By Dave LeClair
Copyright tomsguide
Skip to main content
Tom’s Guide
Newsletters
View Profile
Search Tom’s Guide
You May Like
Gears of War: Reloaded is a truly beautiful remaster — but new players will enjoy it most
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is a faithful, yet safe remake with satisfying visuals, familiar controls and addictive gameplay
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds makes Mario Kart World look like child’s play — and its seriously chaotic nature leaves you itching for more
Phone Insights
Phone Best Picks
Phone Deals
Phone Face-Offs
Phone How-Tos
Phone Reviews
Network Carriers
Android Phones
Google Phones
Motorola Phones
OnePlus Phones
Samsung Phones
Nothing Phone
TV Best Picks
TV Face-Offs
Audio Insights
Audio Best Picks
Audio Deals
Audio Face-Offs
Audio How-Tos
Audio Reviews
Over-Ear Headphones
Bluetooth Speakers
Smart Speakers
TV & Audio Brands
Entertainment
Streaming Devices
Prime Video
Paramount Plus
PlayStation
Handheld Gaming
Gaming Peripherals
Connections
Computing Insights
Computing Best Picks
Computing Deals
Computing Face-Offs
Computing How-Tos
Computing News
Computing Reviews
VPN Best Picks
VPN Face-Offs
VPN How-Tos
VPN Reviews
Operating Systems
Identity Theft Protection
Parental Controls
Malware & Adware
Virtual Reality
Augmented Reality
Smart Glasses
Chromebooks
Gaming Laptops
Apple Desktops
Gaming Desktops
Android Tablets
Computing Brands
AI Insights
AI Best Picks
AI Face-Offs
Google Gemini
Apple Intelligence
Mattress Best Picks
Mattress Deals
Mattress Face-Offs
Mattress How-Tos
Mattress News
Mattress Reviews
Mattress Care
Mattress Toppers
Pillows & Bedding
Smartwatches
Fitness Trackers
Smart Rings
Apple Watch
Home Insights
Home Best Picks
Home Face-Offs
Home How-Tos
Home Reviews
Home Topics
Home Appliances
Home Office
Home Security
Home Brands
Popular Brands
View Phones
Phone Insights
Phone Best Picks
Phone Deals
Phone Face-Offs
Phone How-Tos
Phone Reviews
Network Carriers
View Network Carriers
Android Phones
View Android Phones
Google Phones
Motorola Phones
OnePlus Phones
Samsung Phones
Nothing Phone
TV Best Picks
TV Face-Offs
Audio Insights
View Audio Insights
Audio Best Picks
Audio Deals
Audio Face-Offs
Audio How-Tos
Audio Reviews
Headphones
View Headphones
Over-Ear Headphones
View Speakers
Bluetooth Speakers
Smart Speakers
TV & Audio Brands
Entertainment
View Entertainment
View Streaming
Streaming Devices
Prime Video
Paramount Plus
View Gaming
PlayStation
Handheld Gaming
Gaming Peripherals
Word Games
Connections
View Computing
Computing Insights
Computing Best Picks
Computing Deals
Computing Face-Offs
Computing How-Tos
Computing News
Computing Reviews
VPN Best Picks
VPN Face-Offs
VPN How-Tos
VPN Reviews
View Hardware
View Software
Operating Systems
View Security
Identity Theft Protection
Parental Controls
Malware & Adware
View VR & AR
Virtual Reality
Augmented Reality
Smart Glasses
View Laptops
Chromebooks
Gaming Laptops
View Desktops
Apple Desktops
Gaming Desktops
View Tablets
Android Tablets
Computing Brands
AI Insights
AI Best Picks
AI Face-Offs
AI Engines
Google Gemini
Apple Intelligence
View Wellness
Mattresses
View Mattresses
Mattress Best Picks
Mattress Deals
Mattress Face-Offs
Mattress How-Tos
Mattress News
Mattress Reviews
Mattress Care
Mattress Toppers
Pillows & Bedding
View Fitness
Smartwatches
Fitness Trackers
Smart Rings
Apple Watch
Home Insights
Home Best Picks
Home Face-Offs
Home How-Tos
Home Reviews
Home Topics
Home Appliances
Home Office
Home Security
View Outdoors
Home Brands
Popular Brands
iPhone Air Review
iPhone 17 Pro Max Review
iPhone 17 Review
Meta Ray-Ban Display
Best laptops
Best Mattress
Don’t miss these
Gaming Laptops
Razer Blade 18 (2025) review
Gaming Peripherals
I took my remote PS5 gaming setup to the next level with this phone controller — and I won’t be going back
Gaming Laptops
I’ve played 1000s of hours on over 100 gaming laptops — here are the best gaming laptops that I’d personally recommend
Gaming Peripherals
I spent the weekend playing PS5 and Switch 2 games using the GameSir G8 Plus — and its performance and versatility blew me away
Gaming Peripherals
I never thought a $49 gamepad would top the Switch 2 Pro Controller — and now that I’ve tried this GameSir pad, I won’t be going back
Gears of War: Reloaded is a truly beautiful remaster — but new players will enjoy it most
Playstation
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is a faithful, yet safe remake with satisfying visuals, familiar controls and addictive gameplay
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds makes Mario Kart World look like child’s play — and its seriously chaotic nature leaves you itching for more
I’m a diehard Metal Gear fan and Snake Eater Delta is the perfect remake of my all-time favorite game
Silent Hill f is one of the most disturbing games I’ve ever played — a must-play horror thrill ride
I played Cronos: The New Dawn — and it’s the Dead Space and Blade Runner mash-up I didn’t know I wanted
Donkey Kong Bananza is the 3D Donkey Kong game I’ve always wanted — and one of the best reasons to get a Switch 2
I’ve waited 15 years for a new Skate game — here’s my verdict on Skate 4 after playing more than 20 hours
I just beat Hell is Us on PS5 Pro — here’s 3 reasons to play, and 1 to skip
Gaming Peripherals
I love this Turtle Beach PS5 controller — but this one thing is holding it back from perfection
I love Borderlands 4 despite its poor performance and bad optimization — here’s why
I can’t stop playing Borderlands 4
Dave LeClair
23 September 2025
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image: © 2K Games)
Tom’s Guide Verdict
There are a few things holding Borderlands 4 back from being a must-play for everyone, but for longtime fans of the series, it ticks all the right boxes and makes shooting enemies to get loot as joyous an experience as it ever has been.
A true open world to explore
Well-designed and fun boss fights
More build options with new inventory slots
New movement options feel good and streamline exploration
The story didn’t grab me as much as the previous entries
Random invisible walls block true open-world exploration
Some bugs and performance issues
Best picks for you
The best Xbox Series X games in 2025 — our top picks
Best PC games in 2025 — our top 15 picks
The 21 best open-world games
Why you can trust Tom’s Guide
Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what’s best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
Borderlands 4: Specs
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PC (reviewed), PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: September 25, 2025
Genre: Shooter
If there’s one game that I’ve been excited to play this year, it’s Borderlands 4.
Ever since the original Borderlands, I’ve been a looter shooter fiend. Taking two tried-and-true game types (shooter and loot-based RPG) and smashing them together has been a recipe to keep me coming back for months on end (I’m looking at you, Destiny 2).
The team at Gearbox has refined the looting and shooting formula in the last several releases, garnering mostly rave reviews (Borderlands 3 had some issues, but it was still an incredibly fun experience at its core).
The fourth mainline game adds new layers with more loot slots to further refine your character builds, more movement options and other goodies that make leveling up and becoming more powerful an even better experience.
Borderlands 4: The basics
What is it? Borderlands 4 is a looter shooter from the franchise that arguably invented the genre.
Who is it for? This game is designed for fans of shooters, whether they have experience with the loot-based aspect or not. It hit notes that will make existing Borderlands fans happy, but it does ease up on some of its trademark humor.
How much does it cost? Borderlands 4 costs $69 and is available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2.
What other games has the developer made? Gearbox Software has a long pedigree and really came into its own with the release of the previous Borderlands games. The company also made some Half-Life games, Brothers in Arms and even Aliens: Colonial Marines.
What games is it similar to? Borderlands 4 is similar to other games in the series. It’s hard to find other looter shooters that look and feel like Borderlands outside of the Gearbox-developed games.
Shoot and loot, a simple formula
(Image credit: Future)
Borderlands 4 isn’t reinventing the wheel. You shoot bad guys, and they drop loot that helps you shoot harder bad guys. As this bad guy shooting happens, you level up and gain new skills to enhance your Vault Hunter. There’s more nuance, of course, but that’s the core of Borderlands, and it’s what keeps fans of the series coming back again and again.
I will admit that I’m just as addicted to what Borderlands 4 brings to the table as I was with any of the other major releases (except 2014 spin-off The Pre-Sequel, which never quite grabbed me). As I write this review, I’m wondering whether I’ll have time to dive back into Borderlands 4 tonight or if I’ll have to wait until lunch tomorrow. Yeah, I’m that hooked.
None of that is to say that Borderlands 4 doesn’t alter the formula. The semi-open world featured in older Borderlands games is replaced with a true open world that makes exploring a lot more enjoyable without loading times as you pass between sections.
Sign up to get the BEST of Tom’s Guide direct to your inbox.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
(Image credit: Future)
On the other hand, this also introduces some drawbacks. To prevent you from climbing to places the developer doesn’t want you to go, there are invisible walls. It reminds me of the pitch for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where Nintendo talked about being able to go anywhere you can see. Borderlands 4 isn’t that. It’s more like, if you can see it, try your best, but you might need to go all the way around because there’s an invisible wall stopping you from going the route you’d want to take.
In addition to the exploration elements, Borderlands 4 features new movement improvements that significantly enhance the overall experience. You no longer need to visit a Catch-A-Ride station to get a vehicle. Instead, you press a single button and your sweet ride appears (much like in Destiny).
There’s also a grappling hook that opens more verticality to the game, but it can only be used on specific grapple points. Limited as it may be, I found it to be quite fun to zip around during combat and drop down behind an enemy before blasting them into oblivion.
Cranking it up a notch
(Image credit: Future)
The theme of Borderlands 4 is Gearbox attempting to take the things longtime players like me loved about the franchise and making them more accessible (and better, in most cases). There’s the open world I mentioned before and the new movement options, but it goes deeper than that.
A major complaint in previous Borderlands games was the lack of boss fight mechanics. They often lacked inventive mechanics and instead relied on large health pools that felt like nothing more than large bullet sponges. Everything else about the games was so fun that players let it slide, but with games like Destiny offering elaborate raid encounters and larger-than-life boss fights, Borderlands had to respond, and it did well in Borderlands 4.
While not full-on raids like Destiny 2, there are boss battles with different mechanics that will make you think. Some require disabling a shield through certain techniques before you can hurt them. Others get a little more inventive, but I don’t want to spoil those, as they’re not what you might expect from Borderlands.
(Image credit: Future)
Borderlands has always offered relatively thin buildcrafting with only four characters and three subclasses in each. And because it’s a gun-focused loot game, your characters only have a few inventory slots to play with.
Not only has Gearbox expanded the options for leveling (though it’s still limited to four characters with three subclasses), it has also added new inventory slots that further modify your character. This opens up more options for getting creative with building out your character, which is perfect for players who plan to stick around through the endgame.
And to top it off, actual gameplay pillars like shooting still feel as incredible as ever (as long as the framerate stays high enough for you to keep track of what’s happening).
Let’s talk technical issues
(Image credit: Future)
The biggest thing holding Borderlands 4 back from complete and utter perfection is the technical issues. At the same time, I didn’t encounter many problems playing on a Razer Blade 18 laptop with an NVIDIA GeForce 4090 GPU. It ran smoothly at high settings without noticeable slowdown, and it looked great with Nvidia DLSS 4, which increased the FPS, reduced latency, and provided a slight image quality boost.
While there are numerous reports of people experiencing problems running the game, even with 5090 GPUs, I couldn’t say I had issues with the laptop version of a 4090. Maybe I’m just lucky, or maybe the DLSS 4 helped that much. If you’re experiencing issues, it’s worth trying if you have a GPU that supports it.
(Image credit: Future)
I was a lot less lucky on my desktop, which features an NVIDIA GeForce 3070. I had to keep it locked at 60 FPS with medium settings (and a slightly adjusted version of medium with some parts set to Low). It was playable at these settings, but when things got intense, I did experience some drops. The DLSS tech helped, but being a 3070 meant it doesn’t support DLSS 4, which could be preventing it from looking the best.
Either way, the difference in visuals was enough to have me running back to the Razer laptop despite the desktop being hooked to a much larger screen. Sometimes size doesn’t matter, and performance is more important (that feels like a joke you’d hear in Borderlands, actually).
Borderands 4: Verdict
(Image credit: Future)
I want to give Borderlands 4 a perfect score. I want to break the scale and give it a six-star rating.
I can’t, though. The technical issues, invisible walls and middling story keep me from doing so. I’ve never been overly invested in the Borderlands story, so I can’t say I’m surprised this one didn’t suck me in (though it does go in some unexpected directions).
However, that doesn’t mean I love the game any less. It’s everything I hoped Borderlands 4 would be from a gameplay perspective. The loop of shooting and looting has kept me coming back for dozens of hours, and I expect it’ll keep me coming back for dozens more (maybe hundreds more if my past Borderlands experiences are anything to go on).
Dave LeClair
Social Links Navigation
Senior News Editor
Dave LeClair is the Senior News Editor for Tom’s Guide, keeping his finger on the pulse of all things technology. He loves taking the complicated happenings in the tech world and explaining why they matter. Whether Apple is announcing the next big thing in the mobile space or a small startup advancing generative AI, Dave will apply his experience to help you figure out what’s happening and why it’s relevant to your life.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Gears of War: Reloaded is a truly beautiful remaster — but new players will enjoy it most
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is a faithful, yet safe remake with satisfying visuals, familiar controls and addictive gameplay
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds makes Mario Kart World look like child’s play — and its seriously chaotic nature leaves you itching for more
I’m a diehard Metal Gear fan and Snake Eater Delta is the perfect remake of my all-time favorite game
Silent Hill f is one of the most disturbing games I’ve ever played — a must-play horror thrill ride
I played Cronos: The New Dawn — and it’s the Dead Space and Blade Runner mash-up I didn’t know I wanted
Latest in Gaming
Forget Nintendo Switch 2 — get the LCD Steam Deck for $80 off right now
Microsoft raises prices on Xbox Series S and X for the second time this year
MSI Claw A8 review: Ryzen Z2 Extreme dominates, but at what cost?
I finally tried the DualSense Edge pro controller — and playing on PS5 will never be the same
Silent Hill f is one of the most disturbing games I’ve ever played — a must-play horror thrill ride
My 3 favorite Nintendo Switch 2 controllers are currently on sale — starting at $49
Latest in Reviews
I tested the brand new Breville Oracle Dual Boiler, and it’s the most futuristic espresso machine I’ve ever used… for better or for worse
Dell 14 Premium review: An XPS in everything but name
TP-Link Archer BE3600 review: Dual-band Wi-Fi 7 for less than you’d expect
I ran 40 miles in the Puma Magnify Nitro 3 — here are my pros and cons
I love Borderlands 4 despite its poor performance and bad optimization — here’s why
LG B5 OLED TV review
LATEST ARTICLES
I love Borderlands 4 despite its poor performance and bad optimization — here’s why
7.5 million Arizonans will face new age-verification checks for adult content – and non-compliant websites could be hit with fines of $250,000 for every violation
I tested the brand new Breville Oracle Dual Boiler, and it’s the most futuristic espresso machine I’ve ever used… for better or for worse
Don’t wait for Prime Day! Shop these 25 early fall deals from Amazon right now
Forget Nintendo Switch 2 — get the LCD Steam Deck for $80 off right now
Tom’s Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
Terms and conditions
Contact Future’s experts
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Accessibility Statement
Advertise with us
Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street,
Please login or signup to comment
Please wait…
