Ways Borderlands 4 Is The Best Game For New Players

The *Borderlands* series has been popular for more than ten years, offering many chances for players to experience it solo or with friends. It helped create the “looter shooter” genre, inspiring games like *Destiny*. But the latest installment, *Borderlands 4*, introduces some changes that make it stand apart from previous games in the series.

Borderlands 4 lets you play as one of four different characters, each with their own unique class. Although you choose a preset character, you can still personalize their appearance with options like face, clothing, and color choices. Beyond being a first-person shooter RPG, here’s a closer look at what makes this game a good starting point for new Borderlands players.

A Reset On The Lore

But There Are Returning Favorites

Like many *Final Fantasy* games, *Borderlands* titles generally aren’t heavily connected. While you’ll see familiar characters – even in *Borderlands 4* – newcomers won’t be lost. These characters are fun for existing fans, but each game has its own fresh story.

Kairos was a secluded planet until the events at the end of *Borderlands 3* opened it up to the rest of the galaxy. This introduction brings fresh villains, new weapon makers, and exciting new places to explore. It’s a major reason why *Borderlands 4* is so accessible to newcomers – they won’t be held back by needing to know the history of previous games, a common issue with many sequels.

A True Open-World Experience

A Popular Genre At The Moment

Open-world games are incredibly popular right now, and fans are exploring both new releases and classic titles. The latest installment in the *Borderlands* series, *Borderlands 4*, is now fully open-world, featuring a massive map larger than any area in previous games. Players will also have access to completely new ways to travel and explore.

Players can call upon a Digirunner, a digital bike that functions and looks like the Sparrow from *Destiny*. They also have access to a Grapple-Grabber, a grappling hook useful for both getting around and grabbing items during fights. Plus, players can glide down from high places – similar to gliding in other open-world games – but without needing a specific item. These movement options make exploring the game world enjoyable for everyone.

ECHO-4’s Many Uses

Find Your Way

Borderlands 4 features a larger game world and plenty of quests for players to complete. To help navigate this expansive environment, a new companion named ECHO-4 joins you after the initial tutorial. This little robot assists you by scanning equipment and maps, and provides helpful information for progressing the story.

This robot is silent-a welcome change from some other game companions! Its most useful feature is its navigation system. If you set a destination or start a mission, the robot will guide you there. While this isn’t a brand-new idea-the game *Dead Space* introduced similar technology back in 2008-it’s a really helpful way for new players to learn the world of Kairos.

Play Your Way, And Look Your Way

Tweak Your Vault Hunter On The Fly

Many RPG fans enjoy creating unique characters, and *Borderlands 4* offers more customization options than ever before in the series. While past *Borderlands* games let players change colors and outfits at vending machines, the new game expands on those features significantly.

In *Borderlands 4*, you can customize your character’s appearance directly from the game’s menu whenever you want. The more you play, the more customization options you’ll unlock. While there are still limits, this system offers much more freedom than in previous *Borderlands* games, allowing players to create a more unique online identity.

Skipping The Prologue

Easier To Create New Characters

In *Borderlands 4*, players begin by selecting one of four Vault Hunters: Rafa, Vex, Harlowe, or Amon. Each character is distinct, with three different skill trees to specialize in, giving players twelve unique class options. While you can change your character’s skills at designated points, you’re committed to your initial choice throughout the game – there’s no switching between characters mid-play.

Many role-playing games don’t offer this, but it would be a great addition to games with character classes: letting players start a new game with a different character after completing the initial tutorial – specifically, after meeting Claptrap. The game should then ask if they want to skip the introductory sequence. This small change would encourage players to try out all the available characters and find the one that suits their playstyle, rather than feeling locked into their first choice.

Repkits Make Single-Player Easier

Heal Away Solo God

The *Borderlands* games were originally designed for cooperative play, but you can definitely play them solo. While it was possible to go it alone in earlier games, it could be tough, even on lower difficulty levels, because of the constant waves of enemies and gunfire. Luckily, players could find health drops, recharge a shield for extra defense, and some character classes had skills to restore health. There was also a neat feature where you could avoid death by killing an enemy at the last moment – and it still works that way today!

Borderlands 4 is making the game more accessible for solo players with a new feature called Repkits. These are equippable items, like shields, that offer various stats and bonuses. Repkits recharge automatically during gameplay, similar to character abilities, and can restore health or shields when needed. They’re especially helpful for solo players, or when teammates aren’t able to revive you quickly. It’s surprising it took Gearbox over ten years to add these consumable health items to the RPG, but it’s a welcome addition.

2025-09-15 15:40