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Start with Gears of War: Reloaded. It remasters the original campaign, preserves the franchise’s intended introduction to Marcus Fenix, Dominic Santiago and Delta Squad, and supports modern Xbox, PC, cloud, PlayStation 5 and Steam play. After it, follow the main campaigns in release-story order: Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, Gears of War: Judgment, Gears of War 4 and Gears 5.
Gears of War: E-Day is the chronological starting point, but it is a prequel set fourteen years before the original. Choose it first only if experiencing the earliest point in the timeline matters more to you than receiving the saga’s original character introductions and story reveals in sequence.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Gears of War: Reloaded – PlayStation® 5 | $48.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Gears of War: Reloaded – PlayStation® 5 | $44.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Gears of War: Ultimate Edition - Xbox One (Renewed) | $28.45 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Gears of War Reloaded [AT-PEGI] (100% Uncut) (PS5)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/519r9dUB3IL._SL160_.jpg)
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Gears of War Reloaded [AT-PEGI] (100% Uncut) (PS5) | $69.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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The best first Gears game for most newcomers
Gears of War: Reloaded is the strongest entry point because it combines the first game’s narrative role with a current remastered release. The original campaign introduces the setting, Delta Squad, Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. Those relationships and the game’s cover-based combat establish the vocabulary used by later campaigns.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsReloaded is not a side story or a late-series recap. It is a remaster of the original Gears of War and includes the full breadth of content from Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, according to Xbox Wire. A newcomer therefore begins where the main saga itself began while using a version designed for current hardware.
#1 Best Overall
- THE ORIGINAL, REMASTERED: Powered by Unreal Engine, Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the blockbuster first Gears of War, now fully optimized for PlayStation 5.
- ALL INCLUDED: Gears of War: Reloaded delivers all post-launch content for the original title, including a bonus campaign act, multiplayer maps, plus characters and cosmetics, at no additional cost.
- STUNNING GAMEPLAY: The iconic original now looks and plays better than ever with lightning-fast load times; 4K assets; remastered textures, lighting, shadows, and reflections; HDR; Dolby Atmos; Variable Refresh Rate; and up to 120 FPS in multiplayer.*
- CROSS-PLAY: Supports cross-play across platforms, allowing you and your friends to squad-up, regardless of where you play.*
- CROSS-PROGRESSION: Jump from one platform to another and your campaign saves. Signing in with your Microsoft account is required for cross-progression.*
Starting with Gears 5 may put you in front of more recent technology and presentation, but it places you near the end of the central arc. You would meet established characters and conflicts without the introductions and buildup that make their later decisions meaningful. Gears 5 is a destination for a new player, not the ideal first chapter.
Why Reloaded works as an introduction
It establishes the characters the series assumes you know
The official Gears description frames the first campaign around leading Marcus Fenix and recruiting a friend as Dominic Santiago. That pairing is the foundation for understanding the squad dynamic in the subsequent games. Beginning here lets you see those characters enter the story rather than encountering them after their histories have already shaped the plot.
It teaches the series’ campaign format
The opening game presents the core Gears experience: a squad-based campaign in which movement between cover, coordinated firefights and set-piece progression are central. Later entries expand that formula, but they are easier to read when you have first experienced its baseline.
It offers a complete first session for solo or two-player groups
The official Gears page says the campaign can be completed cooperatively online or locally, with one player as Marcus and another as Dominic. That makes Reloaded suitable for a pair of newcomers who want to learn the series together instead of having one person watch the other play.
The recommended campaign order
Use this release-story route for a first playthrough. It follows the order in which the main campaign entries were presented, preserving introductions, escalation and returning-character context.
Rank #2
- The Original, Remastered: Powered by Unreal Engine, Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the blockbuster first Gears of War, now fully optimised for PlayStation 5.
- All Included: Gears of War: Reloaded delivers all post-launch content for the original title, including a bonus campaign act, multiplayer maps, plus characters and cosmetics, at no additional cost.
- Stunning Gameplay: The iconic original now looks and plays better than ever with no load times, 4K assets plus remastered textures, lighting, shadows and reflections, HDR, Dolby Atmos, Variable Refresh Rate as well as up to 120 FPS in multiplayer.*
- Cross Play: Supports cross-play across platforms, allowing you and your friends to squad-up, regardless of where you play.*
- Cross Progression: Jump from one platform to another and your campaign saves. Signing in with your Microsoft account is required for cross-progression.*
| Order | Game | Role in a newcomer playthrough |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gears of War: Reloaded | Remastered introduction to Marcus, Dominic, Delta Squad and the core campaign structure. |
| 2 | Gears of War 2 | Continues the main saga after the introductory campaign. |
| 3 | Gears of War 3 | Advances the central story before the series shifts to a new period. |
| 4 | Gears of War: Judgment | Part of the main campaign lineup and best understood after the first three numbered games on a first run. |
| 5 | Gears of War 4 | Moves the saga into its later generation and introduces the context needed for the next game. |
| 6 | Gears 5 | Play after Gears of War 4 so its characters and conflicts arrive with their intended setup. |
This order is about story presentation, not a claim that every event occurs in chronological time. The distinction matters most when deciding where to place E-Day.
Should you play E-Day before Gears 1?
What E-Day changes
Gears of War: E-Day is set fourteen years before the original Gears of War. Xbox Wire describes it as following Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago as the Locust first emerge. In timeline terms, it is the earliest point among the games discussed here.
That setting can make E-Day an attractive first purchase: you would watch the world’s crisis begin and meet Marcus and Dominic at an earlier stage of their lives. However, a prequel is written with knowledge of the original. Its dramatic weight can depend on your understanding of the characters and world that the first game introduced.
Choose E-Day first if chronology is your top priority
- You want the earliest story events before any later campaign.
- You are comfortable encountering a prequel before the game that originally introduced the franchise.
- You care more about timeline order than preserving the release-era sequence of reveals.
Choose Reloaded first if this is your first exposure to Gears
- You want the intended introduction to Delta Squad and the main cast.
- You want to avoid learning the setting through a prequel’s backward-looking perspective.
- You are planning to continue through all six campaigns in one sustained run.
For most newcomers, the second set of priorities is the better match. You can play E-Day afterward as a historical prequel once the original relationships and stakes are familiar.
Gears of War versus Gears 5 as a starting point
| Question | Reloaded | Gears 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Does it introduce the franchise’s core characters? | Yes. It begins with Marcus, Dominic and Delta Squad. | No. It assumes a much later point in the saga. |
| Does it preserve the main story’s opening context? | Yes. It is the remastered original campaign. | No. It follows earlier campaigns. |
| Is it suitable for a complete first playthrough? | Yes, especially when followed by the recommended order. | Better after Gears of War 4. |
| Can two newcomers play the campaign together? | Yes, online or locally, with one player as Marcus and one as Dominic. | The available data does not establish a comparable co-op detail for this recommendation. |
The comparison is not a judgment that Gears 5 is inferior. It answers a sequencing question: Reloaded supplies information that Gears 5 expects you to have.
Rank #3
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- 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.
Playing the first campaign with a friend
Reloaded is particularly practical for two people starting together. The official Gears page explicitly supports campaign co-op online or on the same local setup. One player leads as Marcus Fenix; the other joins as Dominic Santiago.
- Choose Gears of War: Reloaded rather than jumping into a later numbered entry.
- Decide whether you will use local play or an online connection.
- Assign Marcus to the player who wants to lead the campaign and Dominic to the second player.
- Continue through the campaign together before moving to Gears of War 2.
Playing cooperatively does not change the recommended story order. It simply lets both players experience the introductions and early squad relationship at the same time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where Reloaded is available and what it costs
Xbox Wire announced that Gears of War: Reloaded launched on August 26, 2025, with a stated standard retail price of $39.99. That is the announced SRP, not a guarantee of the current price in every country, storefront or sale period.
The remaster was announced for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5 and Steam. Platform availability can depend on the specific storefront and account region, so check the listing for your hardware before buying. Physical stock and local pricing can also change.
| Access route | What is established | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X|S | Announced platform for Reloaded. | Current regional price and edition shown in the Xbox store. |
| Xbox PC | Announced platform for Reloaded. | PC requirements and the storefront listing for your account. |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming | Announced platform for Reloaded. | Whether cloud play is enabled for your region, plan and device. |
| PlayStation 5 | Announced platform for Reloaded. | Current store price and any regional availability limits. |
| Steam | Announced platform for Reloaded. | Current price, system requirements and edition details. |
| Game Pass | Xbox’s franchise page promotes Game Pass as a way to play Gears titles and hundreds of other games for one monthly price. | Whether Reloaded is currently included in your country and subscription tier; catalog membership is not permanent. |
If you already subscribe to Game Pass, check the live catalog before purchasing. If you do not, compare the current subscription cost with the one-time price shown by your preferred store. Neither route guarantees the same regional terms everywhere.
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- German packaging. German instructions. Completely German playable.
- 4K resolution 60 FPS in the campaign 120 FPS in multiplayer mode
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) Dolby Vision and 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 3D Room Sound
- Variable refresh rate (VRR) 4K assets and re-mastered textures Enhanced visual post-processing effects
- Improved shadows and reflections Super resolution with improved anti-aliasing. No loading screens during campaign
A practical decision guide
Use the following rule instead of trying to identify a universally correct order:
- New to the series and want the intended introduction: start with Reloaded.
- Two people starting together: start with Reloaded because its campaign explicitly supports online and local co-op.
- You want to follow the saga as it was released: use Reloaded, 2, 3, Judgment, 4, then 5.
- You care only about the earliest point in the fictional timeline: start with E-Day, then continue with Reloaded and the remaining campaigns.
- You are deciding between the first game and Gears 5: choose Reloaded unless you have already played the earlier entries or knowingly accept the missing setup.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Starting with Gears 5 because it is newer
Newer release technology does not make a game the best narrative entry point. Gears 5 belongs after Gears of War 4 in the recommended route. Beginning there can leave earlier character relationships and events unexplained.
Treating E-Day as mandatory first play
E-Day’s fourteen-years-earlier setting makes it chronological, not automatically preferable. A prequel can be played first, but doing so changes the order of introductions and reveals. Select it first deliberately rather than assuming “earliest” always means “best.”
Assuming every price or subscription listing is permanent
The $39.99 figure is the launch SRP announced for August 26, 2025. Store discounts, regional pricing, physical availability and Game Pass inclusion can change. Check the live listing at the time you plan to play.
Planning co-op without checking the mode you need
The official description confirms online and local campaign co-op for the first game. Confirm your platform, account setup and connection requirements before inviting a second player, especially if you are relying on cloud play.
Bottom line for a first playthrough
Play Gears of War: Reloaded first, then continue through Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, Gears of War: Judgment, Gears of War 4 and Gears 5. Pick E-Day first only when chronological origin is more important to you than the original saga’s introductions and reveal order.
Quick Recap
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