Borderlands' bosses have always been a bit of a mixed bag. While there have been some obvious standouts over the years, like Crawmerax the Invincible and The Warrior, who both require players to coordinate and synergize their skills effectively, there have also been plenty of serviceable bosses over the years that can be beaten by simply strafing and shooting. Borderlands 4's bosses tend to fall into the former camp.
While it's still got its fair share of mind-numbing fights, Borderlands 4 is generally a step-up when it comes to boss encounters, at least during its main story. Most main bosses offer unique gameplay gimmicks that players need to adapt to on the fly, channeling the great raid bosses that have come before them. But not all of Borderlands 4's bosses have been created equal, and though world bosses have a strong premise behind them, their execution leaves a lot to be desired.
There's a Strong Concept Behind Borderlands 4's World Bosses
When exploring Borderlands 4's open world, players will occasionally see a bright, translucent blue dome appear in the environment near them. Entering this dome will spawn a randomized world boss, and some classic high-octane Borderlands action will ensue. Defeating the boss will reward players with some high-tier loot.
The concept of having bosses appear at random in the open world is a strong and natural one for the Borderlands franchise. The shimmering light of a boss dome is always exciting to see, and the fights themselves feel both challenging and rewarding. Borderlands 4 already has plenty to keep players coming back long after the credits roll, but these bosses add some welcome dynamism to the game's open world.
One Big Issue Holds Borderlands 4's World Bosses Back From Greatness
But there's one major flaw in the design of Borderlands 4's world bosses, one that drains all fun from the fight in a split second. If players get knocked out of the boss' dome at any point during the encounter, the fight ends immediately, regardless of how long the player has fought or how much damage they've inflicted.
To make matters worse, the fight doesn't just end instantly, it also disappears for good. And to really rub salt in the wound, Borderlands 4's world bosses also have a tendency to use hard-hitting attacks that throw the player high into the air and far away from them, which are almost guaranteed to fling the player out of bounds every time.
It's likely that developer Gearbox implemented this out-of-bounds mechanic to add a sense of urgency to Borderlands 4's world boss encounters, and to make the fight feel even more intense. But that's not how it feels in practice.
The thrill of the fight is quickly overshadowed by the player's fear that they'll lose all of their progress if they touch just a single pixel outside of the boss' dome. And when that inevitably happens, frustration is likely the only feeling the player will be filled with.
Just a Few Tweaks Could Change The Conversation Around Borderlands 4's World Bosses
Though they're one of Borderlands 4's most frustrating elements right now, world bosses could easily be one of the game's greatest strengths. They just need a few tweaks. For instance, rather than end the encounter immediately upon leaving the boss' dome, Borderlands 4 could start a 10-second countdown, giving players just enough time to make it back to the encounter while still providing some tangible stakes.
Alternatively, Borderlands 4's world bosses could function in phases, where the boss regains health depending on when the player is knocked out of bounds. At the bare minimum, Borderlands 4 should give players the ability to restart the fight from scratch rather than have it disappear completely in the blink of an eye.
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
