Is Borderlands 4 Really Worth Playing?

The Borderlands series has always carved out a unique place in gaming. With its cel-shaded art style, irreverent humor, endless guns, and loot-driven chaos, the franchise has been both beloved and divisive. Each mainline entry has introduced new Vault Hunters, new mechanics, and larger-than-life villains, keeping the formula familiar while adding new wrinkles.

With Borderlands 4, released in 2025, Gearbox once again aims to raise the bar. It introduces a new cast of Vault Hunters, expands on the open world formula, and promises more replayability than ever before. But after years of sequels and spinoffs, players have reason to ask: is Borderlands 4 really worth playing, or is it just more of the same? Let’s take a closer look at the story, gameplay, world design, and long-term value to answer that question.

The Story and Characters

Borderlands has always leaned into chaotic storytelling, with villains who steal the show. Handsome Jack in Borderlands 2 became one of the most iconic antagonists in gaming, while the Calypso Twins in Borderlands 3 divided opinion but still provided energy and personality. Borderlands 4 shifts its narrative tone again.

The main story centers on a galaxy-spanning conflict tied to Eridian artifacts and a rising threat that forces the Vault Hunters into uncharted territory. The new villain is less comical than past ones, combining ambition with menace. Instead of a constant stream of jokes, the antagonist has more depth, grounding the story in higher stakes while still leaving room for Borderlands’ trademark humor.

The four new Vault Hunters-Vex, Rafa, Harlowe, and Amon-each have personal arcs woven into the central plot. Vex struggles with her fractured Siren powers, Rafa brings his military pragmatism to a chaotic world, Harlowe experiments with dangerous gravity tech, and Amon wrestles with duty and honor in a universe that has little of either. Their banter is sharp, their personalities distinct, and their presence in cutscenes gives the campaign more weight than in Borderlands 3, where not every Vault Hunter felt equally fleshed out.

Supporting NPCs, both familiar faces like Claptrap and newcomers with fresh comedic energy, help keep the game lighthearted even when the stakes climb. The story is still campy and over-the-top, but it feels tighter and more balanced than its predecessor.

Gameplay and Combat

If Borderlands is known for one thing, it is gunplay. Borderlands 4 keeps the familiar loop of loot and shoot but improves on both variety and feel. Weapons now have even clearer manufacturer identities:

• Jakobs: Hard-hitting revolvers and rifles with satisfying critical hits.
• Maliwan: Elemental weapons with charge mechanics that feel more impactful than ever.
• Tediore: Still doubling as throwable explosives, now with expanded gimmicks.
• Hyperion: High-tech weapons that reward precision and accuracy.
• Atlas: Smart-guided weaponry with expanded tracking mechanics.
• Dahl and Vladof: Reliable assault rifles and machine guns with new alt-fire modes.

The gun variety keeps firefights fresh, and improved recoil, impact feedback, and sound design make every shot more satisfying.

Combat encounters are more dynamic thanks to smarter AI. Enemies flank, use cover more effectively, and interact with the environment in ways that feel more natural. This is especially noticeable on higher difficulty modes, where encounters feel less like shooting galleries and more like actual firefights.

The Vault Hunters’ unique abilities also bring variety. Vex unleashes crystalline shards, Rafa adapts with modular Exo-Suit loadouts, Harlowe controls crowds with gravity fields, and Amon bridges melee and ranged styles. The combination of skills and weapon variety makes combat more creative than ever.

The Open World

Borderlands 4 expands on the series’ open world design. Previous games often split maps into smaller zones connected by load screens. Here, environments are larger and more interconnected, with smoother transitions that make exploration feel more natural.

The world is split up into 4 main regions:

• Fadefields: Rolling hills and open plains that seem peaceful at first glance, but hide dangerous wildlife and Eridian secrets beneath the surface.
• Terminus Range: A cold, mountainous expanse where survival is as much about braving the frigid climate as it is about fending off enemies.
• Carcadia Burn: Shattered and scarred terrain shaped by ancient forces, echoing with the chaos of past battles and crawling with hostile foes.
• Dominion: The heart of power on Kairos, a sprawling metropolis ruled by the Timekeeper, where corporate excess and oppression blend into neon-lit tyranny.

The cel-shaded art style remains, but technical upgrades add modern polish. Lighting, particle effects, and environmental detail create some of the most visually striking areas the franchise has seen.

Exploration feels more rewarding as well. Side quests are denser and more varied, often including humorous diversions, poignant character arcs, and even unexpected lore reveals. Random encounters and environmental storytelling help make the world feel alive beyond the main objectives.

Vehicles also return with expanded customization and tighter handling. Instead of being just a way to travel, vehicles now play a role in combat scenarios and exploration challenges, giving them more utility than ever.

Replay Value and Endgame

Replayability has always been a cornerstone of Borderlands, and Borderlands 4 leans into it heavily. Each Vault Hunter’s skill trees provide drastically different builds. Vex players might spec into high-burst elemental attacks, while others focus on barriers and traps. Amon can be a frontline melee powerhouse or a balanced hybrid fighter. These differences encourage multiple playthroughs to fully explore what each character offers.

The loot grind is as addictive as ever. Legendary drops, unique weapons, and random rolls keep the chase alive well after the credits roll. Loot feels more meaningful, and the improved endgame ensures that farming is less repetitive than in Borderlands 3.

Endgame activities include:

• Mayhem Modes with improved scaling and modifiers that add real challenge.
• Raid-style bosses that require strategy and reward coordination in co-op.
• Seasonal events with themed loot and temporary challenges.
• Expanded New Game Plus modes that encourage returning with new builds.

Together, these systems give Borderlands 4 long legs, especially for players who thrive on farming gear and experimenting with new builds.

Strengths of Borderlands 4

• Four Distinct Vault Hunters: Each with unique mechanics, strong personalities, and replay value.
• Combat Variety: Polished gunplay, smarter AI, and exciting new skill combos.
• World Design: Larger, more connected zones with beautiful biomes and denser side content.
• Loot System: More meaningful drops and expanded manufacturer identities.
• Replayability: Mayhem Modes, raid bosses, and diverse skill trees encourage multiple playthroughs.
• Co-op Fun: Still one of the best franchises to enjoy with friends.

Weaknesses of Borderlands 4

• Formula Familiarity: Despite improvements, the core loop of loot-and-shoot is still the same.
• Humor: Borderlands’ comedy remains divisive. Some jokes land, others fall flat or feel dated.
• Grind Factor: Loot-driven progression can feel repetitive for players less interested in farming.
• Pacing: The campaign occasionally leans on fetch quests and filler missions.
• Online Balance: Some endgame modes may feel overtuned or grind-heavy without co-op.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Borderlands 4 arrives at a different time in gaming. The looter-shooter genre is crowded, with titles like Destiny 2, Outriders, and live-service shooters all competing for attention. Yet Borderlands still manages to stand out by leaning into its identity.

Where other games push realism, Borderlands thrives on exaggeration and absurdity. The cel-shaded visuals, outrageous guns, and offbeat characters ensure it cannot be mistaken for anything else. With Borderlands 4, Gearbox has polished the formula enough that it feels both familiar and fresh.

It also helps that the new Vault Hunters feel more balanced and distinct than those in Borderlands 3. The cast stands alongside the fan favorites of Borderlands 2, giving the game a stronger identity and a better foundation for years of expansions and support.

Final Thoughts

So is Borderlands 4 really worth playing? The short answer is yes, but with some caveats. If you are looking for a complete reinvention of the looter-shooter genre, you will not find it here. Borderlands 4 sticks closely to its roots. But if you are a fan of polished gunplay, addictive loot, larger worlds, and chaotic co-op fun, Borderlands 4 delivers one of the best packages in the series.

The story is stronger and more balanced than Borderlands 3, the four new Vault Hunters feel distinct and memorable, and the endgame provides more reason to stick around. While humor and grind may not appeal to everyone, the overall experience is robust and rewarding.

For longtime fans, Borderlands 4 is both a love letter to the franchise’s past and a confident step forward. For newcomers, it is an excellent entry point that showcases why this series has endured for so long.