Gears Tactics

This might be an unpopular opinion but I don't see a reason to play this game when Xcom 2 exists. The good: the graphics and production value are very high and I also love studios make more out of their franchises. Gears lore really fits here and it's very much a polished tactical rpg. The bad: wasted potential. This game is very linear and has low replay value in my opinion. Also, the level of customization could be better. I can't name my recruits, can't change their looks and that ends up being in having a bunch of legit random ass NPCs mixed with the protagonists. It might be unfair to judge a game for not having a strategy layer when it's not trying to have one but I just don't think this packs enough of a punch for people who are familiar with CRPGs. It's not a bad game, I just wish there was more to it in other aspects because some things are done really well and it grabs you at the beginning but later it just ran out of steam for me.

xbox live sign in requirement stopped me from playing

我草拟吗，刚出的时候买的，那时候玩的还挺好，现在要登录了，我登录你吗，大家别买。

Aunque podría definirse como un XCOM con la estética de la saga Gears, la unión de ambos resulta tan natural y tiene la suficiente personalidad que se nos olvidará cuando nos pongamos a los mandos. Tendremos cinco clases para elegir, pudiendo especializarse cada una según nuestro modo de juego; hay bastante variedad de modos de juego como para sacar partido a todas ellas, e ir experimentando con los diferentes soldados que vayamos reclutando. El problema es que dichos modos son finitos, y junto a una pobre variedad de escenarios, al final resulta tedioso hacer una y otra vez lo mismo, que a pesar de añadir algún hándicap a la partida notaremos que es lo mismo que hemos hecho en las anteriores. Aunque podremos personalizar nuestros Gears, tanto sus armas como su armadura, se queda corto al tener que depender exclusivamente de las cajas que encontremos en cada partida: una mecánica de mejora de armamento entre partidas le habría venido perfecta: de igual forma, el reclutamiento de los nuevos soldados se ve bastante pobre, sin premiarnos por hacer bien o mal las cosas, sintiéndose ajeno a nuestras aventuras. Por otro lado, la historia es muy interesante, y aunque en varios momentos quede difuminada por el alargamiento artificial del juego, te mantiene en vilo y expectante. Gráficamente es un portento, aunque la vista de los escenarios podría haberse mejorado, y los combates contra jefes, aunque escasos, son muy entretenidos. Gears Tactics es un gran juegos, cuyo mayor pecado es alargar su duración de una forma tan artificial; aún con ello, es una experiencia muy divertida que además, nos hará conocer mejor los sucesos que se desencadenaron tras el fatídico "E-Day".

Requires Xbox Live account to play on Steam PC. I think this is enough to not recommend, since I didn't even get to see the gameplay (not going to make an Xbox account for this).

i played for 100hours. its decent but there are a lot of bugs like grubs hitting you thru walls. i stopped playing when i was trying to beat insane mode but the enemy outright kills you in one turn even when your units are safe in cover. it gets really frustrating planning ahead enemies movements and still losing because of a ridiculous shot that absolutely should have not landed. i actually enjoyed for a while but this game seems umpolished, like its still on beta and devs are still working on it.

TL;DR: Gears Tactics is a cinematic, streamlined masterpiece of the strategy genre. While it lacks the deep, punishing complexity of XCOM, its focus on narrative and fluid, high-tempo combat makes it a standout "movie-like" strategy experience. Verdict: 8/10 (Veteran) to 9/10 (Newcomers). Review: Gears Tactics As a long-time fan of deep strategy games—from XCOM 2 and Divinity to StarCraft and competitive chess—I approached Gears Tactics with high expectations. It’s undeniably a "watered-down" XCOM, but that simplification is actually its greatest strength. It’s less about tracking endless, annoying micromanagement mechanics and more about a streamlined, cinematic experience that feels like playing through a high-octane action movie. Gameplay & Difficulty Accessible Strategy: If you're new to the genre, this is the perfect starting point. The loop is clean: complete bonus objectives, secure gear, spend skill points, and repeat. It’s complex enough to satisfy, but it avoids the "spreadsheet" fatigue of other titles. Challenging Potential: Playing on "Experienced" difficulty, I found it mildly easy, only reloading due to the occasional misclick. However, the potential for an "Ironman" run on Insane difficulty is clear; for veterans, that’s where the real challenge will lie. The XCOM Comparison: It clearly takes inspiration from XCOM, but it stands out because the characters feel unique, grounded, and backed by actual stories rather than just being expendable soldiers. Steam Deck Performance Rating Discrepancy: ProtonDB lists this as "Silver," but I strongly disagree. This game runs beautifully on the Steam Deck right out of the box. Stability: You get a solid, stable 60 FPS on High settings without any alterations on Steam Deck. You can run it on Ultra at 30 FPS, but it looks identical to High, so it's not worth the trade-off. There’s no stuttering, no frame drops—it’s just a perfectly smooth experience. Why You Should Play It Cinematic Pacing: If you love Wasteland 3 or XCOM, you’ll appreciate the mechanics, but you’ll stay for the story. It captures the Gears aesthetic perfectly while providing a tactical combat system that feels fast, responsive, and incredibly satisfying. Value: It’s worth the full price. It’s a polished, well-paced game that respects your time. Final Thoughts I love this game more than XCOM 2 for one simple reason: it values tempo and storytelling over pure replayability. It’s a 9/10 if you’re a newcomer and an 8/10 if you’re a seasoned strategist looking for a slightly more relaxed, narrative-driven experience. It’s one of my all-time favorites, and I’m looking forward to eventually tackling it on the hardest difficulty settings.