Borderlands 2 similar games & best alternatives

Borderlands 2

PlayStation 3, Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360 • 2012

Should you play it?

The Ultimate Vault Hunter’s Upgrade lets you get the most out of the Borderlands 2 experience.

What works
  • High replayability and extensive dlc content
  • Strong co-op multiplayer experience
  • Varied character classes and skill customization
  • Engaging humor and memorable characters
  • Large variety of weapons and loot
Things to keep in mind
  • Some balance issues at higher difficulties
  • Grind-heavy gameplay especially for endgame
  • Bugs and glitches reported
  • Steep difficulty spikes for new players
  • Limited character expression beyond skins

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • STAR WARS™ Battlefront II (Classic, 2005)

  • Heretic + Hexen

  • Full Mojo Rampage

  • Dead Effect 2 VR

  • Shatterline

  • Borderlands Game of the Year Enhanced

  • Monster Hunter: World

  • REMNANT II®

  • PAYDAY 2
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Shatterline

  • Black Ice

  • PERISH
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Continuation

    Total War: WARHAMMER II
  • Cooperation

    Karnage Chronicles
  • Escapism

    Epic Chef

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

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

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

Borderlands 2: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Status, Competition, Violence.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have freedom to choose equipment, strategies, and play solo or co-op with adjustable difficulty, allowing control over their actions."

    Capsule for Embr Embr

    "Players have freedom to choose characters, skill builds, weapons, and play solo or co-op, with multiple difficulty modes and replayability."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Game offers skill-based challenges, especially in boss fights and score attack modes, rewarding mastery and precision."

    Capsule for Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX

    "Game offers skill challenges with boss fights, character builds, and requires tactical play especially at higher difficulties."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    1

    "Some competitive elements in score and stars, but mostly cooperative or solo play without heavy player comparison."

    Capsule for Foul Play Foul Play

    "Mostly cooperative and solo play focused, with some player comparison via leaderboards and challenges but not strongly competitive."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    5

    "Extremely high replayability with thousands of hours played by users, habitual return to the game, and ongoing DLC/mod support."

    Capsule for Total War: WARHAMMER II Total War: WARHAMMER II

    "Highly replayable with long playtime, DLCs, grinding, and habitual play reported by many users."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on multiplayer co-op gameplay with teamwork, shared loot, and coordinated strategies."

    Capsule for Karnage Chronicles Karnage Chronicles

    "Strong emphasis on co-op play with up to 4 players, cooperative strategies, and better loot in multiplayer."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players customize characters with different weapons, skills, and builds, though within predefined systems."

    Capsule for Foregone Foregone

    "Players customize characters, skill trees, and weapon loadouts extensively, though within predefined systems."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay encourages shared cooperation and mutual support rather than dominance over others."

    Capsule for METAL SLUG 3 METAL SLUG 3

    "Gameplay encourages shared cooperation and mutual respect rather than dominance or power over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    5

    "Players use the game as a distraction and stress relief, enjoying its humor and immersive world."

    Capsule for Epic Chef Epic Chef

    "Players use the game for stress relief, immersion in a humorous and imaginative world, and long distraction."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, not obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for 7 Days to Die 7 Days to Die

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, not obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Encourages trying new weapons, builds, and experimenting with level creation and gameplay styles."

    Capsule for King of Meat King of Meat

    "Encourages trying different character builds, weapons, strategies, and exploring new DLC content."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Large maps with hidden areas, objectives, and easter eggs encourage discovery and curiosity."

    Capsule for Sker Ritual Sker Ritual

    "Large maps with secrets, side quests, and easter eggs encourage discovery and curiosity."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Customization of character and vehicle skins allows for some self-expression."

    Capsule for TY the Tasmanian Tiger 2 TY the Tasmanian Tiger 2

    "Players can customize character skins, heads, and vehicle appearances for self-expression."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Strongly imaginative sci-fi setting with humorous parodies and fictional scenarios."

    Capsule for Space Quest™ Collection Space Quest™ Collection

    "Set in a fictional sci-fi world with exaggerated characters, humor, and imaginative scenarios."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    4

    "Strong community and social play through co-op and shared experiences."

    Capsule for METAL SLUG 3 METAL SLUG 3

    "Strong community and social interaction through co-op play and shared experiences."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    5

    "Players develop skills, knowledge of mechanics, and character progression through grinding and strategy."

    Capsule for FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles

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

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for Tabletop Simulator Tabletop Simulator

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires sustained attention and focus during combat and exploration."

    Capsule for Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition

    "Requires sustained attention and focus during combat and exploration."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    2

    "Co-op play fosters social interaction and teamwork, though emotional closeness is limited to casual gaming bonds."

    Capsule for MARVEL Cosmic Invasion MARVEL Cosmic Invasion

    "Some social bonding and friendships form through co-op, but limited to gaming interactions."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    1

    "Some players lead groups in co-op but mostly shared decision-making and collaboration."

    Capsule for Sunkenland Sunkenland

    "Some players lead groups in co-op but overall balanced and shared decision-making is common."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on acquiring better gear, leveling up, and unlocking new abilities."

    Capsule for It Lurks Below It Lurks Below

    "Strong emphasis on leveling up, acquiring better gear, and unlocking skills."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Players experience flow and catharsis through balanced challenge and satisfying gameplay."

    Capsule for Hades II Hades II

    "Players experience flow and catharsis through balanced challenge and engaging gameplay."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable visuals, sound design, and satisfying combat effects provide sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Breachway Breachway

    "Enjoyable visual style, sound design, and exciting combat provide sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    1

    "Some recognition through achievements and community status, but not a primary motivator."

    Capsule for Rabbit and Steel Rabbit and Steel

    "Some recognition through achievements and community status but not a primary motivator."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Engaging narrative with memorable characters, though story is not deeply complex."

    Capsule for Saints Row®: The Third™ Remastered Saints Row®: The Third™ Remastered

    "Engaging narrative with memorable characters and humor, though story is not the sole focus."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Requires planning character builds, managing resources, and tactical combat decisions."

    Capsule for System Shock® 2 (1999) System Shock® 2 (1999)

    "Requires planning character builds, tactics for boss fights, and resource management."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Players enjoy suspense and excitement from challenging battles, boss fights, and competitive multiplayer."

    Capsule for Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection

    "Players enjoy suspense and excitement from challenging encounters and boss fights."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "High perceived value due to extensive content, replayability, and low price."

    Capsule for Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

    "High perceived value due to extensive content, replayability, and frequent sales."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Enjoyment of combat, shooting, and destruction is central to gameplay."

    Capsule for Stick Fight: The Game Stick Fight: The Game

    "Enjoyment of combat, destruction, and shooting enemies is central to gameplay."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players manage health and resources to survive challenging enemies and bosses."

    Capsule for BloodRayne 2: Terminal Cut BloodRayne 2: Terminal Cut

    "Players manage health, shields, and resources to survive challenging enemies and bosses."

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Last update: 01/06/2026