The original Gears of War takes about 9 hours to finish its main story, according to HowLongToBeat figures displayed by Deku Deals in 2026. That estimate is for the original game—not Gears of War: Reloaded, whose main-story listing is about 7 hours. Actual playtime varies, and the estimates use different listings and scopes.
How long is the original Gears of War?
For the original Gears of War, plan on approximately 9 hours for the main story. Deku Deals displays this HowLongToBeat estimate; it is a player-time estimate, not an official Microsoft completion-time specification. The same listing gives longer estimates for playing beyond the main campaign.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Gears of War: E-Day | Standard Edition | XBOX Series X | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $18.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Gears of War 3 (Renewed) | Buy on Amazon | |
| 4 |
|
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition - Xbox One (Renewed) | $25.34 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Gears of War 4 - Xbox One (Renewed) | $24.01 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Original Gears of War play scope | Estimated time | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Main story | 9 hours | HowLongToBeat figure displayed by Deku Deals; captured in 2026. |
| Main story plus extras | 12 hours | HowLongToBeat figure displayed by Deku Deals; captured in 2026. |
| Completionist | 31.5 hours | HowLongToBeat figure displayed by Deku Deals; captured in 2026. |
See the original Gears of War playtime listing on Deku Deals.
How long is Gears of War: Reloaded?
Gears of War: Reloaded is a separate edition, so its playtime figures should not be substituted for the original game’s. Its HowLongToBeat figures displayed by Deku Deals in 2026 are about 7 hours for the main story, 9 hours for the main story plus extras, and 22 hours for completionist play. Windows Central estimates 7–10 hours for Reloaded’s campaign, depending on difficulty. The broader review estimate and the listing figure are different kinds of estimates, not a single guaranteed range.
#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.
| Reloaded play scope | Estimated time | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Main story | 7 hours | HowLongToBeat figure displayed by Deku Deals; captured in 2026. |
| Main story plus extras | 9 hours | HowLongToBeat figure displayed by Deku Deals; captured in 2026. |
| Completionist | 22 hours | HowLongToBeat figure displayed by Deku Deals; captured in 2026. |
| Campaign estimate | 7–10 hours | Windows Central review estimate; varies with difficulty. |
See the Gears of War: Reloaded playtime listing on Deku Deals and Windows Central’s Reloaded review.
Why do the estimates differ?
- Edition: The 9-hour estimate is for the original listing; Reloaded has its own listing and figures.
- What counts as finishing: Main story, story plus extras, and completionist play are separate categories. Optional content and completion goals can add substantial time.
- Difficulty and play style: Windows Central explicitly says its Reloaded campaign estimate varies by difficulty. Individual pace and play choices also mean a listing is not a promise of your completion time.
What changes in Reloaded?
Microsoft describes Gears of War as a campaign playable cooperatively online or offline with a friend. Windows Central describes Reloaded’s campaign as five acts. Deku Deals notes that Reloaded includes post-launch content for the original, including a bonus campaign act; that additional content is another reason not to assume its duration matches the original release.
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.
Sources: Microsoft’s Xbox listing for Gears of War; Deku Deals’ Reloaded listing; Windows Central’s Reloaded review.
Recommended Free Tools
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.
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.
