Borderlands 4
Developer: Gearbox Software | Publisher: 2K Games
Borderlands 4: The shooter-looter evolves with refined combat, endless guns, and a wild new adventure across the dangerous world of Kairos.
Developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games, Borderlands 4 builds on the franchise with meaningful refinements and a clear focus on improving the core experience. Combat remains engaging, side content is strong, and the humour lands closer to earlier entries. While it introduces several welcome improvements, it still struggles to match the balance and impact that made Borderlands 2 stand out.
Gameplay Experience: 19/25
Borderlands 4 delivers the fast, chaotic combat the series is known for, supported by several meaningful quality-of-life improvements that make the overall experience smoother than previous entries. Gunplay remains satisfying, with a steady stream of weapons and abilities encouraging experimentation across different builds and playstyles. The new boss reset system is a long overdue addition, finally allowing players to farm encounters without quitting to the main menu, a huge improvement since the original games. Progression remains engaging throughout the campaign, supported by strong side missions that often capture the humour and creativity the series is known for. However, endgame farming can feel inconsistent, with legendary drops appearing less frequently than expected, and Ultra Vault Hunter mode sometimes leaning too heavily into bullet-spongy enemies rather than rewarding power growth. Even with those frustrations, the core game remains highly engaging.
Presentation & Immersion: 20/25
The visual presentation is vibrant and polished, with detailed environments and strong lighting that give each region a distinct identity. Character animations and enemy designs maintain the exaggerated style the series is known for, while the overall world feels larger and more ambitious than previous entries. Audio design is particularly strong, with weapons, environmental sounds, and music all contributing to the chaotic energy of combat encounters. In the middle of this presentation, Borderlands 4 mostly maintains the series’ signature humour, occasionally delivering genuinely funny moments rather than relying solely on constant jokes. However, certain environments struggle to feel fully alive, particularly social spaces such as nightclubs, which lack the density and atmosphere seen in other modern games. While the presentation is generally strong, these moments slightly weaken the sense of immersion.
Design & Technical: 18/25
The underlying systems show clear refinement, with improved usability, smoother interfaces, and a wide range of settings that allow players to tailor the experience. Borderlands 4 offers a substantial amount of content, from main missions to side quests and post-game activities, giving players plenty to engage with beyond the campaign. However, several design issues emerge over time. Resource balance feels inconsistent, with some currencies offering limited value at higher levels, and late-game farming lacks the reward density expected from the series. Technical problems also impact the experience, including occasional quest soft-locks that require reloading and a persistent audio bug that forces a full restart to resolve. While none of these issues are game-breaking, they reflect a lack of polish that becomes more noticeable over extended play.
The Skinny About Borderlands 4
Final Considerations: 19/25
Borderlands 4 (Steam Link) ultimately succeeds because the core formula remains highly enjoyable, even after more than a decade of sequels. The combat is engaging, the amount of content is substantial, and the numerous quality-of-life improvements make the overall experience smoother than previous entries. Strong side quests help capture some of the humour and personality that defined earlier games, even if the main story never quite reaches those same heights. Technical issues and some uneven late-game balance prevent the experience from feeling fully polished, and certain design choices occasionally break immersion. Still, the game delivers a satisfying and content-rich Borderlands experience. It may not surpass Borderlands 2, but it stands as a clear improvement over Borderlands 3 and a solid step forward for the series. Cautiously Recommended.
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