Borderlands 4 gets its best moments from the series’ familiar loop: fight, find better loot, and reshape a Vault Hunter build. Its move to a more seamless world gives that loop room to breathe, but the map, interface, side activities, and launch-period PC performance can get in the way. The result is a game whose combat and build experimentation won over reviewers even as its surrounding systems drew complaints.
What Borderlands 4 is—and what it does differently
Developed by Gearbox and published by 2K, Borderlands 4 is a first-person looter-shooter set on Kairos. You choose one of four new Vault Hunters and fight the Timekeeper and his Order, collecting weapons and developing a character build along the way. The game combines the series’ shooting-and-looting loop with a more seamless planet structure, exploration, side missions, and world activities.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Borderlands 4 Standard - PC Steam [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51gpM4oUSEL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Borderlands 4 Standard - PC Steam [Online Game Code] | $35.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe - PC Steam [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51o2GwPK6zL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe - PC Steam [Online Game Code] | $129.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
POP Funko Games: Borderlands 4 - Claptrap | $13.61 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Borderlands 4 - PlayStation 5 | $27.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Borderlands 4 Deluxe - PC Steam [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51E96mSrZaL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Borderlands 4 Deluxe - PC Steam [Online Game Code] | $99.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Kairos has been hidden from the rest of the universe for thousands of years. The Timekeeper controls its inhabitants with cybernetic Bolts and rules through synthetic soldiers called the Order. Gearbox’s gameplay overview describes traversal options including gliding, dashing, double-jumping, and point-grappling. 2K’s launch announcement describes four regions and factions seeking freedom from the Timekeeper.
Why the shooting, loot, and builds work
The strongest case for Borderlands 4 is how its parts feed into one another. Combat earns loot; weapons and Vault Hunter skills offer ways to experiment; and a promising combination can make the next fight feel different. TechRadar praised the range of weapons and the synergies between character skills and weapon types, while finding the open-world structure a natural fit for the combat-and-loot loop.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems#1 Best Overall
- Pre-order Borderlands 4 and receive the Gilded Glory Pack featuring a Vault Hunter Skin, a Weapon Skin, and an ECHO-4 Drone Skin!*
- BE A BADASS: Become an unstoppable force of battle, blasting through enemies with an all-new arsenal of outrageous weaponry. Move across the Borderlands like never before—double jumping, gliding, dodging, grappling, and more—dealing death from every direction. Explode each encounter with devastating Action Skills that unleash your Vault Hunter's unique abilities. Craft your perfect build with branching skill trees and a deep, rewarding loot chase full of wild weapons and powerful gear.
- FIGHT SOLO OR CO-OP: Wreaking havoc across Kairos is awesome alone and even better with friends in 2-player splitscreen or up to 4-player online co-op.** Borderlands 4 is designed for co-op from the ground up; whether you're hunting for loot, tackling missions, or wandering freely, level scaling and individual difficulty keeps the party together and having fun.
- LESS BORDERS, MORE LANDS: Freely explore a vast and dangerous world rife with warring factions. Hop on your hover bike and ride through lush fields, towering peaks, and deadly deserts full of fearsome enemies, dynamic events, and engaging quests with unforgettable characters. Unite the people of Kairos and ignite a revolution, tackling this adventure however you see fit in a seamless Borderlands experience.
PC Gamer’s Harvey Randall likewise praised the action-RPG loop and the open-world approach. He reported spending 47 hours with the game and said its loot-driven play kept him engaged despite problems with the interface and performance. Those hours describe one reviewer’s playthrough, not a typical time to finish the game.
When the open world becomes a checklist
A larger, more connected world creates space to roam between fights, but it also puts more competing markers and activities in view. PC Gamer found the map overloaded and the activity list too long. That is a meaningful trade-off: players who enjoy clearing objectives may welcome the abundance, while those who want a more focused route through the story may find the map noisy.
Rank #2
- Pre-purchase now. Playable on 2025-09-12. Borderlands 4 Super Deluxe Edition includes: Full base game, the Pre-Order Bonus: Gilded Glory Pack*, the Firehawk's Fury Weapon Skin, the Bounty Pack Bundle**, the Ornate Order Pack, and the Vault Hunter Pack***.
- BE A BADASS: Become an unstoppable force of battle, blasting through enemies with an all-new arsenal of outrageous weaponry. Move across the Borderlands like never before—double jumping, gliding, dodging, grappling, and more—dealing death from every direction. Explode each encounter with devastating Action Skills that unleash your Vault Hunter's unique abilities. Craft your perfect build with branching skill trees and a deep, rewarding loot chase full of wild weapons and powerful gear.
- FIGHT SOLO OR CO-OP: Wreaking havoc across Kairos is awesome alone and even better with friends in 2-player splitscreen or up to 4-player online co-op.** Borderlands 4 is designed for co-op from the ground up; whether you're hunting for loot, tackling missions, or wandering freely, level scaling and individual difficulty keeps the party together and having fun.
- LESS BORDERS, MORE LANDS: Freely explore a vast and dangerous world rife with warring factions. Hop on your hover bike and ride through lush fields, towering peaks, and deadly deserts full of fearsome enemies, dynamic events, and engaging quests with unforgettable characters. Unite the people of Kairos and ignite a revolution, tackling this adventure however you see fit in a seamless Borderlands experience.
Optional content did not always offer a strong payoff in the cited reviews. TechRadar found some diversions less rewarding than the main story, and criticized certain enemy modifiers for making foes feel like irritating bullet sponges. These are reviewer judgments about particular encounters and rewards, not proof that every activity or modified enemy plays the same way.
Story and humor are a matter of taste
TechRadar praised the writing and characters, and found the humor more measured than in earlier entries. That did not make the tone universally appealing: players who have never enjoyed Borderlands humor may still not be won over. Its reviewer reported 40 hours spent on the campaign and a selection of side missions, objectives, and challenges—a single review playthrough, not a completion-time estimate for everyone.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- IDEAL COLLECTIBLE SIZE - At approximately 3.75 inches (9.5 cm) tall, this vinyl figurine complements other collectable merchandise and fits perfectly in your display case or on your desk.
- PREMIUM VINYL MATERIAL - Made from durable vinyl, this collectible is built to last and withstand daily wear, ensuring long-lasting enjoyment for fans and collectors alike.
- GIFT IDEA FOR BORDERLANDS 4 FANS - Ideal for holidays, birthdays, or special occasions and as a present this figurine is a must-have addition to any Borderlands 4 merchandise collection
- EXPAND YOUR COLLECTION - Add this unique Claptrap vinyl display piece to your growing assortment of Funko Pop! figures, and seek out other rare and exclusive collectible items for a complete set
- LEADING POP CULTURE BRAND - Trust in the expertise of Funko, the premier creator of pop culture merchandise that includes vinyl figures, action toys, plush, apparel, board games, and more.
PC performance: a launch-period concern, not a current benchmark
Both cited reviews describe PC play in September 2025. TechRadar reported frame drops and hitches on an RTX 5060 system and said DLSS and frame generation helped only partly. PC Gamer also described choppy performance; its review system used an RTX 3060 and Ryzen 7 5800. These are useful accounts of reviewer experiences around launch, but they are not controlled comparisons, results across all PC configurations, or evidence of how the game runs after subsequent patches.
If you are deciding whether to play on PC now, treat those reports as a reason to check current player feedback and the game’s current system and patch information for your own hardware—not as a verdict on an October 2026 build. The evidence here does not establish performance on PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch 2.
Rank #4
- BE A BADASS: Become an unstoppable force of battle, blasting through enemies with an all-new arsenal of outrageous weaponry. Move across the Borderlands like never before—double jumping, gliding, dodging, grappling, and more—dealing death from every direction. Explode each encounter with devastating Action Skills that unleash your Vault Hunter's unique abilities. Craft your perfect build with branching skill trees and a deep, rewarding loot chase full of wild weapons and powerful gear.
- FIGHT SOLO OR CO-OP: Wreaking havoc across Kairos is awesome alone and even better with friends in 2-player splitscreen or up to 4-player online co-op.* Borderlands 4 is designed for co-op from the ground up; whether you're hunting for loot, tackling missions, or wandering freely, level scaling and individual difficulty keeps the party together and having fun.
- LESS BORDERS, MORE LANDS: Freely explore a vast and dangerous world rife with warring factions. Hop on your hover bike and ride through lush fields, towering peaks, and deadly deserts full of fearsome enemies, dynamic events, and engaging quests with unforgettable characters. Unite the people of Kairos and ignite a revolution, tackling this adventure however you see fit in a seamless Borderlands experience.
Is Borderlands 4 good solo or in co-op?
2K describes the game as playable solo or in co-op with up to four players. Its launch announcement says loot is instanced per player, levels scale dynamically, and each player can set an individual difficulty. Those are publisher-described features, rather than findings from a comparative solo-versus-co-op test. The same announcement says online play requires an internet connection, cross-play requires a SHiFT Account, and console online play requires a separate paid subscription.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Platforms, editions, and what to check before buying
2K announced a worldwide release on September 12, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, followed by a Nintendo Switch 2 release date of October 3, 2025. The official 2K game page currently names PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC storefront availability. Check the current Switch 2 store listing before relying on a present-day availability claim.
Best Value
- Pre-purchase now. Playable on 2025-09-12. Borderlands 4 Deluxe Edition includes: Full base game, the Pre-Order Bonus: Gilded Glory Pack*, the Firehawk's Fury Weapon Skin, and the Bounty Pack Bundle**
- BE A BADASS: Become an unstoppable force of battle, blasting through enemies with an all-new arsenal of outrageous weaponry. Move across the Borderlands like never before—double jumping, gliding, dodging, grappling, and more—dealing death from every direction. Explode each encounter with devastating Action Skills that unleash your Vault Hunter's unique abilities. Craft your perfect build with branching skill trees and a deep, rewarding loot chase full of wild weapons and powerful gear.
- FIGHT SOLO OR CO-OP: Wreaking havoc across Kairos is awesome alone and even better with friends in 2-player splitscreen or up to 4-player online co-op.** Borderlands 4 is designed for co-op from the ground up; whether you're hunting for loot, tackling missions, or wandering freely, level scaling and individual difficulty keeps the party together and having fun.
- LESS BORDERS, MORE LANDS: Freely explore a vast and dangerous world rife with warring factions. Hop on your hover bike and ride through lush fields, towering peaks, and deadly deserts full of fearsome enemies, dynamic events, and engaging quests with unforgettable characters. Unite the people of Kairos and ignite a revolution, tackling this adventure however you see fit in a seamless Borderlands experience.
At launch, 2K listed three editions. Their launch descriptions help explain the intended content tiers, but do not establish today’s prices or which add-ons are currently available in each storefront.
| Launch edition | Content described by 2K |
|---|---|
| Standard | Base game. |
| Deluxe | Base game and Bounty Pack Bundle, described as including four post-launch packs, Vault Cards, gear and weapons, vehicles, and cosmetics. |
| Super Deluxe | Deluxe content plus a Vault Hunter Pack with two Story Packs, each described as adding a Vault Hunter, story, and side missions, along with regions and cosmetics. |
These are the publisher’s launch-era descriptions, not a confirmation of current bundle contents, release timing, or pricing. Compare the live store listings for your platform before choosing an edition.
Who is most likely to enjoy it?
- A good fit: players who want frequent loot drops, build experimentation, and combat that rewards trying different weapons and skills.
- A more uncertain fit: players who prioritize a tidy interface, a focused map, or side activities with consistently compelling rewards.
- Check your platform first: the cited performance criticisms concern September 2025 PC reviews, not current testing or console results.
- Choose an edition carefully: use current platform storefronts to confirm price and included DLC rather than relying on launch announcements.
Verdict
Borderlands 4 is at its best when the next fight, weapon, or build idea keeps you moving. The open world supports that rhythm, but the map and activity load can clutter it, while interface and performance complaints shaped the cited PC reviews. If Borderlands’ combat-and-loot cycle is what you come for, the core has real pull; whether the surrounding friction is tolerable depends on your taste and platform.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →
