Borderlands without the screaming fart jokes?
July 22, 2020 11:44 AM Subscribe
I love the exploring-shooting-acquiring loop of Borderlands 2. My ideal way to waste an hour of time is to come into a new setting with a new weapon, figure out how to fight my way through, and get some new gear and upgrades. I also love expansive landscapes and exploration.
I just can't get Borderlands 3 because the obnoxious "naughty" humor just hurts my head in advance.
I also want nothing to do with loot boxes or any option to buy anything; I want to buy a game once and never have my wallet poked again.
Some constraints:
- Somehow medieval sword-and-spell games (Zelda aside) generally don't do it for me. Skyrim and The Witcher just didn't take.
- I also don't generally like Diablo-type top-down games (I'm finishing Divinity II because I have to, but I'd like to be paid for the final hour or so). I like to see a long way ahead.
- I also don't generally respond well to super-duper open worlds; I wound up hating Red Dead Redemption because there was so little progression. Fallout 4 had its moments, but mostly felt slack to me.
I have an Xbox One and a Switch, so please don't dangle Playstation exclusives at me; nor am I about the build me a gaming PC. I game for a few hours a week and just want to shoot shoot shoot for a release. Thanks!
I also want nothing to do with loot boxes or any option to buy anything; I want to buy a game once and never have my wallet poked again.
Some constraints:
- Somehow medieval sword-and-spell games (Zelda aside) generally don't do it for me. Skyrim and The Witcher just didn't take.
- I also don't generally like Diablo-type top-down games (I'm finishing Divinity II because I have to, but I'd like to be paid for the final hour or so). I like to see a long way ahead.
- I also don't generally respond well to super-duper open worlds; I wound up hating Red Dead Redemption because there was so little progression. Fallout 4 had its moments, but mostly felt slack to me.
I have an Xbox One and a Switch, so please don't dangle Playstation exclusives at me; nor am I about the build me a gaming PC. I game for a few hours a week and just want to shoot shoot shoot for a release. Thanks!
Borderlands Pre-Sequel, maybe?
posted by aramaic at 11:57 AM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by aramaic at 11:57 AM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
While there are elements of sword-and-spell, I don't really get the same vibe from them, and was after just what you were after - Dead Cells satisfies me totally. There are expansions for it but they are cheap (like 3 bucks?). It's like nethack at a platformer, with a little bit of memory.
posted by bensherman at 12:00 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by bensherman at 12:00 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
You might like Journey to the Savage Planet. There's a certain amount of exploration and upgrading of weapons and other tools. It's not open-world, but there are largish areas to unlock and explore. There is a strong element of humour in the game, but I wouldn't say it's obnoxious - there's certainly a lot more in the trailer than in the game itself, anyway.
posted by pipeski at 12:17 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by pipeski at 12:17 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
Probably obvious recommendations, but Zelda Breath of the Wild's open world is described as extremely full, not like Red Dead and Skyrim where it's mostly... empty.
Halo MCC is a great linear game that presents you with exciting gaming moments at each turn. I don't recommend you start with Reach.
Bioshock and Metroid Prime also have trilogies that are worth the play.
posted by bbqturtle at 12:17 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
Halo MCC is a great linear game that presents you with exciting gaming moments at each turn. I don't recommend you start with Reach.
Bioshock and Metroid Prime also have trilogies that are worth the play.
posted by bbqturtle at 12:17 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
Oh! The perfect thing for this is all of deus ex. Find a way to play deus ex. Its the perfect "Here's a situation, how can I solve it" game. Any of them are fine.
posted by bbqturtle at 12:19 PM on July 22, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by bbqturtle at 12:19 PM on July 22, 2020 [4 favorites]
Remnant: From the Ashes sounds like it would be right up your alley! I was not sure about this but me and a friend had a fantastic time playing through it. There's a lot of exploration to find hidden items and weapons (a la Souls games) and a pretty good variety of environments.
Bastion is another great, older game that I think has aged quite well. Lots of interesting unique weapons there though it is a top-down style.
You may not jive with the humor and tone of Shadow Warrior 2 but I had a lot of fun with it, big generated environments, lots of loot and weapons.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:19 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
Bastion is another great, older game that I think has aged quite well. Lots of interesting unique weapons there though it is a top-down style.
You may not jive with the humor and tone of Shadow Warrior 2 but I had a lot of fun with it, big generated environments, lots of loot and weapons.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:19 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
I wonder if FTL might work for you? Maybe Enter the Gungeon? You sound a lot like me in preferences, so I'm throwing out games I like.
posted by Dmenet at 12:21 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Dmenet at 12:21 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
Oh also:
Nier Automata is a lot like what you describe and the gameplay changes a lot in successive playthroughs - like literally when the credits roll you're like 1/3 of the way through the game. It's super weird but a lot of fun.
Astral Chain is very anime and quite ridiculous but you're constantly getting new abilities (though your base weapons stay the same) and encountering weird new situations. Super unique and fun Switch exclusive.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:27 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
Nier Automata is a lot like what you describe and the gameplay changes a lot in successive playthroughs - like literally when the credits roll you're like 1/3 of the way through the game. It's super weird but a lot of fun.
Astral Chain is very anime and quite ridiculous but you're constantly getting new abilities (though your base weapons stay the same) and encountering weird new situations. Super unique and fun Switch exclusive.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:27 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
Might be too open world for you, but maybe check out subnautica? It's different enough from say Red Dead 2 in that you're building your own base and you get to decide what progress means. I felt a real sense of progress from crash landing in an escape pod to building my first sub to building huge bases, much more so than I did from an open world story game.
The other one that really scratches my itch for shooty combat is Apex. It is multiplayer though, so not a great fit if you just want a single player experience. Games aren't too long though, generally action packed, and at least in my experience doesn't have a toxic community.
posted by Carillon at 12:32 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
The other one that really scratches my itch for shooty combat is Apex. It is multiplayer though, so not a great fit if you just want a single player experience. Games aren't too long though, generally action packed, and at least in my experience doesn't have a toxic community.
posted by Carillon at 12:32 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I did love Subnautica. Maybe I like the progression and exploration best and the shooting is optional.
I’ve tried so, so many times with platformers and have never liked one. Sorry.
posted by argybarg at 12:35 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
I’ve tried so, so many times with platformers and have never liked one. Sorry.
posted by argybarg at 12:35 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
Shooters-with-rpg-elements are one of my favorite genres, and there's a lot to choose from that you'd probably like. On top of other suggestions, Destiny 1/2 is probably the closest to Borderlands in terms of structure, you can play almost the whole game single player and it's a lot of fun, no need to do the high end raid content if you don't want it. You should also definitely play Mass Effect (probably just 1 and 2) if you haven't already. The Outer Worlds is similar but it's a bit more like Fallout 3 and less shootery depending on how you play it. The Far Cry games (I like 4 the best) are also somewhat in this category
posted by JZig at 12:35 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by JZig at 12:35 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
Destiny 2 is worth a shot. It's Free to Play if you want to try it out, but some of the seasonal content is awesome, as well as some quests. It's on PC/Xbox/Playstation/Stadia, but not on Switch.
it's usually around 100GB download, but there is A LOT of content available if you don't want to pay money. And the shoot-loot-repeat grind is made bearable because it's just a beautiful game, but the destinations aren't anywhere near as overwhelming as other games. You can solo the whole game, but there is a lot of teamwork-based stuff as well.
posted by Master Gunner at 1:19 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
it's usually around 100GB download, but there is A LOT of content available if you don't want to pay money. And the shoot-loot-repeat grind is made bearable because it's just a beautiful game, but the destinations aren't anywhere near as overwhelming as other games. You can solo the whole game, but there is a lot of teamwork-based stuff as well.
posted by Master Gunner at 1:19 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
Have you played the Ratchet & Clank franchise? "New setting with a new weapon, figure out how to fight my way through, and get some new gear and upgrades" is pretty every single one of those, just in a cartoony kind of setting. Also Horizon Zero Dawn is very much in the upgrade weapons while discovering bigger badder enemies... much more story oriented than Witcher 3 or Skyrim, but does have some open world and tangental objectives.
posted by slipthought at 1:41 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by slipthought at 1:41 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
I hear you saying you didn't love Fallout 4, but I'm still here to recommend Fallout New Vegas. It was made by a different studio, and is objectively the best 3D Fallout game. It lacks a lot of the elements of Fallout 4 that feel bloated to me, like the base building and the endless radiant quests. It has an open world but also a nice storyline to progress through. It's a bit aged in the graphics department, but if you don't mind older games it is one of the best RPG shooters ever. It is still slower-paced than a Borderlands game, but there is plenty of action available if want to play it that way.
posted by agentofselection at 1:56 PM on July 22, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by agentofselection at 1:56 PM on July 22, 2020 [5 favorites]
The vast majority of games like this have some sort of microtransaction. Borderlands is kind of the exception. For example The Division is pretty similar but you're not going to like it. Destiny 2 has some good FPS shootin' but there's a bunch of MMO crap surrounding it.
The Far Cry series has lots of good shootin' too but it's more serious, and has kind of an aimless open-world feel to it. Taking out the outposts is a lot of fun though, and FC5 has the "Far Cry Arcade" with player-created levels. (FC5 itself is kind of lame, even if you disregard the "edgy" story. FC4 is much better IMO. FC2 is the best one don't @ me)
posted by neckro23 at 2:15 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Far Cry series has lots of good shootin' too but it's more serious, and has kind of an aimless open-world feel to it. Taking out the outposts is a lot of fun though, and FC5 has the "Far Cry Arcade" with player-created levels. (FC5 itself is kind of lame, even if you disregard the "edgy" story. FC4 is much better IMO. FC2 is the best one don't @ me)
posted by neckro23 at 2:15 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
Seconding Fallout: New Vegas. I'm currently replaying it and it's still got it.
posted by suetanvil at 2:38 PM on July 22, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by suetanvil at 2:38 PM on July 22, 2020 [4 favorites]
Seconding Remnant: From the Ashes. Semi-procedurally generated levels from a central hub, with different environments and baddies, and a good explore-shoot-loot-loop. Can be played coop with up to three.
I quite liked Division and Division 2, either of which you could easily score for cheap secondhand (thereby not giving any money to Ubisoft). They do have optional purchases but it would be hundreds of hours of gameplay before you got to a point where you would even start considering to buy anything. The second has kind of turned into a shitshow of bad developer/publisher decisions once you max out your character (the "endgame", as they call it), but it'll take you many many hours to reach "endgame" and do all the "endgame" activities.
You'd get a few hours of fun out of the last three Far Cry games (pick any, as they are all identical apart from their location). Again, get these secondhand so as not to give any money to Ubisoft.
Rage 2 (haven't played it, have just watched vids) is basically Borderlands but more "serious". Exploration, upgrades, and shooty fun times. Apparently it starts to drag around the 20 hr mark but I don't imagine it being very expensive secondhand.
If you liked Subnautica you might want to check out The Forest and The Long Dark.
For reference, the games I am most enjoying at the moment are: Control, Hunt: Showdown, and Snowrunner.
Control is just excellent, and does have the explore-shoot-loot-loop you desire (plus an interesting story, good writing, great characters, and very creative environments). I wish I was playing it right now but, as you can see, I am at work.
All of these are available for Xbox One, AFAIK.
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:01 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
I quite liked Division and Division 2, either of which you could easily score for cheap secondhand (thereby not giving any money to Ubisoft). They do have optional purchases but it would be hundreds of hours of gameplay before you got to a point where you would even start considering to buy anything. The second has kind of turned into a shitshow of bad developer/publisher decisions once you max out your character (the "endgame", as they call it), but it'll take you many many hours to reach "endgame" and do all the "endgame" activities.
You'd get a few hours of fun out of the last three Far Cry games (pick any, as they are all identical apart from their location). Again, get these secondhand so as not to give any money to Ubisoft.
Rage 2 (haven't played it, have just watched vids) is basically Borderlands but more "serious". Exploration, upgrades, and shooty fun times. Apparently it starts to drag around the 20 hr mark but I don't imagine it being very expensive secondhand.
If you liked Subnautica you might want to check out The Forest and The Long Dark.
For reference, the games I am most enjoying at the moment are: Control, Hunt: Showdown, and Snowrunner.
Control is just excellent, and does have the explore-shoot-loot-loop you desire (plus an interesting story, good writing, great characters, and very creative environments). I wish I was playing it right now but, as you can see, I am at work.
All of these are available for Xbox One, AFAIK.
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:01 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
You sound just like me (except I love spells and swords). I also enjoyed: the Tomb Raider games, Mass Effect (the earlier ones are dated but I still love them), and Wolfenstein, but that is less up your alley. All available on Xbox.
posted by hepta at 3:59 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by hepta at 3:59 PM on July 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
Another vote for Control. Also, if you play and like Deus Ex (either the '99 original or Human Revolution), check out Prey. How do you feel about stealth games? If the prospect is interesting, I heartily recommend the Dishonored series.
posted by Hactar at 7:59 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Hactar at 7:59 PM on July 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
ok so maybe I'm completely wrong but I think you might enjoy Deep Rock Galactic, there's no lootbox, each mission is a different zone for you to explore and it's a first person shooty game. The thing is, it's also co-op left 4 dead type game (you can play solo but it's not really fun), with randomly generated level. The community is great, as far as I can tell it's asshole free, and you don't need to communicate much with your mates to be successful. There's not much of a story going on, It's not a tailored exploration experience and your fun is dependent on how much you enjoy that gameplay loop but there's very few fart jokes. I believe it's on X-Box One.
posted by SageLeVoid at 3:40 AM on July 23, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by SageLeVoid at 3:40 AM on July 23, 2020 [2 favorites]
This motivation profile survey is interesting to see what aspects of gaming fit you best, and offers recommendations. I'd guess you are higher on the creativity, action, and achievement aspects.
posted by hankscorpio83 at 8:01 AM on July 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by hankscorpio83 at 8:01 AM on July 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by argybarg at 11:46 AM on July 22, 2020