Borderlands 4 PS5 Review. Gearbox Software has marked its return with its most iconic series. Published by 2K Games, Borderlands 4 once again drops players into a chaotic galaxy of guns, loot, and absurd humor. Now landing on PS5, it aims to evolve the formula that made it a cult favorite, tightening the shooting while adding layers of traversal and customization. It’s a bold attempt to modernize the franchise without losing its identity, and for the most part, Gearbox succeeds. Yet beneath the mayhem, the cracks still show.
Borderlands 4 Review (PS5) – Loot And Chaos, With A Few Cracks In The Vault
Combat Evolved
The biggest win comes from the gunplay itself. Weapons have real heft this time, and every trigger pull feels satisfyingly violent. The new movement system – with dashing, double jumping, and grappling – injects the kind of pace Borderlands always flirted with but never fully embraced. Encounters are faster, messier, and more vertical, rewarding creativity and precision equally. Combined with smarter enemy behavior and slicker animations, combat feels sharper than ever before.
As ever, loot is the oxygen here. Gearbox clearly listened to fans, streamlining inventory management and tweaking drop rates so progress feels rewarding rather than random. You’re constantly chasing new modifiers, exotic perks, or a weapon that changes how you approach a fight. It’s addictive in that old familiar way, but without as much of the busywork that slowed Borderlands 3 down a little. Even after dozens of hours, that dopamine loop still sings.
Wanted Dead Or Alive
Bounties expand that addictive loop even further. Returning from earlier entries, these bite-sized objectives reward you for almost everything you do, from clearing out enemy dens to tracking down named targets in the wild. They’re the kind of tasks that quietly pile up in the background, making it easy to lose hours just ticking them off while chasing the next weapon drop. Combined with seasonal events and rotating challenges, Borderlands 4 keeps dangling fresh incentives that feed the compulsion to do just one more run — the series’ greatest trick, still working its magic after all these years.
The mission design builds on that same sense of momentum. Objectives flow cleanly from one area to the next, rarely dragging or overstaying their welcome. Side missions carry the trademark humor and surprising character moments that make the chaos feel alive. Progression also feels smarter, giving you rewards that actually matter instead of padding the grind. Whether you’re experimenting with new builds or replaying for better loot, Borderlands 4 makes sure every step forward feels earned.
Portal Propaganda
Story has always been a divisive part of this series, and Borderlands 4 doesn’t entirely escape that. The villain, known as The Timekeeper, never quite hits the charisma highs of Handsome Jack, even though the concept—a manipulator of timelines—is clever on paper. The supporting cast helps fill that void, though, and the writing balances slapstick with the occasional sincere moment. It’s uneven, but there’s genuine heart under all the chaos, which is more than can be said for many looter shooters.
The world design, on the other hand, is impressive. The new planet of Kairos is bursting with colour, density, and detail, full of secrets tucked into the edges of its many zones. Side quests remain hit or miss, though a few are among the funniest Gearbox has written. The pacing can sag in the middle chapters, with stretches that feel padded, but the sheer visual flair often makes up for the repetition. Exploration feels worthwhile thanks to improved traversal and hidden vault challenges that test your skills.
Borderlands And Destiny Had A Very Pretty Baby
Performance is the one major sore spot. On PS5, frame rate dips become more noticeable the longer you play, suggesting some memory management issues still need ironing out. Occasional stutters and long texture loads break immersion, and while Gearbox is already issuing patches, it’s not quite seamless yet. It’s a shame, because when Borderlands 4 runs smoothly, it genuinely feels like a next-gen step up, especially in co-op chaos with particle effects going wild.
By the endgame, it’s clear Gearbox hasn’t forgotten its roots. There’s a mountain of post-campaign content, boss hunts, and loot grinds to chew through, making this an easy sinkhole for anyone craving endless progression. Co-op remains the best way to experience it, blending mayhem and camaraderie in equal measure. The loop might be familiar, but it’s refined just enough to remind you why this series still matters in 2025.
Borderlands 4 is out now.
Review code kindly provided by PR.