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How Long Is the Gears of War: E-Day Campaign, and Can You Skip Side Content?

By Freedom251 Team · · 2 min read

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Plan on roughly 25 hours if you pursue the optional missions and collectibles, based on one reviewer’s playthrough; another reviewer described the campaign as 20+ hours. Neither figure is a standardized main-story-only estimate. Yes, you can finish the campaign Acts without completing every side objective or collectible, but those extras count toward separate completion achievements.

How long is the Gears of War: E-Day campaign?

There is no publisher-provided completion-time figure in the available sources, and the reviewer estimates describe different kinds of play rather than a controlled benchmark.

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  • About 25 hours with optional content: TechRadar reviewer Dashiell Wood reported playing for over 25 hours, completing the campaign and pursuing every collectible and optional side mission. He saw the vast majority of side content, so this is one reviewer’s run, not a universal average. TechRadar
  • 20+ hours: PC Gamer contributor Abbie Stone characterized the campaign as 20+ hours in an October 1, 2026 in-progress review. That is a separate review assessment, not a standardized completion-time measurement or main-story-only estimate. PC Gamer

For the shortest route, the evidence does not establish a reliable number. How long you take will depend on your pace and whether you stop for optional content; do not treat the figures above as a guaranteed runtime for skipping it.

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Can you skip side missions and collectibles?

Yes, if your goal is to complete the campaign Acts. Xbox Wire lists an achievement for finishing all Acts on any difficulty, while achievements for all campaign secondary objectives and all campaign collectibles are listed separately. That distinction means those extras are not prerequisites for the Acts-completion achievement. Xbox Wire’s achievement list

#1 Best Overall
Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X
  • 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.

The game’s structure is guided rather than a true open world. An Xbox Wire preview describes an optional side mission in Chapter 2, where the squad can help another team before continuing to its main objective, and characterizes the story as otherwise linear. Xbox Wire’s campaign preview

Choose your goal before deciding what to skip

Goal What it requires Time guidance
Finish the campaign Acts Complete the Acts. All side objectives and collectibles are not listed as prerequisites for the Acts-completion achievement. No sourced main-story-only duration is available.
Pursue the listed full-completion achievement Complete the campaign on Insane, finish all side missions, and find all hidden items, as specified by “For Whom The Bell Tolls.” TechRadar’s reviewer reported roughly 25 hours while pursuing every collectible and optional side mission; this is one reviewer’s run, not a promised duration.

Xbox Wire also lists distinct achievements for completing all campaign secondary objectives (“Side Piece”) and finding all campaign collectibles (“Memories From E-Day”). Those are separate targets from simply completing the Acts.

Rank #2
Gears of War E-Day | Premium Edition | XBOX Series X|S and Windows Digital
  • 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.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What is not established about missed content

The available sources do not explain whether missed side objectives can be replayed later, how chapter select works, or whether a particular objective becomes unavailable after you advance. If a specific collectible or optional mission matters to you, do not assume you can return for it later without checking the game’s current replay options.

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Xbox lists solo, two-player split-screen, and up-to-four-player online campaign play, but the cited sources do not compare how those modes affect completion time.

Quick Recap

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Gears of War 3 (Renewed)
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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.
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Bestseller No. 5
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Best Value
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  • This item does not work outside US. We cannot guarantee compatibility. You can contact the call center for more information on compatibility.
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Rank #3
Gears of War 3 (Renewed)
  • 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.

campaign lengthGears of War: E-DayVideo GamesXbox

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