Revisiting a chaotic, heart-wrenching world that still makes more sense than 2025 America
Lately, revisiting the games that shaped my love for storytelling, chaos, and connection feels less like nostalgia and more like a survival tactic. Escaping into fictional worlds where battles have a purpose, where loyalty, sacrifice, and resilience still mean something, has been a balm for my tired soul. And when I think about the games that gave me that kind of refuge, Gears of War is always at the top of the list.
Now, let me be clear: I don’t love every entry in the Gears franchise unconditionally. Some of the later games? Yeah…they’re like when your favorite TV show keeps getting renewed even after the story’s been told (I’m looking directly at you, Grey’s Anatomy). You appreciate the effort, but deep down, you know the magic isn’t quite the same. But Gears of War One through Three? Those are sacred to me. Those games built a world that somehow felt brutal, raw, and still full of heart.
Gears wasn’t just about mowing down Locusts with chainsaw bayonets (though, let’s be real, revving up that Lancer was pure serotonin). It was about the bond between Marcus Fenix, Dom Santiago, Damon Baird, and Augustus “Cole Train” Cole. That brotherhood wasn’t some paint-by-numbers bro-fest. It felt earned. It was messy and tender under all the armor and growling. Marcus was the stoic backbone who’d throw hands before throwing words. Dom was the soul. He was worn down, hurting, but still hopeful. Baird was the snarky genius who never knew when to shut up. And Cole? Cole was the party, the heart, the reminder that joy could still exist even when the world was actively trying to kill you.
I still remember the devastation I felt when Dom died. I’m talking “turn off the console, sit in the dark, stare at the wall like you just got hit by a truck full of feelings” levels of devastation. Dom wasn’t just a squadmate; he was the emotional core, the reminder that grief changes you, but love — even broken, battered love — still matters. I admittedly sobbed like a baby.
The action? Absolutely unhinged in the best way possible. Giant worm tunnels. Skydiving into enemy territory without a plan. Chainsaw duels that somehow made sense. Gears said, “Logic is optional,” and we said, “Another one, thank you.” There was something therapeutic about jumping into a world that was loud, bloody, and chaotic. A world where at least you knew who the enemy was. Unlike today, where half the time the enemy is some dude on a podcast explaining why basic human rights are “up for debate.”
And honestly? That’s why Gears hits harder now than ever. The story wasn’t just about fighting monsters. It was about survival after everything you trusted collapses. It was about rebuilding from ashes, protecting the people you love even when you’re bone-tired, and pushing forward when the world feels like it just wants you to quit. In today’s world, where every news cycle feels like a boss battle you didn’t level up enough for, that message feels more real than ever. Gears didn’t promise a clean victory. It promised that the fight — the messy, heartbreaking fight — was still worth it.
Gears of War didn’t promise a clean victory. It promised that the fight was still worth it, even when it broke you along the way.
Maybe that’s why, when everything feels like it’s on fire, I find myself picking up my Lancer again. Not to forget what’s happening, but to remind myself that even when things are bad, you fight, you love, and you protect your people. You might scream into the void a little (or a lot), but you keep moving. It’s the emotional equivalent of duct-taping your cracked phone and insisting it “works just fine.”
Now, there’s talk of Netflix adapting Gears of War into a few live-action projects, and I’m cautiously optimistic. I say cautious because…well…Netflix also gave us that Resident Evil series, and I’m still in therapy for that. But with the original Gears creators deeply involved, there’s real hope that it’ll be the brutal, beautiful, heart-wrenching chaos we deserve.
Until then, I’ll keep chainsawing my way through Locusts, ugly crying over Dom, and cracking jokes like my life depends on it. Because honestly? Some days, it kind of does.
Cover image via Gearsofwar.com
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here! Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram!
Show Comments