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Borderlands 3 similar games & best alternatives

Borderlands 3

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 • 2020

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Quick resume

The original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and a mayhem-fueled adventure! Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four new Vault Hunters.

Global score

81/100

Genres

Action, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Shooter

Similar games

    Pros

    • Excellent gunplay and weapon variety
    • Extensive character customization and skill builds
    • Large, diverse maps and planets to explore
    • Strong cooperative multiplayer features
    • High replayability with dlc and endgame modes

    Cons

    • Weak and poorly written story
    • Some frustrating boss mechanics with immunity phases
    • Ui and menu navigation can be clunky
    • Performance and optimization issues reported
    • Dlc pricing and season pass monetization criticized

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players have freedom to choose characters, gear, and build synergies; multiple skill trees and loot customization allow personal control over playstyle."

      Capsule for R.I.P. - Reincarnation Insurance Program R.I.P. - Reincarnation Insurance Program

      "Players have freedom to choose characters, skills, weapons, and playstyle with multiple skill trees and build customization."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      3

      "Gameplay involves skillful shooting, dodging, and boss fights with responsive controls and some challenge."

      Capsule for The Expendabros The Expendabros

      "Gameplay involves skillful shooting, movement, and build optimization; boss fights require tactics despite some immunity phases."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      1

      "Some competitive elements exist in rankings and multiplayer co-op, but focus is mostly on personal progression and cooperative play rather than direct competition."

      Capsule for Granblue Fantasy: Relink Granblue Fantasy: Relink

      "Co-op play is emphasized with some competitive elements, but mostly cooperative PvE; no strong focus on ranked competition."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      4

      "High replayability with multiple difficulties, unlockables, DLCs, and additional modes encourage long-term engagement and repeated playthroughs."

      Capsule for Resident Evil 5 Resident Evil 5

      "High replayability with multiple characters, DLCs, and endgame modes like Mayhem encourage long-term engagement."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      4

      "Strong multiplayer features including visiting and helping other farms, cooperative farming, and shared events."

      Capsule for Farm Together Farm Together

      "Strong cooperative multiplayer features with loot instancing and level scaling to support playing with friends."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      4

      "Extensive character customization, weapon upgrades, and creative movement options encourage player creativity."

      Capsule for Sunset Overdrive Sunset Overdrive

      "Extensive weapon variety, customization options for characters and vehicles, and multiple skill builds foster creativity."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -2

      "Gameplay emphasizes shared team play and cooperative mechanics rather than exerting superiority or dominance over others."

      Capsule for WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate Definitive Edition WARRIORS OROCHI 3 Ultimate Definitive Edition

      "Gameplay focuses on shared objectives and cooperation rather than exerting dominance or power over others."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Players use the game to escape reality through humor, narrative immersion, and imaginative scenarios."

      Capsule for Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse

      "Players use the game to escape reality through immersive gunplay, exploration, and humorous storytelling."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -3

      "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and interest in story rather than obligation."

      Capsule for The Miskatonic The Miskatonic

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and exploration rather than obligation; some frustration with story but mostly intrinsic motivation."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      4

      "Players encouraged to experiment with weapon builds, playstyles, and skill tree respecs."

      Capsule for Grimlord Grimlord

      "Players encouraged to experiment with different weapons, skill trees, and builds to find preferred playstyle."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      3

      "Large maps with multiple planets and moons encourage discovery and strategic exploration."

      Capsule for Battlezone 98 Redux Battlezone 98 Redux

      "Multiple planets and large maps with hidden areas and collectibles encourage discovery and exploration."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      4

      "Extensive character customization and cosmetic skins allow for personal expression."

      Capsule for CRSED: Cuisine Royale CRSED: Cuisine Royale

      "Wide range of character skins, weapon skins, vehicle customization, and emotes allow personal expression."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      4

      "Futuristic sci-fi setting with imaginative weapons, abilities, and story elements."

      Capsule for VOID/BREAKER VOID/BREAKER

      "Fictional sci-fi setting with imaginative characters, abilities, and over-the-top weaponry."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      3

      "Community and shared experiences with friends are important, with multiplayer and social play emphasized."

      Capsule for Simple Fish Adventure Simple Fish Adventure

      "Community and social play are important, with multiplayer and shared experiences enhancing social connection."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      4

      "Players develop skills, knowledge of builds, and character power through leveling and gear upgrades."

      Capsule for Dark Bestiary Dark Bestiary

      "Players develop skills, knowledge of builds, and character progression through leveling and gear acquisition."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -5

      "Primarily a sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity or health-related features."

      Capsule for Ryse: Son of Rome Ryse: Son of Rome

      "Primarily a sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

      "Requires active attention and continuous engagement during combat and exploration."

      Capsule for Castle Crashers® Castle Crashers®

      "Requires active attention and continuous engagement during combat and exploration."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -4

      "Social interactions are surface-level cooperative play without deep emotional or intimate connections."

      Capsule for Grocery Store Simulator Grocery Store Simulator

      "Social interactions are mostly surface-level cooperative play rather than deep emotional connections."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -2

      "Players mostly participate equally in cooperative play; no strong leadership roles emphasized."

      Capsule for Dead Island: Riptide Definitive Edition Dead Island: Riptide Definitive Edition

      "Players mostly participate equally in cooperative play; no strong leadership or management roles emphasized."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      5

      "Strong emphasis on leveling, loot acquisition, crafting, and skill upgrades."

      Capsule for Legendary Tales Legendary Tales

      "Strong emphasis on leveling, loot acquisition, gear upgrades, and build development."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      2

      "Gameplay provides flow and fun moments, though some tension arises from competitive matches and bugs."

      Capsule for REMATCH REMATCH

      "Gameplay provides flow and fun, though some frustration with story and bugs can cause tension."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      4

      "Vibrant visuals, fast action, and satisfying gunplay provide strong sensory stimulation."

      Capsule for Roboquest VR Roboquest VR

      "Vibrant visuals, satisfying gun sounds, and dynamic combat provide strong sensory stimulation."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      1

      "Some social recognition through multiplayer and achievements, but not a primary focus."

      Capsule for KILL IT WITH FIRE! 2 KILL IT WITH FIRE! 2

      "Some social recognition through multiplayer and achievements, but not a major focus."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      -3

      "Minimal and poorly developed story; mostly flavor text with little narrative immersion."

      Capsule for CATGIRL LOVER CATGIRL LOVER

      "Story is widely criticized as weak and poorly written, with minimal narrative immersion."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      3

      "Players engage in tactical combat, build planning, and decision-making affecting outcomes."

      Capsule for Cyberpunk 2077 Cyberpunk 2077

      "Players engage in tactical combat decisions, build planning, and boss fight strategies."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      3

      "Combat and loot drops provide moments of suspense and excitement, balanced with humor."

      Capsule for Borderlands Game of the Year Enhanced Borderlands Game of the Year Enhanced

      "Combat and loot drops provide excitement and adrenaline, though some boss immunity phases reduce thrill."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      3

      "Offers substantial content, customization, and replayability, especially on sale; some complaints about DLC pricing."

      Capsule for SENRAN KAGURA Burst Re:Newal SENRAN KAGURA Burst Re:Newal

      "Offers extensive content and replayability, especially on sale; some frustration with DLC pricing."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around combat, shooting, and destruction of enemies."

      Capsule for Deadzone: Rogue Deadzone: Rogue

      "Core gameplay revolves around combat, shooting, and destruction."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      2

      "Players manage health, shields, and resources to survive combat encounters."

      Capsule for Immortals of Aveum™ Immortals of Aveum™

      "Players manage health, shields, and resources to survive combat encounters, though difficulty varies."

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Fellowship, Domination, Status. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Leadership, Story.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 30/04/2026