Gameplay
This category is undoubtedly a tough one to compare, as it’s a test of innovation and dependability.
In Gears Tactics, gameplay is new and surprisingly deep. Large branching skill trees and cases that give out stat boosts are just a few of the features the Coalition developed strategy title offers.
Thanks to the grit and gore home to the series, executing attacks in Gears Tactics is immensely satisfying, too. Whether you’re using a Vulcan Minigun or the Lancer, every successful kill is a reminder of why the franchise stood out in the first place as a first-person shooter when it debuted in 2006.
Gears Tactics likely wouldn’t have a leg to stand on if it wasn’t for the foundation provided by the XCOM series, though, would it?
XCOM Chimera Squad proves it’s one of the best strategy series out there once again by boasting incredibly polished gameplay that somehow manages to improve upon the previous installment. Alongside everything we loved in XCOM 2 War of the Chosen, the newest chapter has a ton of variety when it comes to the characters you use.
Depending on your loadout, you’ll be able to combine attacks –like lifting enemies out of cover– to deal hefty damage and give you the edge in combat. Couple the new attacks with the addition of tactical breaches (which are so damn fun to use), and it might be safe to say that Chimera Squad has the best gameplay of any XCOM game so far.
Like I said at the outset, the gameplay for both games is stellar, making this one too tough to call. While XCOM Chimera Squad is as good as any title in the series before it, there is no denying that the gameplay in Gears Tactics measures up, despite only being the first strategy title in the series.
Winner: Tie
