Parents' Guide to

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!

By Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Bloody shooter series treads water with average semi-sequel.

Game PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360 2014
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! Game: Screenshot #1
  • Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! Game: Screenshot #2
  • Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Carmen A
Carmen A Adult
May 15, 2020
age 12+

It's a good game for kids but they do say some pretty bad words

This game is awesome with a ton of challenges, but I find it hard to say this is an 11+ game. They do say some pretty sexual words like d---bag and ladyboner but other than that kind of profanity, the game it not bad. I let my kids play it but they don't seem to enjoy it all that much when they come face to face with one of the bosses. They play the game decently when it is a regular part of the game, but an hour later they are about ready to cry. The violence is a little bad but it is probably fine for any mature kid, besides the graphics are not perfectly real, so it is not as bad as any of the call of duty games. The other types of language is not as bad, it mainly doesn't get worse than sh--. I would have to put this at a 12+ game.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
GamingForParents
GamingForParents Adult
December 31, 2016
age 12+

Parents, listen up. Everything you need to know about getting this for yourself or kids.

We have all been there. Your kiddo wants a Mature rated game and you don't want to let them down. I've been there, it sucks. Listen up, cause my job is to make yours easier. Borderlands is a series of games, that aren't really for kids, however, don't cross this off that birthday or christmas list yet, there a lot more to say. Borderlands is known for its brutal combat... Not a fan? Me either. However, Borderlands was smart enough to put in a feature to turn off gore. By far one of the best choices they have made. Sexual content wont be an issue along with another easy fix, turn off the volume. Most if not all sexual content is in the vocals. This also fixes the EXTREME overuse of profanity. Overall, you can turn off the gore, you can turn off the volume (thereby turning off explicit content.). As long as your kid has played games like Halo, Call of Duty, Destiny, they will be fine. Trust your kids, maybe watch them play a bit. Overall, this game is acceptable to not some age group, but to a kid you trust to make the right choices, a kid who is mature, a kid who can handle a bit of action, and a kid who is ready to have a BLAST with this amazing Pre-Sequel.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 6 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Set between the first and second Borderlands games, BORDERLANDS: THE PRE-SEQUEL! -- the first game in the popular sci-fi shooter/RPG series not developed by franchise creators Gearbox Software -- reveals the origin of Handsome Jack, the primary antagonist of Borderlands 2; turns out he's actually a pretty decent guy at the start of this game. Players begin by choosing one of four characters, each representative of a specific class with distinct special abilities -- ranging from a shield that absorbs attacks and turns into a weapon to a bizarre computer program (executed by the franchise's always witty robot ClapTrap) that has unpredictable effects when executed (such as spawning a disco ball or bouncy rubber-ducky suits). The action is set on a low-gravity moon, introducing a new dimension of movement to the series by allowing players to leap much higher, control their direction in midair, and easily bypass smaller environmental obstacles. Players can opt to work through the campaign alone or join with up to three additional players online in team-based cooperative play.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (7):

Despite tweaks such as low-gravity movement and a healthy dose of comedy courtesy of ClapTrap, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! is less a full-formed entry in the popular sci-fi series and more -- as its name suggests -- an extended filler episode designed to patch up a few narrative holes while giving series fans more of what they enjoy. The firefights are just as slick and intuitive as in previous games, and collecting loot is as addictive as ever, thanks to the introduction of oxygen kits, which are necessary to breathe on the moon's surface, come in various capacities, and offer different kinds of bonus effects.

All that said, a heavy blanket of sameness is draped over the proceedings. Mission and character progression feel very similar to that of previous games, and the story and characters tread ground that's already been covered. It's largely only more of what players have already experienced and shorter than they might expect. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! could have been an amazing piece of downloadable content for Borderlands 2, but as a full-priced standalone sequel, it falls short.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about online safety. What precautions do you take when playing online games? What sort of behavior from other players do you actively avoid?

  • Discuss the draw of speculative storytelling, especially with games such as Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! What is it about science fiction that continues to appeal to our culture? The alien worlds? The advanced technology? What do you like most about stories set on distant planets or spaceships in the future?

  • Talk about violence in games such as Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! Is the violence OK because of the art style and tongue-in-cheek nature of the game, or is it hard to justify a violent game like this?

Game Details

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