Borderlands 4 has a lot going for it in terms of how it compares to past entries, and it hasn't even launched yet. From more diverse skill trees to a seamless world with plenty of complementary traversal mechanics to boot, the next entry in the series appears to be pulling out all the stops to ensure players have a one-of-a-kind experience that's fresh but still has that classic Borderlands feel. However, while many of these ideas will ultimately depend on their execution, one clear design philosophy already positions itself as Borderlands 4's biggest strength.
Ahead of its release, Borderlands 4's seamless world has been at the forefront of the game's marketing, with taglines like "Less borders, more lands" and "Break free" serving to define its theme. In essence, the idea is that players will be given unprecedented freedom in the game, and while this freedom applies to more than just the new planet Kairos, the world is still a core part of that principle. It's not merely the scope of Borderlands 4's world that makes it one of the game's strongest features, though, as that strength lies more in its ability to be both visually stunning and varied in its design.
Borderlands 4's Quietest Reveal Could Be Its Best News Yet
A small detail in Borderlands 4’s Lilith mission may hint at a bigger design shift, but only those watching closely would know why it really matters.
Borderlands 4's Map Design May Be Its Most Defining Feature
Visual Variety Is Doing More Than Just Making Kairos Pretty
Thanks to Unreal Engine 5, Borderlands 4's Kairos looks gorgeous. In fact, one could argue that it looks so good compared to previous entries in the series that it has lost some of the grit that made its predecessors stand out. On the other hand, Borderlands 4 could also be described as a bridge between the series' past and its future, with stunning visuals that still don't compromise that iconic art style Borderlands is known for. While some of this visual fidelity comes from the sharper images, more definitive textures, and more realistic lighting offered by Unreal Engine 5, it's Kairos' environmental diversity that truly makes it a thing of beauty.
Rather than grinding through a shooter checklist as they have in previous Borderlands games, players are more likely to feel like they're actually traveling through a world in Borderlands 4 thanks to its four distinct biomes. Each one of these biomes isn't meant to just give Kairos more color either, but instead to alter the tone and atmosphere of every encounter while simultaneously discouraging visual fatigue and repetition during longer play sessions. Unlike the Borderlands worlds of the past, which had variety split up by loading screens, Kairos should feel more like an actual planet whose environments seamlessly change depending on where players are at in relation to the planet's tilt, equator, and distance from its sun.
The four biomes of Borderlands 4's Kairos:
- Fadefields – lush forests, grasslands, beaches
- Terminus Range – icy peaks and snow-covered vistas
- Carcadia Burn – scorching desert terrain
- Dominion – futuristic city under the Timekeeper's reign
Map Design, Not Gunplay, Might Define Borderlands 4's Legacy
Borderlands has always been known for its gunplay, and it even has an immense amount of self-awareness in that regard, as it has regularly increased the number of weapons players can acquire across each entry by the millions. However, Borderlands 4 might be taking a sharp right turn into a new legacy, potentially being remembered more for its world and map design than its guns. While its gunplay has definitely been talked about, Kairos has clearly hogged the spotlight, and if it follows through on its claims, it could even change the series moving forward.
Thanks to Unreal Engine 5, Borderlands 4's Kairos looks gorgeous.
Which, in all honesty, wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. Sure, guns are at the heart of Borderlands' gameplay, and they will always be one of its most defining features. However, if recent entries have proven anything, it's that more guns alone is not enough to make a Borderlands game feel like anything more than "just another Borderlands game." As such, if there is anything that can potentially turn things around for the series, it's Borderlands 4's Kairos with its gorgeous visuals, its distinct biomes, and its seamless exploration.
Borderlands 4
-
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
