· By Kacper Lopata
The 5 Best Games Similar To Borderlands 2
In the vast universe of video games, finding titles that match the unique blend of humor, action, and loot-driven gameplay of "Borderlands 2" can be a thrilling quest in itself.
Since its release, "Borderlands 2" has set a high standard for first-person shooter games with its engaging co-op play, rich storyline, and distinctive cel-shaded graphics.
For fans looking to capture that same magic with a new twist, the gaming world offers a plethora of options that resonate with the spirit of Pandora but bring their own unique flavors and mechanics to the table.
Whether you're a die-hard "Borderlands" fan or a newcomer to the genre, these titles promise to deliver hours of entertainment and memorable adventures.
In this article...
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia
- Release Date: March 15, 2019
- Developer: Massive Entertainment
Set in a near-future Washington, D.C., in the aftermath of a genetically engineered virus released on Black Friday, The Division 2 thrusts players into a chaotic world on the brink of collapse.
Similarities to Borderlands 2
The Division 2 shares several core gameplay elements with Borderlands 2, such as the focus on looting, shooting, and progressing through a story-driven campaign.
Both games feature expansive, open-world environments filled with missions, side missions, and various activities that encourage exploration and engagement.
Cooperative multiplayer is a significant aspect of both titles, allowing players to team up with friends or strangers to tackle challenges together.
Differences to Borderlands 2
The Division 2 sets itself apart with a more realistic setting and a cover-based shooting system, contrasting with Borderlands 2's more fantastical elements and direct gunplay.
The Division 2 also emphasizes a more tactical approach to combat, requiring players to think about positioning and strategy.
Furthermore, The Division 2 has a stronger focus on post-launch content and a dynamic world that evolves with seasonal updates and community events.
Reasons to Try The Division 2:
Tactical Gameplay
The cover-based combat system encourages strategic play and teamwork.
Dynamic Open World
The game's representation of Washington, D.C., is rich with details and offers a living, breathing environment that changes over time.
Robust Multiplayer
Beyond the campaign, there are numerous PvP modes and the Dark Zone, a unique blend of PvP and PvE.
Regular Updates
The game receives frequent updates that introduce new missions, gear, and seasonal events, keeping the gameplay experience fresh.
Destiny 2
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia, and PC.
- Release Date: September 6, 2017.
- Developer: Bungie.
In "Destiny 2," players assume the role of Guardians, protectors of Earth's last safe city as they wield various powers to protect humanity from various alien races and the looming threat of the Darkness.
Similarities to Borderlands 2
Both "Destiny 2" and "Borderlands 2" are loot-driven first-person shooters that place a heavy emphasis on co-op gameplay.
They feature expansive worlds filled with quests, raids, and strikes that players can tackle together or solo.
Each game has a variety of classes with unique abilities, promoting team play and strategy.
The endless hunt for better weapons and gear is a core loop in both games, keeping players engaged in the long run.
Differences to Borderlands 2
While "Borderlands 2" offers a more humorous and story-driven experience with cel-shaded graphics, "Destiny 2" focuses on a shared-world experience with more serious undertones and a visually realistic style.
"Destiny 2" also places a larger emphasis on competitive multiplayer aspects, such as the Crucible, alongside its PvE content.
The gear system in "Destiny 2" is more complex, with a greater focus on gear stats and customization.
Reasons to Try Destiny 2:
Rich Lore and Expansive Worlds
Immerse yourself in a universe filled with deep lore, exploring diverse planets and dimensions teeming with life and history.
Dynamic Shared-World Experience
Engage in a game world that feels alive and interconnected, where your actions have a direct impact on the environment and the community.
Continuous Content Updates
Enjoy regular updates and expansions that introduce fresh content, ensuring there's always something new to discover or conquer.
Varied Gameplay Modes
From challenging PvE raids and strikes to competitive PvP battles in the Crucible, "Destiny 2" caters to a multitude of playstyles and preferences.
Risk of Rain 2
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
- Release Date: March 28, 2019 (Early Access), August 11, 2020 (Official Release).
- Developer: Hopoo Games.
"Risk of Rain 2" transitions the series from 2D to a thrilling 3D environment, where players fight to survive hordes of monsters in ever-changing locations.
As a sequel, it retains the original's roguelike elements, challenging players to progress through increasingly difficult levels while adapting their strategy with random power-ups.
Similarities to Borderlands 2
Both "Risk of Rain 2" and "Borderlands 2" excel in creating a compelling loop of shooting, looting, and character progression.
They share a focus on cooperative gameplay, allowing friends to join together in battling through their respective game worlds.
The thrill of amassing new items is a key driver of the gameplay experience in both titles.
Differences to Borderlands 2
"Risk of Rain 2" stands out with its roguelike structure, providing a different experience with each playthrough due to randomized elements and permadeath.
Its almost cartoon-y aesthetic contrasts with "Borderlands 2's” unique cel-shaded graphics.
Additionally, "Risk of Rain 2" focuses more on player skill and adaptation over narrative depth.
Reasons to Try Risk of Rain 2:
Ever-changing Gameplay
The roguelike nature ensures every run offers new challenges and rewards, making each playthrough unique.
Co-op Fun
It's designed with multiplayer in mind, scaling difficulty based on the number of players, making for exciting cooperative play sessions.
Diverse Character Roster
A variety of playable characters, each with unique abilities, allows for diverse strategies and playstyles.
Rich Progression System
Unlocking new items, characters, and abilities provides a satisfying sense of progression and encourages experimentation.
Gunfire Reborn
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
- Release Date: May 22, 2020 (Early Access), November 17, 2021 (Official Release).
- Developer: Duoyi Network & Duoyi (Hong Kong) Interactive Entertainment Limited.
"Gunfire Reborn" combines first-person shooter gameplay with roguelite elements, casting players as anthropomorphic characters who battle through randomly generated levels.
Similarities to Borderlands 2
"Gunfire Reborn" shares the loot-driven shooter mechanics found in "Borderlands 2," with an emphasis on collecting weapons and items to enhance player abilities.
Both games feature a wide array of unique guns and encourage cooperative play, allowing friends to team up and tackle challenges together.
Differences to Borderlands 2
While "Borderlands 2" offers a vast, story-driven open world, "Gunfire Reborn" focuses on session-based levels with a roguelite structure, meaning gameplay is more about short, intense runs with varying difficulty.
"Gunfire Reborn" also introduces distinct character classes that players can choose and develop differently in each run, diverging from the more static character development in "Borderlands 2."
Reasons to Try Gunfire Reborn:
Unique Blend of Genres
It masterfully combines FPS action with roguelite mechanics, offering a fresh take on both genres.
Dynamic Co-op Experience
Playing with friends not only makes the game more enjoyable but also introduces new strategies and challenges.
Deep Progression System
Despite the roguelite nature, players can unlock permanent upgrades, making each run feel progressive.
Diverse Character Choices
Multiple characters with unique abilities allow for varied playstyles and replayability.
Warframe
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
- Release Date: March 25, 2013.
- Developer: Digital Extremes.
In "Warframe," players assume the roles of the Tenno, warriors of blade and gun, who operate within Warframes while battling to regain control of their solar system.
Similarities to Borderlands 2
Both "Warframe" and "Borderlands 2" thrive on their loot-driven mechanics, encouraging players to continually upgrade their arsenal.
They feature a variety of missions and environments, fostering a sense of exploration and discovery, with a strong emphasis on co-op play and character customization.
Differences to Borderlands 2
"Warframe" sets itself apart with its free-to-play model, offering a more fluid, parkour-inspired movement system and a complex crafting component.
The game's universe is expansive, with a modular mission structure differing from the open-world format of "Borderlands 2".
The narrative and aesthetic are deeply rooted in sci-fi, presenting a significantly different storyline and universe.
Reasons to Try Warframe:
Extensive Customization
Players can access a wide array of Warframes and weapons, allowing for personalized combat styles and strategic play.
Engaging Movement System
Its unique parkour mechanics enable dynamic navigation through its detailed environments, adding a thrilling dimension to combat.
Continuously Updated Content
Regular free expansions introduce fresh missions, stories, and worlds, ensuring the game remains engaging for both new and veteran players (I, for example, have sank just under 2100 hours into Warframe).
Fair Free-to-Play Model
Despite being free-to-play, Warframe's premium currency system is remarkably fair, allowing players to obtain the best items through gameplay without spending real money.
This aspect makes it one of the most player-friendly monetization models in the gaming industry.
Diablo Franchise
- Platforms: Varies by installment; includes PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch among others.
- Release Date: The original "Diablo" was released on December 31, 1996, with subsequent titles and expansions released over the years. The latest installment, “Diablo IV” released on June 5, 2023.
- Developer: Blizzard Entertainment.
The "Diablo" series is known for its deep lore, revolving around the Eternal Conflict between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells, with humanity caught in the middle.
Similarities to Borderlands 2
The "Diablo" franchise shares with "Borderlands 2" a fundamental focus on loot, with players constantly seeking better equipment to enhance their characters.
Both games are known for their engaging co-op gameplay, providing a satisfying sense of progression as players delve deeper into dungeons or explore the game world.
Differences to Borderlands 2
"Diablo" games are played from an isometric perspective, emphasizing hack-and-slash action and dungeon crawling, in contrast to the first-person shooter mechanics of "Borderlands 2."
The setting and tone are also markedly different, with "Diablo" embracing a dark, gothic fantasy theme.
The progression system in "Diablo" is more about skill trees and character builds, focusing heavily on the RPG elements.
Reasons to Try the Diablo Franchise:
Engrossing Narrative
The series offers a rich, dark fantasy storyline filled with lore and intrigue.
Deep Character Customization
A variety of classes and extensive skill trees allow for numerous playstyles and strategies.
Endless Replayability
Randomly generated dungeons, loot, and enemies make each playthrough unique.
Community and Multiplayer
Strong multiplayer support for cooperative dungeon crawling and competitive play enhances the social aspect.
Rage 2
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
- Release Date: May 14, 2019.
- Developer: Avalanche Studios in conjunction with id Software.
"Rage 2" throws players into a vast, open world post-apocalyptic wasteland, where anarchic madness reigns supreme.
Following the events of the first "Rage" game, players assume the role of Walker, the last Ranger of the wasteland, fighting against oppressive factions and the tyrannical Authority to bring freedom to the chaos-stricken world.
Similarities to Borderlands 2
"Rage 2" and "Borderlands 2" share a penchant for over-the-top action, a vast array of weaponry, and a post-apocalyptic setting filled with eccentric characters and factions.
Both games encourage exploration and feature vehicular combat, alongside a focus on an expansive open world filled with quests and secrets.
Differences to Borderlands 2
While both games are set in a post-apocalyptic world, "Rage 2" offers a more realistic graphics style compared to the cel-shaded aesthetic of "Borderlands 2."
"Rage 2" emphasizes a faster, more aggressive combat style, heavily influenced by id Software's expertise in first-person shooters.
Additionally, "Rage 2" has a more straightforward narrative and lacks the cooperative gameplay element that is central to "Borderlands 2."
Reasons to Try Rage 2:
Explosive Combat
"Rage 2" delivers a high-octane, fast-paced shooting experience, with a focus on creative combat and a wide arsenal of weapons.
Vibrant Open World
The game's world is vast, colorful, and filled with activities, making exploration rewarding and engaging.
Unique Abilities
Players can unlock powerful Nanotrite abilities that add a new dimension to combat, allowing for creative and destructive approaches to encounters.
Vehicle Combat
An array of customizable vehicles makes traversing the wasteland fun and combat engaging, offering battles on an epic scale.
Conclusion
Exploring games similar to "Borderlands 2" unveils the depth and creativity within the video game industry, showcasing titles that echo the loot-driven, co-op gameplay and immersive worlds we've come to adore.
From the futuristic battles in "Destiny 2" and "Warframe" to the apocalyptic landscapes of "Rage 2," each game we've delved into offers a unique adventure, proving that the essence of "Borderlands 2" can be found in many forms across the gaming universe.
While these games capture the thrill of combat, exploration, and camaraderie, the adventure doesn't stop here.
For those who find their hearts yearning for more expansive worlds to explore and stories to unravel, the realm of open-world RPGs offers untold wonders.