Borderlands 4 Scores Big on Metacritic—A Promising Comeback for the Franchise

As of right now, Borderlands 4 is sitting pretty with a Metacritic score of 84.

“Okay, but what does that number even mean?” I hear you cry from the back. Let’s put it in perspective. Here’s how the new kid on the block stacks up against its older, heavily armed siblings:

• Borderlands 2: 89 (The undisputed king, the G.O.A.T., the one we all compare everything to)
• Borderlands 4: 84
• Borderlands: 84
• Borderlands 3: 81 (Oof.)
• Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel: 75 (We… don’t talk about the Pre-Sequel.)

Tying with the OG Borderlands is a huge deal. That first game was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment that launched the entire looter-shooter genre. For Borderlands 4 to capture that same magic after all these years? That’s impressive. It’s like your favorite band from high school releasing a new album that doesn’t suck. Miracles do happen.

Did Gearbox Actually Listen to Us?

The short answer? It seems so. The general vibe from reviewers is a massive sigh of relief. Many are praising Gearbox for “listening to the fans.” The writing, a huge sore point in Borderlands 3 (I still have nightmares about those cringe-worthy villains), is supposedly much sharper. The story, the new characters, and the fresh world are all getting shout-outs for being genuinely engaging.

A few critics even dropped the perfect 10/10 bomb, claiming Gearbox has “perfected the formula.” They’re talking about that addictive loop of shoot, loot, and repeat that feels bombastic and keeps you glued to the screen. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about the fun. And it sounds like Borderlands 4 is fun as hell.

It’s Not All Sunshine and Skags

Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. No game is perfect, and Borderlands 4 is no exception. Some reviewers pointed out the usual suspects: technical glitches and performance hiccups. It wouldn’t be a Borderlands launch without a few bugs to squash, right?

The bigger critique seems to be about replayability. While Gearbox talked a big game about making it more replayable, some critics felt the endgame gets stale once the main story is done. They suggest you might get your fill and not feel compelled to start another playthrough until the DLC drops. It’s a valid concern for a series built on grinding for that perfect god-roll weapon. It seems the game hasn’t quite taken that “next step” to truly innovate, but instead has focused on perfecting what it does best. Honestly, after the last entry, maybe that’s a good thing. Let’s learn to walk again before we try to fly, you know?

If you were on the fence, hesitating with your cursor hovering over the “purchase” button, these initial Metacritic scores should give you a confidence boost. It’s not Borderlands 2, but it’s a damn sight better than 3, and that’s a win in my book. It looks like we’re finally getting the sequel we’ve been waiting six long years for. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some vault hunting to do.

For more gaming content visit Total Apex Gaming

For more Borderlands 4 related content visit Total Apex Gaming: Borderlands 4