By A new Borderlands launches this week!
- by Ben Kerry
Borderlands 4 is upon us! Yep, Gearbox’s latest bonkers FPS joins the Xbox ranks this week – which means we’re starting to see early reviews drop for this new Series X|S title.
As usual with our review roundups, we’re going to gather up a range of early impressions from various outlets to give you an overview of what to expect from the title. Keep in mind these reviews are all based on the PC version for now.
Without further ado, here’s what’s being said about Borderlands 4 so far:
DualShockers (9/10)
“If you already love the Borderlands franchise–even the third game—you’re guaranteed to love this newest addition to this chaotic and bombastic looter shooter. Borderlands 4 is undoubtedly my favorite Borderlands game to date. It is a culmination of everything that the franchise has learned thus far and then some.”
WellPlayed (9/10)
“Borderlands 4 realises the full potential the series has always had, delivering that unmistakable Borderlands experience but with a ton of modern sensibilities to establish itself not simply as a fun co-op shooter, but as the definitive example of what a fun co-op shooter should be.”
COGConnected (8.9/10)
“There’s no question that Borderlands 4 is an ambitious improvement over the last installment. Its visually impressive open world is full of enjoyable content to discover, the narrative is more serious without being dull, and the series’ wicked humor is intact via side quests. In fact, the risks Gearbox has taken pay off so well it made me wish they’d taken more chances with combat. All the vault hunters are fun to play, making multiple playthroughs or co-op rewarding. Borderlands 4 doesn’t revolutionize the franchise, but it absolutely evolves it and sets up an exciting future for the series.”
One More Game (8.5/10)
“Borderlands 4 is back in great form thanks to its exceptional customization, dynamic open world, and reinvented boss battles. Gearbox Software clearly listened to its community, addressing past critiques with a sprawling, interactive map, expansive skill trees, and guns that feel genuinely unique.”
Games.CH (8.5/10)
“Borderlands 4 doesn’t reinvent the wheel but expands the chaotic loot-shooter formula with faster gameplay, creative weapons, and a larger, more varied world. While the story and enemy variety still leave room for improvement, the dynamic combat, hilarious tone, and strong co-op potential keep the experience fun and addictive. Fans of the series will feel right at home, and newcomers willing to embrace the madness will find plenty to enjoy.”
IGN (8/10)
“Borderlands 4 is a badass open-world evolution of a wonderfully unhinged looter-shooter series that needed to try something new, and it largely nails the biggest swings it takes. Combat is slicker than ever thanks to exciting new movement options and some interesting enemy designs, and the entertaining story takes things in a fresh direction while still tying neatly into existing lore.”
VGC (4/5)
“Borderlands 4 is a great RPG shooter with rewarding, engrossing gameplay. Some of the set dressing, like the bland new characters and pointless grappling hook, take the shine off, but the sheer amount of fun we’ve had with the game can’t be overlooked. Borderlands 4 reminds us exactly why we were such big fans of the original two games, and falls on its sword in learning the mistakes of 3.”
GameSpot (7/10)
“All in all, if uncovering loot, crafting builds, and unleashing chaotic mayhem is what you’re looking for, Borderlands 4 has you covered. It’s the most mechanically sound Borderlands game to date, and the various Vault Hunters each present an entertaining opportunity to tackle the game in a different way. Just maybe find a good podcast or video essay to fill the moments between the shooting and looting. The game’s story and characters aren’t strong enough to hold your attention on their own, and the game’s combat begins to drag once you’ve seen all the enemy types there are to see.”
At the time of writing, Borderlands 4 has a Metacritic score of 84 and an OpenCritic rating of 80 – both of which are pretty darn impressive for the fourth iteration of this long-running FPS.
Talk to us about these early Borderlands 4 reviews down below.
Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and is a fan of action, racing and straight-up shootin’ in any Xbox game he can get his hands on. When he’s not clutching an Xbox controller like his life depends on it, Ben spends his time listening to music that’s far too old for him, watching football on the telly and probably eating somewhere.