The demo was available at Nintendo’s booth, alongside other partner titles, but my focus was locked on Borderlands 4. Here are my Borderlands 4 hands-on impressions after getting time with the demo. With the series known for fast action and wild builds, I wanted to see how this new entry felt in action. My session was long enough to get a real sense of combat flow and movement. It also showed how a new Vault Hunter handles the heat.
Going Hands-On with Amon in Borderlands 4
I chose Amon for my demo, and within minutes I felt at home. I tweaked sensitivity, fired off a few test shots, and jumped straight into the action. Borderlands 4 wasted no time showing me its pace. Shots landed clean, enemies reacted fast, and switching between weapons was smooth enough that I never felt locked down.
Amon fit my style immediately. His tank role let me push forward without worrying too much about getting overwhelmed. The drones gave me options, whether I needed a burst of pressure or just a moment to breathe. Pair that with Forgeskills, and I had tools that shaped fights without bogging me down in menus. The rhythm was simple but satisfying. Apply pressure, reset, then jump back in when cooldowns were ready.
Combat rolled out in waves. I’d clear a group, reload, grab a drop, then push into the next encounter. Waypoints were easy to follow, so I never had to break focus. Audio cues stood out as well. Reload clicks, enemy shouts, and ability pops kept me in sync with the action.
Movement added to that flow. Short sprints, slides, and clean mantles let me reposition when crowds started to close in. Everything felt responsive, so shifting angles or pulling off a quick escape came naturally.
The UI stayed out of the way, and gear decisions were quick to make. Performance during my session felt steady, with controls that responded the way I expected. By the end of my twenty minutes, the loop had clicked. Shooting felt crisp, Amon’s kit gave me the freedom to stay aggressive, and I left the booth wishing I had time for one more run.
My Borderlands 4 Hands-On Left Me Wanting More
My twenty minutes with Borderlands 4 went by fast, but it was enough to get me hooked. Amon felt like a great fit, and his tank-style kit gave fights a nice flow. The gunplay was crisp, the abilities clicked right away, and nothing slowed me down.
I walked away from the demo wanting more. I want to dig into Amon’s skill trees, test different Forgeskills, and see how his drones really shine in bigger fights. If the full game keeps the pace I felt here, it could be something special.
I’m excited to go deeper with Borderlands 4. After my short hands-on, I can’t wait to see how the full experience stacks up. Look for my full review of Borderlands 4 right here on Cloud Dosage in the days leading up to launch.
Borderlands 4 drops September 12, 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The Nintendo Switch 2 version launches a few weeks later on October 3, 2025.
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