Shooter-looterBorderlands 3and, to a lesser extent,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsare brimming with content, but some gamers can plow through even the beefiest games in a matter of days. For something to play between entries in the franchise, the following discussion will present severalawesome games similar toBorderlands.
Given how unique Gearbox’s franchise is, none of the games listed are carbon copies, but they all share some elements with it, whether it be the art style, gameplay mechanics, or the addictive cycle of collecting better gear. Besides, trying to exactly replicateBorderlandsis a foolish endeavor, since the series does it so well in the first place.
Updated on July 11, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Whilelooter shooters like Borderlandsdo not come out often, this month might produce two projects that could hit the mark: Synduality Echo of Ada and Endless Alice. As they are not available yet, it is too early to say if they will be worth recommending, but they are at least worth monitoring. Also, Borderlands 4 is confirmed to be in the works, with a 2025 debut seeming likely. For all the criticism Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands received, they are still good games overall, with by far the strongest gunplay in the franchise.
To help pass the time while waiting for Borderlands 4, another recommendation has been added. To be honest, this game is not that similar to Gearbox’s series in most areas, but it is one of the few projects that can match Borderlands' love for loot. Click below to jump directly to this title.
Fans ofDiablo’s gameplay willlove whatGrim Dawnhas to offer, with its simple yet engaging gameplay making it worth checking out for any fan of amazing action RPGs that focus on getting as much loot as possible. Many people may find this game to be pretty different from theBorderlandsseries in every way, with their tone, setting, and gameplay being quite different in many ways.
However, that patented dopamine rush that players feel when bagging a rare piece of loot in this game is pretty similar to theBorderlandsseries. The looter-shooter gameplay may be fun, but some fans can get tired of playing through titles with this same kind of gameplay over and over again… which is why a title likeGrim Dawncan feel like a breath of fresh air!
Rocksteady’sSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguehas its issues. The game launched to a mediocre reception, which was reflected by anunderwhelming Steam player count. The game’s future does not look particularly promising, although there is always hope that things could turn around with a few updates. Still, at the moment,Suicide Squadcannot be recommended as a live-service project; however, as a single-player experience that can keep something engaged for 15 hours or so, the game gets the job done. Considering the developer’s pedigree, the campaign is at its best when focusing on the story and the main characters. While not among Rocksteady’s strongest offerings, both elements are inoffensive and overall entertaining.
The combat is more of a mixed bag, at least depending on what somebody is craving. In a polarizing move, all playable characters utilize guns, a decision that was presumably made to complement a looter shooter system. Consequently,Suicide Squadshowers players with new weapons frequently, although they are not quite as creative asBorderlands' arsenal. The anti-heroes all have different movement skills that reflect their powers or personalities, so they are not complete copies of each other, even if they still play fairly similarly. Even if the gameplay is not what everyone wants, the minute-to-minute action can be fun regardless.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueis one of those games that could be worth picking up when it is on sale or if it joins a subscription service. Otherwise, only die-hard DC fans should give this a look.
It probably does not need to be said, butNioh 2is nothing likeBorderlandson nearly every level. Team Ninja’s game is a tough-as-nails action RPG that focuses primarily on melee combat, with ranged weapons being secondary. The game (and its predecessor) takes obvious inspiration fromDark Souls, although the combat is far more fast-paced and in line with Team Ninja’s earlier releases. Thevery long campaignfollows a mission-based structure that drops players into sections of a map that they can explore to an extent, and they nearly always culminate in an epic and challenging boss fight. The game has almost no humor, and the story can be hard to follow if somebody is not familiar with Japanese mythology or history.
Looking at the above,Nioh 2seems to share nothing in common withBorderlands, but that is not 100% the case. Both games drown players in loot, with Team Ninja’s release pretty much constantly giving away new weapons, armor, and other items. Similar toBorderlandsandDiablo,Niohuses a tier system for its weapons and armor, along with randomly generated stats and benefits. Honestly,Nioh 2almost has too much loot since players will very quickly find their inventories full, forcing them to get rid of items. Still, people who enjoy constantly trying out new weapons inBorderlandswill likely get a kick out ofNioh 2, as long as they enjoy its combat.
There’s no better title to try out for fans ofBorderlandsthan a game that is clearly inspired by it, withGunfire Rebornbeing a blast to play through for a group of friends who just want to share a good time together. The roguelike structure of this game means that players will never get bored with playing through this title over and over again.
The game has a palpable sense of progression that helps players feel extremely powerful once they kit themselves out with a bunch of upgrades and powerful weapons.Gunfire Rebornis an excellent title that deserves a ton of love, even if many people feel like the gameplay loop becomes tiring after a point.
There aren’t many games that nail a sequel as well asRisk of Rain 2does… well, except maybeBorderlands 2. The first game is definitely fun in its own right, but the slew of improvements and refined gameplayRisk of Rain 2brings to the table make it clear whythis roguelite third-person shooterbecame so incredibly popular.
As the game gets more and more difficult with each level, players must engage in some tight teamwork and try to conserve their health as much as possible while dealing with powerful enemies. These deadly foes can take out the enemy in no time flat, making it imperative to purchase new weapons and improve existing ones to make them even more powerful!
Whether something can be described directly as a live service game or simply a cooperative shooter with regular updates is sometimes hard to parse.Outriderscertainly falls into this camp. The game is built around cooperative play and requires players to be online at all times, yet it has a fairly definitive campaign that can be finished within the length of most average shooters.
This can be good or bad depending on the type of gamer, but it is just good to know what type of game it is before going in.Updates and expansions have come out since its initial release, but it is nothing on the level of an average live service game. LikeBorderlands, this is an adventure best done with friends.
The sequel to Id Software’s 2011 FPS has the same dark charm as the cel-shaded shooter franchise. The brutally chaotic barren waste is looked at through a tongue-in-cheek lens.
A couple of principal differences betweenRage 2andBorderlandsare the setting – a post-apocalyptic planet Earth – and the lack of multiplayer, so one will have to solo when destroying enemy camps. Avalanche Games worked in conjunction with Id on this project, giving it a similar open-world destructive flare to theirJust Causeseries.
AllDead Islandgames are solid recommendations forBorderlandsfans, but the 2023 sequel arguably has the closest tone and sense of humor. While the series never takes itself too seriously,Dead Island 2revels in the absurdity far more than its predecessors. Set in Los Angeles following a zombie outbreak, the story guides players through semi-open areas that provide some room for exploration but are also quite linear.
Killing zombies has never felt as good as it does inDead Island 2, with Dambuster delivering a satisfying combat system with impeccable gore and some build variety. While ranged weapons are available, the game focuses more on close-quarters action.Similar toBorderlands, Dead Island 2supports online co-op, although it is limited to three players.
All of these shooter games are awesome, but there’s nothing for the kids. Many people still play M-rated products, but should those forbidden to play them be left in the dust? Thankfully,Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle For Neighborvilleis here to heed the call.
Unlike theGarden Warfaretitle leading up to it,Battle For Neighborvilleis a larger, cooperative-focused experience where parties tackle missions from characters on a hub. Each plant is a different class, making teamwork and preparation vital to a mission’s success. Don’t be fooled by the cute aesthetic; some parts of the adventure will punish those who aren’t on their toes.
The olderFalloutgames are timeless classics, butFallout 4makes it on the list for the changes it makes to the formula. Instead of shaping the narrative through choices and ethical dilemmas, the 2015 game instead switches focus to exploration and combat.
Some bemoaned this change in identity, but it feels more like a dungeon crawler these days, making it more akin toBorderlandsthan the prior titles. Narrative and dialog still feature heavily throughout the story, though, so veteran fans aren’t left completely in the dust. If players are hankering for a multiplayer title,then they can jump intoFallout 76.This newer title had an admittedly rocky launch, but it has been much improved upon since its release and has plenty of content to devour with friends.
