This article systematically reviews over two decades of English-language literature on gated communities (GCs) in urban and rural settings. Searching peer-reviewed articles from Scopus and Web of Science published between 2000 and 2024, we identified 202 studies for analysis. Findings indicate a geographical shift in research from Western countries to those of the Global South, where GCs proliferate, reflecting global trends in privatised, exclusive living. Increased privacy, exclusivity, and cohesiveness are associated with GCs, but long-term evidence on crime reduction is mixed, with several studies linking CGs with a false sense of security, spatial segregation, greater car dependency, and reduced walkability. The article concludes by exploring the role of technology in the gating process and analysing recent research shifts that uncover the paradoxical role of GCs in relation to women’s safety.