Explosive action and sharp design make Borderlands 4 a standout entry

It’s no stretch to say that developer Gearbox had its work cut out for it with Borderlands 4. After all, 2019’s Borderlands 3 was mechanically solid but narratively underwhelming, with those complaints addressed in a run of superb post-launch expansions. 

Borderlands 4 takes two steps forward with its bold open-world design, sharper storytelling and polished gameplay, but also takes two steps back with buggy performance and irritating invisible walls that hinder exploration. Still, it’s hard to deny that Gearbox knows how to craft a hell of a looter-shooter, even if this one has rough edges.

If you have yet to play a Borderlands game, you’ve missed out on one of the quirkiest franchises in gaming.

Colourful and chaotic, each entry is a dopamine slot machine where you spin the reels by inserting bullets into maniacal bandits, corporate mercenaries and authoritarian robots resident in lawless extraterrestrial locations. 

In 2025, the grind of levelling up your chosen Vault Hunter, experimenting with different builds and equipping an arsenal of powerful weapons feels better than ever, while the Borderlands formula has been enhanced with a few clever new tricks.

The biggest change here is the open-world environment, a gigantic slab of digital real estate that’s leagues ahead of the smaller biomes in previous games. 

Kairos is a land of opportunity, brimming with secrets and challenges while avoiding the usual open-world bloat. Getting around is smoother too, thanks to the option to instantly call in a ride anywhere on the map – one of several ideas borrowed from Bungie’s Destiny. Plus, dynamic world events, side missions and the main campaign help Kairos feel alive when you’ve a spring in your step and a rocket launcher on your back.

Another major improvement is the narrative. It won’t be taking home any prizes for profound commentary, but at least Gearbox has learnt to tell a tale without being overbearingly obnoxious this time. 

Borderlands 3 was a slog thanks to characters peppering every line with try-hard attempts at comedy, but mercifully, the zingers have been toned down here. There’s still absurdity in the air, yet the one-liners now feel organic and can genuinely elicit a chuckle – rather than a groan like the constant genitalia jokes of Borderlands 3.

Outside of the narrative, the gameplay loop is downright intoxicating. 

Mechanically, this is the best the series has felt, as Borderlands 4 enhances the core shoot-and-loot experience with smart refinements. Gliding and grappling in firefights feels wonderfully fluid, while weapon types now double as special attacks with brief cooldowns – an evolution that meaningfully freshens up combat.

The wealth of skills available to each Vault Hunter also makes for a far more flexible system of buildcrafting, with options to suit almost any style. 

Want to turn Siren Vex into a vampire-like force of nature who drains the life from enemies while hurling flaming skulls? Check. Prefer Rafa, the one-man-army billboard for Tediore weaponry? Double-check. Or maybe you’d rather wield Harlowe’s gravity-manipulating powers to trap enemies in singularities that explode like mini Big Bangs. Whatever your taste, there’s a character build to match.

Once optimised with the right gear, these builds really shine with destructive force. Co-op adds even more depth, as teams can combine their skills for outrageous synergies. 

Tight gunplay, improved weapons and inventive boss fights also raise the excitement, with new mechanics and modifiers ensuring battles keep you on your toes. When all these elements click, Borderlands 4 becomes a cathartic cacophony of chaos.

Yet for all its ambition, the game is still hamstrung by some dated design choices and uneven technical performance. 

Despite Gearbox’s big promises of seamless exploration, Kairos is littered with invisible walls you’ll inevitably crash into, undercutting its sense of freedom. Performance issues are also hard to ignore: texture glitches, the occasional game-breaking bug and, on console, worsening frame rates the longer you play – forcing you to save, exit and reload. 

These pain points can sour the experience, though patches will hopefully iron things out. Gearbox generally has a strong track record for post-launch support, and the current roadmap is stacked with expansions and weekly events to keep players hooked. DM

Borderlands 4 is out now on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles. This review was first published on PFangirl.