Summary
- Borderlands 3 can serve as prep for Borderlands 4 with story continuity and gameplay familiarity.
- Updates like Mayhem 2.0 and Arms Race have improved Borderlands 3 immensely since launch.
- Borderlands 3, though initially rough, now offers a polished, feature-complete looter-shooter experience.
It has now been nearly six years since the release of the last mainline installment in the Borderlands series, Borderlands 3, but there may not be a better time than right now for fans to give it another try. Borderlands practically invented the looter shooter, but it has grown beyond its borders since the release of the first game, inspiring other games to imitate and even improve on its formula, to the point that it has become increasingly irrelevant over the years. Even so, there is still largely nothing like Borderlands on the market, even months into 2025.
Borderlands 3 may not be the most acclaimed mainline entry in the series, but it is nonetheless the most recent. In light of that, it's arguably the best way for players to currently get back into Borderlands, especially if they have plans to play Borderlands 4 when it launches in September. Plus, Borderlands 3 has received some pretty significant updates since its launch in 2019, so players who have been away from it since then could potentially have an entirely different experience if they chose to replay it this year.
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Why Borderlands 3 Is Worth a Replay in 2025
Borderlands 3 Can Serve as Prep for Borderlands 4
One of the main reasons players should revisit Borderlands 3 in 2025 is due to the fact that the launch of the long-awaited, highly anticipated Borderlands 4 is just around the corner. As such, playing through Borderlands 3 one more time can serve as an adequate method for players to prepare for Borderlands 4, in more than one way.
Borderlands 3 has received some pretty significant updates since its launch in 2019, so players who have been away from it since then could potentially have an entirely different experience if they chose to replay it this year.
Firstly, playing through Borderlands 3 again in 2025 can allow players to familiarize themselves with the way Borderlands plays, from its combat and exploration to its loot and customization. More importantly, however, Borderlands 3 is worth a revisit in 2025 for its story. As Borderlands 4 is set six years after the events of Borderlands 3 and plans to continue where the last mainline entry left off, playing through the third installment once more can narratively reorient players towards what's next. Borderlands 3's story isn't necessarily the best in the series, but it's likely to be required reading for Borderlands 4, to some extent.
Borderlands 3 Has Received a Vast Number of Improvements Since Launch
Another reason players should start Borderlands 3 over in 2025 is due to the vast number of updates it has received since launch, potentially making it feel like an entirely different game in the long run. Those who haven't played Borderlands 3 since its launch have missed out on massive improvements like an improved version of Mayhem called "Mayhem 2.0," the Arms Race mode via the Designer's Cut DLC, and plenty of quality-of-life improvements like an auto-sell feature for automatically selling gear below a specified rarity, crossplay support, and optimizations for next-gen consoles, including support for 60 FPS at 4K resolution and up to 120 FPS in performance mode.
Mayhem 2.0 introduces ten levels of Mayhem, new modifiers, and better loot scaling, enhancing Borderlands 3's endgame replayability.
Borderlands 3 might not have had the smoothest launch in 2019, but in 2025, it's a game that deserves a second chance. With years of post-launch support, quality-of-life improvements, and gameplay additions that change how it feels to play, Borderlands 3 has quietly become a much more polished experience than many may remember. Whether it's to re-learn the flow of loot and Borderlands gunplay, catch up on the story before Borderlands 4, or simply enjoy what has evolved into one of the most feature-complete looter shooters on the market, starting over now is more than worthwhile.
Borderlands 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
- Released
- September 13, 2019
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
