Borderlands 4 Review (PC): Mayhem, Guns, and a Major Comeback

Borderlands 4 is the culmination of countless hours scouring the wastelands of Pandora in an attempt to stay relevant after some major downfalls of the series. All eyes were on this new group of Vault Hunters and order-obsessed entity called the Timekeeper to bring a major shift in the franchise, refilling it with some much-needed energy that it’s been lacking since the third game was released. 

After ripsawing my way through the new breed of psychos, scaling the landscapes of Kairos, and dealing with a mountain of items that never seemed to end, I am elated to admit that my frazzled mind found solace in the chaotic world of Borderlands 4, and it managed to recapture the feelings I had for the second, and arguably, best game in the series. However, that nostalgic feeling is only as deep as a Thresher’s burrow. Resting within Kairos is a map so cluttered that it would make a Ubisoft executive smile.

Bringing the Series Back From The Edge

Being a massive Borderlands fan from the early days of the series, I, like many, felt the series had peaked at the second game. Borderlands 3, New Tales From the Borderlands, and the movie just didn’t hit, and they made the series feel stale and lost, making it difficult to get excited about the fourth installment. After seeing trailers, gameplay, and the massive hype train that is Gearbox, I decided to pick my psycho mask back up and give it a go, and now, it is a game that I can’t put down, and not just because a certain CEO is saying I’m not a “real fan” if I don’t like it.

For me, Borderlands has always been about the fast-paced looter shooter gameplay, wild characters, and unique environments. The story comes second, as the world has always taken precedence. Jumping into the world of Borderlands 4, I have to admit, I was overwhelmed. This is the first time the series has jumped to being a true open world, but it feels like a natural progression from previous entries. I am glad that Gearbox made that leap, despite them just slightly missing the platform with their glide pack.

You Aren’t in Pandora Anymore

Borderlands 4’s Kairos map is made up of a few distinct biomes, each with a unique personality that sets it apart from the others. You begin your journey in what I would say is the least interesting, flat, and normal-looking – the lush green farmlands of The Fadefields. It is a strong starting location that helps you get used to the world with some lower vertical areas and wide-open fields, but the game truly shines when you reach Carcadia Burn and, my favorite region, Terminus Range, as this is where you will see much more of that verticality and truly get to test out your new grappling hook and glide pack. Carcadia Burn may be barren, but it brings back old pals, gives you means of traveling through underground burrows, and shows the effects of a moon crashing into the planet’s atmosphere. Terminus Range, on the other hand, shows you massive snow-topped peaks, worthy of gliding for miles, and intriguing NPCs that are themed after Middle Eastern culture. These locations are far more endearing than seeing the tenth farm on the horizon in the Fadefields.

Using these new tools, I whipped my way through the different biomes with ease in a way that felt, again, like a natural progression to the game’s movement mechanics that, now that they are here, I can’t believe haven’t been in previous titles. These tools opened up a whole new world of possibilities, and I soon found myself effortlessly using them both in and out of combat.

The downside to Borderlands 4’s open world is that I think Gearbox cluttered it with menial tasks and collectibles. As soon as I was able to explore, I was taken aback by the number of collectibles and activities scattered around the map. It felt like Gearbox was trying to meet some quota of an obscenely high number of things to do on the map. Everywhere I turned, there was something to collect or something to do, which, for some, will be great, but personally, I found it to be too much.

Normally, smaller collectibles like Propaganda Speakers, Caches, and Lost Capsules wouldn’t bother me, but they are a major means of obtaining Ordinite, which is the way you upgrade your SDU slots on your character, making each collectible feel almost necessary to go out of my way to collect. This ultimately hurt my experience, because seeing the million markers on the map made me feel less like I was playing a Borderlands game, and more like I was playing a generic Ubisoft title. This was even more apparent thanks to Gearbox’s version of towers, called Silos, though I will admit they are better since you don’t need to climb a large tower to reach them and can instead just walk in. You could remove half of the collectibles in Borderlands 4, and the game would be better for it. Overall, a good chunk of them aren’t very rewarding, and ultimately, they clutter the experience.

It’s All About the Guns, Everyone Knows That

Since I can remember, Borderlands has had the tagline of “[insert number] of guns,” as if the team always feels the need to remind everyone that it is a looter shooter. One of the biggest parts of the Borderlands series is the gunplay, and with over 30 billion guns in the game, there is a lot of it, and it is all worthwhile.

New this time around is the ability to equip enhancements that can further boost your setup. While this is a nice addition to creating builds, I didn’t think it would make or break anything. In fact, I played a large chunk of the game without realizing what enhancement I had equipped. Once I paid attention to it, however, it became clear that I was missing out, and it helped me fine-tune my build to boss-annihilating potential. The other major change is that grenades, rocket launchers, and a few other weapons count as ordinance, a change that felt strange to me at first, but quickly grew on me as a way to streamline the weapons system. I honestly never noticed that I wasn’t using a rocket launcher, as I normally would in previous games. I stuck with grenades for most of my playthrough, and I never once thought that I missed having a guaranteed rocket launcher, as it made room for guns I cared more about. I can see why the ordinance slot is better, and I tested out some other weapons, but the grenades still reign supreme for me.

Perhaps the biggest change, and the one that I like the most, is the “licensed parts system,” which allows guns to have different parts from other manufacturers. I know what I like when it comes to the guns in Borderlands, which is typically stuff that fires full auto and has high elemental damage. Through the licensed part system, I was able to look for specific parts on weapons that I knew I would like, leaving little guesswork when it came to weapons. It’s an addition that feels so at home that you would think it could have appeared earlier in the series.

Vault Hunters Matter Too

As usual, Gearbox has created four new Vault Hunters to take on the role of saving the universe, all while fighting for personal profit and gain by opening vaults in the process. My first Vault Hunter of choice was Harlowe. The idea of defying the laws of physics with crazy machines spoke to me. Admittedly, I wasn’t sold on her right away. Once I began my journey, it was a bit rough. I died fairly often and felt like she wasn’t for me. Then it clicked, I found the skill that worked for me and the right way to use it, and I created a build that was annihilating bosses within 30 seconds.

My second Vault Hunter was Amon, the Forgeknight, and the one who looks like a Viking on steroids, combined with a mech unit. Having figured out what I wanted out of a build in my first playthrough, I looked through his skill tree and quickly made a character I was sure would succeed. With knowledge of a previous character, I was able to craft a build that I felt confident in and took me through the start, though I admit it needs some work.

Gearbox has delivered a lot of variety and substance to the builds in Borderlands 4. At first, it can feel like too much, but once you start tinkering, you will find yourself wanting more. In combat, these characters are amazing to play, and combined with the new tools, they can seamlessly do a lot with what is at their disposal.

So, You Want to Hear a Story, Eh?

Borderlands 4 has succeeded in bringing back the story in a mostly meaningful way from where the third game left off. The story features the fight for freedom and breaking free from the Timekeeper’s rule, for he and his lackeys have absolute control over the land of Kairos. To be frank, the Timekeeper is never replacing Handsome Jack, but Gearbox did a great job creating a new evil entity that shines thanks to his cruelty and evil presence. Unfortunately for the Timekeeper, Callis, the Ripper Queen, was a far better antagonistic force that I wish was in the game more than she was.

The story had many highs and lows, but it never felt boring or like I was on a bad date and wanted it to end. Instead, it kept me guessing around every corner. Borderlands is known for its comedy, and if you experienced the last mainline game, you know that comedy doesn’t always land. Borderlands 4 brings back the serious nature of past stories, while also putting in some great jokes that genuinely made me laugh.

The quirky, fun, eccentric, and wacky characters have amazing personalities, and the jokes land nine times out of ten. Whether it is going on a new life journey via my Ripper life coach, or going on a hunt for a legendary vending machine, each mission was a treat to play, and rarely did I feel like the game dragged. A few missions felt repetitive, but they ended up being manageable, and I didn’t need to spend a long time listening to someone talk while unable to leave their vicinity.

The Verdict

Borderlands 4 was the “make-it or break-it” moment for Gearbox that would determine the fate of the franchise going forward. Despite not having the greatest faith going in, I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had playing it. The colorful cast of characters, combined with the great writing, made me laugh, sigh with relief, and gasp at the choices that I made. While the collectibles are overbearing, the combat and build-crafting in this game went well above my expectations, giving players more than they could ever want when it comes to the fast-paced looter shooter grind. After playing through the game once, I just want to experience it again, but with new characters, without jumping levels. As a fan, I am genuinely glad that Gearbox has brought the series back in a way that keeps the nostalgia of the earlier games while adding to it in a meaningful way.

Borderlands 4 was reviewed on PC with a code provided by Gearbox. It is also available on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.

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