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For the broad story chronology, play Gears of War: E-Day, Gears of War: Judgment, Gears Tactics, then the original Gears of War (or Gears of War: Reloaded) before continuing through Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, Gears of War 4, and Gears 5. Reloaded is a remastered version of the original, so it takes the same story slot rather than adding another chapter.
Gears of War games in chronological story order
- Gears of War: E-Day — set 14 years before the original Gears of War, as the Locust Horde first emerges.
- Gears of War: Judgment — takes place in the immediate aftermath of Emergence Day. The official description establishes its relative placement, but not an exact calendar year.
- Gears Tactics — set 12 years before the first Gears of War.
- Gears of War or Gears of War: Reloaded — play one version of the original campaign here; Reloaded is the remastered original.
- Gears of War 2 — continues the story after the original.
- Gears of War 3 — follows Gears of War 2 and concludes the original saga.
- Gears of War 4 — begins a later saga with JD, Kait, and Del.
- Gears 5 — continues that saga, with Kait at the center of the campaign.
The two prequels with stated offsets are not in the order some players might expect: E-Day comes before Gears Tactics because it is set 14 years before the original, while Tactics is set 12 years before it. Judgment is between them in this broad chronology because it is set immediately after Emergence Day. The official material cited for Judgment does not pin that placement to an exact year.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | Buy on Amazon | |
| 2 |
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Gears of War: Ultimate Edition – Xbox One | $16.43 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Gears of War Triple Pack - Xbox 360 (Bundle) (Renewed) | $42.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Gears of War 3 | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Gears of War (2-Disc Edition) | $37.98 | Buy on Amazon |
Should you play in chronological order or release order?
Choose chronology for the story timeline
The sequence above puts the prequel stories first, which is the clearest choice if you want events to unfold in in-world order. It includes a future title, Gears of War: E-Day; the official page describes its story placement and lists Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Handheld, and Steam access. Check the relevant store listing for current availability where you live.
Choose release order for the original introduction
For a first playthrough that follows the main saga as players encountered it, start with Gears of War, then play Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, Gears of War: Judgment, Gears of War 4, and Gears 5. Add Gears Tactics and E-Day as prequels afterward. This route preserves the sequence in which the original saga and its later entries were introduced, rather than placing prequel events before the first game.
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#1 Best Overall
- 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.
Where Reloaded fits—and whether to play both versions
Gears of War: Reloaded occupies the same campaign position as the original game. It is the remastered original, not a separate story chapter, so pick the edition that suits your platform and preferences; there is no chronological reason to play both. Platform and subscription catalogs can vary by region and change over time, so confirm each game’s current store listing before buying or subscribing. Game Pass branding on selected official game pages does not establish that every title in this order is currently included.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why these placements matter
- E-Day is the earliest of the games with a stated offset from the original: its official page places it 14 years before the first game.
- Gears Tactics comes later than E-Day on that same relative timeline, at 12 years before the first game.
- Judgment belongs before the original because its official page places the story in the immediate aftermath of Emergence Day, though it does not establish an exact calendar year.
- Gears of War 2 and Gears of War 3 continue the original story; the franchise page describes the third game as the original saga’s conclusion.
- Gears of War 4 and Gears 5 carry the story into the later saga, first introducing JD, Kait, and Del, then centering Kait.
For additional context, see the official Gears of War franchise catalog, the official E-Day page, the official Gears Tactics page, and the official pages for Judgment, Gears of War, Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, Gears of War 4, and Gears 5.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Engaging and disturbing cinematic story
- Never Fight Alone
- Gears of War Extras: Map Packs 1 & 2, Theme - Emergence Day, Gamer Pics - Gears of War, Emergence Day
- Engaging and disturbing cinematic story
- Never Fight Alone
Rank #4
- 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
- HD Gaming's New Standard Innovative controls and unmatched intensity made Gears of War one of the best-selling Xbox 360 games ever.
- Breakthrough advances in Unreal Engine 3 raise the bar again.
- A Blockbuster Experience Use enemies as shields, fight chainsaw duels
- Explosive Xbox LIVE Play The most visceral online shooter gets even better with a new party system, more co-op modes
Rank #2
- 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.
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.
