Borderlands was a franchise that I loved. I put countless hours into Borderlands 1 and 2, but when Borderlands 3 was announced, I found myself burnt out on the franchise. Despite its popularity, nothing about it got me excited. Then came Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, a Borderlands game looking to combine with Dungeons and Dragons. When that announcement did nothing for me, I was convinced my time with the franchise was officially over. Cut to review day for Borderlands 4, and I couldn’t be more excited. What happened? How did we get here?

Admittedly, the turnaround was a slow burn. When gameplay was first shown for Borderlands 4, I still wasn’t sold. I thought it just looked like more Borderlands. But then, there was an early hands-on preview event where every single person who played the game came back with glowing opinions. So many problems that they had with Borderlands 3 were gone. The gameplay was incredible. The humor that the series was known for was still there, but it had been dramatically turned down. This was a Borderlands game made by a team that was mature enough to look back at past installments and realize that even if the franchise didn’t need a complete overhaul, there were certain aspects that needed to change.

Now I get to ask the question. Did these changes make a difference? Well, with the help of some very talented reviewers, it’s time to find out if Borderlands 4 is a BOREDerlands or a vault worth breaking into. Get it? Bored? Like it’s boring? Pretty good, I know. I told you! I’m getting better at these each time I do them.

Review Round-Up:

Borderlands 4 is back in great form thanks to its exceptional customization, dynamic open world, and reinvented boss battles. Gearbox Software clearly listened to its community, addressing past critiques with a sprawling, interactive map, expansive skill trees, and guns that feel genuinely unique. – Chris Garcia, One More Game

This isn’t just another round of shoot-loot-level-repeat. This is Borderlands reborn. A game that understands where it stumbled, where it soared, and where it needed to break through. It’s bigger, brighter, funnier, and somehow more grounded, all while never letting go of the lunacy that made the series famous in the first place. I’ve played every Borderlands since the start, and I can say without hesitation: this is the best the series has ever been. – Justin Wood, CGM

I always looked forward to the loot each battle would deliver, but Borderlands 4’s gunfights are as chaotic and fun as ever. Though some drag on longer than my liking, wide ranges of enemies from disparate factions elevate the variety of foes in any given fight, and I often caught myself leaning in to focus when the dynamic music shift signaled the arrival of a strong “Badass” enemy variant. I loved picking off foes with my single-shot assault rifle before storming in with my corrosive shotgun. Throwing a knife to deliver the final blow while trying to reload never ceased to make me feel like an action star.  – Brian Shea, Game Informer

Last but certainly not least, if you liked what you’ve read and watched, then, by all means, head on over to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Marketplace, or Steam to pick up Borderlands 4. All you need to do is click the image below, and you will be taken to the store of your choosing. Also, I lied. One final, final thing, thank you for checking out the site. If you like this type of content, the Thinks of a Thoughter Games Release Radar will be doing this for every interesting game released this year.