Gears of War: E-Day Horde Siege is a Mad World
Whenever I think about horde-style modes built around surviving endless waves of gnarly enemies, Gears of War is the franchise that comes to mind. The series helped define the formula. For me, it’s always delivered one of the best co-op survival experiences in gaming. Sure, Call of Duty’s Zombies mode has arguably become the bigger phenomenon over the years, but there’s something about Gears’ blend of ruthless, brutal combat, teamwork, and intense gameplay that feels unmatched. After spending time with Horde Siege during the latest multiplayer beta, it’s clear that The Coalition isn’t content to simply revisit what worked before. Instead, the studio is evolving the formula into something bigger and incredibly replayable.
Granted, I’m not exactly a Gears veteran. Even though the studio is located in my backyard (Vancouver, BC), I haven’t spent much time with the series over the past decade. So I had zero issues playing the beta on Rookie difficulty. I was perfectly content to stay there.
Before entering my first match, I had to complete a training mission that serves as both a tutorial and an introduction to Gears’ core systems. It guides you through all the signature mechanics. It’s a smart addition, especially for those coming from shooters like Call of Duty or Halo. The cover system, active reload mechanic, and overall movement all operate on a bit of a rhythm. It takes some getting used to. Fortunately, the tutorial does an excellent job of easing folks back into the Gears experience.
More Than Just Surviving Waves
Horde Siege supports up to 12 players divided into three separate squads as they battle across the city of Kalona. I have to wonder if that is somehow a nod to Kelowna, BC…
In any event, each squad tackles its own set of objectives while occasionally crossing paths with the others throughout the massive map. The result is a unique blend of cooperative and semi-independent gameplay that feels very different from traditional Horde experiences.
Rather than focusing exclusively on survival, Horde Siege offers three mission types. Blitz missions offer a shorter experience built around one or two objectives. Siege missions serve as the standard mode, featuring a variety of objectives and gameplay scenarios. Meanwhile, Horde missions lean closer to the classic formula where players defend a fixed position against increasingly difficult waves of enemies.
During my session, objectives had us sprinting between landmarks before making one final stand at the extraction zone. The entire mission lasted roughly 10 to 15 minutes, which is a little on the short side but also leaves you wanting more.
One of the mode’s biggest strengths is its scale. The Golden Quarter map is massive. It’s filled with crumbling architecture and post-apocalyptic detail that showcases what the Xbox Series X hardware can do. Running between objectives never felt like downtime. Instead, it gave me opportunities to soak in those impressive visuals. Even in beta, the graphics looked stunning.
Familiar Combat, New Layers
Combat still feels unmistakably Gears. The iconic Lancer remains immensely satisfying, complete with its satisfying chainsaw executions, while classics like the Gnasher shotgun and Snub pistol return.
The active reload system is back as well, rewarding well-timed reloads and punishing sloppy ones. After spending so much time with other shooters, readjusting to Gears’ mechanics took a little while, but once everything clicked, combat became incredibly satisfying.
Enemy encounters also provide plenty of variety. I battled familiar Locusts, encountered deadly sniper enemies, and squared off against giant spider-like creatures that kept our squad constantly on the move.
I loved how reviving teammates is fast and intuitive. I certainly appreciated that after getting downed more than once.
Customization Looks Deep
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Horde Siege is how much progression exists. Players can choose from four classes (Assault, Breacher, Marksman, and Medic) each featuring its own loadout, equipment, tactical abilities, and armour options. During the beta, class progression was capped at level 10, though the full game is expected to significantly expand that progression system.
As you complete missions, you’ll earn Energy. Energy is a shared squad resource that can be collected throughout each match and spent individually at Supply Caches. From new weapons to upgrades and equipment, these purchases create progression within each run.
Weapon customization appears particularly robust. Weapon mods are shared across all classes, allowing folks to experiment with different builds regardless of which role they’re playing. Successful extractions and mission rewards unlock additional parts and modifications. All of this just encourages long-term progression, and it’s great.
There are also secondary objectives that add yet another layer of risk and reward. These optional challenges are scattered across the map and grant Squad Perks that boost team performance, along with Weapon Parts used to unlock new modifications. However, you only keep these rewards if your squad successfully extracts.
On top of that, seasonal challenges add another layer of replayability. During the beta, simple objectives like landing 25 headshots rewarded additional progression.
It’s Early, But I’m Impressed
Even in this relatively early beta, Horde Siege feels like an evolution of Gears’ cooperative formula. The combination of 12-player battles, varied mission types, shared squad progression, class customization, dynamic world events, and extraction-based rewards creates a mode that feels far more ambitious than a traditional wave-defense experience.
After a handful of matches, I was already itching to queue for another mission. The matches are approachable for newcomers, yet the progression systems, squad coordination, and challenges suggest plenty of depth for fans of the franchise. If The Coalition can maintain this balance of satisfying cooperative gameplay when Gears of War: E-Day launches, Horde Siege could become a serious hit.
