Gears of War: Reloaded Review (PS5) – Still a Blast to Play

Gears of War: Reloaded shows just how well Gears of War has aged in terms of originality, fun, and replayability. As a long-time Gears of War fan who has played the original trilogy multiple times, Gears of War Reloaded managed to hook me all over again. Playing through the lens of a reviewer this time around, I couldn’t help but notice all the little details and ultimately what still makes the original Gears of War great all these years later.

Game Name: Gears of War: Reloaded
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PC
Developer(s): The Coalition
Publisher(s): Xbox Game Studios
Release Date: August 26, 2025.

The horror elements and sound effects in Gears of War are still impressive. It always feels unnerving hearing the Locust hiss and grunt as they approach, while also putting a smile on my face when one of them tries to give me a jump scare. Gears of War is so good because it has such a gritty and dark atmosphere while also having some of the best cover shooting to ever exist. It is a versatile shooter too, offering multiple weapons to blast and gib Locust into bits, and I really admire that in 2025.

Reloaded once again proves that there is no other experience like Gears of War. It is still as thrilling and satisfying as it was for me almost 20 years ago. The horror elements and intense action that Gears of War provides from the start are still really good. I will always remember the first time I met the Berserker, all those years ago, and seeing her again in Reloaded relives that special moment for me. Only this time, it looks and plays better than ever.

From the bromance and sarcastic dialogue between characters to the intense encounters with Wretches and Boomers, with everything in between, Gears of War is still a blast to play, and Reloaded proves it always will be. What is even more exciting is that more players than ever can experience Gears of War with all the bells and whistles.

The Almost Perfect PS5 Port

Arguably, the most enticing reason to play Reloaded is Gears of War’s release on PlayStation for the first time. Anyone who missed the chance to play this iconic franchise can now dip their toes in and experience one of the most influential games to come from the Xbox platform. You will be able to experience Reloaded on PS5 with a total of 57 trophies, as well as activities and challenges, all while using the DualSense controller that features haptics, force feedback, and adaptive triggers when you blow Locust to bits.

For those on PS5 Pro, you get even more improvements. This includes shadow quality upgrades, high-quality sampling, faster render resolution increase by 25 percent, and extra clarity that PSSR brings. Needless to say, Gears of War: Reloaded looks fantastic on the PS5 Pro and especially on an OLED TV.

As great as Gears of War Reloaded looks and performs on the PS5 Pro, it is not without its hiccups, which are almost iconic and nostalgic at this point. Anyone who experienced the original Gears of War or Gears of War Ultimate Edition is no stranger to the game acting funny at times, and it is no different here. Marcus’s partner, Dom, still acts silly when playing solo in the campaign. I saw him get stuck between cover while running around like a chicken with its head cut off, and the more I sped through familiar areas, the wackier he became.

I mostly ignored it because I am used to it from the previous games. However, for others, Dom behaving this way may get annoying. I also noticed a few glitches, such as Cole not having a gun equipped at one point and Jack taking much longer than usual to open a door. It is not perfect, but considering it is an almost 20-year-old game, I still feel that Gears of War has aged well in both entertainment and performance.

Scratch One Grub! Again!

So why play the original Gears of War again, you may ask? Performance is a key reason many will want to experience this remaster for both campaign and multiplayer. We can now experience Gears of War: Reloaded with 4K resolution and HDR, 60fps for the campaign, and 120fps for multiplayer, which falls in line with today’s gaming standards.

For those who want to experience the Gears of War multiplayer again or for the first time, Reloaded has you covered. All 19 multiplayer maps are remastered with 4K textures and visual improvements, and cross-play support will bring all platforms together in 8 PVP game modes such as Team Deathmatch, Execution, Annex, and King of the Hill. Unfortunately, I was not able to play any multiplayer due to empty lobbies, but I did play in the prior beta and had a great time.

There is also a list of fixes the developers are implementing due to beta feedback, such as PC improvements, Gnasher tuning, and improved cross-platform icons, so we will see which platform everyone is on. Now that is a console war I can get behind.

Not to mention, full cross-play and cross-progression so you can play where you want and with whomever you want, regardless of platform.

The Verdict

Gears of War: Reloaded revitalizes a classic with sharper visuals, smoother performance, and enough upgrades to make it feel fresh without losing its identity. It is still one of the most thrilling shooters of its era, and this remaster proves just how well it has aged. The only real disappointment is that Gears of War 2 and Gears of War 3 remain untouched, leaving fans hungry for more. At $40, or free for digital Ultimate Edition owners on Xbox and PC, plus day one on Xbox Game Pass, Reloaded is a great value and the perfect way to relive where the saga began.