Borderlands 4 Review: Is It Worth Your Time?

An honest review from someone with an average PC.

Borderlands 4 is a looter shooter released on September 12, 2025 as one of the year’s most anticipated sequels and a long-awaited return to the franchise. It’s available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and it has planned expansions and extra content just like the previous installments.

I played it on my PC, and I really should have gone with my PS5 because you pretty much need a NASA rig to get this game working, which I realized way too late. But I was fortunate enough that it did kind of work (after crashing once or twice and lagging quite a bit), so I was able to play it and give you my honest thoughts. Interested to find out more? Read on.

Quick Facts 

Developer/Publisher	Gearbox Software/2K
Platforms you can play it on	PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Release date	September 12, 2025
Genre/Mode	Looter shooter/Online co-op
ESRB/PEGI	M for Mature 17+/PEGI 18
Standard price	$69.99
Get it here ↗️

Story & Setting in Borderlands 4 

The Borderlands series has always thrived on its wild mix of sci-fi, western, and post-apocalyptic chaos, and Borderlands 4 continues that tradition while raising the stakes. This time, the action spans multiple planets in the Borderlands universe, with each location offering a distinct atmosphere. Gearbox has clearly doubled down on environmental storytelling, filling each world with quirky NPCs, hidden lore, and Easter eggs.

Narratively, the game centers on a new threat that ties back to the series’ long-running mythology of the Vaults. Without spoiling too much, the story leans into themes of legacy and consequence, pushing familiar characters into unexpected roles while introducing a new cast of Vault Hunters who feel more fleshed out than ever. The dialogue is still sharp and irreverent, packed with dark humor and satirical jabs at gaming tropes, but there’s also a noticeable attempt to inject more emotional weight into the campaign.

First 60 Minutes With Borderlands 4

There’s been huge storms around my place, which is always great for WiFi speeds, and downloading Borderlands 4 took well over 12 hours. Imagine my joy once I woke up to find it installed. I got my morning coffee prepared and was ready to boot the game. But my happy mood didn’t last long. The game refused to load. After well over 30 minutes, it decided to work and I was back to happy again. 

I didn’t waste any time and started the campaign immediately. The first few minutes were okay but when the time came for me to play, it started to lag and it felt like I was playing on a very high sensitivity which totally threw me off. With a little dabbling around I think I’ve managed to make things work and it felt like I was in control. For the next 40 minutes or so, it was smooth sailing for me but after that, the game started glitching and despite my best effort to soldier on, it completely gave up on me and crashed.  

I sincerely hope that your first hour in Borderlands 4 was slightly better than mine.

Borderlands 4 Gameplay & Mechanics 

Core Mechanics: Combat, Exploration, and More

Borderlands 4 continues the franchise’s trademark high-octane combat, with tight first-person shooting and a bunch of abilities and gadgets. The gunplay feels sharp and each weapon type offers distinct feedback and perks. You’ll see (and use) stuff like the shotgun that spews corrosive acid or an SMG that chains lightning between enemies. 

Exploration is also more dynamic this time, thanks to vertical environments, grappling hooks, and wall-running, which make firefights less static. 

Player Progression: Skills, Loot, and Customization

The RPG layer has also been expanded. The skill trees for each Vault Hunter are bigger and more flexible, so you can build highly specialized characters. Loot, as always, plays a central role. Procedurally generated weapons and gear keep you chasing that next upgrade. 

Multiplayer and Co-op 

Borderlands has always been at its best with friends, and Borderlands 4 doubles down on that co-op experience. Four-player online co-op is seamless, with scaling systems that ensure loot and difficulty adjust to your level, so no one feels left behind. There are also new team-based perks that reward coordinated play, so you and your friends might feel inclined to strategize rather than just spray bullets. Cross-play support makes it easier than ever to squad up across PC and consoles, and online matchmaking is smoother compared to past entries.

Graphics, Art & Sound 

Borderlands 4 sticks with the franchise’s signature cel-shaded, comic book-inspired art style, and honestly, it’s never looked better. The exaggerated outlines, bold colors, and over-the-top character designs give it a timeless quality. It’s similar to Hi-Fi Rush in its stylization, though darker and grittier in tone. 

It’s not aiming for photorealism, but the stylized visuals make sure the game stands out from the sea of generic shooters.

Now comes the tricky part. How does it run with all of these fancy, Unreal Engine 5 graphics? And, well, I was lucky enough that I didn’t encounter too many issues, despite having a minimum-requirements PC. I’m assuming that if you have a better graphics card and a more modern rig, you shouldn’t have any issues, but I did see a lot of people with far better PCs than mine have issues still, even on lowest possible settings. So, make of that what you will.

For me, it did crash twice when I tried to launch it. And then when I finally managed to play it, it ran somewhat smoothly (aside from a few glitches), and then it became entirely unplayable. You can see what I mean in the video above. I heard it was worse for people who tried to play it immediately when it came out. I guess having crappy WiFi has some perks, after all, huh?

Anyway, I can’t speak to PS5 performance (yet) since I haven’t played it there yet, but I did some digging and it looks a lot smoother than it did on my PC. So while I prefer playing looter shooters on PC (with a mouse and keyboard, like a sir), I should have probably picked my PS5 for this game in particular, because the performance would be better. 

My recommendation is exactly that — if you have an older PC or you’re unsure if yours will work for Borderlands 4, best to get it on your PS5 (if you have one) or wait for some of these issues to be resolved. 

Music & Sound Design

The soundtrack nails that chaotic Borderlands energy with heavy beats, industrial riffs, and atmospheric electronic layers during exploration. Combat music ramps up the intensity without being overwhelming, and ambient tracks help sell each planet’s unique vibe. 

As for the voice acting, Borderlands has always leaned on snappy writing and memorable performances, and the fourth entry keeps that streak alive. The voice cast is great. Not every joke lands, but the delivery is consistently energetic and true to the franchise’s overall tone.

Borderlands 4 Pros & Cons

So, in the end, is Borderlands 4 worth your time (and money, because let’s face it $70 is a lot in this economy)? Well, let’s take a look. 

Pros:

• It’s a looter shooter, so you’ll be able to play it a lot without getting bored (it has replayability).
• You can play it with friends.
• It has cross-play, which is great for the points above.
• Flexible character builds and expanded skill trees.
• It looks really good. 

Cons:

• If you have a lower-end PC, you might not be able to play it.
• Even on a slightly better PC, you can expect crashes.
• Missions can feel repetitive.
• It’s expensive, and there are free looter shooters (*cough* Warframe)

Final Verdict 

Borderlands 4 is a game that knows its audience and delivers exactly what they’re looking for. If you’re a fan of looter-shooters and love co-op chaos, this game is right up your alley. You’ll enjoy it whether you’re hardcore into these types of games or just play them casually with friends.

From a value perspective, Borderlands 4 offers plenty of replayability. Multiple Vault Hunters, endless loot variety, co-op play, and post-launch expansions give you reasons to keep coming back. Even if the story doesn’t fully break new ground, the sheer volume of content and polish in the core gameplay make it a solid investment for anyone looking to sink dozens of hours into a shooter-RPG hybrid.

But — and here’s a big but — all of that stands only if you (and your friends) can play it. If you don’t meet the minimum system requirements or are just there, consider getting it on PS5, Xbox, or waiting just a little while longer (for either improvements or a sale, whichever comes first). 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3 out of 5)

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