10 Most Rewarding Open-World Video Games

Okay, so Borderlands 3 is technically advanced and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is an outstanding but significantly different spinoff. Nevertheless, neither of them tops this first sequel as the most rewarding Borderlands experience.

While every follow-up to the original had worthwhile scoundrels on both sides of the morality scale, this one houses the greatest cast of characters.

The four playable people (Axton, Maya, Zer0, and Salvador) are enchantingly entertaining and adaptable, giving players plenty of incentives to explore each one’s class traits and personality. Obviously, Claptrap is enhanced in several areas, too, meaning he’s funnier and more useful this time around. Let’s not forget that Borderlands 2 introduced the lovably douchey Handsome Jack, either.

The in-game environments are also hugely captivating and individualized, with the desert landscape of the initial Borderlands juxtaposed by icy battlegrounds, industrialized hubs, radioactive caverns, and the like. Naturally, these additions spawned a larger swath of colors and textures, so it’s looks superb in general.

Lastly – and maybe most importantly – the weaponry was a big leap forward, with a wider array of guns and other kits handling better and lending themselves to increased customizable loadouts.

Ten years later, Borderlands 2 is still the apex of the series.