20 Game Anniversaries Coming In 2026 That'll Age You Mercilessly

Halo may be the Xbox’s big flagship game, but few did more to define the Xbox 360 than Gears of War, offering up a third-person shooter that made PlayStation owners genuinely envious, despite the Sony console’s broader superiority.

We drop in as Delta Squad, “Gears” (soldiers) working for the Coalition of Ordered Governments (yep, the “COG”) to try and end the failing war against the subterranean Locust Horde, and ideally save the last human inhabitants on Sera in the process. Featuring slick graphics, an innovative use of cover in gameplay, impeccable sound design, and of course the iconic Lancer Assault Rifle, with mounted chainsaw bayonet, the game was a mainstay on the 360 wherever you went.

Well, it’s been twenty-one years since the 360 debuted, and that means it’s been twenty since Gears of War got its start. Despite the fact that the game still plays well, in the grand scheme of things it actually feels its age – it’s just a pity we don’t. But, hey, this year is not just the twenty-year anniversary of the original, but the dawn of a new era, as Gears of War: E-Day drops on the X/S later this year.