Borderlands 3 Review: Is It Still Worth Playing 5 Years Later?
Borderlands 3, now nearly five years old, feels like a testament to how time flies. Initially released to high expectations, the game has seen numerous updates and improvements. In this review, we revisit the base game (excluding mods like Redux) and evaluate its story, characters, post-launch content, and quality-of-life updates to determine whether it still holds up.
Story: A Mixed Bag of Potential and Missteps
The story of Borderlands 3 builds on the lore established in its predecessors. It introduces new Sirens, expands on Pandora’s mysteries, and brings fresh characters into the fold. However, the narrative pacing and the villains—Tyreen and Troy—left many fans divided.
While their portrayal as streamer-inspired antagonists added a modern touch, it also alienated some players who felt mocked. The sibling rivalry dynamic could have been deeper, with potential for Troy to emerge as an antihero. Unfortunately, these elements fell flat, and the pacing suffered, particularly on planets like Eden-6, where exploration felt more like a chore than an adventure.
The Good:
- Promethea: A neon-soaked urban environment offering a refreshing change from Pandora’s barren landscapes.
- Expanded Siren Lore: Additional insights into the Sirens’ powers and origins.
The Bad:
- Tyreen and Troy as Villains: Lacked depth and felt more like caricatures than compelling threats.
- Wasted Characters: Fan favorites like Brick, Tina, and Mordecai were underutilized.
The Ugly:
- Eden-6’s Design: A sprawling, unengaging map with lackluster pacing.
Characters: A Strong Cast With Room for Growth
Borderlands 3 introduced four Vault Hunters, each with unique abilities and playstyles:
- Zane: A gadget-savvy operative with John Wick vibes.
- FL4K: A robotic hunter with a heart for animals.
- Amara: A melee-focused Siren with elemental prowess.
- Moze: A demolition expert equipped with her Iron Bear mech.
While each character brought innovative mechanics, some skill trees required balancing over time. FL4K’s purple tree, for example, felt underwhelming compared to others. Similarly, Zane struggled initially due to a lack of synergistic class mods.
The Good:
- Diverse and creative character designs.
- Engaging build-crafting opportunities for all playstyles.
The Bad:
- Early balancing issues with Zane and FL4K’s skill trees.
The Ugly:
- Limited focus on melee gameplay for Amara, despite her design.
Post-Launch Content: The Highlights and Lows
Gearbox delivered strong post-launch content, including DLCs, seasonal events, and takedowns. The standout DLCs included:
- Handsome Jackpot: A nostalgic dive into Handsome Jack’s legacy.
- Guns, Love, and Tentacles: A Lovecraftian adventure celebrating Hammerlock and Wainwright’s wedding.
- Bounty of Blood: A samurai-western hybrid regarded as one of the best in the series.
Additionally, free content like Cartels and the Maliwan Takedown set new benchmarks for engaging and challenging gameplay. However, not all expansions hit the mark. The Guardian Takedown felt frustratingly unbalanced, and the “raid bosses” in some DLCs were underwhelming.
Endgame and Quality of Life
Borderlands 3’s endgame evolved significantly, with new skill trees, Arms Race mode, and raid bosses. While some updates, like Arms Race, divided the community, others added replay value. The introduction of quality-of-life improvements—such as improved loot mechanics and UI tweaks—showed Gearbox’s commitment to the game’s longevity.
Final Verdict
Borderlands 3 is a game that excels in gameplay mechanics and world design but falters in storytelling and pacing. Its post-launch content and character diversity provide ample replayability, making it worth exploring for fans and newcomers alike. However, its shortcomings, especially in villain design and narrative execution, are hard to ignore.
For those looking to dive back in, the game remains a solid choice, particularly with its polished updates and engaging DLCs. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a curious first-timer, Borderlands 3 still has plenty to offer.