It's difficult to separate the first three Gears of War games, as it's one of the most consistently entertaining trilogies ever released. The Xbox 360-exclusive third-person shooter series managed to not only sell a bazillion copies, but also appease just about every critic that played through them. Focused on the conflict between humanity and the reptilian Locusts, the games follow the story of Marcus Fenix, a soldier in the Coalition of Ordered Governments. Where the series lacked in subtlety, it made up for in magnificent action-packed gameplay and incredible set pieces. For a third-person shooter series, the games also featured a surprisingly competitive online multiplayer. This was particularly well done in the second and third games, with their classic games modes such as Guardian and Warzone. The future of the Gears of War franchise is currently uncertain, but it's unlikely that Microsoft will be giving up on one of their most successful IPs just yet.
