Borderlands 4 review

Madness, hectic action, and a hilarious story are the key ingredients for an impressive looter shooter. The Borderlands franchise has this in abundance, but Borderlands 3 unfortunately fell a little short of its usual high standards. Well, we’re now in 2025, and that is the past! Borderlands 4 has crash-landed and created an almighty impressive ripple. The action is fun, the graphics are crisp, and the story blends immature and touching moments. The result is a game that is tough to put down.

Developer Gearbox has created an amazing open-world adventure shooter that offers freedom, guidance and everything in between. The missions are fun and testing, and the difficulty curve is nicely balanced. On top of this, single-player and multiplayer action are both fun in equal measure.

Borderlands 4 tells an insane plot.

Kairos is a cold and dark place! The Timekeeper runs this prison-like world with an iron fist. Accordingly, it takes up to 4 new Vault Hunters to break down its walls and teach that oppressive asshole a lesson he’ll never forget. However, this is easier said than done, as waves of monsters, goons, and armfuls of loot stand between you and victory.

The lore-filled lands are an absolute joy to explore. There are genuinely touching moments that will make you stop and think. Yet, it retains its hilarious edge as witty chatter and amusing in-jokes appease hardcore fans. As you flit from location to location, you can enjoy an array of new traversal techniques. Though these aren’t new for the genre, the grappling hook, jet pack, and air gliding help you to escape death and attack every foe you face.

Enemies, weapons, and a whole lot of madness.

The Borderlands franchise has always been crazy. However, Borderlands 4 ups the ante. There are so many enemies and weapons to choose from. Moreover, there are numerous tiers of guns that you could play repeatedly and always try a new weapon. This feels a little overwhelming at first, but I learned to live with the dread.

Understanding every key layer of your deadly arsenal can be a minefield. Yet, it doesn’t have to be. I simply enjoyed some mindless trial and error to find the right layout for me. Sadly, this approach didn’t apply to character progression. Though there were plenty of skills to enhance, you need to be more mindful of your skills and abilities.

Tight gunplay and a massively open world.

2 key factors to Borderlands 4 are the gunplay and the huge open world. If either of these were terrible, the game would fall apart. Thankfully, they are practically perfect. The tight gunplay is a joy to experience. The sublime weaponry combines seamlessly with the slick athletism of each Vault Hunter. Moving between cover and avoiding projectiles was insane but ultimately rewarding. Subsequently, every encounter felt smooth, fun, and just the right side of challenging.

The open world element was undeniably incredible. Whether you play this alone or with others, you feel no restrictions. I played this with friends, and rarely did I see them. We were free to do as we wished, whenever we wished. Luckily, a fast travel option meant that we could jump to help when needed, but this was rarely the case.

This combination of slick gameplay and freedom makes Borderlands 4 a brilliant addition to the genre. Furthermore, this clear evolution from its predecessor will be enjoyed by veterans and newcomers alike.

Borderlands 4 looks as good as ever.

I still remember the original and how the art style blew me away. Although this vibrant comic book edge is no longer as out there, it is still horribly bloody. The gaudy colours juxtapose the steampunk edge. Furthermore, the layers of depth and incredible landscapes keep you hooked. In short, it captures your attention from the opening scene.

The audio is as loud, funny, angry, and audacious as you’d expect. The acting is incredible, and the soundtrack blends upbeat and sombre moments to perfection. Alongside this, you enjoy hellish sound effects as each weapon blasts the hell out of everything you see.

It’s a joy to play.

Though I’ve read reports of glitches and bugs, I experienced very few. Maybe I’ve been lucky, or perhaps they’ve been patched. Either way, Borderlands 4 performs well on the Xbox Series X. This smooth and seamless gameplay ensures that this is a joy to play. Smooth controls and an impressive UI make every moment fun and easy to understand. Whether you are changing weapons, unleashing a magazine of hot lead, or traversing giant chasms, the controls do not let you down.

I’ve spent around 55 hours ploughing through the main story. I have barely touched the side quests, and there are some areas untouched. This leads me to believe that I have hours of action left to explore. The plot is so good that I’d happily enjoy it repeatedly with each Vault Hunter build. Consequently, this should have hundreds of hours of gameplay if you so wish.

Borderlands 4 is GOTY material.

Juggling this and Dying Light has not been easy. Both crave attention, and I don’t have enough hours in my life. However, it has been a pleasant change of pace and a challenge I would accept again. Borderlands 4 is packed full of energy, madness, and weapons. The open world is great, and the plot is zany, ridiculous, and worth every second. Accordingly, this is GOTY material, and you should pick up a copy from the Xbox store.