Borderlands 4 Garners Strong Early Reviews
The first wave of reviews for Borderlands 4 has landed, and much like the plentiful loot from a defeated enemy, the reception is largely positive. Critics suggest that Gearbox has learned valuable lessons from the mixed reactions to Borderlands 3, delivering a richer looter-shooter experience that has dialed back some of the more tiresome humor and memes.
As of this writing, Borderlands 4 holds an impressive 84 out of 100 on Metacritic (based on PC review codes) and an identical 84 on OpenCritic, where a perfect 100% of critics recommend the game. This places Borderlands 4 tied with the original Borderlands as the second-highest-rated game in the series, only surpassed by the beloved Borderlands 2, which scored 89. Notably, some major outlets like PC Gamer and Eurogamer did not receive early access to the game for unknown reasons.
What Critics Are Praising
Journalists have lauded the fourth installment for several key improvements. High praise has been given to the excellent gunplay, appealing visual style and art direction, satisfying rewards, well-designed open world, and diverse enemy types. Critics also highlighted a more appropriate use of humor, though some noted that the “endless stream of sarcasm from characters who need to comment on every moment” still persists.
Points of Contention
However, Borderlands 4 is not without its flaws. Common criticisms include a bland main story, unmemorable new characters (with returning fan-favorites being an exception), a weak antagonist, irritating dialogue, and performance issues. For those particularly sensitive to performance, it might be wise to wait before purchasing. Yet, if you’re content with playing at medium settings and 1440p on recommended hardware, many reviewers agree that Borderlands 4 will deliver a great deal of fun.
Side missions received mixed feedback. Some reviewers appreciated the sheer quantity and felt they didn’t resemble a “second job,” while others found them tedious and, at times, mandatory to keep pace with the game’s difficulty curve. As Michael Hoglund from Windows Central noted, if you enjoy grinding, Borderlands 4 welcomes you.
Reviewer Highlights
- XboxEra – 100/100: Praised it as the best open-world co-op looter-shooter they’ve ever played, calling it a “masterpiece” despite minor gripes.
- DualShockers – 90/100: Jay Ku called it their favorite in the series, a culmination of everything the franchise has learned, with improved script and quality-of-life changes.
- VGC – 80/100: Graeme Timmins highlighted the rich, rewarding gameplay, noting that it corrected the mistakes of Borderlands 3 and recaptured the essence of the first two games, despite some forgettable new characters and a “pointless grapple hook.”
- GameSpot Р70/100: Jordan Ram̩e recommended it for its generous loot, build diversity, and chaotic combat, but suggested listening to a podcast during downtime due to a weak story, unengaging characters, and repetitive combat.
Release Details
Borderlands 4 is set to launch on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on September 12. PC players can jump in at 7:00 PM Moscow time, while console players will see a midnight local time release. The Nintendo Switch 2 version will follow later, launching on October 3. The game will feature text-only localization for Russian audiences.
What This Means for Players
Overall, Borderlands 4 seems to be a confident step forward for the series, addressing many of the criticisms leveled at its predecessor while doubling down on the chaotic, loot-driven action fans love. While the story might not be its strong suit, the core gameplay, visual design, and rewarding loop appear to be more than enough to satisfy veteran Vault Hunters and newcomers alike, provided they manage any potential performance hiccups.
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