Borderlands 2

Starting at $3.95Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Xbox Games Store

Get on Epic Games Store

Get on Apple Store

Borderlands 2 is a comedic open-world first-person shooter and role-playing game, with both single-player and multiplayer options for up to four players. The game boasts procedurally generated weapons, shields, and grenades, as well as a new cast of characters and enemies in a visually stunning, dense atmosphere. With an intriguing story, humor, and high replayability, Borderlands 2 offers a unique experience for both casual and dedicated players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 110,665 reviews

story7,887 positive mentions

grinding1,936 negative mentions

story
16,950 mentions
47 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of Borderlands 2 is widely praised for its engaging narrative, memorable characters, and humor, particularly through the villain, Handsome Jack, who adds depth and charm to the plot. Players appreciate the mix of main story missions and entertaining side quests, which often feature clever writing and unique challenges, making the overall experience enjoyable and replayable. While some critiques mention the repetitive nature of quests and the need for grinding, the game's humor and character development keep players invested in the story throughout multiple playthroughs.
- “The story is engaging, filled with humor and quirky characters that make each mission entertaining.”
- “The narrative is a brilliant mix of humor, action, and emotional depth, with a storyline that is both gripping and endlessly entertaining.”
- “The story is amazing, I would also recommend playing the other games in the series.”
- “Unfortunately, it keeps also the repetitive formula of doing dozens of quests without interest, killing thousands of enemies that are just there to fill the maps and trying to follow a storyline that falls into the boredom of cliches.”
- “The story is pretty basic and unfortunately, even if there are many characters and missions to complete, it is still empty and flawed like the previous chapter and there is no point to follow it.”
- “The story is painfully basic and the 'comedy' falls flat, making it hard to stay engaged.”
humor
8,419 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Borderlands 2" is a defining feature, characterized by its irreverent, often crude, and darkly comedic dialogue that resonates with players who appreciate a mix of absurdity and satire. Many reviews highlight the memorable characters, particularly the villain Handsome Jack, whose witty and sarcastic remarks contribute significantly to the game's charm, making it a hilarious experience, especially in co-op play. While some players find the humor dated or juvenile, the overall consensus is that it adds a unique and entertaining layer to the gameplay, keeping players engaged through its quirky quests and colorful world.
- “If you like witty yet stupid humor, guns that shoot swords, one of the most charming villains of our generation, and saving the world, play this.”
- “The humor is woven throughout the narrative and dialogue, with memorable lines and absurd situations that provide plenty of laughs as you traverse the wasteland.”
- “The main villain, Handsome Jack, is particularly noteworthy, providing a charismatic and often hilarious foil to the player’s journey.”
- “Painfully unfunny millennial humor.”
- “The dialogue is unbelievably unfunny, with the boring and unoriginal story essentially acting as background noise for Handsome Jack's jokes, which could've been written by an 11-year-old.”
- “Boring, repetitive and painfully unfunny; I'm not sure how this game franchise got popular or how it still gets sold today.”
gameplay
6,899 mentions
52 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Borderlands 2 is widely praised for its addictive "shoot and loot" mechanics, offering a vast array of weapons and character classes that enhance replayability and allow for diverse playstyles. Players appreciate the engaging combat, humorous dialogue, and memorable characters, particularly the villain Handsome Jack, which contribute to a fun and chaotic experience, especially in co-op mode. However, some critiques highlight the repetitive nature of missions and the grindy aspects of gameplay, particularly in higher difficulty levels, which can detract from the overall enjoyment for some players.
- “10/10 best game in the series, high replayability, some of the best feeling gameplay mechanics with meaningful upgrades.”
- “Don't get bogged down by the ancillary details, this game focuses on engaging challenges, wildly fun FPS and loot mechanics, and player enjoyment.”
- “The gameplay itself is where Borderlands 2 truly shines.”
- “Boring gameplay if you don't play with friends.”
- “The gameplay is boring and unspeakable: shooter part and spells work very poorly together, story is not interesting, all characters can give you is willing of sleep.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive, boiling down to a monotonous cycle of shoot, loot, repeat.”
graphics
5,096 mentions
49 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of Borderlands 2 are widely praised for their distinctive cel-shaded art style, which gives the game a vibrant, comic book-like appearance that has aged well since its 2012 release. While some players find the cartoonish visuals off-putting, many appreciate how they complement the game's humor and chaotic atmosphere, making it visually engaging and memorable. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game, contributing to its unique identity in the looter-shooter genre.
- “The art style is stunning, with its vibrant, cel-shaded graphics that bring the chaotic world of Pandora to life.”
- “Graphically, just like Borderlands 1, it'll remind you of playing in a well-animated 3D comic book, and it's both suitable and relatively timeless.”
- “The game's cel-shaded graphics lend a unique and timeless quality to its aesthetic, setting it apart from other titles in the genre.”
- “The graphic style is mediocre and the character animation is crap.”
- “Fps dropping like there is no tomorrow and the ugly graphics made me sick.”
- “Some of these issues are just a result of its age – for example, the cel-shaded graphics of Borderlands 2, while timeless to a degree thanks to the chosen art style, are simply lacking in detail and lighting even on the highest settings nowadays.”
replayability
2,210 mentions
58 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
Borderlands 2 is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, attributed to its diverse character classes, extensive skill trees, and a vast array of randomized loot. Players appreciate the ability to experience the game multiple times with different builds and playstyles, as well as the engaging co-op gameplay that enhances the overall experience. While some reviews mention a decline in replay value after several playthroughs, the majority highlight the game's capacity for endless fun and exploration, making it a standout title in the looter-shooter genre.
- “The replayability is fantastic, thanks to different character builds and the variety of playstyles.”
- “Possibly the most replayable game ever made and one of my personal favorites.”
- “With hundreds of hours of content, a wealth of replayability, and some of the best cooperative multiplayer around, it's a game that will keep you hooked for a very long time.”
- “The game also doesn't have much replayability, so even though you start as a certain class, you don't get anything out of playing as a different class the next time.”
- “While the game does have its strengths, such as the variety of weapons, co-op gameplay, and replayability, there are several major drawbacks that detract from the overall experience.”
- “Despite having multiple characters to play as, there is not much replayability.”
grinding
2,036 mentions
0 % positive mentions
5 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of Borderlands 2 is a significant point of discussion among players, with many noting that it can be both enjoyable and tedious. While some players appreciate the endless farming for loot and the satisfaction of obtaining rare weapons, others find the repetitive nature of grinding for specific items or levels to be a chore, especially in the late game. Overall, the game is praised for its humor, engaging gameplay, and co-op experience, but potential players should be prepared for a substantial amount of grinding if they wish to fully enjoy the game's content.
- “This game isn't grindy at all, like a lot of things usually are, and even if you do grind, the game still dishes out threats to you every here and there, which is a really nice thing in my opinion.”
- “Sick game, replayable story and not too tedious to grind for stuff.”
- “A game that you'll never get bored of, and not grindy unlike many RPG games.”
- “The grinding is, well, part of the fun.”
- “The overall difficulty is poorly balanced, making it nearly impossible to complete without grinding through dozens of side quests or grabbing 3-5 friends to help.”
- “It's obviously designed to be grindy to serve the microtransaction/paid DLC model that was the fashion at the time of release, but now it just looks like a grind fest without any purpose.”
music
831 mentions
49 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement gameplay, while others find it repetitive and forgettable. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's diversity and how it fits various game moments, particularly during combat, but some express disappointment over the lack of memorable tracks and the occasional blandness of the sound design. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's experience, it does not consistently stand out for all players.
- “The soundtrack features a diverse array of tracks that perfectly capture the game’s tone, from its intense combat sequences to its quieter, more contemplative moments.”
- “The music gives you an intense feeling while fighting for your life or the most melancholic melodies while feeling utterly alone while exploring the vast wasteland, probably one of the best soundtracks to any game.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful, with the wind-shear waste background music still being something I listen to now.”
- “The music is so mellow and uninspired with its plinks and plonks of guitar or banjo, but a lot of the early areas sounded eerily similar, almost copyright infringement territory similar to 'Torchlight 2'.”
- “The music isn't good or memorable (other than 'Short Change Hero' by The Heavy), most of the guns and items are worthless, the enemy design is repetitive and uninspired, the driving is janky, none of the characters are likable.”
- “The music is very bland.”
stability
461 mentions
14 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback from users, with many noting that while it runs well on lower-end hardware, it is plagued by various bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes. Players report issues such as freezing, connection problems, and frustrating collision glitches, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, many find the game enjoyable and recommend it, often attributing the bugs to its charm rather than a complete detriment to gameplay.
- “Got to say that it was a pleasantly bug-free experience, so points for polish.”
- “One of the biggest things I noticed about it is that for being a game from 2012, it was not buggy, nor were there any exploits in the game.”
- “For a game as old as this one, the game looks fantastic, runs great, and is just a good game overall.”
- “The game is buggy, though.”
- “This is one of the most buggy games I have ever had the displeasure of experiencing.”
- “The game becomes an infuriating nuisance to even boot up into, and frequently freezes in startup or in-game.”
optimization
363 mentions
35 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to run smoothly on a variety of hardware, including older systems, while others report significant performance issues, particularly after recent updates. Many users noted that the game can experience stuttering, frame drops, and inconsistent performance even on high-end PCs, often requiring manual tweaks to settings for a better experience. Overall, while some players find it well-optimized, others express frustration with its performance, especially in demanding scenarios.
- “Zero performance issues and great optimization.”
- “This game is wonderfully optimized, great story, and I have played it multiple times.”
- “Great game with smooth performance and fun missions!”
- “Great game but settings are terrible and even with modern high-end hardware it has unexpectedly low performance at random.”
- “First off, this game is so poorly optimized, cannot maintain a stable framerate during fights.”
- “Despite meeting the listed system requirements, performance is not great on Linux even after turning all options down to their lowest settings manually.”
atmosphere
252 mentions
54 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of humor, vibrant visuals, and engaging sound design, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay. Players appreciate the diverse environments and distinct character interactions, which contribute to a lively and memorable world. However, some critiques note that while the sequel improves on many aspects, it may lack the darker, more oppressive atmosphere of the original game.
- “It's a legendary game for a reason; everything works so seamlessly together, from the music, story, and atmosphere to the characters, combat, and environments that there's simply nothing to talk about but praise.”
- “The atmosphere of the world and lore were very interesting and fun.”
- “The atmosphere, voice acting, sound effects, and most of all graphical style are just perfect.”
- “I disliked the atmosphere of the game, as it felt like there were too many enemies and not enough genuine interaction.”
- “The atmosphere of Borderlands 1 is missing - the music is unmemorable and the environment and mobs don't make it feel remote and 'mad-maxy'.”
- “While Borderlands 2 has better visuals, gameplay, and physics, it lacks greatly in atmosphere, character design, and dialogue.”
emotional
214 mentions
95 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a unique blend of humor and heartfelt moments, with players often expressing surprise at the depth of emotional engagement it offers amidst its comedic tone. While some reviews note that the emotional beats can feel forced or inconsistent, many highlight the strong character development and impactful storytelling, particularly in relation to the iconic villain, Handsome Jack. Overall, the game successfully evokes a range of emotions, from laughter to genuine sadness, making it a memorable experience for players.
- “The narrative is a brilliant mix of humor, action, and emotional depth, with a storyline that is both gripping and endlessly entertaining.”
- “The voice acting is top-notch, with performances that bring the characters to life and contribute significantly to the game's humor and emotional depth.”
- “This game made me cry, laugh, and above all, this is the game that has made me happy.”
- “I honestly went into this game thinking that it was just going to be another boring game with lackluster characters and a boring storyline, but boy was I wrong.”
- “Low variety of gameplay, boring story, annoying robot, not challenging at all; I wouldn't ever pay again for it, not even on a 99% sale.”
- “Boring story and boring gameplay.”
monetization
199 mentions
2 % positive mentions
16 % neutral mentions
82 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, primarily due to the introduction of intrusive advertisements in the main menu and during gameplay, which many players find unacceptable for a title they purchased. Additionally, there are complaints about the prevalence of DLC and microtransactions, with some players feeling that recent updates have turned the game into a cash grab rather than a complete experience. Overall, the monetization practices have left a negative impression, overshadowing the game's quality and enjoyment.
- “Its only saving grace is that it was made before fee-to-pay games were a thing, so it's not crammed full of predatory monetization, unlike the sequel.”
- “The minimal microtransactions are a mixed bag as while they are only skins and there's no real-money-to-virtual-currency bull in this game.”
- “One of the very best and fun FPS looters ever created and may God bless Borderlands 3 for avoiding microtransactions.”
- “The game is good, the developers are scumbags still 'updating' the game to put ads inside it even 10 years after its release.”
- “Updating the game just to add advertisement for Borderlands 3 and makes the game unplayable?”
- “The amount of advertising in this game is ridiculous.”
character development
162 mentions
55 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised, particularly for its memorable villain, Handsome Jack, and the depth given to both main and minor characters. Players appreciate the balance of humor and emotional storytelling, with many noting that character arcs are engaging and contribute significantly to the overall narrative. However, some critiques mention that certain character developments feel rushed or poorly integrated, suggesting a need for better pacing and foreshadowing in the storytelling.
- “The story in Borderlands 2 is solid, with enough character development to make you care without becoming a distraction.”
- “The character development and the humor are great!”
- “The story writing and character development for this game is phenomenal.”
- “The surface-level character design makes it difficult to get attached to any of the characters, as they are either gimmicky or simply a woman.”
- “After completing the game and playing again, you will notice certain things that coincide with some character development you learn later on, but its inclusion adds nothing to the overall story and could have been left out and changed nothing about the game.”
- “This game is lacking in story, character development and doesn't look impressive graphically.”