Abhimannu Das
Borderlands is a game that defines the looter shooter genre for many players across the world. Looter shooters are not meant for everyone, as you will find you have to run through similar missions and grind something over and over again to get a particular piece of gear. While it might put many players off, it is the very thing that draws in millions of fans for whom grinding is just second nature as there is always something new to look forward to when grinding content endlessly.
The game offers a ton of different bosses and side quests for you to explore that can eat up hundreds of hours before you know it. It is truly one of the best games of its generation, and it led to the birth of games like Destiny, The Division, Warframe and other looter shooter games that rule the genre today. While we wait for a possible Borderlands 3 announcement very soon, you can keep yourselves engaged with some other great games from the genre. So, here is the list of video games similar to Borderlands that are our recommendations. You can play these games like Borderlands on PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, iPhone, Android, mac or even online.
10. Diablo III (2012)
While Diablo III might not have been a perfect game at launch, it had a number of updates over the months that drastically improved things for players who want to grind loot endlessly. The game is still quite active, and you can go through a ton of content with your friends or solo. The difficulty scales are based on the number of people in a party, so you’ll never be at a disadvantage during your solo session. The game was recently ported over to the Nintendo Switch with LAN party support which makes things even more fun.
If you are not a fan of the looter genre, we still recommend checking the title out as the main campaign along with Reaper of Souls is worth playing. While it might not have the same impact Diablo II had, it’s still an amazing title everyone should check out. The endgame in Diablo III is where Blizzard did an amazing job, allowing players to get really great loot the higher up the Paragon levels people go.
9. Borderlands 2 (2009)
The cel-shaded graphics make Borderlands 2 hold up aesthetically even in 2019, and if you are looking for the ultimate looter shooter experience, this is the best we have right now. The game received a ridiculous number of DLC updates with content to keep things engaging for years. Borderlands isn’t just about the quantity but also about how great the content actually is. There are just so many guns that feel satisfying that you don’t want to get rid of. Between the pre-sequel and Borderlands 2, we’d definitely recommend the latter of the two. The enemy design is some of the best you will ever find in a looter game, and it is not only one of the best looter games of all time, but also one of the best games ever made. If you do not mind the constant grind and have friends to play with, this is a title that should not be missed.
8. Destiny 2 (2017)
The original Destiny saw millions of players hop on to the next big thing in gaming. If you are a looter shooter fan, you must be well aware of the original Destiny’s success. Destiny 2 went from being a PS4 exclusive to a multi-platform title with releases for the Xbox One and of course, PC. The game saw an underwhelming response at launch with complaints of not enough content flooding in and after some 30 odd hours of playing the game, I found myself at my wit’s end with nothing to do in a game I spent $60 on.
The Curse of Osiris expansion was just as disappointing, but everything changed when Forsaken was launched. The game is in a much better place, and we recommend getting the game with Forsaken and the Annual Pass bundle if you want to have a great experience. With Bungie splitting from Activision, fans are very optimistic about the game’s future and the franchise in general. Unlike many of the other titles on this list, you do not really get a lot of diversity when it comes to your characters, but the gunplay and game modes more than make up for it. It is one of the best modern looter shooters out there with its futuristic theme and amazing visuals that wrap the pitch-perfect gameplay mechanics.
7. Warframe (2013)
From what was set to be a failed project, developers Digital Extremes put all their chips into Warframe, and it paid off and how! The game that everyone put down in the industry suddenly became one of the top ten games on Steam consistently across the past few years with no signs of slowing down. The game has received an insane number of content updates since launch, and if you’ve played the title a few years back and did not like it, we recommend you try it again.
One of the best things about the game is that if you like a particular weapon, you can stick with it forever. Instead of repeatedly cycling weapons with better stats as you would in other looter games, you can simply use the game’s mod system to make your favorite weapons stronger. The gameplay is superb, and truth be told, it is one title that makes me not want to play other titles because of how good the movement in this game is. There are also dozens of warframes (characters) to choose from, with each of them offering something unique. If you want to be a space ninja that can zip through maps while obliterating enemies in seconds, there’s no better place to do it than in Warframe.
6. Shadow Warrior 2 (2016)
Devolver Digital is known for its quirky indie games, and the publisher is one of the best there is at the moment when it comes to supporting smaller studios. Shadow Warrior 2 is one of Devolver’s best, and it’s only unfortunate that it did not get the recognition it deserves. The action and gameplay are over-the-top, just like you would expect from any Devolver game. The gameplay is fluid and really fun. If you like games with complex mechanics that require you to get creative with building your gear properly, Shadow Warrior 2 is the perfect game. The gameplay is infinitely replayable, and if you’ve played the original title, you will get instantly fall in love with Shadow Warrior 2. It takes a while to get used to all of the mechanics, and it’s important to master your movement and deal efficiently with your enemies.
5. Monster Hunter World (2018)
The Monster Hunter World is the first proper Monster Hunter title to make it to multiple platforms. Fans of the franchise who have played the older games on Nintendo consoles will love this multiplatform release that made it to PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The game does have a few issues with its co-op mechanics which makes partying with friends slightly annoying as you have to watch cut scenes alone. But aside the minor inconveniences, it is a solid game, and if you put your time into it, you will be able to earn a lot of powerful loot. There’s limited number of weapon types, but a ton of gear to look forward to.
The game also has limited time events that allow you to earn armor sets from other games. CAPCOM promised at least one year of free DLC and knowing how previous Monster Hunter games went, we are in for a treat for much longer than what is promised. The game feels like a mish-mash of Jurassic Park and your standard looter shooter with some great mechanics and loot to be found. If you own a Nintendo 3DS or a Nintendo Switch, you can check out other games from the franchise as well if you do not want to miss out on the fun.
4. Sea of Thieves (2018)
Sea of Thieves might not have received the best of receptions at launch; the developers did work hard towards making the game a whole lot better. The title is really fun if you have a couple of friends along to hop on to the stormy seas and conquer everything you see. A lot of us have grown up watching movies like ‘Pirate of The Caribbean’, and if you want to feel like Captain Jack Sparrow, Sea of Thieves definitely offers you that experience. The game has a lot of fun mechanics, and it sets itself apart from any of the other looter games out there. In the end, it all boils down to who you are playing with, and if you plan on having a solo experience, then we’d definitely recommend against it. But if you and your gamer friends want to have a great time, then it’s time to set sails, my friend, for some really great co-op moments.
Read More: Games Like Skyrim
3. State of Decay 2 (2018)
The original State of Decay has a cult following, and everyone expected the sequel to be just as good. The new State of Decay 2 did get a lot of things right, and it’s been a great experience so far for players who have been playing the co-op content since launch. The game shifts its focus from the zombies to the players. The thrill of permanent death is what makes this game so unique and even if you do not have someone to play with, you can call upon a random teammate from matchmaking. The only thing that let fans down a little is the buggy AI which can be quite annoying for many. The combat makes up for it though, and if you want to play a great zombie title, State of Decay 2 is definitely one of 2018’s finest releases. Once you get a hold of all of the mechanics, you will have a much easier time, and if you are a fan of the looter shooter genre, the grinding will become second nature in no time.
2. Dying Light (2015)
Dying Light offers amazing combat mechanics for fans of horror games, and if you are looking for a solid co-op experience, it’s really hard to put this game down. Players have stuck with the title for years, and the best part about the game is its parkour mechanics. Sometimes running and gunning down gruesome zombies isn’t the right way. You can leapfrog your way to objectives and keep yourself safe from zombies very easily. The world of Harran is very well designed, and you can spend hundreds of hours exploring it.
The game has a day-night cycle as well which affects gameplay heavily. One of the biggest complaints of this generation’s games is the lack of meaningful side quests, but that’s far from being a concern for Dying Light fans as you will love exploring what the NPCs of Harran have to offer. With Dying Light 2 already in the making, and the developers supporting the original Dying Light for so many years, we can expect the upcoming sequel to be of similar quality.
Read More: Games Like Far Cry
1. RAGE 2 (2019)
When it comes to the gameplay and graphics, the original RAGE is every bit as good as Borderlands. However, the humor is what you will miss when you hop on to RAGE for the first time. But that seems to be changing from what we have seen in the trailers so far. While Bethesda’s reputation seems to be dwindling with the release of games like Fallout 76, we hope RAGE 2 is every bit as good as its predecessor. The game is a first-person shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world, and while you may not have as many weapons as Borderlands, you do get to kill off enemies in style using the environment, vehicles and more. The original RAGE also had a great single player storyline, and we can expect the same in the sequel which is set to launch next year. There’s a ton of fun online game modes that you can check out, and we strongly recommend trying the game out if you are a fan of the looter shooter genre.
Read More: Games Like Rust
