5 Best Gearbox Software Games of All Time

by

I think a lot of people know Gearbox Software from the Borderlands games now, but they actually have a really interesting history! Before Borderlands took off, they were making expansions for Half-Life and even porting big titles like Half-Life and Halo: Combat Evolved to different systems. They’ve put out a lot of games over the years – some amazing, some not so much! And lately, they’ve started publishing games too. I wanted to share a list of everything they’ve developed and published, so you can get a better idea of all the cool stuff the Gearbox team is working on.

Here are the five best games from Gearbox Software.

5) Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway

Before creating the Borderlands games, Gearbox Software primarily focused on the Brothers in Arms series. I debated which game, Hell’s Highway or Road to Hill 30, to include in my top five, but ultimately chose Hell’s Highway because of its impressive graphics when played on PC with Unreal Engine 3.

While a bit shorter and easier than earlier games in the series, Hell’s Highway stands out with its impressive cutscenes, which were particularly striking when it was released in 2008. It remains a well-made, team-focused tactical shooter, enhanced by a fantastic system that lets you destroy cover, keeping the gameplay dynamic. Some longtime fans weren’t thrilled with the automatically replenishing health, but overall, Hell’s Highway is a strong addition to this beloved series.

4) Borderlands 4

Borderlands 4 is the latest installment in the series and faced the challenge of winning back fans after the previous game, Borderlands 3, didn’t quite hit the mark. Luckily, Gearbox delivered a strong experience. While it doesn’t drastically change the formula, Borderlands 4 features satisfying gun combat and a more toned-down sense of humor that makes the story more enjoyable.

Gearbox has consistently provided excellent post-launch support for Borderlands 4, which is crucial for games like this. A strong endgame is what keeps players engaged, and Borderlands 4 is developing one that should offer long-term replayability. The addition of two more Story Packs in 2026 will give fans even more reasons to return and continue enjoying the game with their upgraded equipment.

3) Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

It’s difficult to categorize Earned in Blood. While it’s the strongest title in the Brothers in Arms series from Gearbox, the game really shines due to its improved enemy AI and more flexible level designs, giving players a variety of ways to tackle each situation.

If you haven’t played Road to Hill 30, this story won’t have the same impact. Earned in Blood mostly expands on the first game’s story, so understanding that earlier game is important. However, the improved AI – which makes stealth and distraction much more effective – is a big step forward and helps make up for any shortcomings in the narrative. Hopefully, Randy Pitchford’s plans to revive the series, announced in 2021, will come to fruition.

2) Risk of Rain 2

Risk of Rain 2 is the sequel to the popular roguelike platformer, developed by Hopoo Games. It reimagines the original as a third-person shooter with roguelite elements. Gearbox Publishing helped bring the game to a wider audience, adding it to their catalog alongside the Borderlands series.

In 2022, Gearbox Entertainment officially took over development of Risk of Rain 2. While the original creators at Hopoo Games remained independent, they paused active development in 2024, with some team members moving to Valve.

Okay, so putting the tricky development stuff to the side, Risk of Rain 2 is seriously one of the best roguelites out there, and it’s awesome to see it did so well for Hopoo and Gearbox! It’s a really challenging co-op shooter, and there are a bunch of different final bosses you can fight. What I love most is that Gearbox hasn’t abandoned it – they’re still releasing updates, like the new Alloyed Collective DLC that came out in November 2025.

1) Borderlands 2

It’s no surprise that Gearbox’s biggest hit is number one. This isn’t just recognizing past success, though. Borderlands 2 improved on everything players enjoyed in the first game, making it larger, more polished, and a lot more enjoyable.

Okay, so everything feels better in this game – the shooting is tighter, the story is way more engaging, and I actually cared about the characters this time around. I guess this is where Gearbox started leaning into that over-the-top, sometimes embarrassing humor they’d really go for in Borderlands 3, but honestly, it wasn’t that bad. Most of us didn’t even mind it, and it didn’t ruin the experience at all.

At its heart, Borderlands 2 is the quintessential loot shooter – incredibly rewarding and fun. Gearbox has been trying to recreate that feeling ever since 2012, but hasn’t quite succeeded until now. Luckily, Borderlands 4 was a significant improvement over Borderlands 3, and it feels like the series is heading in the right direction again. Let’s hope the developers can maintain this progress going forward.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/gaming/review/borderlands-4-pc-review/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-12 02:14