Borderlands Mobile may have come out of nowhere, but it doesn't take long for it to gain attention from the franchise's passionate fan base. While the game features plenty of typical mobile mechanics, such as a mix of voiced and voiceless dialogue, a background resource collects via Tales from the borderland' and Borderlands 3's Vaughnand so on, it also feels like a proper one Borderlands drop. The art style is present, shooting and looting feels satisfying, and Pandora's psychotic enemies roam on and on in silly battle chatter. And, quite shockingly, it feels like Borderlands Mobile is already more content complete on day one than Borderlands 4 is after several months.
Borderlands 4 Shift Code brings you a new exclusive C4SH skin
Borderlands 4 players can unlock an exclusive new skin for DLC Vault Hunter C4SH via a newly revealed Shift Code.
Borderlands Mobile is packed with content
Obviously with Borderlands Mobile since the Shadow is released, there are still questions about whether the “coming soon” descriptions for various Vault Hunter types and purchasable cosmetics are being used for unlockable content or to lock in future additions that aren't actually in the game yet. Still, even with the base type Summoner Vault Hunter and the existing content, it feels like Borderlands Mobile has the variation that BL4 the fans have been hungry. The following modes are all in Borderlands Mobile:
While small campaign missions are a great way to introduce mobile players to all the mechanics of this Borderlands spin-off — getting used to the default automation can take some time — it's all the other content that should keep them coming back time and time again. It appears that modes like Circles of Slaughter will rotate out every few days, giving players a reason to check in again. A battle pass will also be available, which fans of cosmetics and Borderlands' Vault Cards will surely appreciate moving on.
Balance the critics' averages
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Balance the critics' averages
Easy (6)Medium (8)Hard (10)
Perhaps most shockingly, according to @EpicNNG, Borderlands Mobile have started with a raid boss. This wouldn't have seemed like a big deal in the world Borderlands 2 era, but given recent release patterns, that's pretty remarkable. Borderlands 3 didn't get his first raid boss until Wotan was added via the Maliwan Blacksite Takedown on November 21, 2019. Borderlands 4 got its first (and currently only) raid boss via Bloomreaper in the December 11th update. Because the recently released DLC fails to add one, but many feel for Borderlands 4 lacks the depth of other entries, a problem Borderlands Mobile doesn't seem to have since it added a raid boss much faster than the last ones Borderlands lets go.
Borderlands Mobile even includes item upgrades and weapon scrapping for materials like in Bungie's Destiny 2which ensures that this mobile game has an impressive level of depth.
Borderlands Mobile may have a brighter future ahead of it than BL4 has
With Borderlands 4s Mad Ellie DLC is on the shorter side and marks the midpoint of the Borderlands 4s Season Pass content, the future of the game is quite worrying. It's certainly possible that Gearbox hears the complaints about Mad Ellie and The Vault of the Damned being too short, ensuring that expansion two is full of things to do. Similarly, Horrors of Kairos could have been a learning experience that leads to better seasonal events, and Takedowns will hopefully be a big win. Still, based on everything that's been released post-launch so far, there's reason to be worried about what's next.
Borderlands Mobileon the other hand, seems to focus on what the players desire most. One day a raid boss suggests there will be plenty more to come, while challenging, fast and easy replayable content like the wave-based Circles of Slaughter (and whatever Tower of Terror turns out to be) can keep players grinding for loot. Mainline Borderlands has always struggled with live-service elements, as it's often caught between rock and hard and only half-commits, leaving few players fully satisfied instead of embracing a style. Borderlands Mobile seemingly knows what it needs to do to win over anyone disappointed with the main game's direction, and being so content-wise complete could help this unexpected game thrive for the foreseeable future.
