Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

Even considering the occasional bugs, the game is more than worthy of your time if you’re a fan of the franchise.

77%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

81% User Score Based on 23,217 reviews

Critic Score 74%Based on 27 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel" is a shooter game emphasizing 2-player co-op gameplay with fabulous mechanics and good graphics. The game brings mayhem to Pandora's moon, with new weapons, enemies, and a unique low-gravity environment. It also explores Handsome Jack's rise to power, offering a fresh perspective on iconic villains while introducing four new character classes, including a combat-ready Claptrap prototype.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 23,244 reviews

story2.4k positive mentions

grinding688 negative mentions

The gameplay introduces fresh mechanics like low-gravity environments and oxygen management, enhancing the looter-shooter experience.
The story provides a deeper understanding of Handsome Jack's character, filled with the franchise's signature humor and engaging moments.
The cel-shaded art style remains vibrant and visually appealing, maintaining the franchise's charm.

Many players feel the game resembles an expansion rather than a full sequel, with repetitive missions and a less compelling story.
The game suffers from significant performance issues and bugs, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.
The humor is hit-or-miss, with some finding it less sharp and engaging compared to previous titles in the series.

story
9,194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The story of "Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel" primarily focuses on the rise of Handsome Jack, providing a deeper understanding of his character and motivations leading up to the events of "Borderlands 2." While the narrative is generally engaging and filled with the franchise's signature humor, many players find it less compelling than its predecessor, often criticizing the pacing and the repetitive nature of side quests. Overall, the game serves as a worthwhile addition for fans seeking to explore the lore of the Borderlands universe, despite some gameplay and story execution flaws.
- “The story is great, and very replayable.”
- “The story follows handsome jack's rise to power and explains how he became the character that he is in Borderlands 2.”
- “The story is interesting and the playable characters have personality.”
- “The story is extremely contrived in many areas, and to be honest, the progression is quite frustrating.”
- “The side missions must have been written by the B team or interns; they're so bad and incredibly grating to have to go through sometimes.”
- “The story is bland and dumb, and the missions are mind-numbingly tedious and lackluster.”
gameplay
4,060 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The gameplay in "Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel" is largely similar to that of its predecessor, "Borderlands 2," featuring the familiar looter-shooter mechanics that fans love, but with the addition of new elements such as low-gravity environments, oxygen management, and unique character abilities. While many players appreciate the fresh mechanics and humor, some criticize the game for feeling like an expansion rather than a full sequel, with repetitive missions and a less engaging story. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable, especially in co-op mode, but it may not meet the expectations set by previous titles in the series.
- “Bringing in a survival aspect to the typical Borderlands gameplay was and is still fun, and I love it.”
- “The low-gravity mechanics introduce a new layer of verticality and freedom to the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is great, with really polished skill trees that make the skills really fun to use, especially Nisha and Athena!”
- “The gameplay features added in this installment of Borderlands make for the most grueling and painful experiences playing as a single player.”
- “The oxygen mechanic, while novel, sometimes feels more like a chore than a feature.”
- “The gameplay is bland, the story falls flat, and the whole low-gravity space setting just didn’t work for me.”
humor
2,324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The humor in "Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel" is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it retains the franchise's signature irreverence, it often falls short compared to its predecessors, particularly "Borderlands 2." Some find the Australian humor and accents amusing, while others feel it lacks the sharp wit and memorable quips that characterized earlier games, leading to a more hit-or-miss experience. Overall, the game still offers funny moments and quirky dialogue, but many players feel it doesn't quite capture the same comedic magic as the previous installments.
- “The humor is still present, though it’s hit-or-miss at times, with some jokes not landing as well as they did in Borderlands 2.”
- “The atmosphere feels alive, with moonlit landscapes filled with both danger and humor.”
- “The quirky and darkly humorous writing that the Borderlands series is famous for also shines through in the pre-sequel, with witty dialogue and zany character interactions that keep players chuckling throughout the adventure.”
- “This game was so full of unfunny ironic observation dialogue, tedious quests, and annoying bugs that it made my friend hate gaming and me by association.”
- “The humor in this title is just not funny.”
- “The jokes are not funny, the characters are not engaging or entertaining, the plot manages to be badly constructed despite having very little substance and the overall run of the game is more tedious than either previous title.”
graphics
894 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The graphics of "Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel" maintain the franchise's signature cel-shaded art style, which continues to be vibrant and visually appealing, though many reviewers noted that there are minimal improvements over "Borderlands 2." While some players appreciate the unique aesthetic and find the visuals charming, others criticize the lack of significant graphical advancements and the reuse of assets, leading to a perception of the game as an extension rather than a standalone title. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received, with many praising their timeless quality, but some express disappointment in the absence of innovation.
- “The graphics and visual design mostly still hold up nicely.”
- “In terms of visuals, the game retains the series' distinctive cel-shaded art style, which remains vibrant and visually appealing.”
- “The graphics have aged well thanks to the cel-shaded art style.”
- “Graphics suck, don't like the art direction, the grind and mediocre story.”
- “The graphics were basically the same as the other games, which when the first game came out were good, when the second game came out there were okay.”
- “The graphics keep the same art direction of the franchise and it doesn't bring a lot of improvements or new visuals with the same design of monsters, weapons and characters.”
grinding
720 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The grinding aspect of "Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive. Critics highlight the lack of respawnable bosses and the reliance on backtracking for side quests, which can lead to a frustrating experience. While some enjoy the grinding mechanics and the ability to create better weapons through the grinder, others feel that the overall gameplay becomes a chore, detracting from the enjoyment of the story and character interactions.
- “Next to no farming was required for achievements, which I appreciate greatly.”
- “If there was no grinding involved, I'm probably an hour from finishing the game, which I know is ridiculous to give up now, but I wasn't having fun anymore and being asked to repeat previous levels and zones to get my character to the level it needed to be was a chore I didn't want to undertake.”
- “Edit: turns out not farming bosses isn't a bug, which makes for the pre-sequel to be a worse product overall, as farming bosses for high-tier loot is what keeps a vast majority of the community active, and by further extent, is what makes players return to this franchise for multiple playthroughs.”
- “60 hours and at no point did this not become tedious, boring, and annoying.”
- “The quest structure can feel a bit grindy, and some sections drag longer than they should.”
- “The world design is mediocre, the gameplay is lackluster, and the boss fights are incredibly tedious and uninspiring, just the same thing over and over.”
stability
437 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The stability of "Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel" has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users experienced issues such as character clipping, unresponsive quests, and problematic vehicle controls, particularly with the moon buggy. While some players found the game enjoyable despite these flaws, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from a lack of polish and stability, making it frustrating for many.
- “Overall great game runs great on my PC.”
- “The game runs great and is optimized very well.”
- “Still runs great on old hardware.”
- “The game is a buggy mess, in case you prefer playing sniper-like characters, don't bother trying to get particularly high stacks of buff that depend on you not missing your target, the colliders on enemies sometimes just don't work, so you shoot right through them, even if they are frozen in place!”
- “Game is unplayable because the jumps with the vehicle (moon buggy) are broken.”
- “The game is riddled with bugs and glitches, which sometimes makes the game unplayable.”
music
382 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
10%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its catchy and immersive qualities, particularly during combat, while others criticize it as forgettable or bland compared to previous titles in the series. Many noted a shift towards a more electronic and ambient sound, which some found fitting for the space setting, but others felt it lacked the memorable impact of earlier soundtracks. Overall, while there are standout tracks, the consensus suggests that the music does not consistently enhance the gaming experience.
- “The soundtrack, a haunting melody of hope and melancholy, served as a companion during my loneliest nights, weaving a tapestry of emotions that guided me through the tumultuous seas of my own existence.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is gloomy and the immersion just isn’t there and if it is it just doesn’t feel right at all, the music is good but doesn’t lend itself too well into the depressing feeling I talked about.”
- “The music is fitting, neither really good or bad.”
- “The music is like elevator music, dull, pointless, and designed to be totally not exciting.”
- “The soundtrack is mostly ambient sound, which changes depending on the situation (combat or exploration), it's good enough, but it's not something you'll pay a lot of attention to.”
- “The music is uninspired, and worse, bland at its very best.”
replayability
319 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
11%
The replayability of "Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel" is a mixed bag among players. While some appreciate the unique character abilities and dialogue variations that encourage multiple playthroughs, many feel the game lacks the depth and endgame content found in previous titles like "Borderlands 2," resulting in lower overall replay value. Overall, it offers some fun replay moments, especially in co-op, but many players agree it doesn't quite match the replayability of its predecessors.
- “Each character offers unique abilities and skill trees, adding replayability and variety to the gameplay.”
- “The replayability, the story, the animation, and the art style all make it feel so realistically cartoonish, which makes it feel truly like its own experience.”
- “The game also has the new game+ mode enabled once you complete your first run, which gives the game plenty of replayability along with the co-op gameplay also on offer too.”
- “Zero replay value though, so I can't even finish it.”
- “The lack of an endgame hits hard in a game about grinding gear and replayability, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy this game a lot.”
- “The main story is short and doesn't provide much replayability.”
atmosphere
283 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
59%
16%
The atmosphere in "Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the unique low-gravity and zero-atmosphere mechanics that add a fresh twist to gameplay, while others find the environments dull and repetitive. The moon setting offers a blend of humor and danger, but the lack of a traditional atmosphere can detract from immersion and make certain gameplay elements, like fire weapons, less effective. Overall, while some enjoy the cosmic aesthetic and character interactions, others feel it falls short compared to previous entries in the series.
- “The atmosphere feels alive, with moonlit landscapes filled with both danger and humor.”
- “The space atmosphere was rather okay to have, but while it's space (meaning no oxygen and low gravity), you need to have O2 kits, and O2 kits will have variants to them, such as elemental effects, gun damage, slam damage, etc.”
- “The new gameplay elements, like low atmosphere, jump pads, and oz kits, add a refreshing twist to the experience.”
- “The atmosphere of this game didn't really do it for me.”
- “The atmosphere is dull and depressing.”
- “I understand they were probably going for that lonely outer-space atmosphere, but there was too much of the walking through empty/only populated by easy respawning enemies sections.”
optimization
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
48%
27%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant performance issues, particularly on AMD GPUs, leading to stuttering and crashes. While it runs well on lower-end systems and can be improved with tweaks like lowering PhysX settings, many users report that it struggles to match the performance of its predecessor, Borderlands 2, especially on higher-end hardware. Overall, while some players find it playable and enjoyable, others experience frustrating optimization problems that detract from the gaming experience.
- “It's a really well-optimized game considering my potato laptop, so it's an easy recommendation from me.”
- “The game runs smoothly, the graphics are pretty, and the mechanics are good.”
- “The game runs great and is optimized very well.”
- “But the PC version is a stuttering trash heap.”
- “I'm so tired of the poor optimization of this game.”
- “Performance can be a mess, especially on AMD GPUs, so be ready to tweak settings or check PCGamingWiki for fixes.”
monetization
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
2%
95%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, particularly for the inclusion of intrusive ads in a paid title, which many feel detracts from their overall experience. Players express frustration over what they perceive as a cash grab by the developers, with frequent references to the game being more of an advertisement for upcoming titles rather than a standalone product. While there are no microtransactions or pay-to-win elements, the forced advertising and updates that prioritize promotional content have left many feeling dissatisfied and disillusioned with the game's value.
- “No microtransactions with the lootbox mechanic being available via free keys regularly distributed to customers.”
- “Basically a hilarious FPS loot-fest before the days of microtransactions and pay-to-win shenanigans.”
- “There is no cash grab here, there is no 'sell DLC as a game' - this is BL3, plain and simple.”
- “As much as I have long enjoyed several Borderlands titles over the years, it is absolutely enraging to have Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, a product I paid for - without ads - force an ad down my throat every time I load the game.”
- “The game itself is fine, but the in-game ads pushed with the help of mini updates are not.”
- “This cash grab is an insult to all Borderlands fans.”
character development
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
58%
8%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the depth and evolution of characters like Handsome Jack, while others criticize the overall lack of impactful storytelling and character growth. Players appreciate the vibrant character designs and the unique backstories, but many feel that the narrative fails to deliver a cohesive and engaging character arc, particularly for new characters. Overall, while there are moments of strong character development, especially for established figures, many players express disappointment in the execution and depth compared to previous titles in the series.
- “The main storyline is very fun and nice to play through; the character development and twists are great and add to the experience.”
- “It's interesting to see the character development that Jack goes through on his descent toward Handsome Jack.”
- “The character development and skill trees are great, and the way everyone interacts with each other really immerses you.”
- “Some players may find the storyline and character development to be lacking depth or impact.”
- “I had to switch from Athena to Wilhelm though because I couldn't take Athena's bland voice acting and character development, assuming there was any.”
- “But overall I was disappointed with the lack of character development.”
emotional
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
1%
31%
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it to be a deeply moving experience that explores character transformations and heartfelt moments, particularly in the Claptastic Voyage DLC. However, many others criticized the overall narrative as boring and lacking emotional depth compared to previous entries in the series, leading to feelings of apathy and disappointment. While a few moments resonated with players, the general consensus leans towards a lack of emotional engagement throughout the main storyline.
- “This is not just a game; it's an emotional masterpiece that wove its narrative threads into the fabric of my existence, rescuing me from the depths of despair.”
- “This game made me a bit emotional at times and I love the fact that the story shows who Jack really was before bad things happened, and it shows, over time, how his character changed for the worse, how he slowly began to lose his sanity and hate the Crimson Raiders.”
- “The Claptastic Voyage is one of, if not the most memorable DLCs in the franchise for its story that is at once hilarious and heartbreaking.”
- “I just can't bear to play the game through with the same unskippable cut scenes, same boring storylines, same humorless dialog.”
- “Not only is it a boring storyline, but the dialogue goes on for minutes on end, and objectives don't show up until the NPC is done droning.”
- “This game had dry gameplay, a boring story, it was unfinished for almost a full year, and it really just seemed like the developers at Gearbox didn't give a damn about it.”

74%Critics’ scoreBased on 27 critic reviews

Buy Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

33h Median play time

1555h Average play time

18h Main story

58h Completionist

10-109h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 154 analyzed playthroughs

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Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Tweets

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

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