Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel 

received positive reviews from critics. Aggregating review

website Metacritic gave the PlayStation 3 version 77/100 based on 24 reviews,[45] the Microsoft
Windows version 75/100 based on 55 reviews[44] and the Xbox 360 version 74/100 based on 16
reviews.[46]
Daniel Bloodworth from GameTrailers gave the game an 8.4/10. He praised the characters and the
new gameplay mechanics introduced in The Pre-Sequel. He ended the review by saying that "new
playable characters are worth exploring and the tweaks to the formula have an impact across the
entire breadth of the game."[52] David Roberts from GamesRadar gave the game an 8/10, praising its
diverse character classes, hilarious writing and the core combat which he stated, "has maintained
the series' weird, satisfying mix of anarchic, tactical gunplay and compulsive RPG overtones".
However, he criticised the weak story, as well as non-drastic changes when compared
with Borderlands 2. He described the general experience as "a hilarious, fan-focused continuation of
the series' core values, but lacking any true evolution, which made it a fun diversion rather than a
meaningful new chapter."[51]
Vince Ingenito from IGN gave the game an 8/10. He praised the gearing options and the low-gravity
mechanics, which made the game "a fresh experience". He also praised the entertaining Jack-
focused story, but criticised its poor pacing.[54] Jessica Conditt from Joystiq gave the game a 7/10,
praising its new gameplay mechanics, well-defined classes, as well as the interesting and comedic
bosses encountered and unique environments, but criticising the confusing level design, frustrating
death and predictable missions which lack variety.[55] Evan Lahti from PCGamer gave the game a
77/100, praising its new gameplay features, which he stated had brought novelty and a gracefulness
to Borderlands' combat, but criticising the mission design, which seldom made use of the gameplay
mechanics introduced in Pre-Sequel. He stated that "The Pre-Sequel feels like a super-
sized Borderlands 2 DLC. While the new setting, classes, and weapon types reinvigorate the
experience, The Pre-Sequel doesn't deviate much from the feel and format of Borderlands 2."[57]
Darren Nakamura from Destructoid gave the game a 6/10, praising its fast yet tactical combat, but
criticising the disappointing ending, number of bugs, as well as boring and uninteresting
environmental art direction, but he still summarised the game as a "solid entry to the series." [47] Jim
Sterling from The Escapist gave the game an 8/10. He praised the combination of weapons with the
use of the Grinder, a new machine introduced in The Pre-Sequel, as well as the new vehicles
available, but criticised the map design, frustrating encounters with enemies, as well as being too
similar to the previous installments. [7] Adam Beck from Hardcore Gamer gave the game a 2.5/5,
criticising its bugs, loot system, script, campaign, world design and performance of characters. He
summarised the game as "an unpolished, uninspired adventure where fun can be had with friends,
but that time could be better spent elsewhere." [53]
IGN gave the Claptastic Voyage campaign an 8.4 out of 10, praising it for its "whimsical" setting,
new mechanics, making better use of the anti-gravity mechanics that were introduced by The Pre-
Sequel, and for not containing the "excessive backtracking and pacing problems" faced by the
game's main storyline. Ingenito concluded that it "[still] doesn't quite match the towering success
of Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep for Borderlands 2, but it still handily sets a high watermark
for The Pre-Sequel. It's lean and focused in a way the main game it belongs to sometimes wasn't,
and yet it still feels substantial and complete." [59]