New Tales from the Borderlands

I can't rave enough about how much I loved playing New Tales from the Borderlands. It's likely the most I've ever laughed while playing a video game - with the previous champion being Tales from the Borderlands.

32%Game Brain Score

story, humor

grinding, optimization

61% User Score Based on 1,061 reviews

Critic Score 66%Based on 32 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $4.29

Buy NowGet on Steam$19.99

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Buy NowGet on PS Store$39.99

About

"New Tales from the Borderlands" is a narrative-driven adventure game set in the chaotic and humorous world of the Borderlands universe. Players control three unlikely heroes as they navigate a web of loyalty, deception, and danger in pursuit of a powerful alien artifact. The game features point-and-click mechanics, multiple-choice dialogues, and a choice-driven narrative that alters the story's outcome. Your actions will have consequences, and the fate of the galaxy rests in your hands.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

New Tales from the Borderlands screenshot

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,061 reviews

story121 positive mentions

grinding11 negative mentions

The graphics and animation are visually stunning, showcasing a significant improvement over previous titles.
Some characters, particularly L0U13 and the Tediore soldiers, provide moments of genuine humor and entertainment.
The game offers a unique narrative experience with a focus on character relationships and development.

The writing is often cringeworthy and lacks the charm and wit of the original Tales from the Borderlands.
Main characters are generally unlikable and their actions often feel forced and nonsensical.
The pacing is slow, with long stretches of dialogue and cutscenes that detract from the overall gameplay experience.

story
582 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
66%
13%
The story of "New Tales from the Borderlands" has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many reviewers describing it as bland, poorly written, and lacking coherence. Critics highlight the unlikable characters, forced humor, and a narrative that feels disjointed and unengaging, often comparing it unfavorably to its predecessor, "Tales from the Borderlands." While some players found moments of enjoyment and humor, the overall consensus is that the story fails to deliver the depth and charm expected from the Borderlands franchise.
- “The story is actually good and interesting.”
- “The characters are amazing, the story is near flawless!”
- “The story offers a good mix of really silly humor and serious decisions, but it still didn't win me over across the board.”
- “The story is boring, uninteresting, and uninspiring.”
- “The plot is almost insultingly bad; every turn can be seen a mile away, and the poor voice actors were given a garbage script.”
- “The story itself is not very exciting, and the characters unfortunately seem very flat.”
humor
309 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The humor in "New Tales from the Borderlands" receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it genuinely funny and reminiscent of the original series, while others criticize it as forced, cringy, and lacking in comedic timing. Many reviewers note that while there are a few standout moments, the overall writing often falls flat, leading to a disjointed experience that fails to capture the charm of its predecessor. The humor's inconsistency, combined with unlikable characters and awkward dialogue, leaves a significant portion of the audience disappointed.
- “The writing remains sharp and humorous, capturing the essence of the Borderlands universe while introducing new comedic elements and emotional beats.”
- “It's funny as all heck, the three protagonists are lovable while also insane and funny.”
- “There are many hilarious moments that I feel make this game enjoyable.”
- “Most of my problems with dialogue in this game come from how painfully unfunny and obnoxious it is.”
- “The protagonists can feel 'quirky' and annoying a lot of the time, and some jokes are straight up not funny or made at the wrong time (like in serious moments).”
- “The humor is almost always extremely unfunny and borders on annoying most of the time.”
gameplay
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
75%
8%
The gameplay of "New Tales from the Borderlands" has been widely criticized for being overly simplistic and lacking engagement, often reduced to watching cutscenes and performing minimal quick-time events. Many reviewers noted that the mechanics feel like filler, with little meaningful interaction or consequences for player choices, leading to a bland experience that fails to capture the charm of its predecessor. While some appreciated the polished visuals and smoothness, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is disappointing and does not justify the game's length or price.
- “The gameplay is your usual Telltale gameplay; you have dialog options and your regular quicktime events.”
- “A very fun and unique gameplay experience, and while it drags a bit during the middle, overall I found this experience to be both unique, funny, and enjoyable.”
- “The gameplay of New Tales is definitely more polished.”
- “The gameplay is rather watching endless cut scenes and pressing a button from time to time when you are instructed to do so.”
- “The gameplay is similar to the original Tales from the Borderlands, just with way worse writing and almost half a dozen little minigames that feel like pointless filler.”
- “It's a huge love letter to nerd culture, and I really want a fully fledged standalone Vaultlanders game with fully developed mechanics.”
graphics
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
4%
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many praising the vibrant cel-shaded art style that aligns well with the series' aesthetic. Reviewers noted improvements in visual fidelity and animation quality compared to previous titles, although some expressed disappointment with character designs and occasional graphical glitches. Overall, while the visuals are considered a strong point, they are often overshadowed by criticisms of the game's writing and character development.
- “Graphically, the game continues with the cel-shaded art style that fans of the series will recognize and appreciate.”
- “The visuals are vibrant and comic-like, perfectly matching the tone of the narrative.”
- “The graphics are virtually identical to Borderlands 3's, which isn't a bad thing in my opinion.”
- “The game is beautiful, graphics-wise, but the writing is just terrible.”
- “Didn't get past the first minute because I couldn't get over how they butchered the classic art style.”
- “The only true improvement over the original is the graphics and fluid cinematics, but that isn't enough to save a game that has crappy writing all over it.”
music
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
58%
15%
The music in "New Tales from the Borderlands" has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many reviewers expressing disappointment compared to the acclaimed soundtracks of previous Borderlands titles. Critics describe the soundtrack as generic, unremarkable, and lacking the emotional resonance and memorable tracks that characterized earlier games, leading to a disjointed experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some acknowledge a few decent song choices, the consensus is that the music fails to capture the essence of the series, leaving players feeling let down.
- “Tales has such an awesome selection of music, from intros to outros and everything in between, it was absolutely perfect.”
- “Music-wise, the game has few licensed songs but they're nearly all awesome picks.”
- “I will say on a positive note - I enjoyed the song choices, especially TWRP, that fit right in.”
- “The soundtrack is generic muck and the only vaguely likable character is a barely controlled murderhobo psychopath in a hoverchair.”
- “But in new tales, the music is so awful and unremarkable it's straight up a disgrace.”
- “The music choices feel like those of an average teenager that just hit puberty and experiences their first existential crisis.”
emotional
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
10%
The emotional aspect of "New Tales from the Borderlands" receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it genuinely heartfelt and capable of evoking strong feelings, while others criticize it for lacking depth and coherence. Many reviewers express disappointment in the character development and emotional stakes, feeling that the humor undermines the intended emotional moments. Overall, the game struggles to balance its comedic tone with meaningful emotional engagement, leading to a polarized reception among fans.
- “As a longtime fan of the Borderlands franchise, New Tales is genuinely heartbreaking.”
- “The writing remains sharp and humorous, capturing the essence of the Borderlands universe while introducing new comedic elements and emotional beats.”
- “Genuinely touching, a very sweet and heartfelt story; I am deeply hurt inside though.”
- “Uninteresting and plain boring storyline.”
- “Horrible characters and an incredibly boring story.”
- “Abysmal writing, boring story, unlikable characters.”
character development
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players feeling that it is either forced or lacking depth compared to previous entries in the series. While some characters show growth, others are criticized for being bland stereotypes or for having their established arcs undermined, particularly Rhys, whose transformation has disappointed long-time fans. Overall, the character development is seen as inconsistent, with some moments of potential overshadowed by poor execution and a weak narrative.
- “The game's strength lies in its engaging narrative and character development.”
- “I enjoyed the character development and their relationships and motivations.”
- “Despite being plagued by more than its fair share of problems, the writing was some of the best that I've seen out of Borderlands in a bit, and the character development and worldbuilding in the game were fantastic, save for some schlocky moments.”
- “Regardless, the character development for each person seems forced to achieve the overall sync between them all.”
- “The character development and overall plot just seemed to fall flat in general.”
- “Initially, I hoped for some type of character development, something that would make me sympathize with the protagonists – but to no avail, the characters would continue to be unlikeable morons.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and unengaging, with repetitive minigames and a lack of depth contributing to a frustrating experience. The requirement to replay sections for achievements and alternate endings, compounded by the inability to skip dialogue, further detracts from enjoyment, making the overall gameplay feel slow and monotonous. While some humor and side games are appreciated, they are often overshadowed by the overall grindiness of the game.
- “It drags on for too long and becomes very tedious.”
- “Additionally, the Vaultlanders minigame you'll have to play through several times is tedious and a chore to get through as it has no depth to it.”
- “To add to that, if you're trying to go for all endings, that obviously means playing sections of the game again, but that's simply tedious as they removed the option to skip dialog, so you're forced to sit through scenes that by a certain point you've already watched a few times just so that you can get to a choice and select something different.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it effectively addresses technical issues like stuttering and texture pop-ins, users report lag in the menu and some content potentially removed for performance reasons. Despite these drawbacks, the audio, visuals, and overall performance receive positive feedback, particularly regarding compatibility with the Steam Deck.
- “The thumbs up goes for Steam Deck compatibility and optimization.”
- “Nothing but good things to say about audio, visuals, or performances.”
- “Graphics/atmosphere/performance/gameplay”
- “Technical issues like stuttering, hitching, and texture pop-ins.”
- “The menu would frequently lag, which is confusing since it's literally the start menu of the game; surely that should be optimized.”
- “By the looks of it, some content was cut or removed for better performance, technical reasons, or isn't working on Steam Deck.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of "New Tales from the Borderlands" has drawn mixed reactions, with some players feeling it is a cash grab lacking the charm of its predecessor, while others found it surprisingly enjoyable despite initial skepticism. Critics argue that the game feels more like a low-quality interactive ad than a genuine continuation of the franchise, leading to disappointment regarding its value. Overall, opinions vary significantly, with some players appreciating the experience and others feeling misled by marketing.
- “New Tales was made by the same kind of people who made the Borderlands movie, cash grab jerks with no love for the IP.”
- “This just felt like someone sold me a knock-off at the market after advertising its likeness to the prior installment.”
- “- total cash grab (not worth whatever MSRP it was, I only paid like $2)”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by polished visuals and a humorous, high-energy vibe, though some players feel it lacks the depth and intensity expected from the franchise. While many appreciate the diverse and appealing locations, criticisms arise regarding weak character development and inconsistent music choices that detract from the overall experience.
- “The animation and visual effects are polished, though not groundbreaking, effectively conveying the game's humorous and high-energy atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is great; I think every location looks and feels nice, and I don't really have any complaints about that at all. The music in most parts is nice too.”
- “Story is too weak and I am not even including the green and red shard parts. The music is just random (after the bangers from the previous Tales game, this is very disappointing). Character development is also weak, and the atmosphere does not even come close to reflecting the aura of Borderlands.”
- “For example, telling each other 'I love you' in tense scenes destroyed the atmosphere.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The game offers significant replayability due to multiple endings and the varying fates of characters, encouraging players to explore different outcomes. However, some feel that certain elements may have been included primarily to enhance replay value, such as collectibles.
- “I haven't seen all 5 of this game's endings, but the number of different characters who can live or die in this game makes it open for tons of replayability.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more, ensuring that each playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
- “With multiple paths and secrets to uncover, this game offers endless replayability that keeps me engaged long after my first run.”
- “It could have done without it, and I'm 99% sure this was only added for replay value (collectibles?).”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replaying it feel pointless.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report significant stability issues, with frequent game freezes impacting the overall experience.
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experience constant lag and freezing during gameplay.”
- “Stability issues ruin the overall experience; I can't progress without interruptions.”