety and a lack of strategic elements such as base building. Overall, while the core gameplay is enjoyable and visually appealing, it suffers from a lack of depth and variety, leading to a mixed reception regarding its long-term engagement.

    • “It's intense, challenging, and rewarding for those who enjoy tactical depth in their gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic; it does some really great things that I think other games in the turn-based tactics genre should try out, especially the way they've done overwatch.”
    • “The core gameplay is fluid, impactful, and fun.”
    • “Gameplay gets very repetitive quickly; the same maps get reused in the mandatory side missions.”
    • “The gameplay is very linear, and the mission choices are pretty dry.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, but it lacks any sort of meaningful strategic gameplay through research, a market, cog training, or a strategic global objective, quickly reducing your campaign to 'choose mission, choose cogs, choose gear, execute... over and over.'”
  • graphics461 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising their high quality, detailed environments, and impressive character models. Players noted that the visuals are well-optimized, running smoothly even on mid-range systems, and the art style effectively captures the gritty aesthetic of the Gears of War franchise. However, some users experienced minor graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly at ultra settings, indicating that while the graphics are a standout feature, they may require robust hardware to fully appreciate.

    • “The graphics are fantastic, but the gameplay is a very linear, horde type shooter rather than a tactical game.”
    • “The graphics and sound design are excellent, creating an immersive and visually stunning world that is full of detail and depth.”
    • “Gears tactics brings a lot of goodies, great graphics, decent story, excellent combat mechanics, and it's just plain fun.”
    • “The graphics are a goddamn joke on ultra.”
    • “It is entirely all graphics and no substance.”
    • “The game seemed promising to begin with until the crashes started after the tutorial, the game producers support page is useless only offering the old reset your graphics to default or delete the local files so on none of which fixes the gt 102 error and crash to desktop.”
  • replayability135 mentions

    Overall, the game suffers from very low replayability due to its linear story progression, repetitive mission design, and lack of diverse gameplay options. Many players noted that once the campaign is completed, there is little incentive to replay, especially when compared to other tactical games like XCOM, which offer more varied missions and strategic depth. While some found enjoyment in the gameplay mechanics, the consensus is that the game lacks sufficient content to encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “The limited number of enemies and relative lack of variety of mission designs makes some of the later 'player choice' missions a bit of a grind, however the story missions and the boss battles make it all worthwhile - and the tactical flexibility allowed by the skill trees makes for some good replayability.”
    • “While I have enjoyed it a lot, it is certainly far from perfect and has very little replay value.”
    • “There is some replay value with veteran missions at least, but not too much.”
    • “Overall, Gears Tactics is not a bad game, but in my opinion offers far less replayability than any XCOM title.”
    • “There are simply not enough decisions to make along the way for any kind of replayability.”
    • “The campaign is simply a linear path with no replayability or strategy of any kind.”
  • grinding98 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tediousness and repetitiveness, with players noting that missions often feel formulaic and lack variety, leading to a slog of repetitive tasks. While some enjoy the initial gear management and squad building, this enjoyment quickly diminishes as the game progresses, with many feeling that the grind for experience and loot becomes unnecessarily drawn out and frustrating. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract from the overall experience, making it less enjoyable for players seeking a more dynamic and engaging gameplay loop.

    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
    • “The grind is real, but the sense of achievement you get from leveling up makes it all worth it.”
    • “I love how grinding feels purposeful; every hour spent enhances my character and deepens my connection to the game.”
    • “In Act 3, this gets extremely tedious since you already have great loot, your soldiers are already kitted out to the max, but you need to complete 3 side missions, so approximately 3 hours of game time, to get some loot you don't need, just to get to the next story mission to finish the game... very tiresome.”
    • “The side missions are tedious and really drag out the campaign longer than it should be, which can make it painful to play at times.”
    • “Unfortunately, the mission system and technical glitches make it incredibly tedious and it punishes simple mistakes.”
  • optimization69 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews. While many players praise its smooth performance and high frame rates even on lower-end systems, some have reported issues such as crashes, stuttering, and inconsistent performance, particularly in specific modes or scenarios. Despite these concerns, the game is generally regarded as well-optimized for its graphics and gameplay, with a solid settings menu that allows for effective customization.

    • “One of the best optimized games I have played in a while, and the graphics are on point.”
    • “The game is well optimized, frame rate rarely spiking and maintaining short load times.”
    • “Just like Gears 5, it's well optimized, plays smooth, never really had a problem with a Gears port on PC after the original on Games for Windows Live in 2007.”
    • “Unfortunately, I have to play in windowed mode; otherwise, I experience constant crashes and stuttering.”
    • “It looks like a console port over to a PC game, which may have something to do with its performance issues.”
    • “The game isn't optimized 100% correctly because I've had several instances where I am unable to shoot at an enemy, despite him being in my 'line of sight'.”
  • stability66 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as mission restarts, freezes, and UI issues. While some players have experienced smooth performance, particularly on platforms like the Steam Deck, the overall consensus leans towards frustration due to the game's frequent technical problems. Despite its appealing graphics and engaging mechanics, the instability has led to a disappointing experience for many, with calls for more patches and improvements.

    • “The game is virtually bug free (except for the aliens of course ;-)).”
    • “It's been a while since I came across a game so polished and bug free.”
    • “Game works great for me, excellent performance even at 4K with SLI enabled (anyone who uses SLI knows this is a miracle for a new release) and typical of any Microsoft published game it runs great on Windows.”
    • “100% money wasted on the buggy game...”
    • “Either the game will restart the mission instead of reloading from the checkpoint, or it freezes during the enemy turn.”
    • “The game is buggy as all hell, and your troops will constantly trigger overwatches when the game says they won't.”
  • music61 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its orchestral quality and dynamic responsiveness to gameplay, enhancing the atmosphere and nostalgia for series fans. However, many find the soundtrack repetitive and not particularly memorable, with comparisons to the music from the 1987 film "Predator." Overall, while the sound design and music contribute positively to the game's experience, they may not stand out as exceptional.

    • “The music dynamically reacts to the events on the battlefield, and it does so in a rather granular manner—whether you're being charged by a horde, just discovered a new pack of enemies, or between fights.”
    • “It's a well-written orchestral soundtrack and adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
    • “The gameplay is really fun and smooth, and the music, sound effects, weapons, animations, abilities, and everything else about the game screams classic Gears of War nostalgia.”
    • “The soundtrack isn't memorable; you better play the XCOM 2 OST instead.”
    • “Forgettable and annoying: music, story, no manual save, managing equipping and inventory, & finally repetitive missions all over.”
    • “The music also seemed kind of empty.”
  • monetization29 mentions

    Overall, the monetization aspect of the game has received positive feedback, as it features no microtransactions or paid lootboxes, which many players appreciated. While some users noted the presence of loot crates, they clarified that these do not involve real money and are purely part of the single-player experience. However, there are mixed feelings about the game's design, with some suggesting that the loot system feels like a remnant of a potential cash grab that was ultimately abandoned.

    • “Good gears game, no microtransactions.”
    • “Thankfully, there's no microtransactions anywhere I can see.”
    • “Great franchise, singleplayer only, amazing graphics, worthy story, very fun gameplay, and especially... no microtransactions!”
    • “It feels like they thought about microtransactions then decided against it but left the menu system for them in.”
    • “It appears that at one point during development they were going to have the loot system be driven by lootbox microtransactions.”
    • “You get to recruit other soldiers and you pick up equipment cases (which stink of lootboxes and microtransactions; I don't know whether that's just a coincidence or it was a mechanic they wanted to implement but then decided against it - there's zero microtransactions in Gears Tactics), which provides mods for your weapons, new armor, etc.”
  • atmosphere24 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its slick graphics, immersive sound design, and orchestral soundtrack, which effectively capture the gritty essence of the Gears of War universe. Reviewers note that the game's art direction and environmental design contribute significantly to its intense and engaging atmosphere, making it feel authentic to the franchise. Overall, the combination of compelling visuals, satisfying audio, and a dark, moody setting enhances the gameplay experience, keeping players invested despite some repetitive mechanics.

    • “The atmosphere, customization, and gameplay are so excellent and well done.”
    • “The game's art direction is also impressive, capturing the gritty and intense atmosphere of the Gears of War universe.”
    • “Gears Tactics attempts to take the atmosphere and feel of the Gears of War franchise and incorporate it into the tactics genre, and in my opinion, they succeed greatly.”
    • “The gameplay itself was fun but as the game went on it rarely introduced new gameplay mechanics which could lead to burnout; luckily the story and atmosphere kept me going.”
    • “Very high notes for the sound and atmosphere of the game that gave an impression of aggressiveness, movement, and combat. The maps so far seem to be more in the arena style, that is, they are not progressive as if you really explored the place.”
    • “The story lacks some depth (so far) but that's not necessarily a bad thing because the atmosphere and setting around the characters is compelling.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of crass, off-color jokes and witty one-liners that fans of the Gears of War series will appreciate, though some players feel it lacks the depth and timing found in other titles like XCOM. While the execution mechanics and character interactions can lead to comical situations, the overall humor is described as hit-or-miss, with some finding it genuinely funny and others feeling it falls short in content and execution. The game's polished visuals and entertaining story help maintain engagement, but the humor's effectiveness varies among players.

    • “The story was very entertaining and kept me coming back for more as expected from any Gears of War installment, compelling dramatic writing, humorous and witty one-liners any Gears fan is used to.”
    • “But the focus on executions is quite funny and creates comical situations.”
    • “Hopefully he goes on sale along with a few other possible 'hero' character DLCs, because the Cole Train is the most sweary, hilarious guy to bring along for the ride, and makes a perfect replacement for that gruff idiot Sid and his stupid eyepatch.”
  • character development18 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the depth and uniqueness of characters, while others criticize it as confusing, minimal, or poorly executed. Many players feel that the character development lacks sufficient backstory and depth, particularly in relation to the main storyline, which is often overshadowed by repetitive side missions. Overall, while there are elements of strong character design and potential for development, the execution leaves much to be desired.

    • “The character development was very well done as well, everybody was different and all had their own motives and spirit in them.”
    • “The gear loot and setup and the character development are a bit more detailed than expected.”
    • “But the landscapes are beautiful, the music operatic, character development tree is deep.”
    • “Character development is poorly designed; for nightmare difficulties, there is just one viable build for every class.”
    • “Character development tree is confusing and bland.”
    • “Very little character development was done on the 'heroes' - it could have helped a lot if they showed the backstories of them.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the emotional impact of the game is diminished due to a lack of character development and meaningful storytelling, making it difficult for players to form attachments to non-hero characters. While some moments do evoke genuine emotion, the overall narrative is often seen as predictable and uninspired, leading to a disconnect during critical events like character deaths. Players express a desire for deeper backstories and more engaging side missions to foster emotional investment, similar to experiences in other games like XCOM.

    • “It makes you feel emotional.”
    • “Although I found the story a bit flat and wholly predictable, it was sufficiently engaging that when it did hit those more emotionally sincere moments, I was pleasantly surprised!”
    • “In XCOM, if one of your recruits dies, there is an emotional attachment which gives the death drama.”
    • “If I didn't know better, I would think I was just playing XCOM 2 all over again, same quests/missions, but a boring story with somewhat different graphics.”
    • “It was created with minimal thought, using a formula created by other developers like the XCOM games, with boring storylines, cliché character classes, and a combat gameplay experience that is just XCOM all over again.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

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Play time

20hMedian play time
79hAverage play time
10-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 49 analyzed playthroughs

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