Borderlands 4 Review: A welcome sequel, or perhaps one too many?
, by Enzo
Borderlands 4 brings the popular looter-shooter franchise back into the spotlight with renewed ambition. Following the undeniable success of its predecessors, the series once again sets out to push the boundaries of chaos, loot and the distinctive humour that has become its trademark. However, in an increasingly crowded gaming landscape filled with live-service titles and cooperative shooters, can this latest instalment still manage to surprise us? Or are we looking at one sequel too many?
Background and expectations
Since the release of Borderlands 2, widely regarded as the series' high point, Gearbox's franchise has established itself as a benchmark within the genre. Although it failed to win everyone over, Borderlands 3 reinforced the foundations of the formula without introducing enough meaningful changes to truly reinvent it.
Expectations for this fourth instalment were therefore quite clear: preserve the immediate gameplay appeal while delivering a genuine evolution. Announced as a more ambitious, dynamic and open experience, the game also promised a more engaging narrative and a greater wealth of content.
First impressions and game feel
In this department, things are just as enjoyable as ever, and there is very little to complain about. From the opening minutes, the game feels reassuringly familiar: this is unmistakably Borderlands. Movement remains as satisfying as ever, while the gunplay is fast-paced and impactful, delivering that distinctive feel with every shot. Overall, the shooting mechanics feel excellent, and every trigger pull is genuinely satisfying.
The interface has received a few adjustments while retaining its usual clarity, making it easy to get to grips with. The inventory, on the other hand, feels less comfortable to navigate than in previous installments. Although the feeling of déjà vu sets in fairly quickly, it never really gets in the way of the experience.
Gameplay: does the formula still works?
The core gameplay loop remains unchanged: shoot, loot, upgrade your gear and start all over again. However, Borderlands 4 introduces a few refinements to the formula. Weapons offer greater variety and feature even more unusual behaviours. Some come with original mechanics that bring a fresh twist to combat encounters. Skill trees also appear to be slightly more diverse, while the different character builds are easier to distinguish from one another.
Co-op remains one of the central pillars of the experience. Playing with friends significantly enhances the fun, thanks to a balancing system that works well. Sessions are fluid and fast-paced, although occasional synchronisation issues can still occur. Despite these strengths, a certain degree of repetition becomes noticeable over time. Combat encounters are enjoyable, but their structure sometimes lacks variety.
Mobility has also received substantial improvements, with tools such as a grappling hook, a dash and even double jumps allowing for much more vertical combat. Certain systems also make it easier to replay some boss fights and elite enemy encounters. Instant vehicle spawning adds further dynamism to the gameplay, removing the need to rely on summoning stations.
World, art direction, and narrative
Visually, the series retains its distinctive identity with a cel-shaded art style that remains as effective as ever and continues to improve with each instalment. Environments are now more varied, alternating between desert regions, industrial complexes and much greener landscapes, which are arguably the most visually appealing. The graphics look polished, with more elaborate visual effects and improved environmental detail.
Art direction remains one of the game's greatest strengths, with a universe that is instantly recognisable. Each of the main regions has its own personality, although their differences may feel a little too pronounced at times.
When it comes to the story, Borderlands 4 aimed to raise the bar. It is worth acknowledging that the characters are generally well-developed and well-written, with some dialogue exchanges genuinely hitting the mark. Humour remains ever-present and may still divide players: it stays true to the series' identity, although it can occasionally go too far. The story itself, however, is hardly revolutionary, and it is easier to lose interest in it than in previous instalments.
Performance, length, and content
Optimisation and performance are undoubtedly the game's biggest weaknesses. Several months after its release, and despite most of the major issues having been addressed, the frame rate still struggles. Shader compilation remains somewhat slow, transitions between menus lack fluidity, and overall performance still leaves plenty of room for improvement.
In terms of content, Borderlands 4 is as expected. The main campaign offers a substantial amount of playtime, further extended by a considerable number of side quests — perhaps too many. Exploration and loot collection remain at the heart of the experience.
While some side activities and optional quests are genuinely interesting and worth checking out, not all of them reach the same standard. Their sheer number can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. Meanwhile, the endgame offers several activities that once again encourage players to optimise their gear and extend their adventure.
Tested on PC. See our rating policy here.
7.5/10
Borderlands 4 is a solid entry that will win over fans of the franchise and looter-shooter enthusiasts without much difficulty. Fun, lots of contet and well-executed, it once again demonstrates Gearbox Software's expertise in the genre. However, it lacks that spark of innovation, that little something capable of leaving a lasting impression. Nevertheless, it remains a safe bet that rarely puts a foot wrong, even if it goes for evolution rather than revolution.
- + Humour is less frequent and less insistent
- + As visually appealing as ever
- + Interesting character classes
- + More polished writing
- + A fairly solid endgame
- + Gameplay remains as enjoyable as always
- - Inconsistent difficulty
- - Optimisation leaves a lot to be desired
- - Story is less engaging
- - The open world is fairly conventional