5 Best Video Games Like Gears Of War: E-Day

After last year’s “Gears of War: Reloaded” revived the franchise by remastering the 2006 original game, the Xbox series goes even further back with “Gears of War: E-Day.” A prequel to the entire “Gears of War” story, the latest installment traces the origins of humanity’s war against the Locust horde. The story follows a younger iteration of protagonist Marcus Fenix as he’s caught in the middle of a surprise attack on Emergence Day as the monstrous horde strikes from underground. The gameplay retains the squad-based third-person shooter combat the series is known for, while refining the experience for modern platforms.

For players whose love of the series has been reignited by “E-Day” and are looking for what to play next, there are plenty of games to choose from. We’re highlighting our personal favorite titles that feel the closest to the latest adventure starring Marcus and his best friend, Dom Santiago. These are also largely squad-based third-person shooters, many of them with a clear science fiction approach to the action. Here are the five best video games like “Gears of War: E-Day” that fans should check out next.

Gears of War: Reloaded

We could list numerous titles from the “Gears of War” series, but we’re just going to stick with the previously mentioned “Gears of War: Reloaded.” The 2025 release is technically a remaster of a remaster, updating assets from 2015’s “Gears of War: Ultimate Edition” while porting it to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game’s story takes place 14 years after E-Day, with Dom rescuing Marcus from prison to resume their fight against the Locust. The gameplay revolves around the two battling the Locust across a post-apocalyptic landscape, allowing for either solo or two-person cooperative multiplayer in addition to its competitive multiplayer modes.

As the most recent release in the series before “E-Day,” “Reloaded” looks and feels the most similar to its prequel. Like “Ultimate Edition” before it, the 2025 remaster wisely stays faithful to the 2006 source material, providing more of an upgrade to its technical presentation. The new version also retains all the bonus content originally released for “Ultimate Edition,” making this iteration the comprehensive release. Revising the foundation for the entire series, “Gears of War: Reloaded” updates a classic.

Star Wars: Republic Commando

Predating “Gears of War” by a year, “Star Wars: Republic Commando” brought its own squad-based shooter gameplay to that galaxy far, far away. A first-person shooter, the game follows a small Republic special forces team during the Clone Wars. While completing missions throughout the galaxy, players can command the other three members of the squad to take position or perform battlefield roles. This is accentuated by the squad members having their own specializations, including demolitions and sharpshooting, to help combat the waves of enemies.

“Republic Commando” is one of the best “Star Wars” games, a distinction it holds over 20 years after its original release. “Star Wars” had ventured into first-person shooter territory before, most notably with “Star Wars: Dark Forces,” but the 2005 game heightens the immersion and action. Reflecting the shadowy missions the squad is usually assigned to, many of the missions take place in dark and subterranean environments, which also aesthetically evokes “Gears of War.” “Star Wars: Republic Commando,” which was remastered for modern platforms in 2021, offers an intense black ops vibe to the iconic space opera franchise.

Resident Evil 5

After “Resident Evil 4” brought Capcom’s classic survival horror franchise to a third-person over-the-shoulder perspective, “Resident Evil 5” upped the ante in 2009. The game reintroduces original protagonist Chris Redfield, giving him a new field partner in Sheva Alomar as he investigates an incident in Africa. Chris discovers that this new case is related to his old nemesis Albert Wesker and the villain’s latest plot to decimate humanity. Though the campaign and its DLC can be played solo, the gameplay really excels with two people working together to blast through the infected and save the day.

“Resident Evil 5” is one of the best co-op games of all time, to the point where it feels frustrating to try to play it alone. Taking on waves of enemies together, along with solving light puzzles along the way, just feels more rewarding with a friend. Capcom has experimented further with co-op gameplay in subsequent “Resident Evil” titles, but not yet with the same level of success as its 2009 installment. A major step in the stunning transformation of “Resident Evil,” “Resident Evil 5” brings two-player teamwork to the mainline series.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

Tom Clancy-branded video games have been utilizing third-person shooter gameplay ever since the “Rainbow Six” series, especially in its “Vegas” sub-series. With “Tom Clancy’s The Division” in 2016, the action shifted towards a post-apocalyptic scope while doubling down on squad-based gameplay. The game and its 2019 sequel are set in a world where a contagion has swept the planet, causing society to collapse into widespread lawlessness. “The Division 2” takes place in Washington, D.C., with players controlling a squad trying to restore order to the nation’s capital one neighborhood at a time.

Compared to its predecessor, “Tom Clancy’s The Division 2” feels closer to “Gears of War: E-Day,” though the difference is marginal. While “E-Day” features wide linear environments, “The Division” games revel in the possibilities of open-world exploration and missions as players reclaim territory. “The Division 2” also places a strong emphasis on co-op gameplay as players battle rival factions through the District of Columbia. While some fans may prefer the “Rainbow Six: Vegas” games, “Tom Clancy’s The Division” boasts an environment and action that feels more reminiscent of the “Gears of War” series.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

The “Warhammer 40,000” franchise is another property that’s seen several third-person video games developed around it. One of the most recent is 2024’s “Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2,” a sequel to the 2011 game. Returning protagonist Demetrian Titus is freed from imprisonment, not unlike Marcus Fenix, and rejoins the Ultramarines combating monstrous threats around the cosmos. While retaining the gameplay’s focus on melee combat, Titus has an arsenal of ranged weapons at his disposal as he completes missions around various war-torn planets.

More than just in its technical presentation, “Space Marine 2” feels like an all-around improvement over its predecessor. The missions are more intense, the depth in gameplay and combat are more pronounced, and the environments are more distinct from one another. The online multiplayer modes have also been revamped considerably, from competitive modes to squad-based co-op missions. Perfectly accessible to those who never played the first game, “Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2” is a sci-fi fantasy joy to play.