Gears 5 is a polished third-person cover shooter whose familiar, satisfying combat is a stronger constant than its story. The Coalition’s 2019 game pairs a campaign of set pieces and some wider spaces with Horde, Escape, and competitive multiplayer. Whether it is worth playing depends on what you want: campaign-first players may find the narrative less compelling than the action, while co-op and versus fans have more modes to dig into.
What is Gears 5?
Gears 5 is a third-person cover-based shooter developed by The Coalition and published by Xbox Game Studios. GameSpot identifies PC and Xbox One versions, while Xbox’s official listing describes the game as optimized for Xbox Series X|S. Check the Xbox listing for the current edition details in your region.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Gears 5: Standard Edition – Xbox One | $16.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Gears 5 | $16.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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JEU Console Microsoft Gears 5 - Xbox ONE | $44.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Gears of War 4 - Xbox One | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | Buy on Amazon |
The combat keeps the series’ recognizable rhythm: move between cover, use your weapons, and time active reloads to get back into a fight. GameSpot’s review describes that loop alongside executions and finds the action polished, but argues that the story does not move the series forward as satisfyingly as it could. That is one critic’s assessment, not a universal verdict. GameSpot review
Is the Gears 5 campaign good?
It is most appealing if you want a focused action campaign built around familiar combat, varied locations, and large set pieces. The structure remains a mix of linear encounters and wider areas rather than becoming an open-world game.
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- From one of the most acclaimed game franchises in history, Gears 5 delivers an epic campaign and brutal action across five thrilling modes
- Campaign: With all out war descending, Kait Diaz breaks away to uncover her connection to the enemy and discovers the true danger to Sera herself
- Escape: A new, aggressive, high stakes co op mode featuring a three player suicide squad that must work together to take out enemy hives from within
- Versus: May the best team win with 10+ other game types plus new and classic maps. Versus rewards every competitive style, from casual to pro
- Horde: Endure 50 waves of ever tougher enemies using new hero abilities, building defenses, collecting power, leveling up your skills and working as a team
Combat, exploration, and Jack’s abilities
PC Gamer praises the location and set-piece variety and notes that Jack, a support character, adds ability-based options to encounters. The additions broaden how fights can play out without replacing the cover-shooter foundation. PC Gamer’s critic called it “categorically the most colourful and visually satisfying in the series to date,” a judgment about presentation rather than a technical benchmark. PC Gamer review
Story and length
Critics differ on how well the story works. GameSpot felt it struggled to deliver a satisfying continuation, while PC Gamer found the overall experience enjoyable but less memorable in substance. TIME also weighed the game’s campaign against its multiplayer and preferred the latter. These are individual critical perspectives; players who prioritize action and spectacle may care less about the narrative’s uneven impact. TIME review
Rank #2
GameSpot estimated about 12 hours for the campaign in its original review. Treat that as one reviewer’s estimate, not a guaranteed completion time: difficulty, play style, and time spent exploring can change how long a run takes. GameSpot review
How good are Gears 5’s multiplayer modes?
The multiplayer suite gives the game a longer runway than the campaign alone. The reviewed modes include co-op-focused Horde and Escape, alongside competitive versus and arcade options. TIME regarded multiplayer as the stronger draw, discussing Horde classes as well as versus and arcade play; that is a useful signal for multiplayer-first readers, not a consensus ranking. TIME review
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Rank #3
- GAMING CONSOLE
- Horde: A cooperative mode built around surviving waves; class roles offer a different emphasis from the campaign’s linear progression.
- Escape: A separate co-op mode included in the multiplayer offering.
- Versus and arcade: Competitive options for players who want player-against-player matches rather than campaign missions.
The cited reviews establish that these modes are part of the game, but they do not establish current matchmaking activity or queue times. Those can vary by platform, region, and time of day, so check the platform’s live multiplayer experience if an active player base is essential to your decision.
Can you play Gears 5 co-op?
Yes. The game’s co-op appeal extends beyond its campaign to Horde and Escape. The available reviews discuss cooperative modes, but do not provide a complete, current breakdown of campaign co-op limits or platform-specific cross-play rules. Confirm the relevant platform listing or in-game details before arranging a session with friends on different systems.
Rank #4
- 25 Years after Gears of War 3, spurred by a series of strange disappearances, JD Fenix must embrace his father’s legacy and battle a terrifying new enemy
- Never Fight Alone: Enjoy two-player co-op with friends locally via split-screen, over Xbox Live or LAN. Player 2 can select either Kait or Del
- Redefined Cover Gameplay: New close-cover combat moves and combat-knife executions turn each piece of cover into an offensive opportunity
- Brutal New Weapons: An incredible arsenal of new weapons includes the Buzzkill and Dropshot, which can shoot around and over cover, raining destruction from all angles
What is the Hivebusters expansion?
Gears 5: Hivebusters is a separate story expansion following Scorpio Squad members Mac, Lahni, and Keegan. Windows Central describes it as a focused origin story with a roughly three-hour campaign and co-op for up to three players; its length is a reviewer’s estimate, not a fixed runtime. Windows Central review
The Steam listing describes the expansion’s premise and multiplayer features. Xbox’s official page says its Game of the Year Edition includes Hivebusters and the Ultimate Add-on, but edition names and contents can vary by regional store listing. Check the Xbox page or Steam listing before buying. The cited reviews do not establish current subscription access or pricing.
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- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
How does Gears 5 run on Xbox Series X|S and PC?
Xbox describes Gears 5 as optimized for Series X|S, but that label alone does not establish a specific resolution or frame rate for every mode. In a 2020 update, GameSpot reported that it took around five seconds to enter campaign action from the main menu on Series X, compared with around 28 seconds on Xbox One X. Those are dated observations from that reviewer, not promises about current hardware, software, or load times. GameSpot review
PC Gamer reported 60 fps at 4K on an RTX 2080 Ti in its review setup. That result describes one configuration and should not be treated as a current minimum or a guarantee of performance on other PCs. PC Gamer review
Is Gears 5 worth playing?
Choose Gears 5 if you enjoy deliberate cover combat and want a campaign with polished action plus several substantial multiplayer modes. It is a less certain recommendation for players who need a powerful story above all else: reviewers praised elements of the presentation and combat, but some found the narrative less memorable or satisfying. Multiplayer-first players may find more lasting value in Horde, Escape, and competitive play, though current activity cannot be inferred from reviews published in 2019 and 2020.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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