Since its debut in 2009, the Borderlands series has held a special place in my heart with its intense gunplay, endless arsenal of lootable weapons, and signature crude humor. While it practically invented the looter-shooter genre, the franchise has since fallen behind as RPG-infused multiplayer shooters have taken center stage. With Borderlands 4, Gearbox appears determined to reclaim its crown through bold innovations. From vastly improved shooting mechanics and a revamped RPG system to an entirely new setting, fresh characters, and a more grounded story tone, my hands-on session left me confident that I'll be drawn back into this wonderfully bizarre world of psychos and infuriating robots.
An Arsenal Awaits
Borderlands 4 introduces numerous novel features, but the most immediately noticeable improvement is the enhanced movement system. I discovered at least five new ways to navigate the world while hunting treasure and blasting wildlife: double jumping, gliding, side dashing, grappling, and even swimming—a welcome addition, given how frustrating instant water deaths were in previous titles. These traversal options add strategic depth to combat arenas, whether you're sniping mercenaries or bombarding local fauna with explosives. They also significantly accelerate closing distances with enemies, addressing the sluggish movement that often plagued earlier Borderlands games. The only potential downside is the sheer number of mobility options—during my initial hours, I frequently forgot to utilize them all. Combining double jumps, glides, and grapples in rapid succession felt almost overwhelming at first. However, by the demo's conclusion, I grew more adept at staying mobile while unleashing my arsenal on hordes of monsters, though mastering these mechanics will require practice.
Borderlands 4 Switch 2 Screenshots
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Naturally, Borderlands 4 delivers the franchise's signature endless weapon variety, with each firearm designed to inject chaos into combat. While my sampling was limited, most weapons felt familiar despite new manufacturers introducing fresh twists. Ripper guns, for instance, resemble Borderlands 3's COV weapons, requiring a spin-up before unleashing torrents of lead. Daedelus arms recall Dahl weapons with their switchable ammo types. The most distinct new type I encountered was The Order—a pistol with an alternate fire mode that created gravity wells instead of firing conventional bullets. Since my playthrough focused on early campaign content and I found only one legendary weapon, more surprises likely await. Based on my experience, however, the arsenal didn't deliver major shocks.
Craft Your Build
The new build-crafting systems feel more distinctive, particularly the introduction of Repkits—healing items usable alongside standard health pickups from chests and fallen enemies. These introduce compelling strategic choices: you can equip a Repkit with strong healing and short cooldown for safety, or opt for one with weaker healing that provides additional effects upon use. I tested one that released a cryo explosion when activated, and another that offered greater health restoration with two charges before cooldown. This flexibility should appeal to min-maxers looking to create specialized, high-risk builds.
Each Borderlands game features a unique roster of Vault Hunters, and this installment continues that tradition. I experimented with Vex, a Siren who summons NPC allies to handle mobs, and Rafa, a soldier deploying high-tech gadgets—including melee blades for close-quarters combat and shoulder-mounted auto-cannons. Though it's difficult to gauge their full potential from a brief session, the diverse skill trees and intriguing perks already promise engaging late-game possibilities. One standout ability allows Rafa's shoulder turrets to detach and function as stationary battle stations.
A New Narrative
Borderlands 4 introduces a darker setting and storyline. The action unfolds on Kairos, a world ruled by the immortal Timekeeper, who enforces order through cybernetic implants. However, events from recent Borderlands games (which I won't spoil) have disrupted this oppressive system, plunging the planet into chaos and creating opportunities for face-shooting and loot-grabbing mayhem.
The tonal shift is evident. While the game retains its signature cheeky characters, sexual humor, and exaggerated gore, there's a newfound darkness and a more grounded narrative that could address the shallow antagonists of Borderlands 3. The deliberate shift from Pandora to a new world, combined with a largely fresh cast (in the sections I played), gives Borderlands 4 the feel of a soft reboot—offering a clean slate for new stories compared to previous entries that heavily relied on established locations and characters.
Borderlands 4 feels a bit like a soft reboot that gives a fresh start to tell new stories compared to prior games that have mostly leaned pretty heavily on the locations and characters established in their predecessors.“
I welcome this change. Although I've loved Borderlands for years, the series has struggled to keep pace as the looter-shooter genre has evolved and become more competitive, especially among live-service titles. I don't want Borderlands to adopt a Games-as-a-Service model, but Gearbox's willingness to take significant risks to evolve the franchise is encouraging—and necessary to retain longtime fans like myself.
That's not to say Borderlands 4 abandons its roots—far from it. I still enjoyed mowing down enemies who emerged from dark spawn points, watching colorful loot erupt from defeated foes, and running over doglike creatures with my vehicle, which can now be summoned anywhere on the map rather than at specific points (a much-appreciated quality-of-life improvement). The game still features treacherous vaults to raid and massive bosses to conquer for loot, experience, and bragging rights. While I can't showcase specific late-game content due to restrictions, the one boss I repeatedly fought featured the most complex mechanics I've seen in the series. If that encounter represents Borderlands 4's overall quality, we're in for an exceptional experience.
After several hours with what promises to be a massive looter-shooter, I'm increasingly optimistic about Borderlands 4's potential to win back my affection after years apart. Keep an eye out for future coverage, when I'll be able to share late-game footage and a challenging boss battle I conquered repeatedly while grinding for unique weapons—old habits truly die hard.
