It’s tough for new games, even first-party ones, to stand out on Xbox Game Pass. Name recognition and word-of-mouth play a big role in a game’s success, as any new release needs some edge over its peers to stand out in the catalog. Although Gears of War: E-Day already has both, one subtle aspect makes it a great fit for a subscription service: its near-perfect opening hour.

Developed by The Coalition, Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel about the Locust’s initial attack on Sera. Most of the game consists of the brutal, bloody shootouts the series is known for, but it does not start that way. By taking cues from horror games and slowly easing players into the wild world of Gears of War, Act 1 of E-Day is hard to put down until you’ve seen it through. It’s exactly the kind of opening that a flagship first-party release on Xbox Game Pass needs to get people to keep playing.

For how over-the-top Gears of War games usually are, E-Day starts out with a sense of creeping horror. Rather than being immediately introduced to longtime protagonists........

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