Gears of War: E-Day is the perfect entry point for the series. Because it's a prequel, it starts from scratch: whether you've never played a Gears game or finished the original trilogy on Xbox 360, everyone arrives in Kalona on the day the war begins.
But this isn't just nostalgia. The Coalition changed things that used to be untouchable in the series, like movement, and anyone who plays the old way will struggle more than they should. This guide explains what changed and gathers the tips you need to start strong, whether solo, with friends or in Horde Siege.
What is Gears of War: E-Day
E-Day is set 14 years before the first Gears of War and tells the story of Emergence Day, when the Locust Horde erupts from beneath Sera. The entire campaign takes place in a single city, Kalona, over three days, and follows Bravo Squad exclusively.
The squad includes a young Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, plus two new faces: Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes. Longtime fan favorite Tai Kaliso also appears. All four members of Bravo Squad are playable from the start.
According to The Coalition, the campaign runs about 14 hours, the longest the studio has ever made, and has more collectibles than any previous Gears game.
Before you start: solo or with friends?
E-Day is built to be played together. The campaign supports four-player online co-op and two-player split-screen on console. You can even mix them: two people on the same Xbox can team up with two more online for a full squad.
Playing solo is fine too: AI controls the rest of Bravo Squad. But if you have a friend nearby, the experience gets much better, and plenty of fights are easier with someone covering your flank.
10 tips to survive Emergence Day
- Cover is everything, but don't stay put. Gears has always been a cover shooter, and that hasn't changed. The difference in E-Day is that cover wears down: gunfire gradually chips away at whatever you're hiding behind. If the concrete starts breaking, it's time to move.
- Learn the new movement early. For the first time in the series, you can jump. There's also a slide that takes you under obstacles, around corners or straight into cover, plus new ways to vault over barriers. Master it early and you'll reposition faster and take fewer hits.
- Look up. Levels now feature vertical combat across rooftops and elevated positions. Gaining height gives you an edge over the Locust, but it works both ways: always check for enemies firing from above.
- Close holes with grenades. E-Holes, the openings the Locust emerge from, appear mid-fight. Tossing a grenade into one seals it and cuts off enemy reinforcements. Closing the hole often matters more than killing what already came out.
- Watch the ground. In Kalona, the terrain itself is a threat: sinkholes can swallow vehicles and entire buildings. If the ground starts giving way, get clear.
- Master active reload. It's been a series staple since the first game: tapping reload again at the right moment reloads faster and grants a damage bonus. It seems minor at first, but on higher difficulties it makes a big difference.
- Use the right weapon for each range. The Gnasher, the classic shotgun, rules up close. The Longshot is the precision rifle for those who prefer distance. And the Lancer, with its chainsaw, is your everyday weapon, especially here, where the game tells the origin of the famous chainsaw.
- Try the new weapons. The Gut Puncher is a grenade launcher where you control the moment of detonation, great for catching enemies behind cover. The Incinerator is an Imulsion-fueled shotgun, perfect for clearing groups up close.
- Explore the open areas. The campaign is still linear, but it has much larger stretches where you can reach objectives from multiple directions. Take your time: that's where many collectibles hide, including the classic COG Tags.
- Adjust the difficulty without shame. Campaign difficulty is customizable, down to specific gameplay settings. If you're stuck on a section, tweaking it isn't defeat. It's how you get to enjoy the story.
After the campaign: Horde Siege and Versus
Horde Siege is the big new post-campaign mode. It's a bigger take on the classic Horde mode, now with up to 12 players split into three squads of four, defending Kalona across larger city maps against waves of Locust and bosses.
Before dropping in, you pick a class: Assault, Marksman, Medic or Breacher. As in classic Horde, balance is the key: a squad of nothing but snipers won't hold a wave that gets up close.
If you'd rather play against other people, Versus offers 4v4 matches with ranked and social playlists.
Our take
The best tip of all: don't play E-Day like it's 2006 Gears. Reviews specifically praise the combat, and much of that comes from the new movement. Anyone who spends the first few hours glued to cover will find the game harder than it actually is.
It's also worth playing at least part of the campaign in co-op. Gears has always had the soul of a two-player game, and E-Day doubles down with a four-person squad and split-screen. If you have Game Pass, inviting a friend who also subscribes costs nothing.
FAQ
Do I need to play the other Gears games to understand E-Day? No. It's a prequel set before all the others, so it works as a starting point for the series.
How long is the Gears of War: E-Day campaign? About 14 hours, according to The Coalition. Playtime can vary a lot depending on difficulty and collectible hunting.
Does Gears of War: E-Day have split-screen? Yes, two-player split-screen on console. The campaign also has online co-op for up to four players.
How many players are in Horde Siege? Up to 12, split into three squads of four, with classes such as Assault, Marksman, Medic and Breacher.
When does Gears of War: E-Day launch? October 6, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S, PC and Game Pass. Premium Edition owners can play from October 1.
