Borderlands 4 is finally here, bringing with it a host of new features and changes to the series' formula that aim to reinvent it for the future. Underneath the hood, it is still very much a Borderlands game, but at the same time, there are plenty of things it does differently that might even take veteran players some time to get used to. Because of these changes, though, Borderlands 4 is a perfect entry point for new players who have yet to wet their feet in the world of Borderlands.
To a certain extent, those who are familiar with first-person shooters and the looter shooter genre can jump into Borderlands 4 without a hitch. That being said, Borderlands is still a highly unique series, and that is especially true of the latest entry. As such, players might wish to acquaint themselves with a few of its unwritten rules before heading out into the vast wilds of Kairos.
The Unwritten Rules of Borderlands 4's Combat
Keep Moving at All Times
Borderlands 4's new traversal and movement mechanics are by far one of the biggest changes it makes to the series' formula. With new abilities like double jump and glide, players can now move around the battlefield like never before in a Borderlands game. In fact, one could argue that the new movement mechanics are precisely why Borderlands 4 is a bit more challenging than its predecessors. Players are encouraged to make use of these abilities at all times in battle, especially if they want to survive long enough to see the next.
Make Use of Alt Fire Modes
While Borderlands 4 adds a lot to the traditional Borderlands experience, it is still, at the end of the day, about loot. There are billions of weapons in Borderlands 4 that are effective enough the way they come, but they can be even more effective when switched to their Alt Fire mode for certain situations. Some weapons will have an Alt Fire that changes the gun's element, and others might have an Alt Fire that turns the gun into a grenade launcher. Whatever a gun's Alt Fire mode might be, players shouldn't neglect to take advantage of it, especially if the situation calls for it.
Enemies Scale With the Player
There are plenty of looter shooters out there that allow players to outlevel their enemies, but that's not the case in the latest Borderlands entry. Instead, enemies in Borderlands 4 scale to the player's level to ensure a constant challenge and a more rewarding overall experience. In other words, if players want their fights to be easier, they will have no choice but to adjust the game's difficulty rather than attempting to outlevel their foes.
The Unwritten Rules of Borderlands 4's Exploration and Progression
Focus on the Story to Unlock the Digirunner
After stepping out onto the surface of Borderlands 4's Kairos, it's difficult not to get lost in its scale and all the content that comes with it. There are plenty of places to explore, more than enough collectibles and side quests to go after, and a multitude of loot to collect, just within the boundaries of the starting area. However, since Kairos is such a massive world, it's actually best for players to prioritize the main story until they unlock the Digirunner, Borderlands 4's new vehicle. This will allow them to get around much quicker, making completing the aforementioned tasks more efficient.
Be Okay With Leaving Loot Behind
Given how Borderlands was once the poster child for the looter shooter genre, players can expect to loot a lot of weapons and other gear in Borderlands 4. However, there is so much loot in the game that players can fill their backpack after clearing just one location. The temptation would be to keep traveling back and forth between a vending machine to ensure players always have space in their inventory for more gear, but not only can that be time-consuming, it's also largely unnecessary. Instead, players should be willing to leave gear behind, and simply make space along the way for better items by either dropping some or selling them if they happen to come across a vending machine during their travels.
Don't Forget to Spend SDU Tokens
Of course, players can also spend their SDU tokens in Borderlands 4 to increase their backpack capacity, among many other things — that is, if they remember to do so. There is often so much going on in Borderlands 4 that it's easy to miss when SDU tokens are earned, leaving a great number of them sitting in the player's SDU bank when they could be used for valuable upgrades. By navigating to the SDU screen in the in-game menu, players can upgrade how much ammo they can hold for each weapon type, as well as their backpack, bank, and lost loot capacity, per Borderlands tradition.
Side Content Isn't All That Optional
Something else players should be aware of is that Borderlands 4's side content isn't really all that optional. Sure, the game never forces players to do any of its side content, but completing it is all but crucial to growth and progress in the game. Completing side quests and finding collectibles in Borderlands 4 can net players anything from more XP to valuable weapons to skill points, SDU tokens, and more. Players who really want to make the most efficient progress shouldn't mainline the story but instead take in everything that Kairos has to offer. It helps that many of Borderlands 4's side quests are just as good, if not better, than the main story.
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
