Borderlands 3

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In Borderlands 3, players explore multiple planets, battle colorful enemies, and collect a vast array of loot as one of four new Vault Hunters, each with unique abilities. The game features a rich and expansive environment, filled with humor, memorable characters, and intense boss battles. Players can team up with friends in local and online co-op modes, offering endless replayability through randomly generated loot and missions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 51,011 reviews

story4,619 positive mentions

optimization433 negative mentions

story
21,315 mentions
22 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The story of Borderlands 3 has received significant criticism for being lackluster and poorly written compared to its predecessors, particularly Borderlands 2. Many players find the main antagonists, the Calypso twins, to be annoying and unmemorable, with dialogue that often falls flat and feels cringeworthy. While the gameplay is praised for its mechanics and gunplay, the narrative is seen as a weak point, leading many to recommend playing the game while ignoring the story or muting the dialogue altogether.
- “The narrative in Borderlands 3 is a tour de force of storytelling, blending the series’ signature humor with an engaging, action-packed plot.”
- “The interplay between the charismatic characters, including the returning heroes and new faces like the lovable but troubled vault hunters, creates a story that is both epic in scope and deeply personal.”
- “The game’s quest design strikes a perfect balance between narrative-driven missions and optional side quests, providing a wealth of content that encourages players to dive deep into the world of Pandora.”
- “The story is so bad that I had to abandon playing the game midway.”
- “The story is absolutely cringe and garbage.”
- “The main story is the worst I have ever had in any video game or anything in my life.”
gameplay
9,121 mentions
52 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Borderlands 3 is widely praised as the best in the series, featuring refined mechanics, a vast arsenal of unique weapons, and engaging character abilities that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the new movement options, such as sliding and climbing, which add fluidity to combat, while the loot system keeps the gameplay fresh and addictive. However, many reviews note that the story and character writing are significantly weaker than in previous installments, often detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The gameplay is incredibly fun, and the humor is top-notch.”
- “Gameplay-wise, Borderlands 3 is a top draw; it takes ideas from the best shooters and MOBA games of our time and implements them very well.”
- “The gameplay is great and fun, with a variety of mechanics that keep the experience fresh.”
- “The gameplay loop of grinding weapons and climbing up higher NG+ playthroughs isn't for everyone; I got bored halfway through going for the top mayhem level.”
- “The gameplay is crisp and represents a clear improvement on Borderlands 2.”
- “The gameplay is largely similar, but with improved weapon mechanics.”
humor
3,291 mentions
93 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The humor in "Borderlands 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it often feels forced or cringeworthy compared to its predecessors. While some moments and side quests deliver genuine laughs, the main story's attempts at humor, particularly through the new characters and villains, frequently fall flat, leading to a sense of disappointment among fans of the series. Overall, the game retains its trademark irreverent style, but the execution of humor has been criticized for lacking the charm and wit that defined earlier installments.
- “The game is packed with hilarious characters and NPCs that had me laughing out loud.”
- “The humor, the chaos, the gunplay—it’s all top-notch.”
- “Borderlands 3 is a chaotic and humorous rollercoaster ride that offers an immense amount of fun and replayability.”
- “The awfully unfunny dialogue made me instantly not give a shit about any of the characters or the narrative, so I uninstalled it after a few hours.”
- “The dialogue was so unfunny that I had to mute it after about an hour of play.”
- “The story is unbearable, unfunny, childish, and so damn cringy, which led me to finding a hidden gem.”
graphics
2,635 mentions
46 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics in Borderlands 3 have received widespread praise for their vibrant, cel-shaded art style, which retains the franchise's signature look while showcasing significant improvements in detail and lighting compared to previous titles. Many players appreciate the game's colorful environments and character designs, although some have noted performance issues and optimization challenges, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight of the game, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience despite some criticisms regarding the story and character development.
- “The graphics are fantastic and it's the perfect with how the story plays and how smooth it runs and from how the characters react it's fantastic worth the money.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the sound, music and voice acting are top notch, there is so many guns you can never keep track on all of them, the feedback on the gun fight are so much better than the previous one and this time around you get to travel to 5 different planets instead on one, the contents are plenty the story is really not that interesting and leaves borderlands 2 antagonist handsome jack on top as i don’t think his personality will ever be beaten, but you don’t play this game for the story anyway.”
- “The graphics are much improved i suppose, but i think much of the charm from previous bl titles are lost with the increase in detail.”
- “I can't set the game to any higher than medium (even though my PC should be able to run it at ultra) because the game crashes if I change any graphical option.”
- “The graphics are technically better, but lost something charming about the old style.”
- “The graphics are bland, don't let the screenshots fool you.”
optimization
1,036 mentions
15 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
42 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some users have noted improvements following patches, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, particularly for PC, leading to a frustrating experience for many. Despite its engaging gameplay, the persistent technical problems detract from the enjoyment, prompting recommendations to wait for further updates or to purchase the game on sale.
- “The gameplay is incredibly addicting and fun, environments and art style are gorgeous, character progression and skill trees are super rewarding, with zero performance issues.”
- “Surprisingly well optimized and very fun, I have a bad PC and this game didn't get any major lag spikes at all.”
- “The game has come a long way from release and it now has more than enough content at a much better performance to play it.”
- “The game is poorly optimized as everyone already has said.”
- “This game is a fucking mess performance-wise.”
- “The optimization is horrid.”
grinding
895 mentions
1 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of Borderlands 3 has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in the late game where farming for specific gear can feel like a chore. While some appreciate the increased drop rates for legendaries and the overall fun of the gameplay loop, others criticize the lack of meaningful rewards and the cumbersome quest tracking system. Overall, players who enjoy grinding for loot may find satisfaction, but those seeking a more streamlined experience might feel overwhelmed by the grind.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Fair bit of grinding.”
- “The gameplay loop of grinding weapons and climbing up higher NG+ playthroughs isn't for everyone; I got bored halfway through going for the top mayhem level.”
- “Tracking multiple quests is beyond tedious, as you can only check the location of an objective one at a time and then have to back out of the map to select a new one to plan a route; it's such a huge ballache.”
- “The game is tedious and boring.”
music
876 mentions
44 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in *Borderlands 3* receives mixed reviews, with many players praising the soundtrack as a highlight of the game, describing it as energetic and well-suited to the chaotic gameplay. However, some players find the music forgettable or poorly implemented, often opting to mute the game and play their own music instead. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its quality and variety, it is overshadowed by criticisms of the game's story and dialogue.
- “The soundtrack fits perfectly with the themes of the game and areas.”
- “The music is just fantastic.”
- “The soundtrack features an eclectic mix of tracks that perfectly capture the game’s frenetic energy and diverse settings.”
- “The music is downright garbage.”
- “The story is blend, the bosses are lame and the music is nonexistent.”
- “In Borderlands 3, the music is always quiet in the background; it took me a couple of hours just to notice there was music in this game.”
stability
698 mentions
6 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users have experienced smooth performance on high-end systems, many others face persistent issues such as freezing, corrupted saves, and unresponsive multiplayer features. Overall, despite some enjoyable aspects, the game's technical problems detract from the overall experience, making it feel unfinished and frustrating for many players.
- “The gameplay is good, no hiccups, no glitches, just pure fun.”
- “It's a nice pace to play a game that's stable and not bug-ridden.”
- “Runs great, nearly no issues to report; all the initial launch issues are gone and it's just silly ridiculous gunplay.”
- “The game crashes constantly, and seems to have both framerate issues and animation glitches.”
- “This game has so many glitches, it's nearly unplayable.”
- “The game is a buggy mess.”
replayability
518 mentions
44 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The replayability of the game is a mixed bag among reviewers. Many praise its high replay value due to diverse character builds, extensive loot options, and engaging gameplay mechanics, often highlighting the fun of experimenting with different playstyles and the addition of modes like Mayhem and True Vault Hunter. However, some criticize the game's story and dialogue, claiming they detract from the overall replay experience, leading to a sentiment that while the game offers significant replayability, it may not reach the heights of previous entries in the series, particularly Borderlands 2.
- “Creating multiple characters with multiple play styles increases the replayability.”
- “The vast array of weapons and character skills allow for diverse playstyles, encouraging experimentation and replayability.”
- “Overall, if you want a replayable looter shooter style game, this is peak.”
- “The game has pretty much 0 replayability and after playing the story through 4 times I doubt I will touch it again solo.”
- “The game turns into a boring chore you wish you could skip through due to terrible writing, poor quest design & the idea of going through this mess of a story all over again, which is a fatal mistake for a looter shooter, where replayability means everything.”
- “Second playthrough was very boring and all the bad parts just start to stand out even more, replayability is 3/10.”
character development
229 mentions
26 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
28 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it as weak or non-existent compared to previous installments. While some appreciate the emotional depth and growth of certain characters, others feel that new characters, particularly Ava, lack meaningful development and fail to resonate with players. Overall, the writing and character arcs are often described as inconsistent, leading to a disappointing narrative experience for those seeking rich character exploration.
- “The narrative is not only driven by thrilling set pieces and intense confrontations but also enriched by moments of genuine emotion and character development.”
- “Interactions with NPCs are engaging, and the character development throughout the game adds emotional depth to the adventure.”
- “The writing and character development here is on par with some of the best in the genre, showcasing memorable characters and their growth.”
- “The character development, the story, the villains, is a huge downgrade.”
- “There is no character development here.”
- “The writing and character development is just lazy.”
emotional
228 mentions
79 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment in the storyline and character development, often describing it as boring or lacking depth. While some moments were noted as genuinely touching, particularly for long-time fans of the series, the overall execution of emotional scenes was criticized for feeling contrived or unearned. Many players felt disconnected from the characters and their arcs, leading to a lack of genuine emotional investment throughout the game.
- “The voice acting is exceptional, with performances that bring the characters to life and enhance the game’s humor and emotional depth.”
- “I cried when I finished the base game.”
- “The story is touching and is especially nostalgic to people who've played the previous games (i.e. BL2 or pre-sequel).”
- “But if you can sit through a really boring story that has bad character development.”
- “Worst and most boring story of any RPG that is a burden to complete, let alone complete it twice for every character you want to play.”
- “Boring story, bad world building, annoying characters, a weird dose of sexism in portions, jokes that fall flat, insulting/outdated pop culture references, unskippable/boring dialogue, poorly placed audio logs, dialogue, and story inserts (constantly overlapping one another).”
monetization
209 mentions
2 % positive mentions
21 % neutral mentions
77 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism from players, who describe it as a blatant cash grab characterized by intrusive in-game advertisements for DLCs and multiple season passes. Many feel that the presence of ads, even in a full-priced game, detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a free-to-play title riddled with microtransactions. Overall, players express frustration over the aggressive marketing tactics and the perception that the game prioritizes profit over player enjoyment.
- “The gameplay is really great, the story is fine (honestly it gets too much hate), and there is so much stuff being added to the game often enough to make it a live service game that doesn't make you want to puke from all the microtransactions (as there are none).”
- “Very decent game, thankfully it wasn't screwed up by microtransactions, and I'm happy I waited for this game to come on Steam.”
- “Good, stupid, looter-shooter fun without the lootboxes and microtransactions jammed down your throat.”
- “I bought the game, it shouldn't contain ads.”
- “Dirty tactics when companies charge you money and then you are forced to see ads which you can't fully dismiss.”
- “The DLCs felt like a cash grab even more than the game did.”
atmosphere
118 mentions
47 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Borderlands 3 is a mixed bag, with some players praising its vibrant, chaotic environments and engaging soundtracks that enhance the gameplay experience, while others feel it lacks the energy and charm of earlier titles in the series. The game successfully introduces diverse planetary settings that contribute to a rich visual experience, but some fans lament the absence of the original's humor and depth, leading to a sense of disconnection from the franchise's roots. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable atmospheres in certain areas, it struggles to maintain a consistent tone that resonates with long-time fans.
- “The vibrant and exaggerated graphics bring the chaotic world of Pandora to life, immersing you in its quirky and colorful atmosphere.”
- “The new locations are varied and atmospheric, and the music/soundtrack is well chosen for the different zones and during quests.”
- “The graphics, visuals, sound, environment, atmosphere, everything about it is absolutely fantastic.”
- “It provides very little energy and atmosphere to the game.”
- “Oh my god, Borderlands wasn't the best at a story but it had atmosphere; this game lacks that, and any of the original true energy or aesthetic. It is a void, and has created a void in my heart.”
- “Not only that, but the atmosphere is all wrong; this doesn't feel like Borderlands anymore.”