4. Borderlands
Even so many years after its release, the original Borderlands still holds up as something special.
Brimming with flair thanks to its art style and aesthetic, the game stands out from the pack of shooters it hit the scene with.
Its characters sling one-liners and jokes as fast as the game’s many weapons sling bullets, and its introduction of key aspects of the series like the vaults, sirens, and Pandora itself all carry a freshness other entries can’t match.
The same can be said of its vault hunter classes which, while simple, still feel like they were given the fresh innovation of a new IP in their abilities and how they translate to the gameplay.
And yet, despite its best efforts, the game does feel dated compared to its more recent entries.
The gameplay isn’t as frantic and energized as other entries have successfully made the series, and the writing feels like its experiencing growing pains as it tries to establish what it wants the series to be.
All the same though, it’s still a title worth going back to, so long as one isn’t expecting to see the series at its absolute best.
