Borderlands 3 left me deeply skeptical that Gearbox could recapture the charm that made this series iconic. Its flashy spectacle was undercut by shallow loot, fractured storytelling, and mechanics that felt watered down when a sequel to a beloved title should be anything but. The Pre-Sequel didn’t help matters by recycling old content from Borderlands 2 without any real meaningful innovation. As a result, I entered Borderlands 4 on a very low note, expecting more of the same: big guns with very little substance. As someone who has spent hundreds of hours in the previous games within the franchise, my excitement was tempered by cynicism, bracing myself for disappointment once again.
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What I found instead was unexpectedly refreshing. Borderlands 4 doesn’t just polish old systems; it revitalizes the core gameplay loop, bringing meaningful modernization and innovation that improves everything that makes Borderlands, Borderlands. The story plays it very safe, and performance can frustrate, but moments of pure chaotic fun return in ways that feel deliberate and rewarding. Gearbox clearly aimed to modernize the series without losing the franchise’s signature energy.
For me, this is significant. After being badly jaded by Borderlands 3‘s poor approach to the Borderlands formula, I didn’t expect to find any joy here. Yet Borderlands 4 delivered moments of genuine excitement that reminded me why I fell in love with the franchise in the first place. Despite its flaws, it is an important step forward, proving that the series still has some vitality and that Gearbox can innovate while honoring the foundation that fans expect.
Rating: 4/5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent mobility upgrades that refresh combat | Technical performance is poor across most hardware |
| Weapon parts system makes loot genuinely exciting | Numerous bugs, especially in co-op play |
| Open world design encourages exploration and experimentation | Story feels safe and unremarkable |
| Satisfying core combat that rarely feels repetitive | Frustrating UI and navigation missteps |
| Chaotic co-op moments that feel uniquely Borderlands | Unpolished loot management tools in a loot-focused game |
Exploring Borderlands 4’s Open World Feels Worthwhile, With Every Corner Offering Surprises
Borderlands 4’s open world design is a huge leap forward for the series, and is one of the main reasons it feels so different to play. Maps finally feel alive with hidden camps and loot caches, along with skirmishes and world events that make exploration genuinely rewarding. Even areas that seemingly appear empty often hide secrets or optional objectives, giving more opportunity for quality loot via turning every corner into a chance for discovery. Unlike the linear corridors of Borderlands 3, the world design in Borderlands 4 encourages curiosity. The shift to an open world was a big risk for Gearbox, but the gamble paid off, as it created a vibrant playground full of surprises and small moments that previous games in the series could rarely offer.
Verticality and the strategic placement of environmental hazards add real depth to combat, making platforms, rooftops, and vantage points far more meaningful than before. I found myself constantly looking up and around instead of charging straight ahead, weighing options and planning approaches. When combined with the new mobility upgrades, exploration became both tactical and genuinely fun, as clever use of space could turn the tide of battle. The open world encourages experimentation in ways older entries never quite managed.
What impressed me most was how the world itself tells stories without needing constant narrative prompts. Each area has its own personality, from desolate wastelands dotted with scavenger camps to industrial complexes that feel lived-in and functional. Environmental details, enemy placement, and hidden loot all contribute to a sense of life and history in the world. I caught myself pausing to take in scenes or figuring out clever ways to approach encounters, which made the open world feel meaningful rather than just a series of combat arenas. This subtle storytelling through level design is a major step up for the series.
New Mobility Upgrades Completely Alter Combat and Exploration, Making Every Encounter Feel Dynamic
Borderlands 4’s new mobility system fundamentally redefines the dynamics of combat for the series, transforming encounters from routine shooting galleries into high-speed, acrobatic engagements. Double jumps, grappling hooks, and gliding allow for creative approaches, flanking maneuvers, and rapid repositioning, giving me a heightened sense of agency during battles. These tools turn positioning and timing into meaningful factors alongside firepower, making every encounter feel like a dynamic puzzle rather than repetitive action. For a veteran player, this depth revives the experience and ensures that combat feels consistently engaging, a welcome change.
Level design complements these innovations brilliantly, as platforms, hazards, and environmental features become integral to strategy. I constantly scanned the terrain for opportunities to gain the upper hand, whether by using vertical space to avoid fire or planning a glide attack to disrupt enemies. Encounters now feel layered and deliberate, encouraging experimentation and improvisation while maintaining the series’ signature chaos. The interplay between movement and environment creates moments of triumph that feel earned rather than accidental.
The system also enriches exploration, as clever use of movement allowed me to reach hidden areas or approach objectives from alternative routes. This sense of freedom elevates the game above the rigid linearity of Borderlands 3, providing opportunities for some highly creative problem-solving. It is rare to see mechanics so seamlessly integrate combat, exploration, and strategic thinking, making mobility one of the most compelling aspects of this installment.
Borderlands 4’s Weapon Parts System Brought Back the Thrill of Hunting for Loot
Borderlands 4’s weapon parts system reinvigorates the franchise’s core obsession with guns and loot, allowing components from different manufacturers to meaningfully alter stats, elemental effects, and weapon behavior. Even mid-tier weapons can become indispensable tools with the right combination of parts, prompting me to analyze drops more carefully than in recent entries. This system reignites the thrill of experimentation and discovery that made earlier games unforgettable. Because of this, I spent more time analyzing loot in Borderlands 4 than in any other previous title in the series, probably combined.
The depth of the system cannot be stated enough. It encourages experimentation across the board, turning even minor weapons into potent tools with tailored functionality. I spent hours modifying loadouts to complement my playstyle, exploring how elemental effects, firing patterns, and accessory parts could synergize to maximize combat efficiency. Every chest or enemy drop now carries potential excitement, making exploration feel consistently rewarding.
For veterans disappointed by Borderlands 3, this system restores a sense of purpose to the loot grind. Rather than feeling hollow or superficial, collecting gear becomes a series of small victories that impact gameplay in large, meaningful ways. The satisfaction of discovering the right weapon combination creates moments of joy and engagement that remind me why I once obsessively scoured every corner of Pandora.
Borderlands 4’s Story Feels Competent but Cautious
Borderlands 4 is set on the vibrant, yet dangerous planet Kairos, where new Vault Hunters arrive seeking a legendary Vault only to be immediately captured by the tyrannical Timekeeper, who implants them with control devices. With the help of Kairos-brand freedom fighters, the Vault Hunters eventually escape and gradually become the spark for planet-wide revolution in very Borderlands fashion, by challenging the Timekeeper’s oppressive rule. The story establishes a clear goal and provides context for missions while giving players a reason to engage with the game’s loot and combat-driven systems.
The narrative scaffolding works well, providing structure to exploration and combat without ever really compromising gameplay. Environments and objectives are tied to the story just enough to make sense of the Vault Hunters’ journey, and the planet of Kairos feels alive with factions, bases, and hazards that reinforce the stakes. Dialogue and character interactions are logical and occasionally humorous, but the story rarely leaves a lasting emotional impression or encourages deeper reflection.
For all its functionality, the game’s story approach feels like an overcorrection from the disastrous narrative spawned from Borderlands 3. Gearbox seems to have intentionally avoided any narrative risk, aiming for characters and story beats that would not provoke backlash. This ensures the story never disrupts the core looting and shooting experience, but it also prevents any moments of true surprise or intrigue. I often finished missions feeling relief rather than excitement, longing for bolder choices that might have made the narrative memorable.
Ultimately, Borderlands 4’s narrative succeeds as a background framework for the series’ signature chaos, but it rarely elevates the experience beyond that. It gracefully avoids the pitfalls of Borderlands 3, yet in doing so, sacrifices the narrative spark that could have transformed the game from a strong gameplay-focused entry into a standout story-driven adventure, closer to Borderlands 2. It’s safe. It’s functional. It’s easily digestible. All the while leaving plenty of room to focus on what the series does best, looting and shooting.
Technical Issues Often Disrupted My Gameplay, and Made Me Frustrated
Despite all the improvements in gameplay and world design, Borderlands 4 struggles with serious performance issues that often break immersion. On my RTX 3060, I had to lower resolution and force Frame Generation with DLSS just to reach a reasonably playable 90 FPS without additional input delays. Even with a 3090 I tested the game on, I struggled to maintain a consistently smooth performance. Stutters and frame drops were common, turning tense combat moments into frustrating exercises in patience. These issues are completely unacceptable for 2025 hardware, especially given the game’s scale.
Bugs further aggravate the experience, particularly in co-op. Enemies frequently desynced, loot sometimes failed to drop, chests sometimes failed to open for teammates, and one Vault dungeon glitch, in particular, caused my group to almost entirely miss out on a permanent upgrade, forcing multiple resets just to proceed. These interruptions were not isolated incidents. They happened often enough to make coordination a serious challenge, leaving our team frustrated rather than engaged in the core gameplay. The constant disruptions were extremely annoying throughout my entire playthrough.
The user interface compounds these problems even further. Delays in marking gear, mislabeling, and confusing navigation led to multiple accidental scrappings of valuable weapons and loot, including one weapon I had been using for hours. Inventory management felt clunky and untrustworthy, which is jarring in a loot-focused game where loot management is a big part of the experience. While Borderlands 4’s gameplay upgrades are excellent, the combination of unstable performance, pervasive bugs, and UI failures prevents the game from fully realizing its potential. Most, if not all, of these things are likely to be fixed in future patches, but that doesn’t change the fact that this title was released with all of these missteps.
Despite Bugs and Performance Frustrations, Borderlands 4 Reminded Me Why I Fell in Love With the Series
Borderlands 4 is the first entry since Borderlands 2 that genuinely balances respect for the series’ legacy with meaningful innovation. Mobility upgrades, redesigned encounters, and the weapon parts system give players unprecedented agency, elevating combat and exploration in ways not seen since the franchise’s peak. Even The Pre-Sequel, which recycled much of Borderlands 2’s content, never felt as fresh or tactically rewarding. This game demonstrates that Gearbox can innovate while remaining true to the chaotic, gun-slinging essence the series is most valued for.
Borderlands 4 is not a flawless game, though, and the technical issues I experienced cannot and should not be ignored. Performance woes and a plethora of bugs made certain aspects of the core gameplay more stressful than they should have been, and I completely understand how some might find these issues deal-breaking. Co-op problems, particularly the Vault dungeon glitch that almost cost my team a permanent upgrade, highlight the game’s instability in critical moments. These flaws are significant and are easily the most frustrating aspects of an otherwise excellent product.
Even so, Borderlands 4 earns a high rating because its innovations and polished gameplay deliver a return to form that the series desperately needed. While not every player will have a smooth experience, those who can navigate or tolerate its technical issues will find a game that rewards you for playing it exactly like you want to. It is a bold and energetic entry that revitalizes the series, and for me, a jaded veteran, the combination of core improvements and inventive design is enough to justify its final rating.
ComicBook was provided a Steam code for the purposes of this review.
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