Gears of War E-Day review: a hole new world that grubs me up in all the right ways
Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel to the landmark 2006 original, returning players to the moment of the Locust Emergence—the catastrophic event that sets the franchise’s narrative in motion. The game explores the beginning of humanity’s fight against the underground-dwelling Locust species who breach the surface of the planet Sera.
According to Eurogamer’s review, E-Day successfully balances nostalgia with forward-thinking design despite its prequel status. The title maintains the series’ signature gameplay mechanics, including waist-high cover systems and dynamic firefighting, while demonstrating that revisiting the franchise’s origins can inform fresh creative directions. The reviewer praises the game’s ability to honor its roots while moving the series forward rather than retreading familiar ground.
The review highlights that E-Day avoids becoming a formulaic prequel by using its premise to explore meaningful narrative ground at the franchise’s foundation. The game retains the series’ action-driven tone and aesthetic, combining strategic cover-based combat with the franchise’s characteristic intensity and machismo.