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Plan on roughly 25 hours if you pursue the collectibles and optional side missions. That is one reviewer’s reported playthrough, not a guaranteed campaign length. You can finish the campaign Acts without completing every side objective or collectible, but those extras matter for their own achievements and for the listed full-completion achievement.
How long is the Gears of War: E-Day campaign?
The clearest detailed estimate comes from TechRadar reviewer Dashiell Wood, who reported playing for over 25 hours while completing the campaign and pursuing every collectible and optional side mission. He saw the vast majority of the side content, so roughly 25 hours is a useful example of a completion-focused run—not a universal average or a publisher estimate. TechRadar’s review describes short side missions in a handful of larger, more open environments, while noting that the game still guides you toward objectives rather than offering a true open world.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Gears of War E-Day | Premium Edition | XBOX Series X|S and Windows Digital | $99.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | $14.17 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Xbox One - Gears Of War 5 - [PAL EU - NO NTSC]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51duB8cYpdL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Xbox One - Gears Of War 5 - [PAL EU - NO NTSC] | $16.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Gears of War 3 | $3.81 | Buy on Amazon |
PC Gamer contributor Abbie Stone separately described it as a 20+ hour campaign in an October 1, 2026 in-progress review. That is another reviewer’s assessment, not a controlled timing benchmark or an estimate specifically for the main story alone. PC Gamer’s review also notes that mods may be obtained through sidequests or by finding them in cases.
Can you skip side content?
Yes, if your goal is to complete the campaign Acts. Xbox Wire lists “Remember Kalona” for completing all Acts on any difficulty, while separate achievements cover completing all campaign secondary objectives and finding all campaign collectibles. That distinction means those side objectives and collectibles are not listed as prerequisites for finishing the Acts. Xbox Wire’s achievement list sets out the separate requirements.
#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.
An Xbox Wire campaign preview gives a concrete example: in Chapter 2, the squad can take an optional side mission to help another team before continuing to its main objective. The preview characterizes the story as otherwise linear. Read the Xbox Wire preview.
Skipping optional content is different from pursuing every campaign achievement. Xbox lists “Side Piece” for all campaign secondary objectives, “Memories From E-Day” for all campaign collectibles, and “For Whom The Bell Tolls” for completing the campaign on Insane with all side missions and hidden items. Those requirements apply to those achievement goals, not simply to completing the Acts.
Rank #2
- PREMIUM EDITION — Includes Bravo Squad Signature Weapon Pack, five Seasonal Customization Packs starting with the Emergence Pack, plus 1,000 Iron to unlock additional in‑game content.
- 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.
Choose your goal before estimating your playtime
| Goal | What it involves | Time guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Finish the campaign Acts | Complete the main campaign; the Acts-completion achievement does not list all side objectives or collectibles as prerequisites. | No sourced main-story-only duration is available. |
| Pursue full campaign completion | Complete all side missions and find all hidden items for the listed full-completion achievement, which also requires Insane difficulty. | TechRadar’s reviewer reported roughly 25 hours while pursuing every collectible and optional side mission; this is one reviewer’s run. |
The available reports do not establish how much time a particular player will save by skipping side content, or provide a controlled comparison by difficulty or solo and co-op mode. Xbox lists solo, two-player split-screen, and up-to-four-player online campaign play, but does not compare their completion times in the cited preview.
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What is not established about missed content
The cited achievement list and preview do not explain whether you can replay chapters, return to missed objectives, or recover a specific collectible after advancing. If you want the side-content achievements, do not assume a skipped objective can be revisited later based on these sources alone.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- This item does not work outside US. We cannot guarantee compatibility. You can contact the call center for more information on compatibility.
- Enthralling cinematic story. Experience the epic finale to the Gears of War trilogy
- Unparalleled gameplay
- One of the definitive multiplayer experiences on Xbox LIVE
- Gears of War 3 pushes the envelope for stunning visuals on Xbox 360
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.
