Gears of War

Gears of War is a third-person shooter that drops players into a gritty, war-torn world. You play as Marcus Fenix, a grizzled soldier leading a squad against the monstrous Locust Horde. The game’s cover-based combat system revolutionized shooters when it debuted in 2006.

Battles are intense affairs where you duck behind barriers, pop out to fire, and use the iconic Lancer rifle with its chainsaw bayonet to slice through enemies. The campaign can be played solo or cooperatively, following Delta Squad as they fight to save humanity on the planet Sera.

Beyond the visceral combat, Gears of War is known for its muscular character designs and destroyed urban environments. The game has a distinct visual style with its beefy soldiers and grotesque alien enemies. While light on story in the first entry, the series builds an expansive sci-fi universe across multiple sequels.

Multiplayer modes let players face off in team-based matches using the same tactical cover system from the campaign. With its polished gameplay and influential design, Gears of War kicked off one of Xbox’s flagship franchises and remains a quintessential action game from the Xbox 360 era.