Borderlands 3: How Long Is It, Review, Guides, Endgame, And More

The fourth mainline entry in the Borderlands series (and the fifth game overall), Borderlands 3 is officially out. You can now loot and shoot your way through a mayhem-filled universe on PS4, Xbox One, and PC (the latter is currently only available through the Epic Games Store from a limited-time exclusivity deal, though).

Wondering who the new Vault Hunters are, or curious about which one would best fit your ideal playstyle? Trying to figure out just how long the campaign is or what you're able to do once the story has run its course? You'll find all of that below, along with our Borderlands 3 review and additional coverage. Be sure to check back here regularly, as we'll continue to expand this hub with additional guides.

Borderlands 3 Review

Our Borderlands 3 review is now online, in which Jordan Ramée writes, "Borderlands 3 has a few stumbling blocks when it comes to bosses, but these fights are overshadowed by the game's rewarding gunplay and over-the-top humor. The game's character-driven narrative acts as a satisfying finale for the loot-shooter franchise, and the new mechanics and features--especially the reworked skill trees and weapon manufacturer effects--give you plenty of agency in how you want to play through it."

For even more takes, check out our Borderlands 3 review roundup.

Tips To Know When Starting Out

Whether Borderlands 3 is your first game in the series or you're a long-time fan, you may find yourself struggling with a few different mechanics and features in the beginning of the game. For the most part, Borderlands 3 is a fairly straightforward game. However, there is a lot of extra content that the game never explains and combat strategies that are difficult to initially discern unless you know what to look for. To help out, we've compiled a list of Borderlands 3 beginner's tips.

Which Skill Trees Should You Focus On?

Each of the four Vault Hunters has three unique skill trees, allowing you to create your own unique character. Some trees are much better than others and certain ones fluctuate in effectiveness depending on where you are in the campaign. To help you, we've constructed detailed build guides for each character.

• Amara
• Moze
• Zane
• FL4K

How Long Is It?

We've played through the game and estimate it takes just over 30 hours to beat Borderlands 3's story. Your time will vary, of course, based on whether you engage in side quests, and there is some endgame content, but that should give you some sense of how long it will take to see the story through.

What's The Endgame Content Like?

Especially in comparison to previous games in the series, Borderlands 3 has a lot of endgame content. If you're looking for more legendary loot, then Mayhem Mode and True Vault Hunter Mode present ways to do so. You can also strengthen your character with Guardian Ranks, which should help you and your friends better compete in the horde mode Circle of Slaughter and time-focused Proving Grounds.

Who Are Borderlands 3's Playable Vault Hunters?

While Borderlands 3's story brings back many familiar faces, you'll be playing as four brand-new Vault Hunters in the campaign. You can get a full rundown in our overview guide to Borderlands 3 characters, which include Amara, Zane, Moze, and FL4K. We also have a guide on which character is best for you.

What Are The Guns Like?

One of the Borderlands franchise's most notable trademarks is its array of wild and ridiculous weapons, and that still holds true in Borderlands 3. In our adventures so far, we've come across some ridiculous pistols, submachine guns, sniper and assault rifles, shotguns, and rocket and grenade launchers. The legendary ones are pretty powerful too.

What Are The PC System Requirements?

If you're planning on picking up the PC version of Borderlands 3, the specs are fairly reasonable. On the low end, Gearbox only calls for an AMD FX-8350 or Intel i5-3570, along with an AMD Radeon HD 7970 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 680. More significantly, the game will require 75 GB of storage space to go along with that hardware.

On the high end, the recommended specs require an AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel i7-4770, with an AMD Radeon RX 590 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, and 16GB of RAM.

What Are The Different Versions Of Borderlands 3?

There are four versions of Borderlands 3 to choose from. The standard edition just includes the game. You can purchase it at the links below:

PS4

• Amazon -- $60
• GameStop -- $60
• Best Buy -- $60
• PlayStation Store -- $60
• Game (UK) -- £55

Xbox One

• Amazon -- $60
• GameStop -- $60
• Best Buy -- $60
• Microsoft Store -- $60
• Game (UK) -- £55

PC

• Epic Games Store -- $60

The Deluxe Edition features more goodies than the vanilla standard version, coming with a Retro Cosmetic Pack, Neon Cosmetic Pack, Gearbox Cosmetic Pack, and Toy Box Weapon Pack. There are also XP and Loot Drop Boost Mods included.

PS4

• Amazon -- $80
• GameStop -- $80
• Best Buy -- $80
• PlayStation Store -- $80
• Game (UK) -- £75

Xbox One

• Amazon -- $80
• GameStop -- $80
• Best Buy -- $80
• Microsoft Store -- $80
• Game (UK) -- £75

PC

• Epic Games Store -- $80

The Super Deluxe Edition includes everything that's part of the Deluxe Edition, plus access to Borderlands 3's season pass and a steelbook case. It will be available initially for $100, but the price will increase to $120 on September 17. Be mindful of the different prices in the UK.

PS4

• Amazon -- $100
• GameStop -- $100
• Best Buy -- $100
• PlayStation Store -- $100
• Game (UK) -- £90

Xbox One

• Amazon -- $100
• GameStop -- $100
• Best Buy -- $100
• Microsoft Store -- $100
• Game (UK) -- £90

PC

• Epic Games Store -- $100

Finally, the Diamond Loot Chest Collector's Edition comes with everything included in the Super Deluxe Edition, along with a plethora of physical collectibles. There's a Diamond Loot Chest replica, a Sanctuary III snap model, 10 character figurines, five character art lithographs, four Vault Key keychains, and a cloth map of the galaxy.

PS4

• GameStop -- $250
• Game (UK) -- £250

Xbox One

• GameStop -- $250
• Game (UK) -- £250

More on this topic:

• Borderlands 3 Post Release Content Detailed, Includes Story Expansions And Free Events
• Borderlands 3 Is Getting Endgame Content Called Proving Grounds
• Replaying Borderlands 3's Campaign With Different Characters Can Reveal Unexpected Story Changes
• Borderlands 3 Adds Ice-T As The Voice Of An AI Trapped Inside A Teddy Bear

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