It's no secret that Borderlands 4 is a lot like Bungie's Destiny franchise, and that much has been known about it since its extensive State of Play deep dive in April. That's not necessarily a bad thing either, as Destiny has had a massive impact on the shooter genre for a while now, and it's about time Borderlands jumped on board. Everything from the way its combat feels to its seamless world and even the ability to summon a sparrow-looking vehicle from anywhere, Borderlands 4 is the Destiny crossover I didn't know I needed.
Since the launch of the first game in 2014, I have probably logged somewhere near 5,000 hours in the Destiny franchise across platforms. I know that's not even close to the amount of time some players have spent on it, but for someone whose love for video games means he plays a vast number of titles from different genres, it's a lot. But considering how much Borderlands 4 feels like Destiny at almost every turn, those hours have given me an advantage that those who have never or rarely played Bungie's shooter may never experience.
Borderlands 4's Destiny-Like Design Gives Me a Major Edge
I Knew This Was Coming
To be fair, I knew this was coming ahead of time. After getting some hands-on time with Borderlands 4 during a hands-on preview event earlier this year, the similarities between it and Destiny were even clearer than they ever had been. However, I also knew that I'd find Borderlands 4 to be a bit easier than some other players might, despite its increased difficulty compared to previous entries. During the hands-on preview, I even had devs behind me encouraging me to take on tougher challenges because they thought I could "handle it."
And so, I did. I pursued enemies and activities several levels higher than my character (who was Vex then and still is now), and while it was incredibly tough, I managed to make it through. We even had the opportunity to face one of Borderlands 4's Vault monsters, after being told by the devs that it was some of the most challenging content in the game. In the end, I was one of the few who actually managed to beat the Vault monster, and not just once, but multiple times. The reason? I chalk it up to my experience with Destiny.
Borderlands 4 Echoes Destiny's Core Feel
Borderlands 4 may channel Destiny in its Digirunner, Echo-4, and even its new glide ability, but it's the core feel of its combat that really brings out its similarities to Bungie's MMO. Like in Destiny, Borderlands 4 emphasizes constant movement in combat more than any entry before it, so when I first jumped into the game, my Destiny muscle memory kicked in, and it immediately felt like I knew what I was doing. Even with how different this particular Borderlands game feels compared to its predecessors, it still feels like a game I've played before, and considering how difficult it can be at times, I'm grateful for that feeling.
It's not just that "right at home" feeling I get that makes Borderlands 4 even more fun than it might have been otherwise either, as Destiny 2's recent struggles have left me wanting, and Gearbox has provided. Sure, it's still not Destiny, and I'll never say it's Destiny, but it does invoke the spirit of one of my favorite looter shooters of all time. More than anything else, it brings me back to the fast-paced, energetic, high-octane gameplay that Destiny is known for. Only now, I get to experience it in another universe I have also called home many times before.
Borderlands 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- September 12, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
WHERE TO PLAY
