Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 60 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 60
  2. Negative: 4 out of 60
  1. Oct 20, 2022
    92
    New Tales from the Borderlands is immensely entertaining, exceptionally well written, and acted with pitch-perfect attention to character. I wish the action wasn’t so restricted to quick-time events, because a full-on action game with such quality of humor and characters would be a hands-down GOTY contender. After replaying the original Tales from the Borderlands, it was obvious how much the new game improves on the first. Any gamer that appreciates great writing, fully dimensional characters, and a wide gamut of humor will love New Tales from the Borderlands.
  2. Oct 20, 2022
    90
    If you love the previous game or just are really craving a good giggle, New Tales from the Borderlands is most definitely a must-play title for you in 2022. I happily give this one a rating of 4 and a half skateboards out of 5.
  3. Oct 23, 2022
    86
    New Tales from the Borderlands is a charismatic game that will keep you entertained even with hours of "nonactivity moments." Its graphics and sound design, along with sophisticated characters, will make you live a high-level gaming experience.
  4. Oct 20, 2022
    85
    The new Tales from the Borderlands, but keeps the Telltale spirit and dives into the crazy world of Borderlands with an effective, permanent, offbeat and enjoyable humor. We will certainly criticize the game's perfectible technique as well as its lack of real player involvement and challenge, but that's nothing compared to the moments of anthology it offers us. The characters not only have depth, but they are also beautifully interpreted. The game is full of funny situations, and many of its lines could become mythical. It is a real success in its genre.
  5. Oct 20, 2022
    85
    New Tales from the Borderlands could have played it safe by using characters from the well-established universe that people know and love. However, Gearbox Quebec’s decision to create a whole new bunch of ragtag characters that connect so clearly with Borderland’s existing humour, art style, and lore has really paid off. New Tales from the Borderlands isn’t a gameplay-heavy game, but the visuals, narrative, and the way the character’s personalities are so well-developed kept me riveted and surprised. With what Gearbox has created here, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see even Newer Tales From The Borderlands in the future.
  6. Oct 20, 2022
    83
    You don't need to know everything about the Borderlands franchise to enjoy this installment, since it remains an independent plot from what is seen in the main games. And for those who are already familiar, it is clear that they will enjoy it more because of all the winks and references that they will find along the way.
  7. Oct 20, 2022
    83
    New Tales from the Borderlands has amused us, excited us, even moved us at times (rarely eh, don't think you will get depressed!). To say that he never takes himself seriously would be a mistake, given that behind a shattered facade and at times jester characters in constant, deliberate and theatrical over acting hides an evidently remarkable study. The final result, whether in the form of direct narration, multiple choice questions, QTE or other is not always perfect but in general we are facing a more than successful revival of the expansive operation for the Borderlands universe that has begun. with the first Tales from, full of well-distributed quotes that will make RPG fans and enthusiasts very happy.
  8. Oct 20, 2022
    83
    A well-scribbled note in the margins of the Borderlands universe, that should elicit a chortle or two from anyone still drawing breath.
  9. New Tales from the Borderlands” takes a lot of what made Telltale’s gameplay unique and either keeps it the same or improves on it.
  10. Dec 6, 2022
    80
    The team at Gearbox have done a wonderful job of recreating the adventure game style that Telltale has perfected. The introduction of the mini-games does provide for change of pace, but they do detract from the flow of the story. However, the trademark Borderlands art style and humour together with the wonderfully diverse set of characters and well told narrative makes New Tales from the Borderlands a must for fans of Borderlands and adventure games.
  11. Oct 21, 2022
    80
    At about 10 hours, New Tales from the Borderlands is a solid successor to the first title under Telltale, and its story has all the right emotional beats. I cannot count the number of laughs the episodes drew from me, but towards the end, the game's uneven pacing was hard to ignore. Paired with its stale quick-time events, there is more New Tales from the Borderlands to improve on, but this sequel is a step in the right direction.
  12. Oct 20, 2022
    80
    New Tales from the the Borderlands delivers an entertaining sequel worthy of the Borderlands name, but doesn’t take enough risks to evolve the format.
  13. Oct 20, 2022
    80
    New Tales from the Borderlands is a coherent adventure game that manages to convey the wit and charm of the Borderlands universe. Also because the game doesn't take itself, its universe and video games in general too seriously. As gamers, we quickly warmed up to the excellently written protagonists and rooted for them as they tried to master the imponderables of their adventure. However, the developers could have done a bit more with gameplay and scope.
  14. Oct 20, 2022
    80
    Simultaneously both full of heart and unapologetically in-your-face, it takes everything you loved about its predecessor whilst gently – almost invisibly – buffing the things you didn't like so much, too. What a treat.
  15. Oct 20, 2022
    80
    New Tales from the Borderlands risked ruining this series by focusing on a completely different set of characters and not really following up its predecessor at all. Thankfully, Gearbox Montreal proved that the Borderlands universe is still full of unique and interesting stories to tell, whether it does so in a first-person shooter or narrative adventure game format.
  16. Oct 20, 2022
    80
    As a slower-paced story, it lacks the action and zaniness of its predecessor – but by opting for a quieter, more intimate tale, New Tales from the Borderlands carves out a deeply heartfelt, character-driven adventure that highlights the power and potential of friendship in a barren land.
  17. Oct 20, 2022
    80
    New Tales from the Borderlands is a worthy successor to Telltale's magnum opus, with great writing and an engaging story.
  18. Oct 20, 2022
    80
    New Tales from the Borderlands doesn’t top the amazement of the original game. That still doesn’t stop it from delivering an impressive adventure game in its own right, however, filled with an enjoyable story about family, a lot of great bits of comedy, a deeper look into different parts of the Borderlands universe, and of course, the sheer joy that is L0U13.
  19. Oct 20, 2022
    80
    Those who are willing to wholeheartedly embrace New Tales From The Borderlands' ridiculous premise and larger-than-life cast are sure to enjoy a satisfying, meaningful experience.
  20. Oct 20, 2022
    80
    With a narrative that offers more hits than misses, New Tales From The Borderlands is a modern, gorgeous glimpse into what the nobodies of the Borderlands universe get up to on their shittiest days.
  21. Oct 20, 2022
    79
    This is a good successor of the original series, with charming character and the sense of humor we all know and love.
  22. Oct 20, 2022
    79
    New Tales from the Borderlands opens up another vibrant, extremely fun and mad exploration of the Borderland's universe, with a second round of episodes even better than the first.
  23. Oct 20, 2022
    77
    New Tales from the Borderlands did not deeply impress us and we believe that such an expected following would have deserved something more. The end result is an enjoyable game, which knows how to get even more laughter but which does not thrill when it becomes more serious and dramatic. Also sorry that Gearbox has only made half an attempt to expand the playful side with too simple minigames. It's not a bad game, as mentioned, but it's not the masterpiece that some were hoping for.
  24. Nov 7, 2022
    75
    New Tales from the Borderlands is clearly about the jokes and little else. A plot exists, but the story here isn’t anything to gab to your friends about. I tend to go in for the higher-brow stuff. I like my heavy fantasy epics and clever humor that is both dry and insightful. That said, I can appreciate what the developers were going for here. If you can tolerate some deeply flawed characters and the frequently crass, sometimes utterly distasteful jokes, NTB is entertaining. If that isn’t your thing, then definitely steer clear.
  25. Oct 20, 2022
    75
    New Tales from the Borderlands is a very good spiritual sequel to Tales from the Borderlands. The genre remains particular, of course, the total absence of challenge, and the passages actually playable can put some people off. But if this simplified gameplay suits you, then there's no reason to miss out on this humorous adventure, rather well written, populated by delirious characters, and surprisingly aesthetic.
  26. Oct 20, 2022
    75
    There's a lot to love here for fans of the franchise and fans of the genre alike... provided you have room in your heart, and schedule, this time of the year.
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  1. Nov 5, 2022
    It contains all the irreverence, style of humor and unjustified violence of the parent series, but I think the construction of the plot and characters fails to engage like other games that have used its formula.
  2. Look, I know making almost any game is a labour of love, but I spent like a week being sad and not knowing why, until I finished this game and realised I was happy because I didn't have to play it every day after work anymore. All this does is prove that Gearbox cannot be trusted with their own IP anymore. The very existence of New Tales From The Borderlands is a more effective critique of corporate structure and the pitfalls of capitalism than any of the content of any Borderlands game. Apart from the best one. Just play Tales From The Borderlands.
User Score
3.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 56
  2. Negative: 33 out of 56
  1. Oct 22, 2022
    1
    This game is not a Borderlands game. Bad characters, bad story and no humor. Very disappointing, especially if you were a fan of the originalThis game is not a Borderlands game. Bad characters, bad story and no humor. Very disappointing, especially if you were a fan of the original Tales from the Borderlands game. Full Review »
  2. Oct 23, 2022
    2
    This is the first time I really felt like I had to share my opinion on a game before. I am a massive fan of Tales from the Borderlands. EvenThis is the first time I really felt like I had to share my opinion on a game before. I am a massive fan of Tales from the Borderlands. Even after all these years have passed, it was always something of a comfort game to me that I loved returning to. I love the characters and what Telltale Games did with the world. Tales from the Borderlands was a labor of love and the passion of the development team shined through like no other game ever has. Tales from the Borderlands simply brought me nothing but joy and happiness every time I go back. New Tales from the Borderlands brought me nothing but sadness.

    New Tales from the Borderlands is a mess. From unlikable characters and a plot that struggles to have any comprehensibility, to a lack of player interaction and meaningful choices, and a lack of sense of fun.

    Telltale was often criticized for choices feeling as if they did not matter, but New Tales has never felt so on rails before. Never once did my choices ever feel like they meant anything. No spoilers, but only the ending is when the game feels like it is trying to branch out. However, I am still overwhelming confused by the outcome of the ending I had. The ending comes out of no where and feels as if I had missed 3 scenes in between. This also feels true for most of the game the longer it goes on, where the logic behind where the story was going, simply stopped making sense. Nothing drives the story forward other than something randomly occurring.

    The leads are all very forgettable and unlikable with very weak character motivations. Alongside the 3 playable leads, you will interact with L0I-13 (an assassin robot) the most, however, he may as well be the only other character in this game. I was completely shocked by the fact that even though a large cast is highlighted in the trailers, the vast majority of characters you see outside those 4 have maybe 5 minutes of time on the screen in the entire game. This ends up making the game feel so incredibly lonely, especially compared to the original's massive cast which were all much more fleshed out. Even characters in the original with not a lot of time felt like they had purpose and were memorable.

    The presentation was a very noticeable downgrade. This is the only Borderlands game that did not bother with a musical credit sequence. Once again, the original did it 5 times and all 5 of them from the song choices and how the scene plays out are fantastic. In New Tales, I feel would be lying if I said it made a genuine attempt. It simply chose not to do so, the best you will get is music playing over a scene as nothing really happens.

    Truth is there is so much disappointment I don't think I could ever shape all my problems in words. It feels so fundamentally misguided. I am sure those who worked on it really did try, but the writing and story telling is such a step down in quality and as Borderlands as a series continues to keep dropping the ball on narrative, more and more I wish we could go back to when Tales from the Borderlands showed just how much of a narrative powerhouse this universe could be.

    If this released without the original ever existing, I think I may have gone with something closer to a 5. However, considering the game wants to call itself "New" Tales from the Borderlands, Gearbox already chose to directly compare their game to the one they did not develop, so I feel it is more fair to rate it with the original in mind. So with that, I'd have to say a 2/10. The final scene of the game only makes me weary for what is next to come, and fans of the first I would easily recommend you skip.
    Full Review »
  3. Oct 22, 2022
    0
    Worst and cringiest game of the year, 0 outta 10. It has nothing to do with epic Tales from the Borderlands AKA the only good Borderlands spin-off.