---
title: 'Best Way to Play Every Gears of War Game in 2026'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=t7D95SBZquo'
video_id: 't7D95SBZquo'
date: 2026-06-19
duration_sec: 397
---

# Best Way to Play Every Gears of War Game in 2026

> Source: [Best Way to Play Every Gears of War Game in 2026](https://youtube.com/watch?v=t7D95SBZquo)

## Summary

This video provides a comprehensive guide on the best way to play every mainline Gears of War game on current-gen hardware in 2026. It covers platform availability, performance enhancements like FPS Boost and Auto HDR, and specific recommendations for each title.

### Key Points

- **Platform Availability Overview** [0:44] — PlayStation owners can only play Gears of War Reloaded. Xbox and PC (via Xbox app) have access to all mainline games. Steam only has Gears of War Reloaded and Gears 5. Game Pass Ultimate includes all games; Premium lacks Reloaded; Essential only has Gears 5.
- **Performance Features Explained** [1:41] — FPS Boost and Auto HDR are Xbox features that improve frame rates and dynamic range for older games. They can be toggled in the 'My Games & Apps' menu under compatibility options.
- **Gears of War 1: Best Version** [2:13] — Gears of War Reloaded is the best performing version, offering up to 120 FPS in multiplayer, crossplay, and cross progression. However, it has more fragile AI companions and altered art style. Alternatives include Ultimate Edition or the original Xbox 360 version with FPS Boost.
- **Gears 2, 3, and Judgment: Enhanced via FPS Boost** [3:04] — All three run at 60 FPS on Xbox Series consoles thanks to FPS Boost. Gears 3 and Judgment also support Auto HDR. Note: FPS Boost may need to be manually enabled for Gears 3.
- **Gears of War 4: Performance Mode vs FPS Boost** [3:20] — On Series X, use the in-game performance toggle (higher FPS at lower resolution) rather than system-level FPS Boost. On Series S, enable system-level FPS Boost. PC version offers additional options like FOV adjustment.
- **Gears 5: Native Series X|S Update** [4:06] — Gears 5 received a native update for Xbox Series consoles, resulting in improved graphical rendering beyond simple FPS/resolution bumps. It also runs well on PC via Xbox app or Steam.
- **Cloud Streaming and Steam Deck** [4:28] — All mainline games are playable via cloud streaming with Game Pass, though not recommended as the best experience. Gears of War Reloaded is Steam Deck verified; Gears 5 is playable but may have bugs.

### Conclusion

For the best experience, play Gears of War Reloaded on current-gen consoles or PC, Gears 2/3/Judgment on Xbox Series with FPS Boost, Gears 4 on Series X with in-game performance mode, and Gears 5 on Series X|S or a high-end PC.

## Transcript

A cornerstone of the third-person
shooter genre, Gears of War has been
gory and grimy comfort food for everyone
who loves ultraviolence since its
introduction in 2006. The series has
greatly expanded in the 20 years since.
And with all the re-releases, remasters,
collections, and updates, it can be hard
to parse the best place to go to get
your hypersp specific fix for big
chainsaws on bigger guns wielded by big
men and even bigger armor.
Thankfully, we've booted them all up and
did the hard work for you. Here's the
best way to play each mainline Gears of
War game on current gen hardware.
Welcome back to the Army, soldier.
[ __ ]
>> First, let's talk about all the places
you can play the Gears of War games. If
you're a PlayStation owner, the only
Gears of War game available on the
platform is Gears of War Reloaded, a
remake of the first game in the series.
All other mainline Gears games can be
played on Xbox. That's the original Xbox
360 versions of 1, 2, 3, and Judgment,
as well as Gears of War 4, Gears 5,
Gears of War Ultimate Edition, and Gears
of War Reloaded. The two remakes of
Gears 1, Ultimate Reloaded, can also be
played on PC through the Xbox app. And
finally, on Steam, only Gears of War
Reloaded and Gears 5 are available.
Lastly, all of the Gears games are on
Game Pass Ultimate. If you have Game
Pass Premium, you'll have everything but
Gears of War Reloaded. That will come to
premium after it's been out for a year.
And if you have Game Pass Essential,
you'll only be able to play Gears 5.
>> So, straight's not an option. How much
rocket bases even last?
>> Let's find out.
>> Let's go over how the different versions
of the games play across the different
platforms, including which ones have FPS
boost and auto HDR.
These are Xbox features that push older
games to run at higher frame rates and
improve dynamic range and can be toggled
on and off in the my games and apps menu
and then in manage and then the
compatibility options.
If either option is grayed out, it's not
available for that particular game or on
your display or you have all HDR options
turned off for every game on the system
level. First, we have the various
versions of Gears of War 1. The best
performing Gears 1 is definitely Gears
of War Reloaded. It quite simply looks
the best on whatever platform you're
playing on. It comes with a bevy of
performance and graphical improvements
over the Ultimate Edition. And while you
can play the Xbox 360 on Xbox Series
consoles with FPS boost, it's at a
noticeably lower resolution than the 360
version of Gears 2, 3, and Judgment.
Reloaded can be played in up to 120 FPS
in multiplayer with variable refresh
rate on consoles. as crossplay and cross
progression and all the post-launch
content that came to the original Gears.
There are a few caveats, however, with
our review noting that AI controlled
partners in the campaign seem to go down
way more often than the Ultimate Edition
on higher difficulties, and some art
style changes may not be to everyone's
taste. For Gears of War 2, 3, and
Judgment, all of these can now be played
at 60 FPS thanks to FPS boost. And Gears
3 and Judgment also have auto HDR.
Weirdly, I had to turn FPS boost on
Gears 3 on manually, and the rest were
on by default, so keep that in mind.
Next, we have Gears of War 4. Since this
was an Xbox One game originally, playing
it on the Xbox Series X loads into the
Xbox One X version, meaning there's an
in-game toggle for performance mode.
You'll want to use this in-game toggle
rather than the Xbox system level FPS
boost. So, you can have the option
between higher resolution at 30 FPS or
lower resolution at higher frame rates.
Turning on the system level FPS boost
removes this in-game option. If you're
playing on Series S, it's best to turn
the system level FPS boost on. And if
your rig is strong enough, it also runs
great on PC through the Xbox app, and
you can take advantage of PC specific
options such as increasing the field of
view. Finally, we have Gears 5. There
was a native update to the Xbox Series
consoles when it was released, meaning
it didn't just get an FPS boost and
resolution bump, but more work was done
to improve the actual graphical
rendering. It also runs very well on the
PC through the Xbox app and Steam
versions, but your mileage will vary
depending on whether or not your PC has
better specs than an Xbox Series S or X.
>> Who the hell does that [ __ ] think he
is? All the mainline Gears games can
also be played through cloud streaming
if you have a version of Game Pass that
supports this feature. I won't say it's
the best way to play any of them, but
depending on your internet situation, it
could work well in a pinch.
Gears of War Reloaded is Steam Deck
verified.
Gears 5 is rated as playable with user
reviews claiming that it runs extremely
well, but you may run into a few bugs
along the way.
For Gears of War 1, your best bet is
Gears of War Reloaded on current gen
consoles or on PC through the Xbox app
or Steam. If the art or companion AI
bugs you too much, you could always try
the Ultimate Edition on Xbox or the Xbox
on PC app or the Xbox 360 version of the
original game on Xbox Series consoles.
Nice.
For Gears of War 2, 3, and Judgment,
your only place for current gen
platforms is playing the Xbox 360
versions on Xbox Series consoles.
Thankfully, with some major modern
graphical enhancements.
For Gears of War 4, it looks and runs
great on Xbox Series consoles and the
Xbox PC app. If you're playing on Series
X, leave the FPS boost option toggled
off. And for Series S, toggle it on.
It's also a play anywhere title, meaning
if you have access to both console and
PC, you can switch to the other if one's
not cutting it. And for Gears 5, Xbox
Series consoles run it fantastically
well thanks to the native releases, and
the Xbox on PC app and Steam versions
can look even better if you have a rig
that's more capable than the consoles.
Hopefully, you now know exactly where
you want to play each of these games.
When you do get started, make sure to
check out our guides for them included
as links in the description. And for
everything else gaming, keep it right
here on IGN.
>> I expect you to give me 110%.
Phoenix,
>> I'm not doing this for you.