Battleborn

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,612 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • humor
Battleborn Game Cover
Battleborn is inconsistent but still has an opportunity to shine
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"Battleborn" is a hack-and-slash game with a stellar cast of 30 unique heroes in a fantasy setting. The game offers a variety of playstyles, from local and online multiplayer to single-player mode, all with gorgeous visuals and a healthy dose of humor. With a weekly rotation of free heroes and the option to purchase and upgrade, the game is highly replayable and provides plenty of grinding for those seeking an in-depth experience. However, be prepared for some bugs along the way.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,612 reviews
story424 positive mentions
optimization66 negative mentions
  • Battleborn features a unique blend of FPS and MOBA gameplay, offering a diverse cast of characters with distinct abilities and playstyles.
  • The game includes a humorous and engaging story mode that can be played solo or cooperatively, providing a fun experience beyond just PvP.
  • The developers have shown commitment to improving the game with regular updates and new content, despite the challenges of a small player base.
  • The player base is very low, leading to long matchmaking times and often unbalanced matches, making it difficult for new players to enjoy the game.
  • The game was released at a poor time, coinciding with the launch of Overwatch, which overshadowed Battleborn and contributed to its decline.
  • The introduction of microtransactions for cosmetic items has frustrated many players, especially those who paid full price for the game at launch.
  • story2,060 mentions

    The story in Battleborn is characterized by its quirky humor and engaging characters, reminiscent of the Borderlands series, but it suffers from a lack of depth and variety. Players appreciate the fun and replayability of the eight main story missions, which can be played solo or cooperatively, but many find the missions repetitive and the overall narrative thin. While the dialogue and character interactions are praised, the limited number of missions and the need for online connectivity detract from the experience, leaving some players wishing for more substantial content and offline options.

    • “The artists/story-writers did quite an impressive job on creating the whole universe with outstanding worlds and lore.”
    • “The characters & story are great fun and the one-liners are different with bosses and your character you play.”
    • “The pve story mode is where this really shines.”
    • “The story mode is extremely boring and grindy.”
    • “The story missions are all defend a certain point then fight a boss.”
    • “The story mode feels rather lack luster which is disappointing considering that is how I expected to get to know the characters.”
  • gameplay855 mentions

    The gameplay of Battleborn is characterized by its unique blend of first-person shooter and MOBA elements, offering a diverse range of characters and abilities that cater to various playstyles. While many players find the mechanics engaging and the humor reminiscent of the Borderlands series, some criticize the gameplay for being repetitive and lacking depth, particularly in PvE modes. Overall, the game is praised for its vibrant visuals and character design, but it suffers from issues like a dwindling player base and balance problems that can detract from the experience.

    • “A game brimming with character, incredible hand-drawn effect animation, colorful worlds, and gameplay that is wide and diverse even if it is both a FPS and a MOBA at its core.”
    • “Charismatic characters, clever intricacies, and compelling gameplay make this one of the best multiplayer experiences of the generation yet.”
    • “The gameplay is a perfect merge of first-person shooter/brawler with some MOBA elements.”
    • “However, the missions are so long that if you get one that you don't enjoy for whatever reason (gameplay, voicelines, whatever) you will be stuck with them for a while.”
    • “Boring, repetitive gameplay that offers very little challenge or enjoyment.”
    • “It's just depressing that instead of deep gameplay we get stuck with cartoony Call of Duty that hasn't had a worthwhile update since its inception.”
  • humor646 mentions

    The humor in "Battleborn" is heavily influenced by the signature style of Gearbox, reminiscent of the "Borderlands" series, featuring quirky characters and witty dialogue that often elicits laughter. While many players appreciate the light-hearted, offbeat humor and find it engaging, some critiques point to moments where the humor feels forced or repetitive, leading to mixed reactions. Overall, the game is celebrated for its entertaining character interactions and comedic writing, making it a fun experience for fans of this comedic style.

    • “From the diverse cast of characters to the whip-smart humor that bleeds from its edges, there was hardly a moment I didn't adore.”
    • “Wonderful sense of humor that doesn't take itself 100% seriously during a very horrific and serious premise.”
    • “The game is entertaining, hilarious, and fun to play.”
  • graphics440 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the colorful, cartoonish art style reminiscent of Borderlands, while others criticize it for being overly cluttered and chaotic, making gameplay difficult to follow. Many players noted performance issues, particularly on AMD graphics cards, leading to frustration with frame rates and optimization. Overall, while the visuals are appreciated for their uniqueness and charm, they are often described as overwhelming and in need of refinement.

    • “The graphics looked very good, the lore very well done, story well written, and the game mode was, to me, unique.”
    • “The graphics, character design, and gameplay are tremendously fun.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely beautiful and the game takes a lot of resources to run because of it and there is a lot of minor details in the environment that just make it look so pretty and badass.”
    • “The visuals were overly cartoony and the writing and humor felt forced and consistently fell flat.”
    • “Additionally, the absolutely horrific cluttered and very messy particle effects and visuals in game combined with the messy color scheme made it incredibly difficult to see what you're doing nor understand what's happening even with hero knowledge after some bit of playing.”
    • “The art style and graphics feel uninspired and generic, failing to create a distinct and memorable world for players to immerse themselves in.”
  • optimization247 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, frequent frame rate drops, and issues particularly affecting AMD graphics card users. While some updates have improved performance, many still find it unplayable on high-end systems, leading to frustration with matchmaking and overall gameplay experience. Overall, the game is seen as needing substantial optimization work to meet player expectations.

    • “Despite the high PC requirements, it runs smoothly on my computer that only barely meets the requirements (just remember to turn down the resolution, kids).”
    • “Performance has been improved a lot, visual clutter got toned down a lot and it's overall just way better.”
    • “I have no qualms about it, and for the most part my issues with it like the optimization have been resolved (a lot of the maps run a lot smoother than they did in the first few months).”
    • “It ran like unoptimized crap in the latter levels showing an obvious push by the higher ups to get the game out ASAP.”
    • “The game looks great but due to terrible performance it is not worth playing; I will stick with Borderlands 2 instead unless this can be addressed.”
    • “Poorly optimized, really want to like it and would if they said it was early release but they didn't; they say it's done and it's not.”
  • monetization150 mentions

    The monetization strategy for Battleborn has drawn significant criticism, with many players feeling that the introduction of microtransactions in a full-priced game undermined its value and contributed to a declining player base. Initially marketed without microtransactions, the game shifted to include them shortly after launch, leading to perceptions of greed and a cash grab, especially when combined with a season pass. While some players accept cosmetic microtransactions, the overall sentiment is that the game's pricing and monetization model have alienated its community and hindered its potential success.

    • “Microtransactions: purely cosmetic, as they should be.”
    • “Honestly this game only has two problems, matchmaking and microtransactions, but I for one don't care if a game has microtransactions for purely cosmetic items which is what this game has.”
    • “Yeah, I think making it free-to-play really can save this game; the devs should give already-paid players some interesting stuff and sell a lot of awesome skins for microtransactions, and not make it pay-to-win.”
    • “They never fixed matchmaking, item drops or graphics performance because they were too busy adding microtransactions and ugly skins to an $80 game (with season pass) and now they want to push an update that Steam says needs 30GB to install but doesn't fix any of the complaints people have made for the past year.”
    • “This game is selling for $60 more than it is worth and then tacks on microtransactions to add insult to injury.”
    • “I really don't recommend this game to anyone who doesn't enjoy a parasitic monetization model with the season pass with new (overpowered!) characters.”
  • grinding140 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in story missions that often feel like a chore rather than an engaging experience. While some enjoy the character leveling and loot farming, others criticize the grind for being unfulfilling and lacking variety, leading to burnout. Overall, players who appreciate grinding and co-op play may find enjoyment, but the grind-heavy nature can deter those seeking a more dynamic gameplay experience.

    • “Not too grindy.”
    • “A bit grindy.”
    • “The dialogue is great, the action is chaotic, and the coop is fun but not tedious.”
    • “What you have now burns people out quickly and feels like boring and repetitive grinding.”
    • “The story mode is extremely boring and grindy.”
    • “I enjoy this game, but the grinding is awful.”
  • replayability124 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by a diverse roster of characters, varied skills, and engaging co-op missions. While some players note the limited story content and a focus on PvP, many appreciate the humor, unlockable content, and dynamic dialogue that enhance the replay experience. However, a few reviews express concerns about the game's value relative to its content, suggesting that more missions would improve replayability further.

    • “This game is fun, funny, and highly replayable, with a fantastic set of characters, and the sort of snarky writing you'd expect from the makers of Borderlands.”
    • “There is a ton of replayability and tons of things to unlock.”
    • “It's a great game with amazing lore, fun-loving characters, humorous writing, and a lifetime worth of replay value!”
    • “Severely focusing on its replayability (which spoiler alert; for the price tag, having only 8 story missions and 5 addon missions and maining a pvp focus, isn't worth it in my opinion.) which, isn't very replayable.”
    • “The replayability would go up if there was more content to replay.”
    • “It barely has any replayability at all.”
  • character development70 mentions

    Character development in the game is marked by a diverse cast of characters, with many players praising the unique designs and personalities that contribute to the overall charm and humor. However, some critiques highlight a lack of depth in backstory and character development, suggesting that while the designs are visually appealing, they may not offer enough functional variety or narrative depth. Overall, the character design is seen as a strong point, but the implementation and balance of characters could be improved to enhance the gameplay experience.

    • “A+ on character development: 25 characters at launch that all feel unique and have their own merits.”
    • “Character design is actually one of the strong points here.”
    • “I thoroughly enjoyed the story mode, which makes good use of Gearbox's now-signature off-beat writing and humor... the character design - it all works, it's all stylish.”
    • “• Lacking in depth/background story/character development for its 'battleborns'.”
    • “While there is a solid game at the core of Battleborn, the story, the dialogue, and the character designs seem to be a mess.”
    • “The characters also could have been balanced to a greater degree, and with only having two maps for each multiplayer mode, there is a lot of repetition required during the leveling-up period of character development.”
  • stability62 mentions

    The stability of Battleborn has been widely criticized, with many players reporting persistent game-breaking glitches, bugs, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. While some users have experienced minimal problems, the majority highlight a lack of adequate fixes and optimization, leading to frustration and a sense of abandonment by the developers. Overall, the game is described as a "bug-ridden mess" that requires significant refinement to be truly enjoyable.

    • “Battleborn is great, fairly bug free for me (specs on profile).”
    • “I will give credit though, it looks beautiful and runs great.”
    • “It runs great, even on AMD cards.”
    • “Battleborn seemed okay at first, but constant game-breaking glitches ruined the experience.”
    • “Game was abandoned since nearly nobody played it and has still many bugs, glitches, and there is the need for so much more refinement and content; nothing will ever be done about that.”
    • “What it is unfortunately is a buggy, unbalanced mess.”
  • music58 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the catchy soundtrack and excellent choices in cutscenes that enhance the overall experience. However, some players find the in-game music forgettable and lacking during intense moments, leading to a perception that it doesn't effectively support the gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack is noted as a highlight, its limited presence in gameplay detracts from its impact.

    • “This game may have been overshadowed by Overwatch, but it's got colorful characters, a unique universe and lore, a great soundtrack, and fun, replayable co-op missions.”
    • “The music is catchy, the dialogue is hilarious, and the characters are just a bunch of lovable and relatable nerds.”
    • “I thoroughly enjoyed the story mode, which makes good use of Gearbox's now-signature off-beat writing and humor; the music, the voice acting, the color palette, the hand-drawn prologue cutscene and accompanying rap, the character design - it all works, it's all stylish.”
    • “In terms of music... I can't remember even the title theme.”
    • “It's suiting, not memorable music throughout the game.”
    • “There is poor visual optimization, and the music is forgettable at best.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the charming and heartfelt characters, others criticize the story for lacking depth and resolution, making it difficult to connect emotionally. Notable moments, such as Geoff's sacrifice, are highlighted as touching, but overall, the emotional engagement seems inconsistent, with some players struggling to relate to the music choices.

    • “No more will we get to fight Arachnis the Spider King or the touching moments of Geoff's brave sacrifice.”
    • “Battleborn is a beautiful game with charming, heartfelt, funny characters.”
    • “The cut scenes are 2D animated, and I have some trouble relating emotionally to some of the music choices.”
    • “Boring story with very little resolution or depth.”
    • “Boring story with very little resolution or depth.”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The atmosphere of Battleborn is characterized by its vibrant, comic-fun graphics and a humorous tone reminiscent of Borderlands, featuring diverse and engaging characters. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend fun and competitive elements, creating an enjoyable experience that appeals even to those who typically dislike shooters. Overall, the atmosphere is described as lively and entertaining, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “Battleborn offers a wide variety of content for its asking price, and uses great characters, great humor, great gunplay and swordplay, and a great atmosphere and art style to give us one of the most fun games I've played in a while.”
    • “I highly recommend, even if you have disliked shooters in the past, this game does a very good job of creating a fun atmosphere but also allowing for competitive play.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is quite fun and the diversity of characters is great.”
    • “The atmosphere feels like a cheap imitation of Borderlands, lacking originality and depth.”
    • “The game tries to capture a unique atmosphere, but it ends up feeling flat and uninspired.”
    • “Despite the vibrant visuals, the atmosphere fails to engage, leaving the world feeling empty and lifeless.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

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Play time

22hMedian play time
46hAverage play time
8-70hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 64 analyzed playthroughs

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