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Borderlands 2 vs Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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Borderlands 2
Borderlands 2Loot, shoot, and laugh through a chaotic sci‑fi adventure.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Borderlands: The Pre-SequelLow‑gravity looting adventure on Pandora's moon with Handsome Jack.
Overview
Description

Borderlands 2 drops players into the lawless world of Pandora, where they hunt for treasure, battle ruthless bandits, and uncover the secrets of the alien vaults. With its signature cel‑shaded art style and dark humor, the game blends fast‑paced shooting with deep RPG progression. Team up with friends in co‑op mode or go solo to experience a sprawling open world filled with procedurally generated loot, diverse skill trees, and endless side quests. The game’s replayability is driven by its massive arsenal of weapons and the ever‑changing challenges that keep each playthrough fresh.

Shoot 'n' loot your way across the lunar landscape of Elpis, discovering the rise of Handsome Jack between the original Borderlands and Borderlands 2. Experience new ice and laser weapons, vehicles equipped with deadly armaments, and a story that ties together the saga of the Vault Hunters. Play solo or team up with friends in co‑operative mode, exploring open‑world zones, battling the Lost Legion, and building a robot army. The game blends fast‑paced shooter action with RPG progression, all wrapped in a comedic sci‑fi setting.

Pricing
Paid (One-time)
Paid (One-time)
Category
First-Person Shooters
Action RPG
Best for
Fans of looter‑shooters and cooperative action games
Looter‑shooter fans
Specifications
General
msrp
$39.99−33%
$59.99
release date
2012-09-18
2014-10-14
Specifications
developer
Gearbox Software
2K Australia, Gearbox Software
publisher
2K Games, Sony Computer Entertainment of America, Aspyr Media
Aspyr Media, Take-Two Interactive, 2K Games
age rating
ESRB M, PEGI 18
PEGI 18, ESRB M
multiplayer
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Split screen
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
critic score
81/100+8%
75/100
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Massive variety of weapons keeps combat fresh.
  • Deep character customization with three skill trees per class.
  • Highly replayable co‑op experience.
  • Sharp humor and distinctive art style.
  • Innovative low‑gravity movement adds fresh gameplay dynamics.
  • Robust co‑op experience with up to four players.
  • Massive variety of weapons and loot.
  • Humorous writing and memorable characters.
Cons
  • Performance can suffer on older consoles.
  • Random loot system may feel grind‑heavy for some players.
  • Story pacing can be uneven with frequent side‑quest interruptions.
  • Performance issues on older consoles.
  • Some missions feel repetitive after extended play.
  • Limited end‑game content compared to later titles.
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
Not enough data
Not enough data

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Alternatives to Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

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Borderlands 2
Borderlands 2

Loot, shoot, and laugh through a chaotic sci‑fi adventure.

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Borderlands
Borderlands

A chaotic loot‑filled shooter where every gun is unique

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Borderlands 2 offers better overall value with a higher critic score, lower price, and richer content, while Borderlands : The Pre‑Sequel adds low‑gravity mechanics but costs more and has less end‑game.

Key differences

  • •Price: Pre‑Sequel $59.99 vs. Borderlands 2 $39.99.
  • •Critic score: 75/100 for Pre‑Sequel, 81/100 for Borderlands 2.
  • •Unique gameplay: Pre‑Sequel features low‑gravity movement and lunar vehicles; Borderlands 2 lacks these.
  • •End‑game content: Borderlands 2 provides more post‑story content; Pre‑Sequel noted limited end‑game.
  • •Multiplayer options: Both support co‑op, but Borderlands 2 adds split‑screen.
DimensionWinner

Pricing & value

Borderlands 2 costs $20 less and has higher critic score, delivering more bang for the buck.

Borderlands 2

Gameplay & fun factor

Pre‑Sequel’s low‑gravity movement and vehicle combat add fresh mechanics not present in Borderlands 2.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

Multiplayer / co‑op

Both support four‑player co‑op, but Borderlands 2 also offers split‑screen, expanding local play options.

Borderlands 2

Content & replayability

Borderlands 2 boasts more end‑game content and higher critic score, indicating stronger long‑term replay value.

Borderlands 2

Graphics & performance

Both report performance issues on older consoles; no specific graphics advantage is listed.

Tie

Choose Borderlands 2 if…

Buyers seeking the best price‑to‑content ratio, higher reviews, and broader multiplayer options.

Choose Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel if…

Players craving novel low‑gravity movement and vehicle combat, willing to pay premium.

Common questions

Which game is cheaper?

Borderlands 2 costs $39.99; Borderlands : The Pre‑Sequel costs $59.99.

Does either game support split‑screen?

Only Borderlands 2 lists split‑screen co‑op; the Pre‑Sequel does not.

Which title has a higher critic rating?

Borderlands 2 has a critic score of 81/100, compared to 75/100 for the Pre‑Sequel.