How to Play Multiplayer in Gears Of War: Reloaded

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Gears of War: Reloaded brings the classic shooter to new platforms, allowing players to experience the gameplay that revolutionized the third-person shooter genre. Even with updated visuals, the core fun of Gears of War remains intact. It’s still a tough game with a steep learning curve.

You’ll see this challenge in the online multiplayer mode. Each match makes you adapt your strategy on the fly, which can improve your overall skills. While multiplayer can seem intimidating at first, it becomes easier once you understand how the modes work.

How Multiplayer Works

Since Gears of War: Reloaded is an upgraded port, much of the original multiplayer setup remains the same. Navigating online features is straightforward even after many years. The multiplayer is divided into two main types: Social and Ranked. The Social mode is casual and helps you learn the game, while Ranked is competitive and requires more skill.

Social Match Modes

In Social matches, you can play several modes:

Team Deathmatch: Team up to kill members of the opposing team to score points.
King of the Hill: Capture and hold points across the map; hold a point to stay aggressive or move closer to the enemy.
Blitz: A faster, more aggressive version of King of the Hill, where you must stay inside the capture zone to score.
Warzone: Round-based, similar to Team Deathmatch but with only one life—no respawns.
One Shot One Kill: A sniper-only mode focused on headshots, making it more difficult.
2v2 Gnasher Execution: Two-on-two matches where you only use shotguns to eliminate opponents.
Assassination: Each team has a leader, and you earn points by taking out the enemy leader.

Ranked Mode

The competitive side includes 2v2 Gnasher Execution and an Execution mode where players perform executions on fallen enemies for points.

Private Matches

You can also create private games, setting up custom modes and rules. These matches can be played with friends or others, offering a flexible way to enjoy multiplayer.

How to Play with Friends

Inviting friends is simple. Go to Account Settings from the main menu, log into your Microsoft Account if needed, then open the Invite Player list and select an empty slot. Your Microsoft friends will appear there. If your friends aren’t visible, they may need to create a Microsoft Account. Once they accept your invite, they’ll be added to your party, and you can start a Ranked, Social, or Private game.

Cross-Play and Cross-Progression

Gears of War: Reloaded supports both cross-play and cross-progression. Cross-play is usually enabled by default but can be turned on in the Account Settings. Because your progress is linked to your Microsoft Account, you can switch devices and continue where you left off after signing in—whether on PC, Xbox, or PlayStation.

Tips for Multiplayer Play

The game’s unique combat style can impact your performance online. Campaign strategies don’t always work due to heightened difficulty, but these tips can help improve your multiplayer gameplay:

Stay Mobile: The iconic cover system helps in campaign, but online it’s often better to keep moving. Constantly changing positions makes you harder to hit and less predictable to opponents.
Use Grenades Wisely: Grenades are versatile tools, whether clearing enemy holes in story missions or pressuring opponents online. Smoke grenades can conceal your movements when reviving teammates, and other types can flush out enemies or cause chaos.
Move to the Next Point: When defending objectives like hill points, don’t linger too long. As a point nears capture, head to the next objective to catch the enemy off guard and maintain control.
Dodge, Dip, and Dive: Running can leave you exposed, but dodging or diving improves your chances of survival. Moving unpredictably makes your hitbox smaller and harder for enemies to land shots.
Use Grenades for Pressure: Throw grenades to cut off enemy approaches or force players out of hiding. Strategically timed grenades can weaken defenses or secure positioning.
Stay on the Move: Standing still or lingering in cover too long makes you an easy target, especially against skilled snipers. Constant movement keeps you harder to predict and counter.
Dodge Attacks: Instead of running straight away from enemy fire, use dodges to leap over gaps or evade attacks. Proper timing with dodging can land you right in front of enemies for quick kills with your Gnasher shotgun, especially if you strike just as they’re about to retaliate.