Gears of War: E-Day has reminded me why I don't want every game to be 100 hours long

Gears of War: E-Day is out now on PC and Xbox, and while playing through its story campaign, it reminded me why I don’t want every game to be 100 hours long.

There’s nothing we love more than slouching on the sofa, firing up our favourite games, switching off and getting lost in these wonderful digital worlds. Whether it’s a few games of EA Sports FC 27, Call of Duty or Street Fighter, there’s something for everyone in this community we hold so dear.

Perhaps the most immersive experiences come from open-world RPGs, and 2026 has already given us some fantastic releases, including Crimson Desert, The Blood of Dawnwalker and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered. However, while playing Gears of War: E-Day, I was reminded that not every game needs a 100-hour campaign to fully immerse me.

Gears of War: E-Day gets the campaign length just right

Don’t get me wrong, you can spend a lot more hours playing through the Gears of War: E-Day story campaign, especially on greater difficulties, and with friends. You can even spend extra time searching the ruined city of Kalona for hidden collectables whilst helping civilians survive the night.

If you wanted to play through the campaign on the default setting and not bother with all the extra activities, you could get through Gears of War: E-Day in around 10 to 15 hours. If you decide to do all the extras, you can easily spend 20 to 30 hours on your first run. It’s that kind of flexibility that makes this game feel surprisingly relaxing, in its weird, gory, chainsawing-Locust-in-half kinda way.

Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in Gears of War: E-Day, Xbox Game Studios

Gears of War: E-Day might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Some might argue that it hasn’t evolved enough, but as a fan since the original, that familiarity is actually very comforting. Aside from a few gameplay changes, it’s incredibly easy to pick up and understand, making it a great entry point for newcomers too, especially as it’s a prequel.

Then there’s the bromance between Marcus and Dom, which never gets old. Those two will never stop oozing aura, and whether you’re new to the series or a returning fan, it’s hard not to love them. That’s why Gears of War is such a comforting series for me. It has all the ingredients you need to slouch, switch off and slay some Locust.

READ MORE: The 10 most iconic moments in Gears of War history

Here’s what we thought of Gears of War: E-Day

“Gears of War: E-Day is a solid prequel that gets a lot of things right. The characters, the combat, and the visuals all mesh together into a must-play adventure for any Gears of War fan, but it’s also an excellent starting point for those new to the series,” said GAMINGbible’s Sam in his review, scoring it an “Excellent” 8/10.

“I played through Gears of War: Reloaded and Gears of War 2 prior to Gears of War: E-Day, believing it’d enhance the experience, and while it did, I think I should have played them the other way around. I’m genuinely excited for my next playthrough of the series, after finally getting that first-hand context on what went down on E-Day and what part our heroes had to play in it.”

Gears of War: E-Day is out now on PC and Xbox Series X/S.