The campaign for Gears of War: E-Day is substantial, with players expected to spend approximately 20 to 25 hours to complete the main story. This timeframe accounts for typical gameplay, though individual experiences may vary based on difficulty settings and the player's inclination to explore or collect in-game items. Some players may finish sooner by focusing solely on objectives or playing on easier settings, while those seeking a more thorough experience or facing higher difficulties could reach the upper end of this estimate.
The narrative of Gears of War: E-Day unfolds during Emergence Day, the cataclysmic event where the Locust Horde first attacked Sera. This setting places humanity in a state of surprise and desperate defense, translating into a campaign filled with continuous combat encounters against a wide variety of Locust enemies. The game's structure is described as a "not-so-whistlestop tour of Kalona," emphasizing its relentless pace.
The full campaign is divided into five acts, preceded by a prologue and followed by an epilogue. Here is the complete breakdown of acts and their respective missions:
Act 1
- Emergence
- Survival of the Fittest
- A Gear in Need
- Back in the Fold
Act 2
- Bravo Squad
- Hold the Line
- No Gear Left Behind
- Flyboys
- Overrun
Act 3
- Stranded
- Enemy Lines
- Last Foothold
- The Convoy
- Desperate Times
- Desperate Measures
Act 4
- Hope and Ruin
- Technical Difficulties
- Tough As Nails
- Signals
- Paths Diverge
- Critical Failure
Act 5
- One Problem at a Time
- Ghost Town
- Storm Clouds
- Resolute
- The Fall of Kalona
