It has been a terrific year for strategy games, as the gaming industry has buckled down on interactive experiences where you have to use that lump of grey matter that pilots the meat machine you call a body. From retro revivals to brand new stabs at tactical action that allow for more mainstream appeal, being able to outthink your opponents has never been more enjoyable no matter which platform you’re playing on.

The next generation of Xbox is kicking off with a familiar slate of games that'll feature plenty of visual horsepower.

It may not have the third-person roadie-running action of the classic Gears of War games, but Gears Tactics still manages to easily stand shoulder to shoulder with its source material COGs as one of the definitive experiences within that franchise. Just as bloody, a whole lot more cerebral and violently tactical, Gears Tactics is a spin-off with teeth that looks, feels and plays damn well. It also sounds brilliant, thanks to a moody and atmospheric score thanks to composer Edward Patrick White

Gears Tactics isn’t just one of the biggest surprises of the year, it’s a a vulgar display of power starring everyone’s favourite beefy boys in a bloody new direction that’ll test your trigger fingers with pure heavy mental action.

Set an entire 12 years before the first Gears of War game even kicks off, Gears Tactics has you commanding mankind’s last remaining military forces as they band together to drive back the Locust horde on the planet of Sera, one bloody turn at a time. You’re not just looking to outfight your opponent, you’re working to outthink them as well.

Microsoft kicked off a new edition of Inside Xbox last night, detailing what’s to come in the immediate future for the Xbox brand. If you were expecting reveals of next-gen Xbox Series X games, then this wasn’t the show for you. Still, there was plenty of good content to appreciate! Here’s what was shown off last night.

Microsoft’s Inside Xbox is back this year, ready to deliver a deep dive dish of news on all the games that are currently in the pipeline for the Xbox ecosystem. If you’re looking for an update on games such as Sea of Thieves, Gears Tactics and Grounded, then good news! Those games plus details on what’s coming to Xbox Game Pass and a few “surprises” on the indie side of life from ID@XBOX team will be on the agenda for the livestream.

Japan is delivering a solid one-two jab in April, with Resident Evil 3 dropping a mere two solar cycles after a certain day of fools has come and gone, whereas Square Enix is going back to Midgar on April 10 with a remake of Final Fantasy VII.