Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →In broad story chronology, play Gears of War: E-Day, Gears of War: Judgment, Gears Tactics, Gears of War, Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, Gears of War 4, then Gears 5. The placement of Judgment before Tactics is a practical early-era ordering, not a precisely confirmed date comparison: official descriptions put each before the original game but do not establish which comes first.
Gears of War games in story order
This is a broad game-level chronology for the campaigns, not a scene-by-scene timeline. It includes the prequels and tactical spin-off as well as the numbered saga.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X | $67.84 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $18.72 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | $20.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition - Xbox One (Renewed) | $18.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Gears of War 4 - Xbox One (Renewed) | $31.03 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Gears of War: E-Day — Set on Emergence Day and during the first days of the Locust invasion. It takes place fourteen years before the original game and follows young Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. The official game page and Xbox Wire’s announcement identify its setting and place in the timeline.
- Gears of War: Judgment — The official description puts Baird and Kilo Squad in the immediate aftermath of Emergence Day. It does not specify a more exact interval. See the official game page.
- Gears Tactics — Set twelve years before the first Gears of War. The official game page identifies its place before the original.
- Gears of War — The original game and the timeline anchor for the stated fourteen- and twelve-year intervals.
- Gears of War 2
- Gears of War 3
- Gears of War 4
- Gears 5 — The numbered saga continues in that order; the official franchise lineup supports the sequence, but the sources do not establish an exact in-world year for each sequel.
Why E-Day comes first
E-Day is not a sequel to Gears 5. It is an origin story about the first Locust emergence, set fourteen years before the original Gears of War. That makes it the earliest confirmed mainline story in this list. The official Xbox Wire description says: “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.”
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsChronological order or release order?
Choose based on what you want from a first playthrough. Chronological order starts with the origins of the conflict; release order preserves the sequence in which the games originally introduced their story and reveals. Neither order is universally best, and official timeline descriptions do not prescribe a preferred way to play.
#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.
| Approach | Sequence | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Story chronology | E-Day → Judgment → Tactics → Gears of War → Gears of War 2 → Gears of War 3 → Gears of War 4 → Gears 5 | Players who want an origin-first, broad in-world sequence. |
| Release sequence | Play in the order the games were released. | First-time players who prefer the franchise’s original reveal sequence. |
The release-order option is a different criterion, not a more exact timeline. This guide does not list release years because the timeline sources cited here establish the recommended ordering, not a full release-date chronology.
What the timeline does—and does not—pin down
- Judgment is described as taking place immediately after Emergence Day, while Gears Tactics is placed twelve years before the original. Those descriptions do not explicitly compare the exact dates of the two games.
- The order from the original through Gears 5 follows the numbered saga, but the cited official sources do not give an exact in-world year for each sequel.
- This is not a placement guide for every flashback, optional campaign segment, or DLC. The sources cited here do not establish the exact position of Judgment’s Aftermath campaign or Gears 3: RAAM’s Shadow, so they are not assigned separate slots.
Where E-Day is available
Microsoft’s official Xbox listing gives Gears of War: E-Day an October 6, 2026 release date and lists Xbox Series X|S and PC, with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass availability at launch. It also lists Premium Edition early access beginning October 1, 2026. Release, access, platform, and subscription catalog details can change; check the listing for the latest information before choosing how to play.
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.
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.
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.
Recommended Free Tools
