Best Strategy Games of 2020
Second Runner-Up: Gears Tactics
Guides Editor Chris Jecks: The Gears of War series is often synonymous with third-person action, bland, grey corridors, more grey alien-like enemies, and the lead characters blurting out some obscenities while they chainsaw through said grey enemies.
While recent entries have steered the series away from its adoration of the color grey, it was 2020’s turn-based strategy spin-off, Gears Tactics, that best highlights the potential the franchise has to offer.
Ditching the third-person shooter genre for a top-down, turn-based strategy title, Gears Tactics’ story takes place not long after E-Day, following Gabe Diaz (father of Gears 5 protagonist Kait) as he’s tasked with taking down the Locust eugenicist, Ukkon. And who knew that the Gears series would be such a perfect match the the turn-based strategy genre.
The game offers up plenty of story tidbits to keep fans of the series ploughing through its roughly 30-hour campaign, and some solid tactical gameplay, too. It’s your usual turn-based affair, with the gameplay most resembling that of X-COM with a hint of Gears of War that makes it feel distinctly unique.
Each character type has its own skills and abilities that are unlocked through leveling up, hero units have their own unique abilities that can help turn the tide of battle, and don’t worry, the series’ penchant for gore isn’t lost here, with chainsaw bayonet attacks and headshots getting their own cinematic cutscenes amidst the top-down action.
Its compulsory side content can occasionally feel like unnecessary padding, but the gameplay’s enjoyable enough you’ll be more than happy to push through regardless, if not just to enjoy the story beats. Gears of War fans, this is a must-play, and it’s on Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass for PC, there is no excuse!
