41 Games like Borderlands that you should try

If Borderlands worked for you because of open world exploration, melee combat and a sci-fi setting, the same is here. To that it adds loot and gear systems, and co-op play. They part company on combat and setting: this one brings a sandbox world and ranged combat.

The resemblance to Borderlands is about as close as this list gets: they line up on genre, combat and tone. The common ground extends to loot and gear systems, and a sci-fi setting. Where the two diverge is visuals: a third-person camera.

It shares the essentials of what Borderlands does: open world exploration, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to loot and gear systems, and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: strong narrative focus and a space setting.

Shelved next to Borderlands for good reason: loot and gear systems, melee combat, and multiplayer gameplay. The common ground extends to a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: magic-based combat and fantasy world.

Same family as Borderlands: dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat. The common ground extends to loot and gear systems, and multiplayer gameplay. Where the two diverge is combat and setting: procedural generation and ranged combat.

It comes from the same genre as Borderlands and shares dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat. The common ground extends to loot and gear systems, and co-op play. Where the two diverge is combat and tone: strong narrative focus and ranged combat.

It shares the essentials of what Borderlands does: open world exploration, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in tone and visuals — its own ground is strong narrative focus and tactical combat.

On paper it is what Borderlands is — open world exploration, melee combat and post-apocalyptic world — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is tone and visuals: strong narrative focus and a sandbox world.

Genre puts it alongside Borderlands, and so does open world exploration, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and online features. They part company on tone and combat: this one brings strong narrative focus and ranged combat.

The genre is the same as Borderlands’s, and with it open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to loot and gear systems. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: punishing difficulty and procedural generation.

It shares the essentials of what Borderlands does: deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and open world exploration. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and co-op play. The distance is in visuals and setting — its own ground is a cyberpunk setting and a top-down view.

Its point of contact with Borderlands is deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat. To that it adds post-apocalyptic world and co-op play. They part company on setting and genre: this one brings survival mechanics and fantasy world.

It shares the essentials of what Borderlands does: deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and open world exploration. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is progression and genre: horror tension and crafting mechanics.

The thread back to Borderlands runs through deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: fantasy world and an isometric view.

With Borderlands it shares deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat. Both also lean on online features and skill tree progression. The distance is in progression and genre — its own ground is survival mechanics and strong narrative focus.