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Which games like Gears of War fit co-op campaign play?
The best choice depends on what you want to preserve from Gears: campaign co-op, local play, cover combat, or character progression. The official listings document OUTRIDERS as a co-op story shooter with RPG progression. Gears of War: E-Day is the option that explicitly lists cover-based combat and split-screen campaign co-op, but it is upcoming at the date of this article.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X | $67.84 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $18.72 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | $20.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition - Xbox One (Renewed) | $18.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Gears of War 4 - Xbox One (Renewed) | $31.03 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Game | Campaign co-op | Local or online play | Combat and progression | Availability and platform detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OUTRIDERS | PlayStation describes a story playable solo or with friends; Xbox specifies 1–3 player co-op. | The cited listings establish co-op, but do not specify split-screen or local co-op. | Xbox describes an RPG shooter; PlayStation highlights class skill trees and gear modification. The listings do not establish that its cover combat closely matches Gears. | PlayStation lists PS4 and PS5. Xbox notes that online multiplayer on console requires a separately sold Game Pass subscription. |
| Gears of War: E-Day | Xbox lists a campaign playable solo, in split-screen co-op, or with up to four players online. | Split-screen and online campaign co-op are listed. | Xbox explicitly describes cover-based combat; the cited listing does not provide comparable progression details. | Xbox lists Xbox Series X|S and PC, with a release date of October 6, 2026. Xbox Wire says online campaign co-op requires a Game Pass subscription that includes online multiplayer, sold separately. |
OUTRIDERS: a co-op story shooter with RPG progression
OUTRIDERS suits players who value playing through a story with friends and building a character around skills and gear. PlayStation describes a story playable solo or with friends, along with class skill trees and gear modification; Xbox describes it as a 1–3 player co-op RPG shooter. See the PlayStation game listing and Xbox store listing.
Those features make it a reasonable alternative for campaign co-op, not a proven mechanical match for Gears. The cited official descriptions do not establish how closely its cover system resembles Gears’ cover-focused combat, so choose it for cooperative story play and RPG-style builds rather than assuming the shooting loop is identical.
#1 Best Overall
- AN ORIGIN STORY BEGINS — Fight alongside Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago in the gripping origin story of Emergence Day, as the Locust Horde erupts from below.
- A DARKER, GRITTIER THREAT — Face reimagined enemies and a terrifying underground invasion that restores the fear, dread, and intensity at the heart of the Gears of War series.
- MULTIPLAYER EVOLVED — Battle in Horde Siege for large‑scale PvE action or prove your skill in refined Versus PvP with greater precision and competitive depth.
- CLASSIC COMBAT, MODERNIZED — Experience signature cover‑based gameplay enhanced with updated movement, traversal, and controls that feel like Gears while playing like something new.
- CO‑OP YOUR WAY — Play online with up to four players across Campaign, Horde Siege, and Versus, or team up locally with 2‑player split‑screen co‑op on console.
On Xbox console, the store listing says online multiplayer requires a Game Pass subscription, sold separately. That requirement is specific to the Xbox listing; do not assume it applies to every platform edition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Gears of War: E-Day: the closer cover-combat match, after release
As of October 4, 2026, Gears of War: E-Day is upcoming: Xbox lists October 6, 2026 as its release date for Xbox Series X|S and PC. The listing describes an origin-story campaign playable solo, in split-screen co-op, or with up to four players online, and specifically calls out cover-based combat. Check the Xbox game listing for its release and mode details.
Rank #2
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
For someone searching specifically for a Gears-like cover loop plus campaign co-op, E-Day is the stronger match on the evidence available—but it is a same-franchise return, not an already released alternative at the article’s date. Xbox Wire says online campaign co-op requires a Game Pass subscription that includes online multiplayer, sold separately; see its campaign co-op announcement.
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Best Value
- 25 Years after Gears of War 3, spurred by a series of strange disappearances, JD Fenix must embrace his father’s legacy and battle a terrifying new enemy
- Never Fight Alone: Enjoy two-player co-op with friends locally via split-screen, over Xbox Live or LAN. Player 2 can select either Kait or Del
- Redefined Cover Gameplay: New close-cover combat moves and combat-knife executions turn each piece of cover into an offensive opportunity
- Brutal New Weapons: An incredible arsenal of new weapons includes the Buzzkill and Dropshot, which can shoot around and over cover, raining destruction from all angles
Rank #4
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
- Includes full game of the original Gears of War remastered in 1080p.
- Play five campaign chapters never released on console.
- Experience competitive multiplayer in 60FPS with 19 maps and six game modes.
Rank #3
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
How to choose based on your co-op setup
- Want a co-op story and gear builds now? Consider OUTRIDERS; its official descriptions support story co-op and class/gear progression.
- Need split-screen specifically? The cited listings explicitly confirm it for E-Day, not OUTRIDERS. Since E-Day’s listed release date is October 6, 2026, it is not available as of October 4.
- Prioritize Gears-style cover combat? E-Day is the only one of these two whose official listing explicitly calls out cover-based combat. The evidence cited here does not establish an equivalent match for OUTRIDERS.
- Check online-play requirements for your platform. The Xbox listings attach separately sold Game Pass requirements to online multiplayer; those statements should not be generalized to other platform editions.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
