Borderlands 3

Our analysis

A meaningful improvement on its predecessor in almost every way, anchored by completely redesigned gunplay that now rivals the best shooters and a relentless flood of inventive, game-changing loot. New planets add scope and the build diversity is exceptional, making the moment-to-moment combat a joy. It is held back by genuinely awful writing, weak and repetitive mission design, a frustrating UI and map, and shaky performance across PC and consoles at launch.

Our analysis

A fun looter-shooter with a huge, exciting arsenal, planet-hopping variety, a wide range of enemies and tons of content, held back by cringeworthy, unfunny writing and keybinds you can't rebind. Mack enjoys it and calls it a good game worth buying.

Our analysis

A game with a split personality: the gunplay, character abilities, and procedurally generated loot are masterfully executed and genuinely addictive. The story, however, is among the worst in triple-A gaming, sunk by atrocious villains and lazy humor, and severe technical problems plague launch. Worth it for gameplay-focused players, but story seekers should stay away.

Our analysis

Nearly every aspect is improved, with amazing graphics, vastly better loot and weapon manufacturers, great boss fights, and a massive amount of content and customization that delivers tremendous value. The Calypso Twin villains are awful and the main story missteps badly, but the gameplay is so strong it remains well worth playing.

Our analysis

More Borderlands done well, with fun, modernized shooting, an impressive arsenal of distinct guns, varied enemies, and a new planet-hopping structure that adds welcome variety. Co-op remains the highlight. Technical glitches and laggy menus drag it down, and the twin villains and humor largely miss, but there is a lot of content here for fans.

Our analysis

A well-refined, true-to-form looter-shooter whose biggest strength is its wildly creative and varied arsenal, enhanced by tighter gunplay, deep class options, and excellent music. New planet-hopping adds diversity, though some areas disappoint and loot floods in faster than the UI can manage. Not as big a leap as Borderlands 2, but plenty to keep coming back for.