The drums of anticipation are beating firmly for Arkane’s daring vampire-themed title,Redfall, with the title gaining traction in the weeks leading up to its May release date. The upcoming horror game has piqued the interests of many a gamer, and recent showcases have revealed glimpses of what the developer is preparing for players, with the prospect of an eerie open world design attracting the attention of the gaming community. It’s not particularly common practice for horror titles to go down the open world route, with only a handful of premier games likeThe Forestattempting to incorporate the mechanic.Redfall’s similarities toBorderlandscould show fans of the first-person shooter what a truly free-roam experience looks like.
Widely considered one of thebest co-op shootersin the market,Borderlandshas made a pristine name for itself in the community since its initial launch in October 2009. The first installment revolutionized the shooter experience in gaming, and the franchise made strides to improve inBorderlands 2. However, despite the successes of the franchise, the most recent edition was wanting in some areas, and some argue that the semi-open-world dynamics are limitingBorderlands. As the gaming world gravitates more and more to open world gameplay, it might be time for Gearbox Software to explore the mechanic, andRedfall’s debut could lend the developer fresh ideas to execute in Pandora.
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Borderlands Could Be Improved By Going Fully Open World
TheBorderlandsseries already uses several open world elements in its gameplay, sporting large zones where players can pick up quests as they traverse the map. Gearbox offering vehicles in some of these open zones further enhances the free-roam appearance, andBorderlands' loot systemrelies on exploration and player progression. Despite adopting these mechanics, theBorderlandstitles are not fully open-world, with the franchise embracing linear story progression, not permitting access to certain areas on the map until players reach defined milestones in the story.
Borderlands' approach has arguably prevented the series from reaching its full potential as the push for more player immersion spreads its roots in the gaming industry. Seamless gameplay is becoming a prerequisite for gamers' satisfaction, and the current outlook ofBorderlandsappears disconnected from the growing trend. A hugely appreciated aspect of fullyopen-world gamesis the lack of loading screens, allowing players to move freely in around the world without tedious interruptions. In the case ofBorderlands, these screens pop up with every use of fast travel or entrance into a new area and have long been a pain point for players, and so many wish to see this element eradicated from the franchise.
Additionally, traversing the maps of theBorderlandsfranchise lacks the flair for premium player engagement. Traveling to and from quests has been a dreary experience in past installments, with very little for players to see as they travel.Games likeRed Dead Redemption 2have made random NPC events a staple in the gaming industry, andBorderlands' neglect of this aspect is a glaring issue for player immersion. Thanks to its noted similarities to theBorderlandsuniverse,Redfallcould show Gearbox Studios what it has been missing with a truly open world experience.
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Redfall’s Mechanics Could Endear It To Borderlands Fans
Redfallhas long been waiting in the wings, with Arkane electing to delay the game’s debut last year to add quality finishing touches to the title. With its delay in production,Redfallhas become one of2023’s most anticipated games, and the gaming community is eager to see what the vampire co-op shooter has in store. The title is breaking an Arkane tradition of focusing on single-player gameplay, now requiring an internet connection to allow gamers to work as a team, although players can still go through the haunted town solo. It’ll be interesting to see how this element meshes with the promised open world mechanic.
Arkane has confirmed team members will not be tethered to each other in multiplayer, meaning each player is free to roam the town of Redfall, Massachusetts without hindrances. However, gamers who choose to stay close together as they travel in the game will get a buff through the game’s trust system.Redfall’s open world gameplaywill also rely heavily on stealth mechanics, especially in the single-player mode where players will not have the help of AI backup in their travels. Games likeLeft 4 Deadhave assisted players with AI characters in the past, but Arkane’s unique spin onRedfallwill require players to explore the map tactically to avoid becoming outnumbered by the enemy.
BorderlandsandRedfallshare similar level design mechanics, with both shooters employing different enemy types for players to defeat in their gameplay. UnlikeBorderlands, which only allows players contact with certain enemies at different levels in the general storyline,Redfall’senemies and underbossesof unique strengths should pose a refreshing challenge for players as they move around the city. Arkane’s stealth mechanics could make for fun gameplay as players scheme to evade powerful enemies that litterRedfall’s map.
WhileBorderlandshas many reasons to emulateRedfalland go down the open world route, the franchise may have rendered this mechanic redundant by letting players travel to differentplanets inBorderlands 3. Affording gamers open world gameplay in every planet runs the risk of repetitive environments, an effect every developer wants to avoid.Borderlandsmay never go down the trendy road of open world gameplay, but in the meantime,Redfalllooks like a worthy stand-in for the acclaimed series.
Redfalllaunches July 24, 2025, for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
