At this point in the franchise, expectations are at an all-time high about what Borderlands 4’s dedicated endgame activities should offer. While bringing back fan-favorite endgame activities is arguably a must for Borderlands 4, this new entry in the franchise should also take a look at the bigger picture and take the chance to improve the True Vault Hunter Mode and Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode New Game+ playthroughs.
Especially when it comes to Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode, Borderlands 4 should make this game mode a truly rewarding experience for players who can reach their third playthrough of the game on a given character. Between what Borderlands 4 could learn from its predecessors, and how adding more playthrough-exclusive features could make UVHM stay fresh and stand out from players’ original playthrough, Borderlands 4 can make its UVHM well worth the journey for both newcomers and longtime franchise fans.
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How Borderlands 4 Can Take Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode to the Next Level
As is commonplace for Action RPGs and Looter-Shooters like the Borderlands games, the “true” endgame experience of these games typically doesn’t start until after players finish the game for the first time and start a subsequent playthrough. In the Borderlands games, there are typically raids and wave-based survival game modes that become available once players complete the main story, but the New Game+ modes are where the difficulty truly ramps up.
Throughout the Borderlands franchise, most games feature three separate playthroughs: the initial playthrough, True Vault Hunter Mode, and then Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode, in that order. One exception to this is Borderlands 3, where, instead of the UVHM third playthrough, players can access Mayhem Mode modifiers that shift the difficulty and the quality and quantity of loot drops. Considering how much of a staple that UVHM is for the Borderlands franchise, this iconic game mode should return in Borderlands 4, but it should also be the franchise’s best version to date this time around.
Borderlands 4’s UVHM Should Combine the Best Parts of Past Games’ New Game+ Modes
Naturally, building upon what fans enjoyed most about past Borderlands’ new game plus modes can give Borderlands 4 a recipe for success that caters to longtime fans of the franchise in providing the ultimate endgame Borderlands experience. Also, since these features already have a history of success, reintroducing them to Borderlands 4 could provide an ideal experience for newfound Borderlands fans, all the same.
- Instead of all-or-nothing buffs for enemies’ health and damage, reintroducing Borderlands 3’s Mayhem Mode modifiers could allow players to fine-tune their game’s difficulty in a way that doesn’t restrict specialized weapon and skill builds.
- Expand upon playthrough-exclusive loot drops to include character and weapon cosmetics, as well as a whole new tier of loot drops.
Borderlands 4 Could Make Its UVHM Worth the Journey With New Secrets and Exclusive Rewards
Another way that Borderlands 4 could make its UVHM stand out as the new best in the franchise is to double down on exclusive features in this game mode. While the dedicated endgame activities will presumably have exclusive loot by default, adding playthrough-exclusive features to other activities in the game could encourage players to engage with a wide variety of activities outside of farming bosses and dedicated endgame activities. This way, no matter what activities they participate in, there are bound to be pleasant surprises hiding around every corner that truly reward players for reaching their third playthrough with one of Borderlands 4’s new Vault Hunters.
- Introduce exclusive enemy types and random world encounters that can be found outside dedicated endgame activities.
- Add new map challenges/objectives to incentivize exploration.
- Significantly Improving or changing quest rewards to incentivize revisiting past quests.
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
Borderlands 4 brings intense action, badass Vault Hunters, and billions of wild and deadly weapons to an all-new planet ruled by a ruthless tyrant.
Crash into Kairos as one of four new Vault Hunters seeking wealth and glory. Wield powerful Action Skills, customize your build with deep skill trees, and dominate enemies with dynamic movement abilities.
Break free from the oppressive Timekeeper, a ruthless dictator who dominates the masses from on high. Now a world-altering catastrophe threatens his perfect Order, unleashing Mayhem across the planet.
