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In broad story chronology, play Gears of War: E-Day, Gears of War: Judgment, Gears Tactics, then Gears of War through Gears 5. The relative placement of Judgment and Tactics is approximate: official descriptions establish their settings relative to Emergence Day and the original game, but do not establish which comes first.
Gears of War games in chronological order
- Gears of War: E-Day — Emergence Day and the first days of the Locust invasion.
- Gears of War: Judgment — Baird and Kilo Squad in the immediate aftermath of Emergence Day.
- Gears Tactics — set twelve years before the first Gears of War.
- Gears of War — the original game and timeline anchor.
- Gears of War 2.
- Gears of War 3.
- Gears of War 4.
- Gears 5.
This is a practical, game-level chronology, not a scene-by-scene timeline. The official Gears of War games lineup supports the numbered sequence from the original through Gears 5. It does not establish exact in-world years for every sequel.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $18.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | Buy on Amazon | |
| 4 |
|
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition - Xbox One (Renewed) | $24.92 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Gears of War 4 - Xbox One (Renewed) | $21.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Where E-Day fits
Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel, not a sequel to Gears 5. It takes place fourteen years before the original Gears of War, during the first days of the Locust invasion, and follows younger Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. Xbox Wire describes it as an origin story: “Gears of War: E-Day is set 14 years before the events of the original Gears of War and tells the story of the first Locust emergence on Sera.” See the Xbox Wire announcement and the official franchise page.
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Why Judgment and Tactics are approximate in this order
Judgment: immediately after Emergence Day
The official Judgment game page places Baird and Kilo Squad in the immediate aftermath of Emergence Day. It does not give an exact interval that would pin the game more precisely against every other early-era story.
#1 Best Overall
- AN ORIGIN STORY BEGINS — Fight alongside Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago in the gripping origin story of Emergence Day, as the Locust Horde erupts from below.
- A DARKER, GRITTIER THREAT — Face reimagined enemies and a terrifying underground invasion that restores the fear, dread, and intensity at the heart of the Gears of War series.
- MULTIPLAYER EVOLVED — Battle in Horde Siege for large‑scale PvE action or prove your skill in refined Versus PvP with greater precision and competitive depth.
- CLASSIC COMBAT, MODERNIZED — Experience signature cover‑based gameplay enhanced with updated movement, traversal, and controls that feel like Gears while playing like something new.
- CO‑OP YOUR WAY — Play online with up to four players across Campaign, Horde Siege, and Versus, or team up locally with 2‑player split‑screen co‑op on console.
Tactics: twelve years before the original
The official Gears Tactics page says it is set twelve years before the first Gears of War. The available official descriptions do not directly compare its date with Judgment’s immediate post-Emergence Day setting, so listing one before the other should not be read as a confirmed precise calendar order.
Chronological order or release order?
Choose based on what you want from a first playthrough. Chronological order puts the origin-era stories before the original game. Release order preserves the sequence in which players first encountered the games and their reveals. Neither is universally correct; the official timeline descriptions establish settings, not a preferred play experience.
Rank #2
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
| Approach | Games or sequence | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Broad story chronology | E-Day → Judgment → Gears Tactics → Gears of War → Gears of War 2 → Gears of War 3 → Gears of War 4 → Gears 5 | Players who want to follow the setting from its earliest listed events into the numbered saga. |
| Release sequence | Start with the original Gears of War, then follow the franchise’s original release sequence. | First-time players who prefer to encounter the story and its reveals as the audience originally did. |
The chronology above includes the mainline games, the Judgment prequel and the tactical spin-off Gears Tactics. It does not place every flashback, optional campaign segment or DLC. In particular, the available official timeline descriptions do not establish a detailed placement for Judgment’s Aftermath campaign or Gears 3: RAAM’s Shadow.
E-Day release information
The official Xbox listing gives Gears of War: E-Day a release date of October 6, 2026, with Premium Edition early access beginning October 1, 2026. It lists Xbox Series X|S and PC, and Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass availability at launch. Check the official Xbox listing for current availability and edition details, as release and catalog information can change.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 25 Years after Gears of War 3, spurred by a series of strange disappearances, JD Fenix must embrace his father’s legacy and battle a terrifying new enemy
- Never Fight Alone: Enjoy two-player co-op with friends locally via split-screen, over Xbox Live or LAN. Player 2 can select either Kait or Del
- Redefined Cover Gameplay: New close-cover combat moves and combat-knife executions turn each piece of cover into an offensive opportunity
- Brutal New Weapons: An incredible arsenal of new weapons includes the Buzzkill and Dropshot, which can shoot around and over cover, raining destruction from all angles
Rank #4
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
- Includes full game of the original Gears of War remastered in 1080p.
- Play five campaign chapters never released on console.
- Experience competitive multiplayer in 60FPS with 19 maps and six game modes.
Rank #3
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
