Borderlands 4 is widely regarded as an excellent entry in the series, delivering a fresh and immersive open-world experience combined with significantly improved combat mechanics. Reviewers praise the game for its dazzling gameplay, detailed gunplay, and engaging endgame that offers prolonged player engagement. The open world of the planet Kairos is dense, richly packed with diverse biomes and activities, allowing greater freedom of exploration than previous titles. The story is seen as more grounded with better writing and character development compared to prior games. Key positives include the game's slick combat enhanced by new movement options, a wide variety of inventive weapons, strong co-op play, and a balanced mix of main and side missions that extend playtime well beyond the main story. However, some reviewers note drawbacks like performance issues on certain platforms, occasional bugs, and a few design choices like invisible walls that impact exploration. Borderlands 4 is seen as a necessary and successful evolution of the franchise, especially following Borderlands 3, with strong recommendations for fans and players seeking a satisfying looter-shooter with an open-world twist.
Review Highlights
- Gameplay: The best gunplay and movement in the series, more diverse builds and weapon modifications.
- Open world: Large, seamless world with multiple biomes and activities beyond main quests.
- Story & Writing: More grounded and high-quality writing with memorable characters.
- Performance: Some technical hiccups and bugs noted, especially on PC.
- Replayability: Rich endgame, side missions, and co-op support keep players engaged.
Overall, Borderlands 4 revitalizes the series with fresh innovations while retaining its hallmark chaotic and humorous loot-driven shooter action.
