5 Best Gears of War DLC, Ranked

Gears of War may be one of the best action game franchises, not to mention one of the greatest titles to graze the Xbox archives. Coming from the same folks responsible for Fortnite, we shouldn't expect any less. Different developers have handled the series over the years, all of whom have done a proper job with each title. They have managed to maintain consistency in terms of quality and releases. the titles in the Gears of War DLC gameplay entails shooting at your opponent while shielding yourself with barriers, all while attempting to defend your territory.

Developers have also managed to incorporate meaningful narratives into the games, which have added to the franchise's success. However, some games did not quite do as well as others. This is understandable; having so many titles under one series means some will be better than the rest. That's why we are ranking five of the best Gears of War DLC titles; from the best to the greatest. Find out below if your favorite titles made the cut.

5. Gears of War 2

Gears of War was a success and made a name among other titles in the genre. It was up to the sequel to make that achievement stick. As the second entry in the series, Gears of War 2 plays a huge role in setting the ground for the series' expansion. It refined and significantly amplified the concepts and content from the original game. And that is how Gears of War 2 earned its spot on the best Gears of War DLC list. 

The game is also responsible for the existence of Horde mode in most games of a similar genre. This is thanks to the innovative developers handling the series at the time who introduced the mode in Gears of War 2 for the first time ever. Besides all those already outstanding details, the game also featured new exciting environments and character additions. Aspects that make it one of the most memorable plays among fans. 

4. Gears of War 4

Gears of War 4 is the first series from The Coalition, the current developer of the series. It is the game that opened the floor for the many incredible creations to come. Similarly, it serves as proof that the franchise can move forward even without its original developers. This is marked by several exciting additions to Gears of War 4, which include robotic opponents and randomly set-up loot boxes. What makes this game more likable is the added maps that allow free matchmaking rotations at regular intervals. 

The game is fairly impressive mainly because developers had a lot to measure up to. Moreover, it needed to ensure subsequent games would only be more promising. Although some may argue that the introduction of new protagonists was a stretch, still, these are the types of changes that make the game distinguishable. The campaign and writing of the game have also been a subject of critique. Aside from that, Gears of War 4 has received praise for its set pieces, combat and visuals. 

3. Gears Tactics

Just as the name suggests, Gears Tactics is a turn-based tactic game played from a top-down perspective. It is an outstanding switch from what often dominates the Gears of War franchise. In Gears Tactics, you control a squad of soldiers on a map to eliminate enemies; the type of map depends on the mission you take. Unlike most strategy games, Gears Tactics lets you freely explore the map without being confined to a grid. The type of gameplay the game features does not involve much activity. Since you are only required to shoot, take cover and occasionally watch out for enemies crossing your territory. 

However, less activity does not always mean less content, and such is the case with Gears Tactics. The game provides the character's background stories, not to mention stunning boss fights. Similarly, you get to meet new amazing characters as you move forward in the game. In terms of gameplay, the game lacks enough variety to measure up to the other games in the series. However, it is still a nice element of variety for fans of the Gears of War franchise. Besides, the title has managed to introduce a few new ideas to the strategy genre. This makes it welcoming to both veteran strategy fans and new players as well.

2. Gears of War

We cannot talk about the best of the Gears of War franchise and fail to mention the first genealogy that birthed the whole thing. However, this game is slightly different from plenty of its sequels as the hostile aspects of gameplay were more apparent. It had incredible world-building that offered challenging aspects, making it a thrilling game to play. Gears of War set a whole new level for third-person shooter games in the Xbox 360 lineup. The game left an undeniable legacy that set the bar for the rest of the titles to come.   

The game's original narrative circles around humanity's fight against the Locust Horde. These are reptilian mutant creatures that currently dominate human cities. Players step into the shoes of Marcus, a soldier who must form a unit to help bring down the Locust Horde regime. The story progresses through Gears of War 2, where it features additional mutant enemies. Gears of War is one of the games that can be considered to have aged well. This is because you can still enjoy it today. Sure the graphics may be off-putting in comparison to what we have now, but the thrill of the story will definitely keep you hooked.

1. Gears of War 3

Gears of War 3 is one of the most expansive games in the series. Coming after the first two Gears of War games, the game is undoubtedly far ahead of its predecessors. This can be attributed to the fact that this title is a wrap-up of the three series; before the development of the franchise was handed over to a different studio. It is packed with exciting missions and extended modes, not to mention a great variety of playable characters. From a thrilling deathmatch mode and a stunning beast mode to a bonus campaign you can download. 

The co-op mode makes playing even more fun just because of how unstoppable you ought to feel once you form your four-person squad. Gears of War 3 is easily the best title out of all the Gears of War games. The game not only received great praise for its visuals and music but for great voice acting as well; it features rapper Ice-T. It also managed to introduce more colors to its visuals as opposed to the typical red, brown and gray featured by its predecessors.

Which of the video games from the list above do you think is the best Gears of War DLC? Share your pick with us in the comments below or over on our socials here!