It’s safe to say Borderlands 4 is turning into the sequel fans have been waiting for, bringing back the best of the franchise with sharper mechanics and a more mature tone.
The chaos, humor, and loot hunting are still there, but the game's traversal and combat have been revamped to feel more modern and deliberate. The result of years of feedback is evident in Gearbox’s latest move.
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+ 3On the war-torn planet of Kairos, the narrative draws on deep connections to the lore of past games. A cataclysmic event—linked to Lilith—has shattered its isolation, and now factions, synthetic armies, and rebellious resistance fighters fill the land.
This lays the groundwork for a tighter, character-centric plot, with plenty of opportunity for world exploration. The way you traverse the world is now a much bigger factor in your overall experience. Players can climb, glide, grapple, and zipline across environments, all while facing changing weather conditions and unexpected wildlife encounters.
The movement is more fluid than ever, and thanks to the Digirunner, your summonable hover vehicle, exploration now stands alongside shooting and looting as the key to the experience. Borderlands 4 has restructured the looter shooter foundation with the addition of "Licensed Parts," which lets weapons feature parts from various manufacturers.
The randomness still exists, but it's now directed by systems that favor synergy and build crafting. Brands like Order and Daedalus bring something new to the table, while classics like Torgue and Jakobs return, reinvented with a fresh approach. The skill trees have been enriched with additional layers.
Vault Hunters can choose from different action skills, modifiers, and passive options to craft their ideal playstyle. As the new Siren, Vex controls a spectral cat, which can adapt its abilities to match the elemental damage of her weapon. Rafa, for his part, introduces a tanky exo-suit style that adds a brawler element to the team.
click to enlarge + 3Returning characters like Zane, Moxxi, and Claptrap help tie the story back to the series' roots, with rumors that Lilith is still alive fueling the narrative. The new "Silo" system also stands out, introducing spontaneous world events that happen without mission pick-ups.
You can earn loot, Vault Fragment spots, and occasionally dungeon keys by completing these short objectives. Side content is part of exploration, ensuring the flow continues without menus or backtracking. With cross-play supported from day one, multiplayer has been revamped to work across PC, PS5, Xbox Series, and, down the road, the Switch 2.
There’s a two-player split-screen mode for those who prefer couch co-op, and the standout feature is the flexibility: everyone can set their own difficulty, loot is private so that no one can snag your drops, and fast travel works even when one player is far from the other.
click to enlarge + 3It’s a way friendlier experience for groups with different skill levels, and replayability is back. You can now re-fight bosses or redo missions as much as you want—no more awkward save file juggling just to farm loot. Add in a better drop system that makes legendary gear feel rare and powerful again, and Borderlands 4 looks like it's getting back to its RPG roots while fixing past mistakes.
Arguably, the most important change is that the humor and tone have been perfected. Unlike the constant barrage of jokes in Borderlands 3, the new game reintroduces the clever, more context-driven humor that made the first two games so great.
The result is a world that still feels over the top, but it's less grating and more centered around the characters. Borderlands 4 drops on September 12, 2025, and from what we've seen so far, it could be the best one yet—great gameplay, and it actually listens to the fans.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Features and Borderlands 4 page.